c-section tomorrow: really nervous

[nina3638]

i’m getting a section tomorrow at 38+1 due to multiple reduced movements. i’ve been fine all day but now i’m panicking a bit, i’m scared the spinal is awful, i’m scared i’m sick, i’m scared baby isn’t okay and i can’t see her straight away. etc etc.

please tell me your section stories and make me feel better 🥲

I had an emergency section at the end of an induction, so it was a rush and I felt panicky but from the spinal onwards it was so calm. I felt so looked after by the anaesthetist. They brought baby to me right away even though she then had to be taken for checks. Afterwards I advise mint tea as you might have trapped wind. Take paracetamol and ibuprofen regularly. Press the buzzer if needed-but the hospital beds make it easy to get up and about. Next morning (I had baby at 7pm) I was up and shuffled myself for a shower!

Good luck, and congrats on the new bundle. I'm sure it's only natural that you feel anxious.

I had 2 x c sections, one emergency and one planned. The planned one went very smoothly, I was awake throughout and once they start it’s really quick from having spinal to holding baby in your arms. They gave me baby to hold straight away as well so we could have skin to skin, and baby fed while I was in recovery room. This time tomorrow you’ll have baby in your arms, so exciting!

Oooh yes, mint tea definitely, also I asked for a cot that attaches to the side of the bed to make tending to baby in hospital a bit easier while I couldn’t mobilise so easily.

Had an emergency c section a year ago and even that was fine. The spinal was fine quick. You will feel tugging and there will be a lot of people in the theatre (normal). Take it easy and slow in recovery. Get the leaflet from physio and follow it. Keep on top of Paracetamol and ibroprofan. Recovery was completely fine for me. Good luck. Wishing you and baby well

I’ve had 1 emergency and 2 planned sections. Honestly you will be fine. The spinal isn’t bad at all, the freezing numbing spray they put on was the worst bit for me. The staff are amazing, they’ll keep you calm and reassured and tell you everything that’s happening. In each of mine they’ve held baby up over the screen so I’ve seen them straight away and I’ve had skin to skin each time.
Keep on top of your painkillers even if you think you’re ok, and wear the biggest pants you can find over your cut. They’ll want you up and about quite quickly, i found holding a pillow over my cut the first few times I moved about stopped me thinking my insides were about to fall out.
This time tomorrow it’ll all be over and you’ll have your lovely squishy baby. It’s all worth it. Best of luck.

I had one in 2018 after a failed induction, I was terrified especially of being sick as I have emetophobia, the whole experience was great! Recovery really quick, I was in the supermarket and out for coffee on day 2/3, when I had my 2nd in 2019 I asked for an ELCS

3 sections down and my last one 6 days ago. It is ok. It's not fun, recovery is hard but the actual c section I weirdly enjoyed! Slow breaths and trust in the professionals. Find a balance between rest and also keeping moving. Day 6 today and took older kids to the park, had a glass of wine and felt somewhere close to normal. Good luck. It'll be over soon and you'll have your baby x

DD1 - EMCS following a failed indication. All very calm. They held her up for me to see, then brought her over to get checked. DH was allowed over to watch and cut the cord (placenta comes out with baby). She was brought over to me for a cuddle but I didn't feel safe while I was lying down so DH held her at my head.

DD2, ELCS, she was transverse and it was a struggle to get her out so she needed a bit of help to get going. DH wasn't allowed over til they got her crying. All very calm even though not ideal and they were reassuring us. I didn't see her for maybe five or ten minutes until the paediatrician had given her the once over but DH showed me a photo (she was only at the other side of the room). Then as before he held her at my head as I preferred not to hold her on the table. I had a hemorrhage and lost 2L but had no idea until they told me afterwards and just needed iron tablets.

Both breastfed well in recovery. Both ops were fine for me. Recoveries fine if not something you'd relish.
Just telling you about DD2 as even when there's a bit of drama it can all be absolutely fine.

Best of luck for tomorrow. Honestly, sections are great, I'm quite glad I never had to go through labour.

I had a planned section 2 years ago. I have a real thing about needles but actually it was all ok - even the epidural. The anaesthetist was awesome and chatted to me all the way through keeping me relaxed.

DD was handed to us really quickly, then taken away to be cleaned and weighed before coming back for proper cuddles. We were able to try feeding really quickly in recovery. I was well looked after by the midwives/assistants. I had other issues that meant mobilising wasn't really a thing for a few days but I felt well supported.

Definitely keep on top of the meds. I found it easier at home when I could space them out in my choosing - the drug cart came round at 10pm but then not til 7am so that was a big gap with no top up. Don't be afraid to ask in the middle of the night if you're struggling - no one told me the first night but when I knew it was an option I asked for a top up on nights 2 and 3 and it really helped.

