Reality had hit. She’s coming. This is my last Sunday before I become a mum.

[SexlessBoulderBelly]

33+2 today. Baby will be here before Friday. I get given my c section date tomorrow.

I am terrified, absolutely terrified. My anxiety hasn’t been this bad since I was about 17. I am a wreck. I’m scared that something will happen to her, I’m scared she will have complications. I’m then scared something will happen to me and I won’t get to see her. I’m scared of leaving her and DP. I sort of just want it over and done with but also want to keep her cooking for as long as possible.

When booked for a c-section do you get admitted the night before or do you just go in on the day of? I’m scared about staying in hospital on my own.

I can’t answer your question about c-sections but I just wanted to give you my good wishes. I’m sorry you are feeling so anxious. It’s quite normal first time around but I can see why your situation would ramp this up. Have you spoken to your midwife or anyone else at the hospital about it? They are pretty good at dealing with it in my experience. I hope all goes well for you this week.

@Ohdeariedear
I couldn’t think of anything to ask while I was there as I was so nervous. But now I’ve been home and sat down to think about it I have a million. I need to write them down as I just draw a blank when I get to the hospital as I’m just waiting for all the information.

Thank you for your wishes

Oh I remember the feeling going in the night before I was due to be induced. Terrified. I'd never been in hospital and as it's your 1st you have no idea what to expect. All I can say is we were all fine and it's not as scary second time round. Try hard to relax- deep breathes, you will be well looked after and soon you'll be a mummy having your first Christmas with your little one.

I don't know about c sections, but my son was born at a similar age by induction. He spent a week in the neonatal unit before coming home. No further complications and he's now a strapping 9 year old. There was a lady whose baby was in there after she'd had a section and they simply wheeled her down in her bed after she was stitched up so she could see him. They later got her a wheelchair.

I was terrified of being in hospital on my own but actually it wasn't bad at all. The maternity doesn't really shut down overnight so there's always a feeling of people being nearby and you have a button to press if you need any help. They'll probably keep you near the nurses station with having a section so they can keep an eye on you. I also got a private room as with not having my son they didn't want to upset me.

I know it's hard and fear of the unknown is tough but they don't evict babies unless they will get on better outside. Wishing you all the best

Writing them all down is good. Just write a heading of ‘I am anxious about....’ and then list them all - big and small. Give it to whoever is looking after you and it will help them help you.

Like Piixxiiee, I was taken in to be induced - in fact, I was kept in after a normall clinic appt as I had high BP. I was inconsolable and terrified, DP had to bring all my stuff in that night as all I had was the clothes I was wearing and my handbag! So I understand the anxiety!!

Why is your baby being delivered early?

Hope all goes well for you.

I get it, on pg 3 but this will be my first preterm delivery in a couple of weeks, and I remember the first time anxiety as well.
If it helps, having done this before I’m also really excited!
The labour bit will be over before you know it and I have never felt so clever and wonderful as when I saw my beautiful baby for the first time- happiest thing ever
Soon you will be holding your baby, the waiting game of pregnancy will be over, and, this time round, we will have a great excuse to do nothing over Christmas except eat and cuddle and feed new baby.
All the best op

Oh OP, it's totally normal to feel this even without dealing with the tough news she's coming early.

For my c section I went in that morning at about 7 and she was out by 9.30. DH had to leave that night by 8ish and I spent two nights in hospital (with my elected more with the emergency).

I have some practical tips that may help you plan and feel more in control.

Prepare for not being able to move loads after the section, make sure you get people to help you as much as you can to get up etc as it's tough. Also keep on the morphin as long as you can, they suggested it can affect breast milk and make baby sleepy but I found it didn't and that my pain management was just as important.

Get a big water bottle that will keep you going rather than using cups that need constant filling. And also some snacks to have by your bedside.

Get huge pants, and go up a few sizes I.e if you're a 12 normally get 16 and ones that are high waisted, like granny pants. you won't want anything near your scar. Maternity leggings also fab for the first few days after.

