Terrified of a C - Section!

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Hi guys, i'm currently 27 weeks pregnant with my first pregnancy and due to be induced around 36 weeks - my baby girl has gastroschisis - and i'm absolutely terrified of having a C - section! The thought of being cut open whilst awake fills me with complete fear and i know you can't feel anything and you aren't in pain but it's keeping me awake at the thought of possibly having to have one! Last time i went for my scan they told me she has become breach and basically i've become more stressed from that day eek... can someone please reassure me that c sections are nowhere near as bad as i am thinking they are in my head?? Please and thanks help a worried girl out haha

I was petrified and can honestly say it was brilliant and much better than my previous labour! Just take care after and let yourself recover

Planned c-sections are totally pleasant from what I've been told. Easier and more comfy than any other type of surgery, plus you get your baby without tearing, pooing yourself or any other lovely things that can happen with a vaginal birth.

I had an emergency cesarean and it was pushed so far down the line, the only thing I worried about was my baby. I'll always be grateful for my cesarean.

Make sure you do the anti clotting shots and don't wait for your painkillers to wear off, just take them as often as possible!

I had an EMCS with dd, I was so against having a section in my first pregnancy but it was fabulous, so much so I'm electing for a planned section this time! Dont fear a section!

Same experience as @ALC1985 . Was super against having one, had to have an emergency one and would have another if I got pregnant again for sure. I found it really easy recovery and no lasting issues at all.

I’ve had two (one emergency, one elective) and had very positive experiences both times. I recovered slower than some friends who had very easy vaginal births but much quicker than a number of my friends who had more complex vaginal births.

I was up and about the next day, driving admirer 3 weeks, picnicking in the park after 2 weeks. It was honestly fine.

I had to have a c section. I was honestly more scared than I’ve ever been. I couldn’t stop crying on the way there and on ward. Everyone kept asking me why I was crying and I kept feeling like shouting ‘because you’re about to cut me open while I’m awake’ I sat there and listened to all the other women chatting about their impending sections in normal voices and I couldn’t believe how calm they all were. Then after going through I decided I might be best off running out of the theatre but my partner talked me out of that. And then...it was totally fine. It was so relaxed and unscary that I had another one. You’re in and out in less than an hour. It was all really uneventful. Recovery was fine. Nowhere near as bad as I’d been led to believe. You get loads of painkillers if needed. And bonus, the incision isn’t in your foof so you can sit down and not be sitting on your stitches.

I found a c section by far easier than a vaginal birth. You can't feel anything and the baby is cut smoothly out of you (in an ELCS anyway) whereas with a vb it fucking hurts and the baby comes hurtling out ripping/tearing/bruising everything in its path! Honestly I would have a cs over a vb any day of the week.

I've had three section, one emergency and two planned. The emergency was not a nice experience. The planned sections were fine. I didn't have to go past due date, could prepare childcare arrangements, felt more in control during procedure than when I was in labour. Its sore afterwards but manageable.

I had a C-Section, honestly recovery was really hard but the experience of the section itself was really positive

It's not scary at all. It's just weird. I found it fascinating.

What would help? I can describe the process if you think knowing what it feels like would help?

I had v easy recoveries too.

I too was terrified of my section. The anaesthetist was so lovely, listened to every single one of my worries and told me what she could/would do to counteract it, and made me feel like I was in control of what was happening. They didn’t start the op until I was happy to go ahead, every single step of the way everyone was wonderful. Ended up being quite a laugh for the most part, and I would definitely have another section if I have any more babies.

I searched for and read positive only stories on sections before I had mine - figured if anything ‘bad’ happened I’d deal with it as it happened, and really wanted to get my head into a positive space for it which helped me sort of prepare for it!

