Is Anyone Not Scared to Death of a C-section?

Giving birth either way is a scary thing! When I had my c-section 9 years ago I was scared to death, but to me a c-section is so much easier than actually having labor! Just think, you just have to lay there and let the Dr. do all the work! Good luck to you and it will be fine and you will be so glad you did it this way!

With my eight year old I had a vaginal delivery and I thought the same would happen with my nine month old. I had to end up having a c-section because he got stuck on his left side and his heart rate was accelerating. I was scared at first but I realized it was for the best. With the spinal it was hard for me to breathe because it numbed my whole body (the anesthesiologist went in a little too far with the needle) but once I saw my baby I was over excited.
I wish you the best of luck. Congratulations!!!

No I was not scared to have a c-section with my 2nd child. I CHOSE to have one. It was not medically necessary, but I requested it to my doctor at the beginning of my pregnancy. I was also going to have my tubes tied as well. She and I had many discussions on the procedure, I did my research and a few months before my due date we agreed that a c-section was the way we were going to go. With my oldest child I ended up with a bad case of pre-eclampsia at 36 1/2 weeks, was in really bad shape, in the hospital with a kidney infection, swollen like the stay puft marshmallow man, my liver and kidneys were in major distress (more or less failing). They decided to induce at 37 weeks because if I did not get the medication I needed (couldn't be given to me while pregnant) I could start having seizures which could cause major problems for me and baby. My son was born 3 weeks early, luckily very healthy. I was in the hospital for a week and half, my son was actually discharged the day before me. After going home, I was down recovering for several weeks. When having my 2nd child, I had about a 25% chance of having pre-eclampsia again. My doctor monitored my pregnancy closely. At the appointment the day before my c-section they spotted protein in my urine, which is a sign of developing pre-eclampsia. Glad the c-section was the next day! My c-section and tubal with my 2nd son went off without a hitch. I was up moving around the next day and showering. I went home a few days later and my recovery was better than I ever thought possible. Only had a little pain if I laughed or sneezed, but was up moving around fine, climbing stairs etc. I actually got to spend my maternity leave loving, caring for and playing with my baby, rather than laying in the bed for weeks recovering like I did with my first. My scar is only about 4 inchese long is hardly even noticeable. C-section may not be for everyone, but it was the best decision I ever made for me and my son!

I had a horrible experience with my first emergency c-section (my epidural did not take, nor did the anesthesia given before they cut - I literally told them I could still feel them touching me and once they got in, I felt like they were tearing out my insides and putting them back in the wrong place, and then I threw up on the doctor). So move forward to my second...

My second (came early but still planned) was crazy smooth. I do remember going into the hospital having contractions and getting very nervous about the whole procedure due to the first. I was so nervous, I was shivering all over even with the warming blanket. But once they gave me the anesthesia I felt nothing but a little pressure when they docs got my little one out (in 15 minutes) and my tubes tied in 30 =) I was up walking the halls in a day and walking a mile within 2 weeks postpartum =)

I never ended up having a c-section, but ALMOST had one for 2 out of 3 pregnancies. The first time baby was coming out sunny side up. The second time, the baby had the cord wrapped so many times and so tightly around his neck he wasn't breathing in utero, and they almost cut me (he flopped at the last second and his heart started again).

My feelings toward c-sections... if it's best for baby, it's best for me. I would gladly have welcomed the surgery either of those times, because it would have meant saving my child's life. The way things are now, c-sections are easy breezy!! And think about your comment about being pregnant forever... after 41 weeks the placenta begins to deteriorate... your baby is FAR better off safe in your arms after a c-section that cooking too long :)

Talk to your OBGYN about your fears, they may be able to prescribe something to take the edge off. Good luck, best wishes, and CONGRATS!

My section was MUCH easier than my "natural" birth. My C section was an emergency c section when my son got his HUGE head stuck in the birth canal. I healed MUCH faster was up walking around that night. every 2 hrs to the NICU to feed him.
Don't be scared, with a c section your dr has much more control over what happens.
my natural birth was tramatic and life threatening, it was months before I was healed.

Wow Pamela, not everyone is able to deliver a baby naturally no matter how much they "educate" themselves. That is great that you are doing an at home VBAC but its not for everyone. Molly was simply asking if anyone was nervous before they had their second c-section, not asking for opinions if everyone thought it was right.

Best of luck to you Molly. I got nervous before my second C as well. I think its a part of being a mom & actually thinking about what is going on behind that sheet they hang up! You will do great! They end is SO worth it!

My first c-section was planned (Frank breech - BUTT FIRST). So, I had no choice in that matter and everything went great. Beyond great, from the start to finish.

