Totally shattered going into ELCS

[oliveroses]

Hi, I've been struggling with sleep but now with my second ELCS in the next 48 hours I am barely getting any sleep at night - due to a couple of uncomfortable pregnancy-related conditions and now nerves are kicking in. I'm going to try and rest for as much of tomorrow as is possible and I've been here before (but can't remember how I handled it!) The one thing I do remember was that I only managed 2 hours of sleep in the hospital on my first night! Feel like I am setting myself up for a really hard time but not sure how to avoid this and so panicking. Always thought an ELCS would mean you weren't exhausted going into it! Any advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation?x

I had similar as was in hospital fir two nights before my ELCS and they woke me up hourly for monitoring checks. Plus a bit of pregnancy insomnia before that.

I would say that the day of the birth was fine, you're on a high. Even by the next morning after limited sleep I was functioning. The problem came when we couldn't be discharged for various reasons - another couple of nights of that was very hard and made understanding advice and making decisions difficult. That whole period was a blur really.

But if you're out after one night and have a DP/other support on hand so you can catch up just a bit then I reckon you'll be fine. Just don't try to do too much.

I had an emcs last time and was in for a while after because of the babies. If you are in longer than 1 night, I highly recommend having just dp visit in the afternoon, close the curtains and sleep. dp can take care of baby in that period. I was so exhausted in the early couple of days that I slept like a log for afternoon visiting when DH came. In turn, he enjoyed spending those early moments with just him and the babies.

I had insomnia in my third trimester before my elective. Unfortunately there is not much you can do but get through it. I did a bit of batch cooking and stocked the freezer so we had meals ready etc. then rest as much as possible once home with baby, although you do have to get on your feet and move around as much as possible too! Good luck!

Yep, with my 3rd I had hardly slept for the weeks before, had COVID and horrendous pelvic pain, had 2 other children, and was under the care of the perinatal mental health team due to a severe onset of anxiety during pregnancy. Due to the COVID they had DH couldn't attend the birth. I was an absolute shell of a person by the day of the ELCS, I was so tired.

In the theatre I kept falling asleep on the operating table and they were waking me up! My oxygen sats dropped every time I drifted off.

Back in recovery I had a private room (our local hospital has no shared ward for mother's staying overnight) and it was so peaceful and quiet, I got some rest even with the new baby. Also your body absolutely fills you with adrenaline or something, I'm not sure what, but you find the strength and reserves from somewhere once the baby comes. It's like a fresh start. Also the late pregnancy discomfort (like PGP) goes away.

With my first I laboured for 2 days before an emergency section. I knew my body was tired and broken because I felt it, but I was able to be alert and responsive to him like a nimble cat or something. It was mad.

Anyway good luck. I hope you are holding your baby soon.

I was like this; for various reasons I barely slept the 2 days before my DS was born. I actually fell asleep in hospital waiting for my ELCS as I was so tired which everyone seemed surprised at. My first night after DS was born was ok though as he was quite sleepy so between feeds I got a few times to sleep and the next day when DH was at the hospital I slept too

I slept through most of my emcs as I was so knackered with my first. And slept after I’d had pethedine in between contractions with my second. I think it’s normal to go into labour/cs knackered

I'd started having contractions the day before my elective section, every 6/7 mins for 20 hours. So I'd had no sleep really before hand. I ended up sleeping a lot offer the section while my husband was there, up a lot of the night with baby by myself then slept a lot the next day when my husband came back!

I fell asleep in the corridor waiting for my elective 🤣. No sleep whatsoever, a) being hungry and b) knowing that this will be your last time leaving the house pregnant ! Stress inducing to say the least.

Don't worry the adrenaline kicks in and you won't want to shit your eyes for the first couple of nights.

The next 20 years are a different matter!

Thank you so much for all your replies - I am feeling much calmer! I am loving all these stories about falling asleep in the corridor at the hospital or on the operating table 😆

Great advice to sleep while DH looks after the baby in the day while on the ward. Will hope I just have a short stay.

@ChristmasQuestions I also had covid last time though luckily was asymptomatic. But it meant no DH - so I'm forgetting I'll have that extra support this time.

Was talking about this just yesterday. My first was elective but went into Labour so none of the sleepiness nervy nights as the date approached. With my second I didn't sleep a wink the night before because I was terrified and unreasonably so as my first section was an absolute breeze. Was also in a hotel near the hospital to be close for the early morning admission. The usual lack of sleep in the run up to due to sore joints and generally being uncomfortable meant I was exhausted by the morning of. Got absolutely no sleep the night I was in hospital either because it was hot and noisy. Had decided then that if there were no problems I was discharging myself, thankfully all was fine and the day shift midwife popped in to ask if I wanted to go home that day. I could have kissed her. We live 3 hours from the hospital so by the time I got home and had eldest returned by family etc etc I was dead on my feet. I've never been so happy to see my bed and think that was the most exhausted I have ever been. Got a full nights sleep and the world just seemed better.

Even if you can't sleep try to rest. Sit on your butt and do nothing.

If you have support for after utilise it and try to catch up on as much sleep as possible. Being well rested definitely made a huge difference to my recovery. I was out for lunch on day 4 and driving again by day 13.