My emergency cesarean was lovely. It wasn’t what I’d planned but it was a very positive experience. We were lucky that DS wasn’t really in any danger (just a bit stuck) so we still got delayed cord clamping, had the drapes dropped for delivery, and then had immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding in theatre. It was a very relaxed experience! It’s worth having a birth plan that includes things you might like if a cesarean is necessary. You probably will not be able to do skin to skin immediately as your baby will need a paediatric review at birth and might need some extra support but you could consider:
-Would you like the surgeons to delay cord clamping if possible?
-Would you like a certain song playing when baby is born or do you have a playlist you’d like? (Anaesthetists love playing DJ IMO)
-Would you like to see baby being born? (They can drop the drapes for delivery or even use clear drapes!)

Prior to my 1st c-section the whole prospect of being awake during surgery was absolutely terrifying! But after the anesthesiologist explained the pros & cons of both a spinal & a general anesthetic (essentially it will take a longer time to wake up & meet baby after a general anesthetic)
I'm so glad that I went with the spinal as was able hug my baby whilst being sewn back up.
I "enjoyed" it so much that I elected for a 2nd c-section as soon as I was able to with my 2nd baby.

I've had two. It was fine - of course the few hours after you are a bit woozy and can't stand and going to the toilet is a bit worrying the first time. There is pain as they wean you off the painkillers. After four days I was out at a restaurant with my baby and feeling good. Do trust the doctors that they know what's best if they recommend a section.

Had two, would have another without hesitation. Try not to worry.

Mine was a wonderful experience, calm, really great. I was nervous beforehand but once I’d had the anaesthetic it was fine.

I have had two - both great experiences and I am not an easy patient by any means. After my first one I wondered why anyone would give birth any other way tbh. Recovery was extremely fast with the first one - I was out of hospital the next day and up and about as normal after about three days. Second one the recovery was a bit slower but still nothing extreme.

Another positive experience here. Mine was an emergency but the team were all so lovely and calm. One of them had the same name as me so we bonded over that and another of the nurses had a daughter with the same name as mine.

As a PP said I recovered slower than some of my NCT group with easy births but faster than others with hard vaginal births. And stay on top of your pain killers for the first couple of weeks. Don’t be a hero

Tell the anaesthetist you're anxious and they'll make sure you feel lovely and relaxed.

Honestly, my section was quite possibly one of the most profound spiritual experiences of my life. I've never known peace like it, before or since. In that moment I knew that whatever happened, I could cope with it and everything was going to be ok. In real life I have suffered from an anxiety disorder and remain a very stressy person - this was 100% the drugs talking. The drugs were fantastic.

I had twins. First one shot out . 2nd wasn't having it so we had to go to c section. I kept waiting for them to start, only to he presented with my baby... I did have pain the night after but I asked for help and was given Oramorph. Was great. Wish I'd gone straight for a section

After having my first two DC by VB I was distraught when told I would have to have a section. My blood pressure went through the roof and I was taken in hospital in early December. Nothing would make it go down. Then I was told I could not go home until baby born. I cried as not due until Dec 28th and I wanted to be home for Xmas with DC. Then told baby in distress so section. I chose to be awake as you get to go home sooner. The whole op took 37 mins including being seen up after. I felt nothing. The surgeon said he would scratch something sharp on my skin and say if I could feel it. Could not feel anything. I even asked DH to tell me when they started. He said about 5 mind ago. Baby born, given to me to hold while they get afterbirth out. One bonus is they hoover you up so no nasty blood clots after as I had in VB. No groggy feeling from pethadine as in VB. Great really. I was up next day having shower. Home 2 days later. Just rest when you get home. Only down side is you can't drive for 7 weeks as can't be insured after abdominal surgery for 6 weeks.

I had an emergency c section with my second it was a much more pleasant experience and recovery than the forceps and episiotomy I had with dc1

Maybe look at some mindfulness apps to help with the anxiety

My car insurer said I could drive when I felt well enough to do an emergency stop
Living in a village I needed my car and was driving just shy of 4 weeks post birth

It was the one thing I was scared of happening when I was pregnant with my first. I ended up needing an emergency section, and it was genuinely a positive experience. So much so, I chose to have another second time around.

I had a section after a failed induction and the experience was great, walking after about 6 hours, out in 24 hours and in Morrison's 3 days after that. Had DS2 the year after and snapped their hand off when they offered an ELCS