3rd C-Section fears

[User0852]

Hi,

I am currently 26 weeks pregnant and have been suffering with massive anxiety and panic at the thought of having my 3rd C-section in April.

I know I have done it twice before (1st emergency, 2nd Elective) and everything was fine, but I am also aware that the risk is higher the more you have. My last csection was 9 years ago so alot of time has passed. I have also been told that I have a really large amount of scar tissue from previous c-sections. Although I have always suffered with anxiety, over the last 2 years my anxiety has increasingly got a lot worse and I am currently having CBT sessions to try and help.

I am massively worried that I will panic and struggle to breathe whilst I am on the table and make things worse and harder for myself.

I have a real fear that something will happen to me, leaving my children without a mother and Its gripping me so much I am finding myself crying and thinking about this on a daily basis.

Does anyone have any advice, reassurance or success stories of 3 or more c sections that might help put my mind at ease? It's causing my so much upset that I am struggling to think abut much else and I feel so guilty about the fact that I could be leaving my children.

I had my 3rd c section 6 weeks ago and it was honestly the best one yet. Because I'd done it twice before I knew exactly what I did and didn't want, and the result was a lovely, calm and gentle procedure. Like you I had anxieties about panicking and not being able to breathe (happened during number 1) and also vomiting whilst lying on my back on the table (happened during number 2), so I requested in my birth plan to have my head raised by a pillow on the operating table and asked to be given extra antacids before the operation, which really helped.

My advice would be to really think about what you want, write a really thorough birth plan and make sure you discuss it at length with the team before you go in so that they know how you're feeling and you're all on the same page. Remember the midwife will also be right there next to you to comfort and reassure you throughout the procedure too. It might also be worth looking into some hypnobirthing to help control your anxiety, I did a course of hypnobirthing and the 3 step rewind programme before c section number 2 and found that really helpful.

In terms of recovery, I was also really worried about scar tissue and about how well my body would recover this time around, but I have to say it's been fine. My scar is a bit longer and less neat than my previous scars, but it's nowhere near as bad as I thought it would be. And now at 6 weeks PP I feel almost back to normal and ready to start exercising again.

I hope some of that is useful to you OP, if you have any other questions I'm happy to answer them on here

I’ve had 3, emcs (2017), elcs with DTs (2020) and elcs (2022). My recovery was easiest the third time and I was home the next day. I panic about being sick during the cs and not being able to move, but the team were lovely. Good luck!

Is there a reason you definitely have to have a CS? I only ask because I felt like you, I was terrified of another CS and I thought about it every day, it really overshadowed my pregnancy, and they kept telling me to have another CS but I had a VBAC instead. It was so healing and I felt a lot more in control.

If you do have to have a CS, they might be able to remove some of the old scar tissue as part of the procedure, might be worth asking about that.

Ask them if they can remove scar tissue during the surgery.

My surgery scar looks better each time, I joke that my last c section was basically a cosmetic procedure. I can't hardly see the scar now!

Tell them you're panicking, maybe they can give you something for it.

I had my 3rd csection in 6 years 16 months ago due to placenta previa. All went fine, due to previous birth trauma and panic attacks I used hypnobirthing birth affirmations and breathing techniques to deal with the surgery, I did great it kept me totally calm even when the stitching up took longer than expected.

I had my 3rd section about 3 months ago. Recovery was really straight forward & no issues at all. The only thing was my 'pregnant' look took a lot longer to go away this time (but I think that's more because of 3 pregnancies in 4 years!).

I don't really have much advice re anxiety because I was never particularly overly nervous for mine. But you are in safe hands, they do these 'routine' procedures day in day out, try to trust those around you that they are there to ensure the very best for you. Keep speaking to the anaesthetist & ask them to walk you through that is going on it you feel that will help with regards to knowing your obs at the time, they will provide the reassurance that everything is fine, & if you do feel sick/dizzy etc at any point let them know & they will give you something to ease it (they did with me & it worked almost instantly). The likelihood of things going wrong with a routine/planned section is very, very low. They will be prepped with your history so there will be no surprises & it will be a very calm environment. Remember then at the end of the daunting experience you'll have your precious baby in your arms.

Best of luck OP, you can do this!

Thanks for all of your replies, amd success stories, they really are reassuring! C-Section is my only option as I was told during my first pregnancy the reason for the labour not progressing was my pelvis was too small to pass a baby through. This was confirmed during my second CS too.

I think my go to thing when I worry about anything at all is to google things so that I’m fully aware of situations. The amount of times I’ve googled different aches and pains in this pregnancy is unreal (mind you I have had 4 bleeds, 2 of which were really quite heavy, with no explanation for them so that hasn’t helped my anxiety).

I know scar tissue was removed during my last CS, I was more worried that the scar tissue I have now would cause complications during the procedure, I’m also worrying if I have adhesions.

I’m just a worrier and panic no matter what I do, and so worried about leaving the kids behind 🙈😥

Thanks again for all your replies I really do appreciate it. I’m going to look into hypnobirthing now because I’ve never heard of it before.

@User0852 I have the same worries as yourself and my section is literally in the next 3 days, please if its ok could you give me an update thank you.

How was your c section in the end? Thank you

Hello, I am 17 weeks pregnant and also crippled with anxiety over my 3rd C section.
I am so overwhelmed with the scary thought of something terrible happening during my section and leaving my 2 children.

I'm hoping to hear some recent stories if anyone could help me please. My last c section was 5 years ago and quiet traumatic for me as I lost a lot of huge blood clots after section and bled very heavy. The recovery for me was also very long and I'm worried my anxiety will over take and wreck me.

Any help at all will be so appreciated thank you 😊

@Temair30 I had back to back c section my second c section was emergency and horrendous! My 3rd was planned and was Amazing better than the second one no issues whatsoever except for back pain the first few days and that went away!

but the scar was more painful than the previous two c sections so I took it easy after 4 to 5 weeks I started feeling much better and less soreness.

But overall possibly the best c section xx

Thank you! All my C sections were planned just section 2 was awful with a lot of blood loss and clots after. That's my worst fear dealing with all that stress and worry again.
Going to chat to my midwife and consultant more on this matter I know they will do their best. Thank you for the info on recovery after I like to know what to expect ♥️