Terrified of c section

[3soon2be4]

So , baby number 4 and I've got an overwhelming concern I might need a c section this time around..I don't know where this feeling is coming from but I'm terrified!! I've had all vaginal deliveries before. What are c sections REALLY like?? I'm absolutely terrified of needles have a complete phobia over them , is the epidural bad? 🙈

I loved mine. Loved knowing the date and being able to plan childcare etc. My recovery was much better than the recovery from my (frankly barbaric) natural birth (where both me and baby were left very unwell). The whole thing was lovely and calm and I felt very well looked after in surgery.

If you have needle phobia (as I do) you could consider having your c section under general anaesthetic. Talk to your midwife about the options, she can book you a phone call with the obstetric doctor to explain options.

I'm personally terrified of operations and would have been utterly traumatised if I'd had my c sections while awake. Had them both under GA, first emergency, second planned (but medically necessary). The planned c section went like a dream, I was basically right as rain in a week. After about a month it was like it'd never happened.

I had an elective so it was very calm and lovely. I didn't see a single needle, wouldn't have known one was being used apart from my own knowledge of the spinal.

I assume emergency sections are often far from calm, but that's partly why I went for an elective...

I had my epidural during labour though it ended in an emcs. They gave a local anaesthetic before putting the epidural in. So it didn’t hurt and the anaesthetist was good at hitting a moving target because I was having horrendous contractions as well
ive had a VBAC which was easier

I also slept through the cs once baby was out. I could feel the pulling of getting him out but he was very stuck

I've had an emergency and elective section

No natural childbirth to compare them to, but both were fine. Emergency one was a bit more rushed obviously but actually all you care about is getting baby out ok! Staff were lovely and I felt no pain after tiny sting of local anaesthetic
No issues with breastfeeding or recovery either

Are there particular parts that concern you?

Meant to say, you can't feel the epidural/spinal as you have the local first and it is honestly so small in the grand scheme of having your baby.

Feels a bit weird to be numb from nipples down but you can't hold hands with DH and move your head etc. to see

It's quite quick too - baby was out within 5 mins of being numb. It takes longer to stitch you up but you can have skin to skin and I was breastfeeding in the recovery room within an hour

I had an elective and don't recall seeing a needle, I mean there must of been one as I had a spinal but I didn't see it. I loved mine, it was relaxed and calm, my recovery was really straightforward, if I was going to have more children (I'm not) I wouldn't hesitate to have another section.

It’s usually a spinal block for a c section, unless you’ve already had an epidural in labour and then they can top it up. Local goes in first. You’re bent over forwards and it’s behind you so you can’t see any of it. Or feel anything beyond the scratch of the local. Cannula is far worse! Only ever had electives but they were extremely calm, baby comes very quickly and the rest is them stitching you back together but because you’ve had the baby at that point and can give them a cuddle you won’t even notice. Just don’t let them take your phone to do photos and request that they don’t drop the screen for delivery if you’re not good with medical stuff.

I have had a planned section and an emergency section.

My planned section was lovey - it was so calm and quiet. I was chatting away to my husband and the anaesthetist (who sits by your head) and I could hear the surgeons gently chatting away about their weekend and it was all so relaxed. They also had the radio on and every now and and then someone would sing one of the lines in the way you can’t help when a great song comes on. It was just so calm!

I was very nervous about the epidural but it was NOWHERE near as bad as what I was fearing. I felt a little sting when the local anaesthetic went in but it was no different to having the anaesthetic injection at the dentist. I didn’t see any needles or any of the equipment.

What did take me by surprise was how quickly the spinal worked! Within about 20 seconds I got the most glorious warm feeling spread up my legs and then I was lain down on the operating table and the procedure started about 10 minutes later when all the monitoring was on and my fluids were up and IV medications had been given etc.

I felt myself being tugged around a little towards the end of the procedure but it was only gentle and obviously expected as they were pulling the baby out.

It probably took about 15 minutes in total (my emergency CS was much quicker) and then they held my baby up so I could see him before handing him to me and it was just lovely.

Being nervous is completely understandable but there’s really nothing to worry about.

I’ve known two women have c-sections under GA and from hearing their experiences I’m glad I was awake when I had mine.

I can only speak for myself but for me, needle phobia is not about pain so numbing doesn't help. It's the horrific squeamish knowledge that a foreign object (needle, scalpel, speculum etc) is entering my body.

With blood tests for example, sometimes nurses suggest they do it extra slowly and with numbing gel. That's literally the opposite of helpful for me: doing it quickly (even if roughly) so it's soon over, is best for me. [When I explain this they do, which I'm grateful about!] Otherwise I end up vomiting all over the place from the upset.

So if op is anything like me, it's not the pain of the epidural going in that's the problem. It's knowing it's there, inserted, a thingy thing in one's body that oughtn't be there.

