Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

This is what happens when I'm up half the night. My mind races and I become a lunatic.

I'm starting to get scared of the actual surgery. These damn TV shows have me so paranoid about something happening to me on the table. I literally was crying in the shower last night thinking about Jack if god forbid something were to happen to me.

Is this fear normal?
Anything you did to put your fears aside the day of the surgery?

Is the second c-section really that much better?

Please ease my crazy crazy mind!

Re: Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

I was TERRIFIED of my second c-section! My first one wasn't planned, so I wasnt' prepared and it took me by suprise, which, in a way, was better, because I didn't obsess about the surgery for months beforehand. I found that I was SO anxious with this one because now I KNEW what the surgery entailed. At least with my first, I was in labor, which really distracted me from the reality of what was going to happen. I just couldn't imagine voluntarily walking in and getting surgery, without any distractions of labor.

In the end, I went into labor on my own a week before the scheduled c-section, and because it was so unexpected, and at a bad time, they didn't have any OR rooms open for me while I was in active labor so they made me wait 5 LONG hours in triage, without ANY pain medication, until a room opened up. I was literally screaming at the top of my lungs for the last hour.

So, by the time they wheeled me into the OR, I could have cared less - all I wanted was pain medication and once I got it, everything else seemed like cake, including the surgery and recovery.

And I'll tell you this - it's NEVER as bad as you build it up to be in your head. It was nothing - and my recovery was even easier this time around, so much so that I discharged myself early because I felt like a blob in the hospital and wanted to get home and back to my life.

Re: Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

Posted by Diana1215

This is what happens when I'm up half the night. My mind races and I become a lunatic.

I'm starting to get scared of the actual surgery. These damn TV shows have me so paranoid about something happening to me on the table. I literally was crying in the shower last night thinking about Jack if god forbid something were to happen to me.

Is this fear normal?
Anything you did to put your fears aside the day of the surgery?

Is the second c-section really that much better?

Please ease my crazy crazy mind!

Re: Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

This was me EXACTLY. I had a mild panic attack during my first c-section; in the hospital after DD was born one of my first thoughts was, "I have to do this again one day." As Beth said, I just couldn't picture myself walking in like "Here I am! Cut me open!" The absolute worst part for me was being paralyzed from the chest down. I also was praying to go into labor ahead of time...but no such luck. I was absolutely PETRIFIED. I can't stress that to you enough!

And yes, when I got to the hospital...and especially once DH got the scrubs on, I thought I would lose it. I explained my fears to the anaesthesiologist and even though I couldn't have any anxiety meds before the baby was out, he assured me they would be right on hand the minute she came out should I need them. He also described c-sections as "an oil change" which strangely calmed me down.

I always recommend this to scheduled c-section moms, but definitely bring a small photo album of your son/family. During the surgery, I had DH flip through one of all my favorite pictures of my DD and it helped SO MUCH! Also, I did not even TRY to move my legs, because I knew that would freak.me.out. Once DD was out, that gave me a new focus and I ended up sailing right through without any anxiety meds...yay me!

Read me birth story in my profile, I think I cover all my fears and the day itself.

You KNOW you're going to do great and you'll be so proud of yourself! Good luck!!

Re: Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

Wow, I never heard of 2nd C's being more dangerous or anything. I guess if my doctor mentioned something after the first one like your uterus is not that strong or something. My doctor after the first c section came into the room and told me how my inside looked since I had endometriosis too. For the 2nd she did the same and she was happy that there was moderate amount of scar tissue which was removed when they went in of course. I'm good to go for the third!

But for you I wouldn't be worried at all! My second C was n't bad at all although my recovery was much longer possibly due to having an older child and literally running after him. I found my incision to bleed more and took longer to heal. Now I'm 8 weeks and it's completely healed and I'm ready to hit the gym. The only scary part about my c section surgery was that it was an emergency c. I didn't make my scheduled c shy 1 day! but all went ok and it didn't take long for them to take him out, maybe 5-10 more minutes then the first.

Re: Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

I was very nervous about my 2nd c-section. It was very nerve wracking walking in there knowing what was going to happen. But, once I was on the table I felt like it went so much quicker for some reason. All of a sudden they were saying ok, get ready for the baby. Afterwards I felt much better bc I didn't go through all the labor like the first time around. It's not easy once you get home and have to take care of 2, but before you know it you are back to normal. Good luck!!!

Re: Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

Thanks to everyone - you def. eased my mind a bit! I agree - I think it's so strange to walk into the hospital knowing full well that I'm going to be cut open!

Re: Starting to get scared of the 2nd C-Section - BTDT moms pls come in

Here's what I did. I didn't think about it AT ALL. I seriously put it out of my mind completely. I think the more you mull things over in your mind, the more freaked out it makes you.

I will tell you that my second and third c-sections were a walk in the park compared to my first, if that gives you any reassurance. Everything was so much more relaxed and went very smoothly. Honestly my third was so easy and my recovery was so quick with hardly any pain, I could barely believe it.

Good luck to you.