Fear of c-section

[April2009Baby]

I am only about six weeks along, so I realise that I am getting waaaaay ahead of myself, but I am already terrified of having to have a c-section (first pregnancy). I was reading the thread on here by a woman determined to get a section and the only thing I could think was "You're mental. My heart is beating faster just thinking about the possibility of having to have a section. How could anyone want that?" (No offence to her! Not commenting on her views at all, just how strongly I reacted to them). I literally feel slightly breathless and tearful thinking about it.

How do I work through this during my pregnancy? I have been for a booking in appt and got sent away until the 12 week scan (understandable), but I'd like to know what the team might be able to do to help me later on and what I can do myself (perhaps read up?). I am sensible enough to realise that there may be circumstances where a section is the necessary option, but I need to reconcile myself with that in advance otherwise it's going to hang over me like a big black cloud.

Any ideas?

Had 2 CS's, one emergency and one elective.

They are great!!! I can laugh and not pee, and the scar is tiny.
Yes its all a bit nervewracking but I think when you are in labour all the bit about your own mortality goes out the window and you only want what is best for you baby. You are examining it in the cold light of day which is not how it is all going to feel at the time.

there are some good books on how to prepare your body - Sheila Kitzinger and Janet Balasakas both have books with exercises you can do to help prepare.

that said I had an EMC

there's a little door in my head and through it, I can see the path to "coulda, shoulda" thinking - coulda done things different, shoulda done this, shoulda done that...

I don't go there, though, simply because I remember how it was and ds was Not Coming Out, simple as that. My labour was textbook, I pushed for two hours, but he was jammed up under my ribcage - in fact it felt like he was blocking me from pushing properly - and his heartbeat was steady and relaxed (sleeping, the MW said!).

At the end of the day I think it helps to remember there is a degree of luck involved, and circumstances. Try to think what, precisely, you're most scared of, and see if you can work through that.

Good luck. (ds will be 2 in April - tis a good month to give birth )

I was also very much against any "invasive procedure" (including epidurals). But in the event, DS didn't appear after 42 weeks and an induction and 26 hours of labour (incl an epidural) - so the doctors suggested a c-section. Cue floods of tears from me.

However, it really was a breeze - when DS appeared I forgot everything that had happened (except I couldn't walk very far for 5 days). The main thing to remember is that the hospital staff (and the advice they give) will be focussing on getting you a healthy baby: which is what you want!

With DC2 I am being told that I should go with VBAC : but I'm still tempted to go with a c-section (were it not for the fact that I couldn't pick up DS for weeks afterwards).

Don't worry - and good luck with the pregnancy.

My c-section was a lovely experience, better than my straightforward vaginal birth and on a par with my homebirth.

They are not the devil!

Not read all the thread, but I've had vaginal and csection births. I was ok with the idea of a section, but when it came down to it, being on that table I was shit scared! My heart was really racing. Once they started though everything was so calm and serene. It was a lovely way to meet my boys.
Both births have their positives and negatives. With a vaginal there was pain before, with the section it comes after. The reality of the section op really isn't as bad as the expectation though, I promise.

This is a great thread i was one of those women who the op couldnt believe was asking for a cs instead of a natural birth. I have been induced and had vb's three times. The first two were wonderful but my last one 11 years ago was a terrible experience due to the hospitals abject neglect and i nearly lost my DD3. I never thought id be in this position again (having a baby) but a new partner whom i have been with for a couple of years put paid to that and i cant wait for the birth of my little boy but knew straight away that i wanted a cs this time - i simply couldnt go through my pregnancy thinking that i would endure another experience like my last. Because i always get Gestational Diabetes i always get induced and i knew that would be the case this time hence why i asked early on for a cs. Before my GD kicked in at 14 weeks they werent so keen to commit to offering me a cs but yesterday to my relief my consultant said that she would be more than happy to offer me an elective cs as it was probably advisable given the state of play with my pregnancy and me now being insulin dependent. I have never had a cs before and am really happy that so many people have put their experiences up on this thread and have made them sound so positve. I am not fooling myself into thinking that its going to be easy or that recovery will be a cinch but i am happy that my birth will be managed in such a way that i feel safer than i would have done going through another induction. Keep up the postive stories please! Will post about mine when ive had him at the beginning of Feb and hopefully will join all of the other happy ladies that found their cs's to be a really positive and happy experience.