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Original poster

Had a planned c section and freaked out

42 replies

iverreacted · 27/11/2023 21:23

I had a c section today and freaked out on the operating table. I think but was having numb legs was horrible to get used to.

The staff where fab and talked me out of my anxiety but I'm so embarrassed/ashamed.

Is this normal?

OP posts:
SleepingStandingUp · 28/11/2023 08:38

Nov2023 · 28/11/2023 07:53

I have just had my cesarean and managed to keep the panic under control apart from a few sneaky tears when I was leaning forward for the spinal. But best laid plans meant I reacted to the drugs and vomited the whole way through instead! We can't control how we might react to medication so I wouldn't worry about it and focus on the baby cuddles instead!

Oh poor you, I get awful nausea with the meds too, with both deliveries but thankfully the anti-nausea drugs kicked in really quickly. If you end up in the same position again, Def remember to tell them because i felt just as bad with both deliveries. Congratulations on the baby x

idontlikealdi · 28/11/2023 11:27

I threw up all through mine. The bit that really got to me though was when the surgeon said 'ok, bowel is on the table'

Cheeseywheel · 28/11/2023 11:31

Congratulations! Focus on your baby and don’t give this a second thought. If being given a massive injection in your back, not being able to see your body and having a living person cut out of you that you then have to look after 24/7 isn’t reason enough to freak out then I don’t know what is!!

Nov2023 · 28/11/2023 18:20

It was fine. the theater nurse was incredible and it meant I was distracted and missed some of the parts that might have panicked me! so not the end of the world.

SwayingInTime · 28/11/2023 18:42

I’m a midwife and I am continually amazing by how women cope at all - as in, that it’s even possible - with having major abdominal surgery and giving birth at the same time while awake. I don’t know how I would be at all!

Aquarius93 · 28/11/2023 19:55

I completely understand what you mean around the sensation of your legs being numbed!

I didn’t have a c-section but needed surgery after a 3rd degree tear so had a spinal block. I can’t really describe it but I felt like I had cramp in my legs but obviously couldn’t actually feel or move them. It was all I could think about and I nearly had a panic attack.

Congratulations on your new arrival!

SiennaMillar · 28/11/2023 21:50

Ah OP don’t be embarrassed. It’s impossible to mentally prepare for being awake and operated on. It’s so overwhelming. I asked my husband to make a big cave for me with his arms and cover my head entirely, and I hid in there until it was all over! I would have freaked out entirely if he wasn’t there, and the second I couldn’t see him I was very upset. I think I was clinging on to sanity by a nano thread!

Back in recovery, the midwife was trying to put my compression socks on, and seeing her lift my legs but not feel a thing was awful, I couldn’t watch and had to get her to do it out of sight!

Congratulations on your new baby

SpottyCrumpet · 28/11/2023 21:50

Same happened to me. In the end they gave me a sedative to calm me down which I kept fighting instead.

SpottyCrumpet · 28/11/2023 21:54

jadey1991 · 28/11/2023 07:31

Oh my gosh reading this thread is making me panic now. I have a c section booked this Friday. 🫣🫣

Don’t worry. Despite this I had a second c section and it was the most wonderful experience of my life. I was planning baby 3 in recovery.

riotlady · 28/11/2023 22:03

I got the giggles before mine! The anaesthetist came and felt down my ribs and it really tickled (didn’t help that he was very tall and good looking!) No point being embarrassed, I’m sure they’ve seen it all

Original poster
iverreacted · 28/11/2023 23:01

SiennaMillar · 28/11/2023 21:50

Ah OP don’t be embarrassed. It’s impossible to mentally prepare for being awake and operated on. It’s so overwhelming. I asked my husband to make a big cave for me with his arms and cover my head entirely, and I hid in there until it was all over! I would have freaked out entirely if he wasn’t there, and the second I couldn’t see him I was very upset. I think I was clinging on to sanity by a nano thread!

Back in recovery, the midwife was trying to put my compression socks on, and seeing her lift my legs but not feel a thing was awful, I couldn’t watch and had to get her to do it out of sight!

Congratulations on your new baby

Ah that sounds lovely. My birth partner told me to "calm down" lol.

OP posts:
Original poster
iverreacted · 28/11/2023 23:02

idontlikealdi · 28/11/2023 11:27

I threw up all through mine. The bit that really got to me though was when the surgeon said 'ok, bowel is on the table'

They mentioned my fallopian tube lol

OP posts:
Switcher · 28/11/2023 23:06

It's quite embarrassing but I get a severe reaction to dental anaesthetic that makes me shake uncontrollably and usually gasp/cry in a fucking weird sense of impending doom. It's all fine after a few minutes. It's bizarre, but every dentist I've seen just looks unbothered and says this happens sometimes!

Lookingatthesunset · 28/11/2023 23:18

Oh listen sweetheart, anything goes when you have surgery!! The medical professionals have seen it all before! All they want is a healthy mum and baby.

I had a surgery last year and all I remember is whimpering, "it hurts, it hurts"!!

I threw up after my 2nd c/section (I've had three, never been in labour, medical reasons, not choice!) I had had a cough for a few days before and was shitting myself in case I coughed when the needle was in!! I didn't! People told me that my cough would go away with little feet (ie my baby) and it actually did!

I got horrible infections after mine, worst with my first baby! I had the midwives packing my wound with ice in plastic bags - I was on fire! 2nd time around, I realised much sooner what was happening - 3rd time I got antibiotics through my epidural!

Massive congrats on your wee baby!! Focus on her/him and forget the whole experience entirely! You're a mummy - enjoy! xx

Lookingatthesunset · 28/11/2023 23:23

jadey1991 · 28/11/2023 07:31

Oh my gosh reading this thread is making me panic now. I have a c section booked this Friday. 🫣🫣

Oh please don't worry! It will be fine!! I've had 3 c/s, it's fine!

The first one was kind of sprung on me, because several attempts at induction failed. Second time I was terrified because I knew what to expect but when I came up from theatre with my beautiful new baby, I had the courage of a lion and I was ready to do it again. Which I did!!

Hope it all goes amazingly well for you! x

countbackfromten · 28/11/2023 23:43

Anaesthetist here who has done more c-sections than I can count. We are absolutely used to every type of reaction imaginable, I have held hands, stroked hair, talked the whole way through…honestly we are prepared for anything. And obstetric anaesthetists tend to be at the lovelier end of the spectrum and just want to help make your special day as happy as possible!! (I am a bit biased as an obstetric anaesthetist but I try to make every section as special as it can be)

Original poster
iverreacted · 29/11/2023 17:07

countbackfromten · 28/11/2023 23:43

Anaesthetist here who has done more c-sections than I can count. We are absolutely used to every type of reaction imaginable, I have held hands, stroked hair, talked the whole way through…honestly we are prepared for anything. And obstetric anaesthetists tend to be at the lovelier end of the spectrum and just want to help make your special day as happy as possible!! (I am a bit biased as an obstetric anaesthetist but I try to make every section as special as it can be)

Yes that's true,

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