C-section on Friday... why don't I feel anything?

[Hyggeandhugs]

So I have a c-section scheduled for Friday, it'll be my first DC, and yet I'm sat here tonight and I just don't feel anything about it. Can't really tell if I'm numb in shock/fear or am just really chilled about the whole thing.

I don't think I've got my head around the enormity of what's about to happen and that my life is going to be totally changed in less than 48hrs.

Is this a normal way to feel just before you welcome your first DC?

On one hand it's maybe good that I'm not freaking out, but on the other hand I've read soooo many MN threads over the last few days about how incredibly hard motherhood is that I'm worried it's sort of dangerous to not be freaking out in preparation.

If I'm too relaxed (assuming it's that rather than numbness/shock) then surely I'll find it even harder to adjust when the reality hits!?

I think it’s normal to be chilled, I went out for dinner the night before (early because of fasting!) and had my nails done and a good mooch around the shops.

adjusted fine once he was here! Enjoy your last couple of days before the world gets turned on it’s head (it’s honestly a rollercoaster but I’m very glad to be on it)

I think the excitement of having a baby and the fear of the surgery kind of cancel each other out but I'm sure you'll get into it once your baby's gets and you know what you're dealing with. Good luck!!

It's just one of those things you have to take step by step - it's out of your control which is probably why you're numb about it. Just go with it, tell the surgery team/anaesthetist exactly what you're feeling as it goes, no questions are silly, look after yourself and be kind to yourself and remember, it's just step by step for the next year basically because the baby won't conform to any expectations and you and he/she will just have to figure it out as you go along. Good luck and enjoy the experience!

I reckon you might feel a bit more excited on the morning.

even though you know you’re having a baby it’s a bit of a shock when you first see them,almost like a surprise 😂

I didn't really feel anything (and it was a long hoped for IVF pregnancy)
Got some nerves the night before.

I absolutely adored him the minute he was born though

I had a C-section today? yesterday? 🤷‍♀️🙉 18th? baby was just born at 3.30pm 🤩 I was fine all leading up to it & as soon as they asked me to walk down to theatre the tears came, I got so scared suddenly! It’s quite daunting but you are looked after so well. This is my second baby & I was more afraid of DS being left without me if something went wrong. Also when I went into have him the tears came too, it’s a big thing!! Good luck

Yep I think this was my experience as well.

I'd recommend stepping away from the parenting is hell/life is ruined/never sleep again threads for now. I read a lot and began to feel that if I wasn't actively stressing out and crying over what hell awaited me, I was being naive and stupid.
As it turned out, having my dcs via cs and their newborn days was a lovely experience. And mine are still little so I'm not saying that because I've forgotten.

Thanks everyone 😊

@LimeSegment feeling I must be naive and stupid for not freaking out is definitely how I feel, not helped by the various MN threads or, to be fair, every person (especially strangers) who seem desperate to tell me that I have no idea what I'm letting myself in for! I feel like the concept of something being both wonderful and really hard at the same time is really hard to wrap your head around until you experience it.

Pre-op today, so maybe that'll make it all a bit more real 🤞🏻

I had one 16 years ago - my tip is focus on the excitement! Soon you will meet your baby and that will be amazing I promise. You will be very very well looked after. You have a lot of fun and adventures to come being a parent. It really is brilliant. Now eat something!

I'm not far behind you OP! Good luck! 💓

That’s a good thing! I was a crying, puking, shitting mess having hourly panic attacks about 4 days before my section 🤣

Is this a normal way to feel just before you welcome your first DC?

Not sure if it’s normal but it’s how I felt. I went into labour naturally with DC1 (ended up with EMCS) but can very clearly remember being on the way to hospital and feeling nothing. It was like an out of body experience, like I was in complete denial about what was happening to me. I still look back at that night like it happened to someone else.

DC2 was ELCS. Still wouldn’t say I was excited on the way to hospital.

Both planned babies but I never went through that “can’t wait for them to get here” thing that you read about a lot on here.

Glad I'm not alone and good luck @toastedcat!

I think I'm maybe in shock or something. I thought I was zen, but at the pre-op the anaesthetist said I had really anxious body language and asked if I was okay. Then later on in a bookshop buying one of those baby memory books I was virtually in tears! I know I have a really strong fight or flight instinct so my mission now is just to get through to recovery without a panic attack. Have spent the evening putting little outfits together for her as my way of focusing on something nice 😊

Little outfits sounds perfect

How did it go OP?

I burst into tears as soon as I checked into the hospital and had been taken to the antenatal ward 🤣 Then I was basically terrified when I got into the theatre.

My beautiful DD was born at 11am and after a day in the NNU for her and a day on a morphine drip for me (painful old scar tissue) she's now in a little cot next to my hospital bed.

So turns out I was probably blocking out the fear that I was actually riddled with, but it was totally totally worth it! 😍

Hooray! Congrats OP! Stay on top of those pain meds. What are you calling her?

Yay!! Totally totally worth it 🎉

Ahhh congratulations! X

Congratulations!