[eleven]

Hi Ladies,

I am a devout coward and terrified of my planned c section tomorrow. Our baby is measuring really big ( 4 weeks ahead) and I'm full term so I don't have a choice.

I've been told I'll have an epidural or spinal but I'm really worried about still being able to feel and hear whats going on.

If you've had a c section, please let me know what to expect.

Thank you!

[Zanbam]

I haven't had one but just wanted to say I'm sure it will be fine and GOOD LUCK!!! I'm sure you are looking forward to your first cuddles with bub so maybe try to focus on that.

[soontobegran]

Not long until you meet your baby...how cool is that
You will expect to be nervous and that is normal, try to take lots of deep breaths and concentrate on the little person who will be in your arms very soon.
Hopefully you will have a really chilled Anaesthetist and midwife as they are usually pretty good at distraction but ask questions if you have them and if you don't understand what is going on tell them so! Depending on if you feel stressed or not your anaesthetist may offer a light sedative but most will not require this so you will be perfectly lucid and be able to talk normally and hear the chatter. Your obstetrician will usually explain as he/she goes.

You will go into theatre or the anaesthetic room and meet your anaesthetist ( you may have already met him/her) where he will get you to sit on the edge of the bed and he will do your spinal/epidural. Your partner most often will be asked to wait outside whilst this happens and he will be called in when you are lying on the table all prepped and ready to go. You will have an IV in and you may have oxygen cannulae in your nostrils. Your arms will be resting on boards beside you and a screen will be put up in front of your face so you can not see what is going on although some mums like to see.

It is a very short time now until you meet your baby, you will feel pushing and prodding but no pain, it may feel uncomfortable if your baby is firmly wedged but it should not hurt. Again if you have a hold of your partner's hand and talk to each other it will pass very quickly.
What happens after the birth will depend on the hospital and your doctor and the condition of your baby but if all is well then skin to skin on your chest is most often possible after a quick check up from the paediatrician.
After your baby is in your arms you will probably be blissfully unaware of anything else happening and you will be sewn up before you know it.
You will go into recovery where you will stay on average an hour and then back to your room with your baby if all is well.

Lots of luck for tomorrow.

[tres-chic]

I've had two and both were good experiences.

Of course you're nervous. It can be daunting being wheeled into an operating room with all the machinery and lights, etc. But don't worry, I'm sure everyone in the theatre will do their utmost to make you feel safe and in good hands.

If you have the sheet up and someone with you, your partner, parent or friend, just hold their hand and talk to them and the anaesthetist and it'll be over before you know it.

The only discomfort I felt was the needle (and it didn't hurt at all, just a weird sensation and it was hard to sit very still) and the pushing of them getting the baby out.

You will be fine and congratulations in advance!

[Koobie83]

Good luck! This is my first so I can't share any personal stories with you. How exciting! I'm sure you will be fine!

[Rolex]

Never had a c/s but I just wanted to say good luck!!
How exciting to be meeting your little one today!

[eleven]

Not long until you meet your baby...how cool is that
You will expect to be nervous and that is normal, try to take lots of deep breaths and concentrate on the little person who will be in your arms very soon.
Hopefully you will have a really chilled Anaesthetist and midwife as they are usually pretty good at distraction but ask questions if you have them and if you don't understand what is going on tell them so! Depending on if you feel stressed or not your anaesthetist may offer a light sedative but most will not require this so you will be perfectly lucid and be able to talk normally and hear the chatter. Your obstetrician will usually explain as he/she goes.

You will go into theatre or the anaesthetic room and meet your anaesthetist ( you may have already met him/her) where he will get you to sit on the edge of the bed and he will do your spinal/epidural. Your partner most often will be asked to wait outside whilst this happens and he will be called in when you are lying on the table all prepped and ready to go. You will have an IV in and you may have oxygen cannulae in your nostrils. Your arms will be resting on boards beside you and a screen will be put up in front of your face so you can not see what is going on although some mums like to see.

It is a very short time now until you meet your baby, you will feel pushing and prodding but no pain, it may feel uncomfortable if your baby is firmly wedged but it should not hurt. Again if you have a hold of your partner's hand and talk to each other it will pass very quickly.
What happens after the birth will depend on the hospital and your doctor and the condition of your baby but if all is well then skin to skin on your chest is most often possible after a quick check up from the paediatrician.
After your baby is in your arms you will probably be blissfully unaware of anything else happening and you will be sewn up before you know it.
You will go into recovery where you will stay on average an hour and then back to your room with your baby if all is well.

Lots of luck for tomorrow.

Thanks so much for the details... knowledge is power! xx


This post has been edited by eleven: 17/01/2013, 11:09 AM

[purple_daisy]

I had one with an epidural.

You can feel a tugging sensation when they are taking the baby out but it DOES NOT HURT. The best way I can describe it is if your leg went to sleep and you gave it a massage while it is numb - you can feel that something is touching you but it doesn't hurt and is not at all uncomfortable.
As for hearing what is going on, don't worry there is no gross squelching or ripping sounds or anything like that You can hear the doctors talking to each other, in my case they were talking about what a busy night it was and in one way their calm chatter made me feel better as I knew nothing bad was happening to make them panic.

Like a PP said, once you hear a cry or are told that the baby is out you will probably just be so blissful you won't even mind your surroundings. I had this happen - in an emergency c-section situation where there was serious concern for DD's heart - I heard the cry and this tremendous sense of calm just enveloped me. I've never felt anything like it. I was just happy and content and didn't even care that I was on an operating table or had tubes in my arm. I didn't even mind when they took DD and DH to the NICU, as I was just so happy.

Good luck, and hope that helps - nerves are normal but you will feel no pain, see nothing gross, hear nothing gross, and within 10 minutes or so of the curtain going up your baby should be out!

[lovemy32]

Hi Terrified! I've had two caesers now and the worst part about it all is the bit you're going through now - waiting!!
My only bit of advice is for after the caeser and that is to take pain relief at the scheduled time. I used to ring the bell every 4 hrs and ask for my medication. I found that if i let the pain get too bad it took too long to be relieved - whereas when I made sure I had it at the scheduled time I had no pain.
Also, use the hospital beds to your advantage! Raise them right up when you putting bub into bassinet etc, and use the dangly thing above your head to help you sit and roll. I wanted to take the hospital bed home with me!!
Good luck!! X

[libbylu]

The c-section itself was not so bad - a bit of a tugging sensation, but it's all over very quickly.
I found the recovery difficult. Make sure you have lots of help lined up as it can be quite painful to move much for the first week or two.