Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

Original poster

C section tomorrow - suddenly shit scared. Hand hold?

20 replies

numberthirtytwowindsorgardens · 03/01/2022 17:34

I'm sitting here on the sofa with DS and feel like I'm about to cry. I don't know why. Can anyone identify?

Please give me last minute tips or something to do to calm me down!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

ThePoint678 · 03/01/2022 17:38

Truly, just relax. Have you had one before?

Mine went fabulously and we’re so calm and straight forward. Easier than a trip to the dentist.

It’s an exciting time! Good luck x

EpicDay · 03/01/2022 17:40

Honestly, my section was much much easier than my vaginal birth. I always said that if I’d had another DC I’d have chosen a section.

candlelightsatdawn · 03/01/2022 17:41

So I remember being induced and oh my lord day 5 (no progress on the drip) I begged for them to cut me open.

I'm due to have c section in March and I can relate to your fears. It will be ok, the c section itself was in my case calm, they put music on and all done really quickly.

You can do this mama ! Your about to met another love of your life and have that newborn smell. It will be worth it.

Promise

Echobelly · 03/01/2022 17:42

Planned ones, which it sounds like this is, are very straightforward and really rather relaxed. There's a slightly uncomfortable bit where they put the line in at the base of your spine, but no worse than this. You don't feel much going on and you should be able to hold your baby pretty much straight after.

Recovery from planned C-section is really OK providing you're stitched up well - it's obviously going to be much worse for emergency ones where a mum may have been in labour for ages beforehand on top of it, but planned ones are much less traumatic. You should be mobile pretty quickly and it's not the case that you won't be able to lift anything that you wouldn't normally be able to lift (my experience after 2).

Good luck and wishing you a great section!

anilluminatednewyearforme · 03/01/2022 17:43

Don't panic!

I had a horrible first birth and a planned CS for my second.

Second was amazing! Planned, calm, and the recovery was fine. Sore for a day or two, but ok and nothing compared to recovery from my awful first one. Able to look after toddler just took it slowly and carefully.

It will be fine, honestly! Do not lift afterwards, do what they tell you and keep on top of your pain medication. Take humongous pants to hospital and peppermint tea in case you get trapped wind.

positivevibesonly22 · 03/01/2022 17:45

Yep. I'll second my planned c section was a breeze and I had a toddler too. First birth was a nightmare ending after three days as an emergency section so to come out of hospital fresh (ish), being able to plan childcare etc felt so much more controlled. Good luck. It will be fine.

plm456 · 03/01/2022 17:45

I've had two planned ones. I can genuinely say that both births were pleasurable experiences. And the urban myth about the epidural needle being huge is just that, it was a completely normal size!

There are a number of people in the operating theatre which reassured me. I just laid back, did nothing and the baby was given to me ... I almost feel guilty that I've given birth to two children and never experienced a contraction

jackstini · 03/01/2022 17:45

You will be fine
Is it your first section?

I have had emcs and elec and recovery was easier than I thought it would be and the planned cs was very calm

Is there anything specific you are worried about, questions you want to ask?

StuntNun · 03/01/2022 17:46

It'll be fine. I've had three! You don't feel anything during the procedure, maybe just as if your body is being pulled down the bed a little if it's difficult to get baby out (one of mine decided to make an exit bum first.) Make sure you get out of bed as soon as you can the next day as it's important to be moving about. It can be sore to laugh, cough or sneeze afterwards so hold your tummy, or hold a cushion to it and bend forward slightly before you do any of those. You've got this!

vodkaginwine · 03/01/2022 17:48

Honestly, you will be fine. I have had two. One an emergency, one a planned one. The morning you just wait on the Ward with the other ladies and you’ll have the consultant and anaesthetist come round to assess you all and decide who is first amongst all the emergencies that take priority. Because I had to wait until the afternoon I was allowed sips of water.
My anaesthetist who did the spinal was lovely, even though he’d be seeing my naked back and bum, he left the room while I took my gown off and had had a lovely nurse help me. He was making jokes asking if I had anything exciting planned for the day.

