Sedation during ELCS?

[lookingforthecorkscrew]

For medical reasons I’ll be having an ELCS with this pregnancy, which I’m absolutely fine about. I had a EMCS with my first baby, and tbh was pretty out of it by the time they wheeled me into theatre - exhausted and delirious with pain and meds.

I am, by nature, an anxious person and I do think I might worry myself into oblivion overthinking this ELCS. So I am wondering if it’s possible to be mildly sedated during the procedure? Has anyone else had this?

I had an EMCS under general anaesthetic and I would not wish it upon anyone. Woke up to my DD laying next to me about 4 hours later and was so out of it I couldn't even comprehend that she was mine.

Ive requested to have my section under general.

I’m too scared to have a GA!

I had an ELCS last week and suffer from anxiety / panic attacks.

I can honestly say the procedure was so calm & controlled that I'd have another one tomorrow over a VB. Is there something in particular you fear?

Speak to your midwife about being referred to a consultant for anxieties and then address your request for sedation with them. Do you mean a form of sedation prior to the procedure? Or for during? I am guessing during. The spinal anaesthetic last time made me feel very relaxed.

I’m fairly sure they must give you some sedation as a matter of course, because I am not a calm person at all but was positively serene during mine. I’ve always just assumed that it was because I was sedated. Maybe you could ask your consultant?

Hypnobirthing has helped me with anxiety with all of my ELCS - maybe look into it?

The epidural is morphine directly into your spine. I walked in convinced I was going to die and as soon as it got in my system I was completely relaxed. I can’t imagine they would be able to give you any other form of sedation other than a GA.