Terrified about c section

[cornflakesandtea]

I’m due to have a c section next week and I’m absolutely petrified. I know exactly what happens for one (I work in that area) but I’m honestly so so scared. I’m in a lot of pain now, I’m uncomfortable, my hips hurt, and I have a pinched nerve on my abdomen that is incredibly painful, so I’m ready to have this baby, but the thought of the section is just awful. Between the pain on my belly and this panic, I’ve woken up in a tizz at 3am unable to get back to sleep, hence this post!

I think it’s the spinal that is most bothering me. I had an epidural years ago when I had my oldest child but I’ve since got older and fatter and every now and then (rarely, it’s been a few years since it’s happened) my back pings and it’s agony to move. I don’t know what it is, no diagnosis with any back problems and doesn’t happen that often, but sometimes it feels like it’s going to go but doesn’t. I’m worried that a spinal will aggravate it or even cause it to go in the first place. A general anaesthetic is out of the question (unless absolutely necessary) because I think that might be even worse.

I'm also worried about the recovery. I have only ever had a vaginal delivery and so have no idea about the recovery period and how well I’m going to manage.

I don’t know how I’m going to do it, come next week. People keep trying to reassure me but nothing seems to be working.

Iv had 5' 1 asleep 4 elective my spinal made me very itchy and cold after section in recovery I was throwing up no idea y good luck Hun x

With my last 2 there born 13 months apart hot pregnant when he was 4 months old she came a mong after he's 1st bday take it easy I didn't have help hubby worked days also I had a friend take 2 kids school but still has 3 at home 5 years ,13 months and newborn

Hi OP, that sounds like a lot of stress. I'm not a medical expert but I had an elective C-section when my DC was born and the recovery was much easier than I expected, no issues at all, and that was after a difficult and painful pregnancy. So sometimes it can turn out to be easier, if that helps you feel at all better. I found the experience in theatre itself a little scary but that's because I didn't really know what to expect - I hope for you that won't be a factor if you work in this sort of area. I'm afraid I don't have any experience with back issues but I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me will be along soon with more advice.

Sending you best wishes for the birthday, I hope it turns out to be a wonderful experience you and that the recovery is as easy as possible for you while you enjoy spending time with your new baby

Hi OP. I had an elective years ago. I am a very anxious person (even scared of drugs due to a bad experience with weed years ago). But once the spinal and drugs were administered I was fine. I was very tired afterwards, so ask for all the help you can in the first week. But I was walking around pretty normally within a week. Wishing you a smooth recovery.

Thanks all. I think I’ve just got a lot going on at the moment and a section was furthest away from the plan I had in my head. I know what goes on and I’m just so scared, even though I’m usually the one telling women that “we’ll take really good care of you” and “you’re doing so well”. Of course those things are true but when you’re on the other side it’s so different!

Hi op the spinal was fine I don’t remember much about it I remember being scared though but I did deep breaths. The annoying bit is it’s hard to move in and out of bed for first thee days. Be warned you have to have injections for a few days after so be prepared to do yourself or someone does for you. Also chew gum and stay hydrated and take your stool softeners as the first poo is hard. Whoever is taking you home in car neeeds to drive so so smoothly as bumps hurt.

I had 10 years between my 2nd and 3rd C-section the nerves were unreal! Surprisingly, my back is a lot better after my 3rd 🤣🤣

Just to reassure that I had an ELCS with DC2 that was only decided upon a week before their arrival. It was absolutely not my original birth plan but I promise you will be ok. I was petrified, I’d never had any surgery before and I cried every day in the lead up to it. But please let me reassure you that it is fine. The spinal was nowhere near as bad as what I was expecting, they numb the area beforehand so it’s just pressure (imagine someone pressing really firmly at a point on your back). My spinal took 3 attempts which is not common and even then I would say that I was not that bothered by it.

Also because it is planned, the staff are generally really calm and dare I say, very cheerful! Nobody I encountered was anything but lovely and kind. I told the anaesthetist beforehand that I was scared and that I’m better if someone chats to me to take my mind off things. He was so lovely and we chatted from the second I lay down to the moment DC2 came out! In fact we were mid conversation was DC2 was born and I felt bad for cutting off our conversation 😂

My advice is to be as honest as you can be with how you are feeling, everybody there on the day is there to help you and make this a pleasant experience. Trust that they are highly trained and you will be well cared for. After having a pretty full on vaginal birth with DC1, my DH and I were pretty stunned at how chilled a c-section is in comparison!