Scared of c-section

[wish2havbaby]

I am so scared of having a c-section. I am 21weeks pregnant with triplets.
Need some inspirational stories. Please help me get through this.

xoxo

 

[Louppey]

I had an elective c-section, it was an amazing experience. Here's my birth story...

Spoiler

My Caesarean Section – 01 February 2011

I didn’t allow myself to think about what was happening that day. I weighed myself in the morning, first time I’d done it pretty much since I had gotten pregnant. 16 stone and 10 pounds. Blimey! That’ll be all the laughing cow cheese I ate in first trimester!! I got Neil to take some photos of me with my bump. It was massive! I was disappointed though, as he was obviously nervous so all of the photos came out blurry.

We left home just before 7am and I took some tablets in the car that I had been given as a pre med and with that my last sip of water until after the section. We got to the hospital at 7:20am ish and we were the first ones there! Immediately it seemed to be all go – I had someone come and ask me if I knew my weight, which obviously I did so I told her. They also gave me a hospital gown to wear and they went through some questions and queries about my health. All the staff were friendly and they put me at ease. Even at this point, I don’t think I quite believed what I was there for. I just sort of went along with it. It didn’t feel like I was about to meet my baby. A doctor came round and scanned me, to make sure the baby was still breech and then they listened to the heartbeat. I was then told me I would be going first!!! There were two other women there, and I honestly couldn’t believe I had been picked to go first.

Around 8:30am, I think, I started going down to the operating room. Neil had to wait on the ward until after I had had my spinal block so the nurse said she’d be back to collect him later.

I walked to the operating room with two other nurses, and we were chatting away, I was telling them I didn’t know the sex and I couldn’t wait to find out. I also told them I thought I was having a boy. I felt fine, I was chatting and was happy. Until I walked into the operating theatre. I suddenly become a shaking mess. I wanted Neil! I didn’t want to be in here all by myself!! I was asked to lie on the operating table, which I done. It was cold and really thin. The anaesthetist gave me a local anaesthetic in my hand, which felt like a sharp scratch. Funnily enough the most painful part of the whole operation! She then inserted my drip and strapped a blood pressure band to my arm which kept pumping up and going down I guess to keep a constant check on my blood pressure. I imagine it was through the roof!! They then told me they needed to do the spinal block. I had to lay on the operating table on my side and curl my legs up into my stomach. Very difficult with the size of bump I had!! I was shaking like a leaf and they said I needed to try and stop. A lovely nurse held my hand and I realised I needed to stop shaking for the spinal or else something may go wrong. I instantly stopped shaking and I just breathed in and out and focused on that. It was soon over and I didn’t feel a thing. They said I needed to turn over so I was on my back again. Again another difficult thing to do with a huge bump on such a small thin table!! I managed it though and then the spinal started to kick in. It was like my feet, then my legs were being dipped in warm syrup. They felt heavy, and warm and toasty. It was a lovely feeling! I was then laid there stressing out completely and I so wanted my Husband to be there. Suddenly he was, and the second I saw him I welled up. It was such a relief.

The spinal went up past my boobs, the anaesthetist ran an ice cube up from my feet to my neck and asked me to tell her when I could feel it. It was literally just above my boobs, I couldn’t believe it went up so far!