They help you onto the table and you’ll have your checks done before being wheeled into theatre. The surgeons introduced themselves and asked if I knew the sex of the baby as if it was a surprise would I like my husband to announce it.
I’ll be honest; I had a panic attack on the table just because my first c-section was a crash under general and my daughter needed intervention and SCBU and fear took over. I was hyperventilating but I had some oxygen and a nurse talking me through what was happening and it calmed me down. The surgeon carried on throughout and when my boy was delivered asked if I was ready to meet my boy (we already knew the sex). It really was a straightforward, but surreal experience. He was given to me in theatre to hold and bundled up.

Good luck, and you will be fine

Original poster

numberthirtytwowindsorgardens · 03/01/2022 17:51

Oh, thank you all so much for such lovely, reassuring and quick replies!

I had an EMCS with DS after failure to progress and I did choose another this time - I think I just have this really morbid fear that if something goes wrong, it will be my fault for having chosen it. And I'm scared about being stuck in hospital for days, especially with Covid visiting restrictions. I feel I should feel more grateful - this is exactly what I asked for, and after a pregnancy in which almost everything that could go wrong has done, I should be relieved that we're so close!

Thank you everyone your kindness is very much appreciated!

(And the tips - I've just added peppermint tea to the bag!)

OP posts:

Strawberrycreams4eva · 03/01/2022 17:52

I was also terrified about mine. The night before and the morning of I listened to that Australian song ‘I am woman hear me roar etc.’ and relaxed with an aromatherapy candle. All sounds ridiculous, but it calmed me down …

The c-section itself was great, as was the aftercare (… but do insist on decent pain relief … and drink lots of peppermint tea after the event!). Good luck!

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 03/01/2022 17:52

I'm 12 days post emergency c section. It was supposed to be elective, but my waters broke at home and bsby was breech.

However, the staff said there was very little difference in the care I got, the labour suite was empty when I arrived and DS was born about about 2 hours after I arrived.

I'd been terrified of a section before, but it was a completely positive experience. Yes it was painful for a few days but I feel great now much better than 12 days after the forceps delivery of DS now age 3!

plm456 · 03/01/2022 17:58

I was out of hospital the next day with my second (my choice, I was fortunate in my insurance paying for a private delivery). This was pre covid but I found it easier being at home as my husband could provide more help with the baby.

Original poster

numberthirtytwowindsorgardens · 04/01/2022 07:24

Well, DS decided to have his worst sleeping night ever, so I'm not sure the benefit of being well rested before delivery applies, but I'm now waiting in the hospital and feeling slightly less sick about it all! Thanks for all the reassurance last night 😊

OP posts:

Hotyogahotchoc · 04/01/2022 07:54

I was really scared before my CS but I think that's understandable and it was fine

Good luck!

StuntNun · 04/01/2022 08:52

Good luck and I hope everything goes smoothly. You'll be welcoming your newborn before you know it.

Bonnealle · 04/01/2022 08:58

My section was one of the best experiences of my life!! Was so easy and relaxing, such a magical experience. I was up walking 6hrs after, discharged within 20hrs, walk around the park on day three and pub lunch on day five! Barely a scar, no problems lifting from day one and stopped the painkillers on day four. It will be great!

Nichola2310 · 04/01/2022 09:00

Best of luck. I had my 2nd section 2 months ago. She was born at 11.30 on a Wednesday and I was leaving the hospital by 4pm the following day.

I had the option to stay a 2nd night but with the noise of a postnatal ward and restricted visiting I was happy to get home.

Clarkey86 · 04/01/2022 09:02

This was me one week ago!

Good luck today - you will be absolutely fine. My advice is to try and get up and about as soon as they let you if you’re ready - at my hospital it’s 6 hours and I was up and catheter out. Drink plenty to get your bladder going again. Then at my hospital I had to be in 24 hours but could then go home.

Flip

Swipe left for the next trending thread