I felt pretty good a week after my planned section, but just take it easy, it's major surgery and often gets viewed as 'easy option' but it's not.

I really hope that you can try relax a little and wish you all the best

It's natural to be scared and anxious. The staff at the hospital will know that and will talk you through what to expect.

If it's any comfort, my son was delivered by section at the same stage. I had pre-eclampsia and had been in hospital for close monitoring for just over a week when they announced at breakfast that he'd be delivered by lunchtime. He was 3lb 15oz, healthy and needed no interventions.
He's now 17 and 6'3".

Sometimes you arrive on the day for c-sections, but you need to be nil by mouth before in case they need to put you right under (check) otherwise it's routine for them and you hopefully will be discharged fairly quickly, at 34 weeks they are pretty developed usually

I've had two sections (one emergency, one elective) and have found both to be pretty ok to be honest. Yes, it's sore and you can't move around much but I was up and about (slowly) quickly and as long as I took painkillers regularly it was all quite manageable.

DS1 was taken straight to SCBU and it was quite difficult not having him with me. I had to wait until I had movement in my legs to go and visit him which took a few hours and then I went down in a wheelchair. I expressed colostrum for him as he was tube fed initially. After 24 hours he was well enough to join me on the transitional care unit. It might be worth asking if your hospital has one?

That was probably the most difficult part but I spent lots of time with him in SCBU and it had no impact on our bond. I also breastfed him for 18 months so despite the tricky start it was possible to breastfeed so if that I'd something you want it is still possible with a bit of perseverance. The hospital lent me a pump whilst I was in and he had a mixture of formula and expressed milk until I could pump enough for him to move to expressed only. As he got better we transitioned to the breast.

I have had two friends deliver around the 32/33 week mark and both babies had fairly short stays in NICU/SCBU before coming home with no ill effects. Obviously I don't know the reasons why baby is being delivered early but I hope that's a bit reassuring.

They want to deliver early because my placenta isn’t working very well and she’s dropped off the growth chart, well below the bottom line now.

Thank you for all the reassurance, it’s helped calm me a little knowing it’s a pretty common occurrence.

I’m excited to have her here definitely. I have just completely worn myself out with worry and just want it all done and over with now.

One of my friends had almost the exact same situation. Baby did have to stay in hospital for a few weeks as he needed to put on some weight after struggling a bit on the inside. He didn't need significant support otherwise though and is now home and fine! He's still a bit small but he's catching up and meeting his milestones!

Best of luck OP, let us know how you get on.

Oh and my friend also managed to establish breastfeeding and is still feeding 8 months later so again, if that's something you want, it is still possible.

Hi OP. My dd was born at 29 weeks for exactly the same reasons.

All the things that helped me...

Knowing girls have a better outcome from nnu on average
I was told that babies like dd tend to do better as there is usually just a growth issue rather than 'something' wrong
The csection was honestly fine. In fact, looking back, I preferred it to the natural delivery. Recovery was relatively quick because she was so small.

You will be pushed into breastfeeding (I was going to anyway, but I overheard some mothers in the unit and they found the idea difficult). I was asked to harvest colostrum the days running up the csection.
In regards bf. Babies were encouraged to breastfeed (without syringe feeding at every feed) from 32 weeks gestation. As that's when the suck reflex develops I think). We managed to breastfeed! I was in 5 days before they finally delivered. They kept a v close eye and lots of scans. They were waiting for cots in nnu.

My dd was a micro preemie so had lots of extra intervention because of that. However we had a relatively easy time in there. She was healthy. Just teeny.

She is 6.5 now and wow what a personality! Totally healthy but still only just on the growth chart. But I think we've been unlucky there as most babies show catch up growth before 4.

Huge good luck! Be prepared for an emotional few weeks. We were in 8 in total (so came home around 36-37 weeks at corrected gestation) and came out the day she was heavy enough to get out of the incubator. I think they were frustrated as she was healthy, just too small to go home.

Big hugs