Neil was stressed, naturally. I remember he said he felt faint. So I tried to take his mind off of what was going on. I was asking him what he was going to have for lunch! I think I may have even apologised for not making him a lunch that morning!! I think Neil told me to be quiet, that they had started, and I remember saying “what, they’ve started” and one of the Doctors replied yes they had! I couldn’t believe it, I couldn’t feel anything!! I remember them breaking my waters, Neil said it was everywhere, all over the floor… then the surgeon said “I see a foot” I had a complete rush of excitement and amazement. Very very soon after that my baby was out… I saw a flash of my little one over the screen and I thought I saw lady parts! I had so much running through my mind, surely I couldn’t have seen that! I was carrying a boy! They then showed us the babies “business end” and sure enough – lady bits!!!! Both myself and Neil just sat there stunned, worried to say it’s a girl just in case we were wrong. They then said, “It’s a girl” and both of us were in tears. Neil sort of collapsed his head into mine, and we both sort of cuddled (as much as you can when you’re on an operating table unable to move properly) and Neil kept saying “we’ve got our girl” in my ear. I couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t. I wanted to see her! I wanted my baby girl right that instant. They took her off, but Neil watched her. They weighed her, 9 lbs 9 ½ ozs. Then they brought her round to a table where I could see her while they measured her, 53.5 cm. They then asked us if we have a name, I shakily said “Coralie Elyse” and they made up her hospital bracelets and put them on. I remember I had to tell them how we were spelling Elyse!

She was then bundled in a towel and laid on my chest for skin to skin. I looked into her eyes, which were like little puffy slits in her chubby face and I fell in love. Love like I had never felt before in my entire life. She looked back at me and put out her hand and felt my face. She put her fingers in my mouth and pulled on my bottom lip. I just stared at her, I’ve never felt a feeling like it. Every emotion possible flooded through me, too much for me to contain, and I instantly felt a strong bond with her. I had never loved anything so much or wanted anything so much. I just wanted to cuddle her, I never wanted to let her go. She was all mine, I had created her, she had lived inside of me for nine months and now she was here. I just couldn’t contain the love that just wanted to pour out of me for her.

Sadly I had to let the nurses take her, I didn’t want to, but I needed to be stitched up and moved back to recovery. The nurses popped her in one of those plastic crib things, and Neil was asked to wheel her back to the ward. I imagine a nurse accompanied him back, but if I’m being completely honest I don’t remember as I was just in a complete daze.

The surgeon finished stitching me up, I think it took around 20-30 minutes all in all and then they transferred me over to a hospital bed for me to be taken back to recovery. It was at this point I realised exactly how much amniotic fluid I had been carrying around with me! It was everywhere!! Right up my back, my gown was soaked, and all in my hair. Yuk! The nurses dried me off as much as possible, which I had to be naked for! How embarrassing! Although as I said to them, no doubt you’ve seen it all before! We all laughed about it and they gave me a new gown and I was wheeled off to the recovery ward.

I couldn’t wait to see Coralie and Neil again, and I just wanted to jump off the bed and run to see them. Of course, I couldn’t, still being numb from the chest down and having just had a caesarean. However that is what I wanted to do. When we eventually got there (it felt like a lifetime to get there) and I clapped eyes on Neil again I was so happy. Coralie was still in her plastic crib and she was crying so I said to Neil to get her out. Bless him, he hadn’t known if he was allowed! Neil gingerly took her out of the crib and walked around bobbing her a little to try and settle her down, and when he had settled her brought her over to me and sat next to me in the chair cuddling her so I could see my gorgeous girl properly again.

It was all go in recovery; I had a nurse with me pretty much constantly for an hour or so, checking my blood pressure, temperature etc. She also got a cup of tea for both Neil and I, I had to use a straw to drink mine. I didn’t drink that much of it to be honest, as I was too busy watching my baby girl to even think about drinking tea.

After about 30 minutes the nurses moved me onto my side so I could start breastfeeding. Something which I was never that sure I wanted to do, but the second she started suckling it felt like the most natural thing in the world and I still miss that feeling now, as I sadly had to stop breastfeeding her after a week due to various issues.

Eventually we were moved to the ward, where I spent the next two days before being allowed home. That first day I just spent the whole time staring at Coralie, and cuddling her. Inhaling her “new baby” scent and constantly trying to tell myself that she was my Daughter. I miss those newborn cuddles now, a wriggly five month old just doesn’t want those lovely snugly cuddles anymore.