Second time around I attempted a VBAC. Had an amazing natural birth experience - except for the actual birthing part.. LOL. 20+ hrs later he just didn't want to come out and I began to have sharp pains (different from labor) that I probably would not have felt had I had an epidural. Anyway, had another c-section (dr. noticed during the procedure that my uterus was paper thin and probably would have ruptured) But, it didn't - c-section went great from start to finish as well. I was never afraid. Not sure why? Love my dr.'s and my hospital. I guess, looking back, the only thing that really scared me the second time around was the thought that if something happened to me I wouldn't see my baby girl (2.5yo that was at home) again.. I was pretty emotional every time I looked at her picture. :-(

You are afraid because you know what to expect. The first time around we're like - huh? lol. EVERYTHING WILL BE FINE, in fact, GREAT!!! Congrats on your soon to be born baby!!

The spinal makes everybody's blood pressure drop. The anesthesiologist is trained to deal with that. I have had two c-sections (and will always have c-sections) and they both went beautifully. I had some pretty terrible anxiety the 2nd c-section because he couldn't get my incision to close because I kept vomiting. Other than that, though, everything went great. I was scared too because being awake for your own surgery is always very nerve-racking but just focus on that little baby and it will be over before you know it. When I looked into her little eyes for the first time, I forgot I was splayed open on a table like a fish! haha!

Congratulations and good luck Mommy!

I had the best experience with my first c-section (this baby is coming June 27, and I'm ready to go with that one). My mom had all four of us via c-section, so for me it was a normal thing to do. When I found out I was having twins and my doctor delivers twins through c-section, I was at ease. I was a little nervous the day of the surgery, but it really was a wonderful experience for me. A planned c-section is the way to go!

I've had three C-sections...was rather worried about the third but it went just as well as my other two no complications...Thank God! Your feelings are natural and very normal. Hang in there and Congrats.

My blood pressure does that too. Its a side effect from the epidural and also because of the position you are in when they do the c-section. With my last c-section, my blood pressure got really low and I started feeling nauseous , but the anesthesiologist was right there monitoring me and gave me some medicine to bring it right back up. I was really scared before all 3 of my c-sections, but my nurses and doctors were great and I took some relief knowing that I was in good hands with them. Your doctors are prepared for everything, and everything will be fine! Oh, and if it makes you feel better- my 2nd and 3rd c-sections were a piece of cake, recovery was pretty easy, my last one was only a month ago and I feel absolutely great! Good Luck and Congrats!!

I did not have a C-section but I have had major surgery and I will say that I was scared out of my mind waiting on surgery day with all the what if's, etc.

The worst part of the entire process was waiting til the day of surgery. The surgery was a breeze and I had remarkable recovery time.

Hang in there... you'll be just fine, trust your Dr's and don't feel bad about being scared of surgery. Yes, C-sections are very common and it is also very normal to be worried.

Congratulations on your new little one soon!

Hi Molly,

I had two C-sections. Any kind of surgery is scary. Don't beat yourself up about it. It is what it is. I was just as scared to have natural childbirth as I was to have a C-section. There are always risks, both ways, so don't overthink this. Normally I would suggest a glass of wine to calm you down but that's out, lol. Take a deep breath and realize that this is the only way to have your little precious bundle of joy. Remember too that your hormones are racing and you normally wouldn't be as fearful....

Congratulations on your little one! Can't wait to hear from you that all went well!

M.

CSections are scary, but think of it as just a cut to the abdominal walls that is elastic anyway to carry a baby. They have technology to stop you bleeding to death and if you think about it too much, you are making it worse for yourself, so try to picture your beautiful baby and not the surgery since you already had a c-section before and it was fine.

Pray before you go in for a peace of mind. That always helps. You will be fine!

My first baby was a c, and I tried to schedule my second child as a c, since I had a lot of issues going on, and a four day hospital stay sounded a lot like a vacation at the time, but my doc said no. (She always encourages her v-bac candidates to start out on labor first, and then goes to a c only if it turns out to be necessary.)

I suppose you have both the advantage of knowing exactly when your baby is coming, but the disadvantage of all of the "what-ifs." And that's fair, what-if's happen. But, what-ifs can happen in both situations. Right now, take a minute to think out all of your specific what-ifs. Figure out what you can do about it. Write out a medical directive if you want to. Do whatever you can to make the list seem less daunting. Then, write everything down on a different list, that you can't do anything about. Do you have a fireplace? If not the kitchen sink will do. Now, burn that second list. It's gone. (Yes, I know, not really, but it works mentally for me, anyway.)

