Starting to get scared...

Thank you Chelle.
There are definitely advantages of a c-section. Since I've been through it once, I do recall the recovery time not being as bad as I expected. So I'm hoping it will be as uneventful as well this time.

Thanks again for the encouragement.

Hugs,
Jessica

jessica-

I had the same fear. I always imagined having a vaginal delivery, so when my doctor told me I had to have a c-section I was TERRIFIED.

As far as the epidural goes, I had the same fear of it wearing off. The cool thing is, the style of epidural for a c-section is a tiny catheter needle they put in your back... so if you need more juice, you can have it at any time.

When I had my epi, it didn't take. They made DAMN sure it took well before they started operating. The anesthesiologist asked me a dozen times if I could feel needle *****s, pinches, if I could move my legs, wiggle my toes, etc. You are totally numb from the waist down and don't feel anything except for tugging. It's not painful at all.

And, C-sections are generally pretty quick... at least, mine was. I was brought in at 9pm, and my daughter was born by 9:18. Getting her out took three minutes!

Just explain your fears to your anesthesiologist and they'll make sure you're good and numb.

Thanks for the info. It is always good to hear other people's perspectives and good/bad stories of how it went for them.

Just got done at the doc and the baby is measuring 4 lb 9 oz (we are at 32 weeks).
We are shooting for March 23 or 25th so I guess only 6 more weeks to go!! Yikes. TIme flies.

Thanks again. It certainly gives me confidence!!

I had my 3rd c-section last Thursday when my son was born. The first time I was put under because they could not get an epidural in and my baby was in distress so they just put me under. The 2nd was a spinal and it was awesome! I felt ONE little pinch in my spine, that was it. Then I was numb (they check for total numbness before begining) and I never felt a thing the entire time. You WILL feel pressure and pulling and tugging on your stomach area, but that is normal. You feel NO pain. Nothing. This time I felt 2 pinches in my spine and I was like "Wow, I can't feel my legs" , that fast and they laid me down on the bed and I was done for. LOL. No pain. I really wouldn't worry. It is not common to have pain during a c-section or the spinal wear off. They time it. It lasts about 45 minutes and they are really careful and I heard my doctor asking for the time during both. So I wouldn't worry. It is really not that bad. Hope it goes well. Don't think about it too much! You will make your blood pressure rise and that could cause early delivery! 

That is so cool to hear that a spinal works so well.
Guess I have less to worry about then I realized.

Thank you for the encouragement.
 
Congrats on your sweetie. Pictures are beautiful!!!!

Hugs

Tell the anesthesiologist you are concerned.  I actually was one of the unlucky ones who had an epidural "window" during my first cesarean.  It was awful.  However, I think this is probably more common in heavier moms.  It happened to several of my online friends and I think most of us were quite large.  Maybe the anesthesiologists are not as good at putting an epi in a mom with more fatty tissue on her back - that's my theory, at least.  Also, most of my friends who had surgical awareness had had the epis placed during labor.  For me, it was maybe 12 hours between epidural placement and surgery, and despite them topping it up, it didn't work as well.  I believe a fresh spinal will be much better for you.

I wasn't thin this time around when I had my second c-section, but I was much smaller than when I had my daughter.  I told the anesthesiologist my concerns and she gave me something mild for anxiety and the loveliest spinal block I could imagine.  Seriously, I was scared but she was a rock star and I felt like weightless, like a little crepe being flipped over when they moved me.  LOL.  My second c-section was fantastic compared to the first.

Thank you  :)

All of this has certainly put my mind at ease...I guess there is a difference in having it done prior to not knowing as compared to knowing there is a definite c-section and such...

Thanks again!!!

My epi wore off and did not numb me completly, but I have known problems with locals. I had a worse one with my first child. Mine was labor though and not c-section.

As someone said, they will be right there and if all else fails, they will put you under if need be, it is surgery, they have to be ready for everything. You will do just fine

Don't worry yourself too much, if you are really concerned that bad, talk to your doctor, they will go through everything thoroughly with you to make sure you are more comfortable, you do not want to go in for any procedure being that nervous. Good Luck

Thank you Liann  :-)

Had my dr's appt today and it's all becoming so surreal   :-)
You are right, they will be there and everything should go really well.

Hugs!

All this baby talk....gives me baby fever (we are going to try for #4 early next year).  With that said...I've had 3 c/s's.  My first was an emergency c/s and I had an epideral.....second one was scheduled and I had an epi with that one also (same Dr. delivered my first two).....they not only ask you if you can feel anything, but they ***** you too just in case you are not sure (I was *****ed in my belly and in my feet) - found that out after the fact=)  The anesthesiologist is right next to you the whole time with all kinds of monitors on you...he will know before you do if you start to feel anything and adjust your meds as needed (at least that is what he told me).  If you don't get numb they will put you out faster then you know what hit you.

With my first I was so out of it (labor for over 48 hours w/ no sleep).....I don't even remember any of the pulling and tugging.  With number 2....lol...I happened to look over and I saw a suction tube and thought it was his umbilical cord - don't ask me why but it freaked me out!!  With # 2 and # 3....they had to give me extra anti nausia meds because the smell of the skin buring while they were cutting made me feel ill (because I knew what the smell was).

With my third I got a spinal (wears off much quicker then an epi)...and oh the itching!!  I walked into the OR, hopped up on the table, leaned on my Dr. while he was telling me a story to distract me while my spinal was placed.....baby was out with in 15 minutes.

Recovery with #2 and #3 was MUCH easier because I knew what to expect,