Planned C-Section

[Harveybelle]

Hi all, I'm booked in for a planned c-section on Monday - a week today, eeek! - at 37 weeks.
Just getting the jitters now and wanted some experiences etc?

I had an emergency section with my first, 7 years ago, but after a long labour and lots of drugs I don't really remember much and just felt relieved by the time it was happening.

I felt calm about being advised I'd need a second section but now all of a sudden the nerves are hitting!! x

My planned section was one of the most enjoyable and calming days over the whole course of being pregnant. Knowing that there was a plan, professionals were amazing and I was going to meet my baby, it went really well and I’m so glad that I did it

sometimes the wait to go down for your section is the worst part so maybe bring a book or listen to a podcast or even play a funny game with the person coming with you as it helps the time pass and reduces the nerves

I hope it goes really well for you.

Weird as this sounds, I loved my ELCS experience.
So calm and chilled, I had a great medical team and felt totally in control. My birth partner cut the cord, I got skin to skin etc.
Out within 24 hours and recovery way better than I had imagined.

Thanks for the replies!
Had my pre assessment today and the anaesthetist freaked me out talking about if the spinal doesn't work, it'll be a general anaesthetic which is my absolute worst nightmare! So I've felt relaxed to panicked in a day!

I had this a few months ago. I had a planned section after an awful birth and the pre op assessment freaked me out so much. The day came, I felt super relaxed and so glad I’d made the decision. It all went well and was so different to my first section - home the next day, recovered well, happy baby! Good luck x

I went in with excessively high expectations, based on all the talk of amazing ELCSs that I’d read on here.

It’s a major operation. There were around eleven people in the operating theatre and it was very medicalised and intimidating. When baby was held up near my face and they waited for the cord clamping, I found it frankly awkward… couldn’t hold the baby yet, just looking at baby and waiting… very odd. The feeling of the spinal kicking in and the rippling down my legs was one of the most unpleasant experiences of my life, and in general the spinal made everything feel “buzzy”, like a type of pins and needles, throughout. I vomited uncontrollably and unexpectedly twice after the operation, bringing up first a tea and biscuit and then… minestrone soup. It was horrendous 😂

In essence, after two problematic deliveries previously, I was delighted to feel safe, know baby was safe, and avoid all sorts of problems. However it was not magical or pleasant for me, personally. Don’t expect too much, and I hope you have a better experience and have a lovely snuggly wonderful baby to cuddle at the end - that’s the most important thing!