Now go back to the advantages, and have fun with this list. First, it will certainly be easier to schedule grandparent visits this way, as well as care for your older children. You won't be surprised at having to go the hospital with an unpacked bag. You'll have the nursery ready. You can have meals prepped in the freezer. And there are other advantages to a c, too. Less, um, swelling. It'll be hard to get up while recovering, but easier while you're sitting. And, hey, try and get someone to help out around the house while you're in that longer recovery. (I mean, you really shouldn't be vacuuming anyway, right?) In a c, the doc generally clears out as much "debris" as possible, but with a vaginal birth, well, heavy flow for a few weeks. Ask anyone to be truly honest, and the "fourth trimester" sucks either way, but both birth methods have their advantages, too. I assume you've already thought out quite a few of them, to have made a firm decision. Dwell on those.

Congratulations!

The spinal/epidural has a known side effect of causing some women's blood pressure to drop, and in some cases dangerously low. It's a very common side effect. But the docs are aware of it, and as they said, will be on top of it.

It is major surgery, but is it very very commonly done, and I think today's OBs are actually often better at doing c-sections than helping a woman to get through her labor naturally (I'm only sort of kidding here actually).

Millions of women have c-sections and millions have safe ones and healthy babies when it's all said and done.

Talk to your doctor about your concerns. Sometimes knowing what's going to happen, and also going over worse-case scenarios, will help you feel better prepared. Ask them in detail what exactly is going to happen (you don't need them to be super gory about the actual cutting if you don't want). I find that for myself, I can handle it better if I know exactly what's going on and why.

At the time of the C-section they can give you something to help calm you. My anesthesiologist called it a happy cocktail or something like that. I was apprehensive leading up to my second c-section (the first was emergency so I was totally out of it) but I knew the baby had to come out one way or the other and the c-section was the best option. That became my mantra. Just keep telling yourself that this is best for you and the baby. Also, ask your doctor if there are any anxiety meds you can take until the time of the c-section. Good luck.

I was unable to get excited about 2nd babies arraival because I had to first get over the hurdle of my fear of 2nd C-section. Didn't know how I would mentally handle it as my fisrt was emergency after intense labor and pushing (in other words, being cut open didn't phase me).
So having it behind me I can tell you, it was easier than I was imagining. It was easier than a crown prep at the dental office.

I also have low blood pressure, so with my first, they had to turn the epidural off (WHAT?!?!?! I need drugs, people!), but the baby was under duress, so they decided to do the C-section. I was terrified. I had a really slow recovery. I put off getting pregnant until the last minute for our second one because I was dreading going through it again. The first pregnancy, I didn't know what to expect, and I was nervous about delivery, but I just didn't think about it and enjoyed each stage of the pregnancy. The second one I tried to do that, but I knew what was coming.

And then - it wasn't that bad! Because it wasn't a surprise, I was much more relaxed for it, and they were prepared for my low blood pressure issue. And then the recovery went MUCH more smoothly. We started talking about having a third while we were still in the hospital and I wasn't freaked out at all.

Hang in there. Maybe get a massage or do something really relaxing to take your mind off of it. Best of luck!

I must admit I was scared to death of a vaginal birth. I had heard so many horror stories of "tearing", etc. that I was completely freaked out. So when my doc told me at 35 weeks I had to have an emergency c-section I was relieved :)
If you trust your doc and you know you are doing the right thing then have faith and "let it go". I know its easier said than done, but the stress is not good for you or your little one.
Best wishes for a quick recovery!

With both my pregnancies I knew there was a possibility of a c-section. That being known, I decided to put my trust in the hands of my OB. After all, he's delivered thousands and thousands of babies over his lengthy career and I've only delivered two!

Try to think about it this way: in the grand scheme of things, the c-section will be a mere few hours of your life. It might be unpleasant but it won't be forever. As a result of your c-section, you are making a decision that is safe and wise for your health and the baby's health. And really, at the end of the day, that's what matters most.

I wish you luck - you'll do awesome!

Hang in there Molly,
I had two vaginal births and I asked if I could have my last one c-section. I have big babies and they thought the 3rd one was going to be huge, well it turned out to only be 8 lbs 15 oz, so my smallest, but I was so happy to have it. I'm sure you have a very good doctor and everything will turn out fine. They will be monitoring you from the start so try to relax, I'm sure everything will be fine. You won't have to go through the hard labor pains, and maybe even the back labor with having a c-section. Make a list of all the positive things about having a c-section... You will be fine and Congrats!!!

My first was an emergency after many hours of labor-emotions were high and I didn't get a chance to be really scared. The second was planned and it was nerve wracking to think about. Strange that you go in, lay on the table and operate. Don't worry though it was very easy and not nearly as bad as I built it up to be. The recovery was also much easier than the first.

I had to go through a number of surgeries for ovarian cysts -one similar to a C section where they cut me up to remove the cysts. Well, in your case you will have a baby in the end! ;-))