Coralie amazed me when I met her, and she has amazed me even more every day since. I cannot wait to see her grow up, and be there for her every step of the way…

 

[Kyla]

I had to have an emergency c-section. Having a c-section was a massive, massive fear of mine for I can understand your nerves. I was dreading it and when I was told that I needed to have one, I just burst into tears and thought I'd have a panic attack. I was convinced when I was being wheeled down to theatre that I'd pass out.
I had just about every fear there was.... of having the spinal block and not being able to move my legs, of lying there in theatre with the surgeons around etc etc.

In reality, it was absolutely fine. I was very very well looked after, the theatre staff was amazing, I hardly felt the spinal and my legs were ok. This is a big deal for me because I am such a chicken. A planned section is more calm than an emergency one for the patient, and because you're having triplets it's going to be fantastic with the distractions of them being born. Once baby was out, my mind forgot about what was happening completely and I felt very relaxed.

After the op the anaesthetist came round to ask if they could've done more to help me and there wasn't anything I could think of, they were fab and if I get pregnant in future and have to have a c-section, I'll be cool with it. And that is a huge progress from where I was before my induction.

Congratulations and good luck with your triplets

 

[LDC]

As with pp mine was an emergency section and again, I was previously terrified of having a section. I didn't prepare at all, do any reading or anything as it hadn't crossed my mind that I'd be having one. I'm glad I didn't read or watch videos or anything as I think this might have worried me more.

As already said, a planned section will be much more relaxed than an emcs and I honestly found the experience wonderful. I felt nothing (my main fear was feeling everything) and the pulling and pushing that people talk of isn't that bad. As soon as baby is out then your attention is on them, and in your case you'll have three to focus on

I asked not to be told anything as I didn't want to think about what was happening and they were true to their word, although the surgeon did say "I can see baby and they have a LOT of hair!" But at the time that added to my excitement of baby nearly being here.

The staff were brilliant too and are so used to people being anxious and scared; I found the theatre staff much more calming that the labour staff if I'm honest.

My recovery has been good, slow but good, and I was very glad to get home as I'm sure you will be with three little babies!

My experience was that good that I'm electing for a planned section when we ttc again as my labour experience was horrific. I'd rather know whats happening and feel more settled.

Good luck Hun, you'll be fine

Xx

 

[wish2havbaby]

Thank your'll so much for your posts ladies. Your'll have given me hope and faith. It is nerve wrecking, to think I will be a awake while they are cutting me but I want to be awake to see my little ones and hold them as soon as they are out into the world.

I guess your'll are correct in saying, that my attention will be one my little ones, so I probably will be too busy to think about anything.

I thought the spinal is painful contrary to what your'll say.

Thank you for your wonderful birth stories.

 

[ladysarcasma]

Wow triplets! Congratulations!

Like the two above, I also had a very traumatic EMCS. You can probably find some of my posts talking about how scared I was that I was going to die during my c-section this time.

I spent a lot of time listening to a pre-surgery hypnosis recording I found on the internet. It made me feel a lot better. But I still freaked while I was going to the hospital and especially during prep. I upset the poor resident doctor who was trying to comfort me during my spinal. I was crying and she thought it was because I was afraid of the spinal. My doctor explained the problem and they were all really reassuring.

Honestly, the spinal did hurt me a lot. But I have problems with spinal anesthesia. I don't know if it's because of my scoliosis or what, but it almost always gets incorrectly placed and hurts badly. As I understand it, most people have no problem with it.

The rest of the surgery was awesome. I didn't lose ALL feeling in my legs as I had with the epidural I had the first time. I felt pressure which reassured me that I wasn't paralyzed. The doctors chatted and the anesthesiologist talked me through the entire thing. He was extremely reassuring and I'm so glad he was there. It was only a matter of a couple minutes before my baby was here, and closing up was nothing after he was born.

It stinks I spent so much time panicking about it for so many months! You'll be just fine, too

 

[wish2havbaby]

Thank url so much for your stories. This helped me so much. I hope I have the planned c-section and don't go in for an emergency section.

