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

My elective csection on wednesday and I'm petrified ive had 2 emerg sections before

20 replies

imachicken · 10/05/2008 10:39

I have had 2 emergency c-sections before and been fine but for some reason as this one is planned I'm worried out of my mind thinking somthing will go wrong, or there will be a problem with the baby or the epidural, or I will die... its becoming out of control my erratic thoughts are losing me vital rest and sleep and my dh is starying to worry bout my state of mind, not to mention ds1 and ds2!!! strange you would of thought I would be more relaxed this time but not so.... anyone out there have comparisons with emerg and planned sections??? thanks guys xxx

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

chipmonkey · 10/05/2008 11:35

imachicken, I had my 4th (elective)CS 10 days ago, the 2 prior to that were emergencies and I have to say, it was a fabulous experience! The anaesthesist had the time to explain everything, dh was there at my head and they lifted ds4 up over the screen immediately to let me see him. I was very anxious about it beforehand, as you have found, having time to think about it is not very helpful!

bringmesunshine · 10/05/2008 11:40

imachicken - you will be fine. I have had 2 maternal choice electives, both were lovely, calm positive experiences. Not had an emergency section so can't compare but friends say it is a little fraught

Keep busy in the run-up and maybe get your toes painted and bikini line waxed in preparation

Dragonbutter · 10/05/2008 11:46

Your feelings are perfectly normal.
I had an emergency c-section first time around and it was horrific. I worried that the elective with DS2 would be horrible but it wasn't. Very calm and controlled.
Your worries about complications are normal, it's just called being informed. I have to admit to writing a letter to DS1 the night before i went in to hospital, just in case
Bringme is right, try to keep busy to take your mind off it if you can.

FloridaKbear · 10/05/2008 11:46

It will be a calm experience, different to the emergency scenario. The baby will not be stressed, the radio will be on or your favourite CD, the surgeon will talk to you and explain what is going on, there will be lots of wonderful people in the room all calmly doing what they need to do and your baby will be in your arms before you know it. It is nothing like an emergency c-section where the priority is getting the baby out quickly.

Good luck!

johnworf · 10/05/2008 11:47

Hi ladies. I'm down for an elective C Section and must say, very apprehensive about it. LIke imachicken I have all those thoughts about dying/it going wrong etc. Nice to read some positive experiences on here which is a comfort.

What is it like after the op? Is it immediate pain after the anaesthetic wears off? How many days are you kept in hospital? How long is the agony of the scar? Oh, and do I have to shave off my ladygarden beforehand?

FloridaKbear · 10/05/2008 11:49

I was uncomfortable after but couldn't describe it as pain. They get you out of bed the next day and that was a definite ouch but hold your tummy, take your time and move slowly and the day after that is much better. They give you pain relief regularly and if they don't ask for it!

Hope you've all bought your big high waister knickers from Primark!!

Dragonbutter · 10/05/2008 11:50

For the pain, I made sure i requested lots of pain relief before it was necessarily offered. And i requested lots of oromorph to allow me to get up and about quickly. They don't offer it, you have to ask.

Hospital stay is usually between 3-5 days.

Pain improves over a 6 week period.

Yes, shave the top bit. Or get DH to do it.

redadmiral · 10/05/2008 11:52

Just to say that I think it's normal - was for me anyway. I also had several doctors and midwives during the pregnancy making a big thing about the risks in a way they didn't when they were telling me to have a cs (emergency) with DD1.

Planned CSs are much safer than emergency ones, and mine went so smoothly. I also had a very calm and happy baby - think she preferred it too.

Can you get a professional to reassure you? Any chance of something like hypnotherapy? In any case, I agree keep busy.

redadmiral · 10/05/2008 11:55

PS, apart from asking for painkillers in the night after the op (don't really even remember being in pain, but must have been a little) I literally had no post-op pain the second time. I only took the voltarol as I don't like the codeine one, and didn't need it.

bringmesunshine · 10/05/2008 11:56

I have had 2, never laboured so can't compare it to that but I found it to be great

Immediately after the op, legs are still numb from spinal block so you have to be moved about etc, you will have a catheter in to collect your wee and use that call bell if you need anything! I remember with DC1 I saw a bubble in my drip bag and was convinced it was about to kill me so rang the bell like a woman possessed. Very experienced nurse told me I would be fine

I stayed in for 3 days with both sections, I did try to get myself discharged early with DC2 as was bored with hospital and wanted to go home but stayed in in the end. I didn't have infections, problems with stiches etc etc and was back driving after 2 weeks with both DC. Found I recovered really really quickly with section # 2 and lifted DC1 up who was 2 years old on day 2 without problem...not suggesting you try it but just so you know.

