I'm pregnant with my third baby. My first labour was a dream but then the actual birth resulted in a third degree tear and immediate surgery.
My second birth started ok. I dilated naturally, completely drug free again, but then as second stage started things went to hell, bub was stressed and I had a rip-tear emergency cesarian and didn't meet my baby until hours later. It took months to recover and was a horrific experience.
Number 3 was unplanned and as delighted as I know I will be with my baby my OBGYN has recommended a VBAC and I'm petrified. I'm scared that even if things are destined to go smoothly I'll be so scared, stressed and unsettled that it will go south.
The thing is I'm terrified of having a cesarian too. The recovery was awful and I don't want to go through that again if I can avoid it. I had PND for months and felt useless.
What can I do to calm my nerves before the birth but prepare myself for the worst at the same time? Help!!!
4 Replies
A planed c-section is a lot easier to recover from then an emergency c-section.
Oh I can relate! 3 years on and I'm still terrified to try for another baby! I didn't get to meet my twins for several days and they were in NICU and I was in high dependancy. Next time I will be having a planned c section. I've given it a lot of thought and that's whtat is right for me, some counselling may help you and relaxation techniques. Best wishes
I had two emergency csections and one planned section. When it's an emergency your body is already under a lot of stress and then when you add a csection it can just be too much for your body to cope with and therefore the recovery takes a lot longer. My 3 rd and last baby was a planned caection done 12 mths ago I can't believe the difference it was so relaxing enjoyable and the recovery was great I was up and walking around within 5 hrs of having surgery where as the others I was out for days. I also think it depends on your dr mine was so reassuring and it really helped.
Try calm birth classes. Even if you choose elective c section rather than vbac you will still learn things to calm you and hopefully ease your mind a bit