Thanks ladies.

 

[Lil_Pixie]

Triplets, congratulations!!

I had an emcs but it wasn't so much an emergency. It was about an hr from the desicion being made to my son being morn but it wasn't an emergency iykwim? Baby just wasn't budging but we were well.

I'd said from day one I didn't want an epidural because the thought of someone putting. Needle into my spine makes my teeth tingle (nails in a chalkboard style lol) honestly it didn't hurt me at all. They put a bit of local anaesthetic in first which is obviously just like a regular little injection, not painful at all. I didn't really feel the spinal at all. I think I felt like a little zap which made me twitch but definitely no pain.

The section itself the thing that suprise me the most was they sprayed this cold cold spray up my body to make sure I was numb and I could still feel it all te way up, but over my bump to my boobs it wasn't cold. I was really panicking thinking if I felt that I'll feel them cutting me and I was super worried but I didn't feel anything like that at all.

Some people say its like someone washing up in your tummy, for me it was more like someone jumping up and down on my belly and I found it hard to breathe, but my son was almost 10 lb and his head was wedged, I can't imagine it'd feel like that with little triplets!

The staff all made me feel very relaxed. The surgeons were quiet for the most part but everyone else was chatting and relaxed, the man that was checking my bp and stuff stayed right by my head and talked to me the whole time telling me what was going on and that everything was perfect. And then later all the staff were shouting out guesses on the baby's weight

I know you didn't ask but my recovery was very very easy too.

 

[wish2havbaby]

Triplets, congratulations!!

I had an emcs but it wasn't so much an emergency. It was about an hr from the desicion being made to my son being morn but it wasn't an emergency iykwim? Baby just wasn't budging but we were well.

I'd said from day one I didn't want an epidural because the thought of someone putting. Needle into my spine makes my teeth tingle (nails in a chalkboard style lol) honestly it didn't hurt me at all. They put a bit of local anaesthetic in first which is obviously just like a regular little injection, not painful at all. I didn't really feel the spinal at all. I think I felt like a little zap which made me twitch but definitely no pain.

The section itself the thing that suprise me the most was they sprayed this cold cold spray up my body to make sure I was numb and I could still feel it all te way up, but over my bump to my boobs it wasn't cold. I was really panicking thinking if I felt that I'll feel them cutting me and I was super worried but I didn't feel anything like that at all.

Some people say its like someone washing up in your tummy, for me it was more like someone jumping up and down on my belly and I found it hard to breathe, but my son was almost 10 lb and his head was wedged, I can't imagine it'd feel like that with little triplets!

The staff all made me feel very relaxed. The surgeons were quiet for the most part but everyone else was chatting and relaxed, the man that was checking my bp and stuff stayed right by my head and talked to me the whole time telling me what was going on and that everything was perfect. And then later all the staff were shouting out guesses on the baby's weight

I know you didn't ask but my recovery was very very easy too.

Hi

Thank you so much. Thank you for telling me that your recovery was easy too, because I am terrified about it. Thinking about not being mobile and being able to do things. So it feels like someone bouncing on your tummy, not so bad. Atleast I wont feel the knife.

kind regards

 

[minnieoxox]

My birth story is down there if you want to read it I had an emergancy section, my labour was horrible and I had to be put to sleep but the recovery and pain is alot less than you would think, and you will be as good as new in no time!! Don't worry you will realise all this worrying is for nothing

 

[wish2havbaby]

My birth story is down there if you want to read it I had an emergancy section, my labour was horrible and I had to be put to sleep but the recovery and pain is alot less than you would think, and you will be as good as new in no time!! Don't worry you will realise all this worrying is for nothing

Thank you for sharing your story with me. Congrats on a beautiful baby girl. Your experience was abit scary, but the good thing is knowing that you made it through the process. Helps me prepare myself.

Kind regards