Oh and do go and get a bikini wax...less itchy when regrowth appears and gives surgeon a clear sight so you get a straight scar I also didn't fancy a shaving session down there from a busy nurse!

minster · 10/05/2008 12:47

They put diamorphine into my spinal so I had no pain at all for 24 hours - after that I just had paracetamol (with my emergency I needed oromorph for a few days). An elective is completely different, mine was fabulous

johnworf · 10/05/2008 12:56

Wow, I'm feeling much better already about this Thanks ladies!

redadmiral · 10/05/2008 13:39

If it's your first do you know that you can ask for skin to skin contact asap, etc? Have you checked out the threads re bf after a cs? It's perfectly possible, but a little awareness of what will help is a good thing. I asked for all that but in the theatre it didn't happen, but was fine as we did it immediately afterwards in the recovery room.

Good luck.

chipmonkey · 10/05/2008 14:22

Deffo do the bikini line! I didn't and have ended up with gluey stuff from the dressing attached to my pubes! I thid think it would be done in hospital as it was when I had ds1 but obviously times have changed!

minster · 10/05/2008 15:51

Yup if you want skin to skin in theatre make sure they take your arms out of the gown before they start - they just lay the gown across you then it's easy to pop the baby in.

With my ds they cut the cord long (about 5 inches), brought him to me (about half a second later, we have loads of pictures of him actualy being born - hand first then head ) and put him under my gown with a blanket on top & popped a hat on him. I held him like that for about 15 minutes (I had a lot of damage from previous botched section that my lovely OB cleared up) then dh took him to the heating table, dh cut the cord and they weighed him, dh dressed him then brought him back to me where he remained tucked up until we got to recovery. I fed him lying on my side in recovery, then dh had a cuddle while I had something to eat.

Once we were back on the ward I fed him again (rugby ball hold is really good after a section, especially if you're amply blessed ), then my mum came & helped me have a shower and get changed. I kept the canula & catheter in for 12 hours because I was having trouble drinking enough & they wanted to keep an eye on my fluid balance but was still able to hobble to the shower 5 hours after the spinal was put in.

I was feeling well enough to leave the evening of the next day but stayed in longer because ds was jaundice. It was so lovely, I can't wait to do it again

yurt1 · 10/05/2008 15:54

I was petrified before my third. Absolutely terrified. I downed homeopathic aconite, and told the anaethetist I was terrified who was lovely.
It was probably my best section in the end.

johnworf · 10/05/2008 17:12

I do plan to BF so I'll look out the thread.

I hadn't realised that I could ask for skin to skin immediately afterwards. I thought she'd be whisked away from me so they could do all the things they usually do after they're born (or they did when I had my first 3).

It's sounds lovely that my DH can get involved too - I had visions of him sat there like a spare part whilst they all did what they had to to our baby! Fantastic

cass66 · 10/05/2008 19:28

I'm in the same boat, due an elective after 2 emergency sections. and I feel more worried about it than I did before the other 2. something to do with consenting to an operation I think, even though it's the best thing for all of us. but I have friends who have said the same thing, that it is much nicer and more relaxed etc.

will ask re the skin to skin contact though, missed out on that last 2 times, although had no problems with bonding and breast feeding.

good luck, Cass.

VictorianSqualor · 10/05/2008 20:07

I had mt third section nearly four weeks ago, my second ELCS and I knew exactly what I was going in for yet was still absolutely crapping my pants (Excuse the expression!)

It's normal to be nervous, I spent the whole morning crying in the hospital room ready to go home, and was really nervous whilst in the prep for theatre having my epidural etc.

I'd say explain to the people looking after you how nervous you are, they'll do their best to help, they see it all the time.
Also have you prepared a birth plan? You can have one for a CS as well you know and they are pretty good at doing as you ask.

The anaesthetist at ours made sure everyone knew to be quiet as I wanted DP to sex the baby and they did, he was literally pulled out of me, as the sheet came down and put straight onto me with a towel wrapped over him so we could have skin-to-skin whilst he was warm, DP was allowed to but the cord too, not actually cut it to seperate me and baby, but to trim it off, he got blood in my eye though MW latched him straight on for me in recovery as well, within minutes of him being born, so if you want to bf it's totally possible.

johnworf · 11/05/2008 07:07

Still chuckling at 'blood in the eye' moment. Hope you got a pic

Flip