A trick a midwife told me was to put a maternity pad inside your knickers across the scar so that the scar/staples etc. don't catch on your underwear and there's padding to stop it getting bumped/rubbed. It really helped for the first week.

Good luck! Hope you are enjoying squishy baby cuddles very soon.

The spinal is quick but they shift you in to position on the bed fast after it's done. They tilted the bed to the left for mine which was uncomfortable as I had a huge twin bump and had to support it with my hand. Really calm procedure and was all done quickly. They did take our twins off and weigh them before I got cuddles but tbh this also felt like it all happened quite quickly. I didn't really notice anything after having the girls passed to us, I was too focused on them to be bothered. I had heavy blood loss so was kept in recovery for a long time but I was up walking within 12 hours despite this. The next day I felt fine and didn't need painkillers, once catheter was out I walked down for lunch (had room furthest away) and went for a shower. I was discharged in under 36hours from arriving at hospital. I was back doing most things at home, I was comfortable lifting our 2 & 4 year olds after a few weeks. I didn't drive for 6 weeks as dh was home so he did it. My stitches didn't dissolve as they should so I ended up with an infection but removal of those and antibiotics sorted it out.

Good luck

Yes the pad across the scar is a great tip and helped me spot a wound infection as there was ooze on the pad that I wouldn't have noticed on my black pants. I used the horizontal pads for ages both times, just for confidence.

Oh lovely, it’s going to be fine. I’ve had two sections - an emergency, followed by an elective (two breech babies). Both were really calm positive experiences, even the emergency one (after an otherwise miserable and scary labour). Anaesthetists seem to need to pass a charmingness test alongside all their other exams - they’re always really nice, calm, soothing people, with good chat to distract you. The atmosphere in my ELCS was fun and cheery - we had music playing, the surgeon was chatty. Bf in recovery. I was horribly sick after both sections - bile and then dry heaving for hours - but once that was over, recovery was smooth.

This time tomorrow you’ll have your baby!!

3 sections here and I have a fear of vomiting so I asked the anaesthetist about it and he made sure I was fine and loaded me up with anti sickness as I did vomit with my first section due to blood pressure lowering.
It made it so much better and all was fine.
Try and relax and enjoy the experience

One emergency CS, one planned but ended up as a sort-of emergency one the day I was supposed to just be in for a pre-op assessment; both were lovely!

I had the same brilliant anaesthetist for both and I swear to God I didn’t even feel the tiny needle for the local anaesthetic going in. I wanted to marry that woman.

Same lovely obstetrician for both come to that and both were calm, joyful experiences.

I got skin to skin in the theatre and DD2 even latched on right there as they were still stitching me up.

Midwives were lovely and handed me baby when feeds were needed. Really sound and sensible one with DD2 just popped her in the bed beside me and showed me how to safely co-sleep so I didn’t have to reach for her.

Recovery was slow because I’m a bit of a nervous patient. TMI but make sure you are as far to the opposite extreme from constipated as possible because my god trying to poop after a section is fricking terrifying (note of reassurance they really do stitch you up goodo but still!). Even sneezing and laughing for the first few days were scary. Plus I couldn’t blow my nose so got a bit of sinusitis second time round but my God when I finally could do a good nose blow the relief was insane!

All in all it was great. That’s not to say I wasn’t desperate to get home by day 3 because I seriously was, but yes just a very positive major abdominal operation really with added bonus of a newborn sleep/heart stealer.😍 Best of luck!

I had an elective section on Monday! 3 year previously I had a cat 1 GA emergency section.

The elective was honestly absolutely beautiful, I am so so glad I went elective!

• we had a few hours in the room before going down. We listened to relaxing music and DH gave me a back and head massage

• we walked down to theatre and everyone was so friendly introducing themselves

• the next steps were explained to me. I was surprised by how narrow the bed/table is, but it was fine to lie on, they put plate things either side of you, as the bed can be tilted

• they spray you with a Baltic ice cold spray all over your back. Christ knows what it is but I’ve never felt anything so cold!

• then they put a numbing injection in your back before doing the spinal. They will give you a pillow to lean over, and you’re sat on the side of the bed. Take nice deep breaths, relax into the pillow, keep your shoulders down. You will not feel the spinal.

• when the spinal is done it just feels like someone pressing on your back. The anaesthetist really struggled to get mine in and they were going to scan, but the senior anaesthetist Dr got it in. My back was super bruised for a few days but otherwise fine

• I thought I could still feel my legs - I couldn’t! They test you VERY thoroughly to make sure you’re completely numb.