3 CS here. First was an emergency (baby's heart rate had slowed). After that, two were elective (and strongly recommended).

Electives were better in the sense that it was all calm. Recovery was easier as I hadn't had a long labour beforehand - nobody prepares for a operation on their leg by running a marathon first.

In each case, the surgery itself was fine. I was aware it was happening but no pain. There are odd sensations, the tugging feels strange but didn't hurt.

In a CS the baby is delivered quite quickly - in around 15 minutes I think. The stitching afterwards takes around 30 minutes.

As the patient you have the worst view in the house. There will be a screen put up so that you can't see anything from chest down. The anaesthetist sits by your head and monitors you the whole way through.

Top tip - don't look up into the lights. They are mirrored so you might end up with a grandstand view from above.

My secons daughter was born by c-section 6 months ago (planned as I had placenta previa). It was genuinely a very calm and happy experience. I had the benefit of knowing a while in advance that I would need a c-section, and found Leigh East's book 'Caesarean Birth' massively helpful.

My anaesthetist said, “Whatever you do, don’t look up” 😂😂

I had 2 vaginal deliveries and then a C section with my youngest. Like you I was terrified of the C section. It was all over in about 5 minutes and that's sewing up too. I was awake but they put a partition so you can't see. The surgeon said I'm just going to mask up and I heard him walk away. After about 5 minutes I said to DH who was there next to me "how much longer do I have to wait?" DH said he's already cut into you and he's just got our baby out now. I never felt a thing. Then I was given my baby. Then they vacuumed out any excess blood clots and general gunge. This is good because it's much nicer afterwards not to have bleeding. I never had any issues with the healing of tiny scar either. My Mum came to look after me because you can't drive for 6 weeks. Given a choice I'd choose a C section every time and avoid all pain. I couldn't believe how easy it was compared to vaginal deliveries that were painful.

I've had 2 elective c-sections, both were really quick and easy. I had no problems with the anaesthetic (I had an epidural with my first vaginal birth too, so I've never actually felt labour pain). I didn't really enjoy the experience of the surgery, being exposed and prodded, but that happens in all kinds of childbirth anyway. Recovery wasn't painful, you just have to take painkillers on a schedule. And not laugh or sneeze.

All of these replies have made me feel better about a c section.
I dunno what it is about the thought but it truly gets me worried to the point I've cried to my husband a few times.
I'm not worried about the surgery aspect of it tbh it's many the spinal ...terrified of that!! Also cannulas and stuff freak me out and I get so emotional and overwhelmed with it and I don't wanna look like a fool to the nurses 🤦🏻‍♀️ my mum had a c section 5 years ago with my little sister and she said it was fine ...however she was in a lot of discomfort after with trapped wind. Has anyone else experienced this??

I didn’t suffer trapped wind.
Tell them you don’t like cannulas putting in. With my second she had one go couldn’t get it in and then went and got someone else. I can’t cope with multiple tries!

I had a planned c-section the whole experience felt quite surreal on the day but not in a bad way. It was all very calm and relaxed. They gave me a local anaesthetic in my back before putting the spinal in. The anaesthetic stung a little bit but wasn’t painful. They did the same with the cannula. They were very quick and efficient with the spinal and cannula and it genuinely wasn’t painful. I think as there is so much going on around you it stops you thinking about it too much once the day comes.

I wish they had warned me about that as I looked up, wasn’t a pretty sight..

You do get bleeding - probably not as much as a vaginal birth, but mine was heavy for a few days and then was very light for about six weeks. Where the placenta was attached to the body is an open wound which needs to heal.

I didn’t have any trapped wind.

Didn’t see the needle for the spinal block. For my second I was already in labour, so I had gas and air in theatre while they put it in - you could ask if that’s possible.

I didn’t have much pain after. Just take the max dose of paracetamol and ibuprofen (I set recurring alarms on my phone) for a week or two.

I don't remember getting trapped wind but the womb contraction pains were really bad, much more painful than the wound site - but I think all postpartum mums get that (even after vaginal births) and breastfeeding speeds it up I understand. It felt more painful to me than labour contractions (though not as constant)

I did have a huge amount of untrapped wind iyswim.

@3soon2be4 I work in obstetrics theatres. We've seen it all. You wouldn't look like a fool at all. It's a scary/utterly bizarre experience to go through, and we get it. We'll help you through it. All in a day/night shift for us.

I had an unexpected emergency C-section with my second, after a reasonably uneventful vaginal birth with my first. While it wasn't the mode of birth I wanted, it was the one that was needed. I'd had an epidural placed while in labour, and didn't see a thing. I loved having the drapes dropped so I could see my baby being born. I know it's not for everyone, but it's really difficult to see anything gross as it's over the bump horizon so to speak. Afterwards, I was fine on just paracetamol and ibuprofen. I set alarms to remind myself to take them. I had no trapped wind or constipation either.