It didn’t seem to take that long for baby to be born - that first cry is absolutely magical - I will never ever forget hearing that! We saw him be lifted up and he was brought around to us as soon as the delayed cord clamping had been done. They wrapped him in a towel and then DH held him to me - such a special moment! I burst into tears and sobbed!

After that I never really noticed anything else. I just couldn’t stop staring at him.

In recovery I was shaking loads and they had heated blankets to put over me. I could feed right away and hold baba.

It was honestly a wonderful experience! I’ve tried to put in all the things I wasn’t expecting.

Good luck OP

I’m an anaesthetist and it is so lovely reading all the stories and hearing about your great experiences with us. I love my time on labour ward and really missing it at the moment.

@nina3638 every person there is focused on looking after you and baby. We know you are nervous, that is absolutely natural. I really hope you have a great experience and all goes smoothly for you!

I've had two ELCS and they were both great experiences. Yes, it can be a bit nerve-wracking during the preparation, spinal etc but before you know it the baby is born. Calm and as enjoyable as surgery gets!

Make sure you have plenty of help afterwards as you shouldn't lift anything heavier than your baby for a few weeks. Even 5-6 weeks afterwards my scar would swell up if I did too much and it was a reminder to slow down. Good luck

I've had one emergency section. Relatively stress free. Even though you've had an epidural, your body still reacts so at the time I got abit of a fright with being shaky & ex said I looked pale but looking back it was just unexpected, nothing to worry about.

Recovery was very good.

Showered + catheter out within 12 hours
Out of hospital after 3 days
No painkillers after 5 days
Driving after 3 weeks (consulted doc & insurance)

I used a bump band to give extra support during recovery.

Good luck 🙂

I had an elective, it was such a calm experience after a very traumatic vaginal birth! I was super nervous before going down to theatre, but once you get in to theatre and spinal in, you will wonder why you feared it so much! Honestly, it was such a positive experience! Good luck op!

thank you so much everyone. going into the hospital in an hour - not sure what time surgery will be of course but i feel much better after reading these x

Good luck OP you will be fine. Please update us when baby is here!

I had 2 planned c sections. I was sick in the 1st, not in the 2nd. The best advice I can give you is keep talking to your anaesthetist. If you start feeling sick, tell him/her. They can make it go away pretty quickly.

I know it's scary, but it will be ok. You're going to be fine. I don't like needles and have a blood phobia, and I still requested a c section the 2nd time around. I found both births to be pretty amazing - hard to explain really but throughout mine the team were joking around and just made me feel so cared for.

You will be fine. And after the birth, you will have the help you need. My partner had to leave after an hour due to covid restrictions but it honestly was ok. I just got some extra time with just the 2 of us to bond with the baby.

Wishing you all the best.

I was terrified when i had my section! I was in hospital already, a midwife brought me my socks and lady shave and I had to go off to the bathroom and attempt to shave the incision area, DH put my socks on for me. Then midwife came and got me and walked me down to theatre.

When I got into theatre there were lots of people there and they were all ready friendly and cheerful which made me feel so much better. They helped me onto the bed, bent me over and did the spinal. It took a couple of goes to get it in the right place but it didn't even hurt, i just kept communicating with them like I can feel tingling in my right foot but not my left and that helped them get it sorted.

Once that was in, they helped me get my feet up on the bed. I started to feel a bit weird at this point - short of breath and retching, my blood pressure was dropping. The anaesthetist was right beside my head all the time and gave me some medicine (you have a line in of course) and an oxygen mask which righted me quickly. So it was a bit of a rocky start but you're so well looked after and everyone around you is so calm and they are all there to make sure you're ok.

Then the screen went up, DH was allowed in, I laughed at him in his scrubs. They tested me by tickling me right up to the neck to see if I could feel anything and I couldn't so they put in the catheter and opened me up. A bit of rummaging around later and they were holding a healthy baby over the screen - best moment of my life!

Now my DS had to have an x Ray to check his swallow because I had a lot of fluid so he went over to a little cot to have his checks done and that so I couldn't hold him straight away but it was totally fine. I was just so happy and relieved he was out and safe and I was being stitched up anyway.

They wheeled us both out to recovery where the feeling in my legs came back really quickly, they brought the portable X Ray up for DS and then I was able to hold him and give breastfeeding a go. I was back down in the ward about one hour after I went into theatre and DS and I have been a pair ever since

My experience wasn't great both times so I don't want to scare you with that. Yours will hopefully be as straight forward as possible and positive. So excited for you x

Good luck OP! I bet you have a beautiful baby in your arms already :)