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hey ali d i had a planned csection 3 1/2 months ago and i was also afraid of the epidural, sounds like your last experiance was awful i'm so sorry. my csection went off without a hitch, the epidural was painful to get but not so bad that i couldn't stand it, it took about 3mins to prep me and get it done and after that i was completly as ease (no anxiety medicaine was given to me but yu can request that if you want) my medical team was so amazing, and my husband stood right next to me the whole time, i honestly have to say i've never felt so calm, i had no pain, and was nursing my daughter 30 minutes later, the took her out cleaned her up and by then i was st_tched and ready to go to recovery. I was up and moving about 12 hours later and in the shower the following morning. they checked us out 2 days after giving birth. I hope this povides you some comfort, try not to spend the rest of your pregnacy worring to much. Good luck!!!

Well, if you choose to go for a spinal during your c-section I can say that I had no problems with it (in my 2nd delivery- a scheduled c-section) and actually barely felt it. They had me round my back for it and a nurse distracted me with a question about my son and all I felt was a little pinch! You said you are still under the hospital's care for problems from your first delivery. Are they spinal problems, if I may ask? Do you know if your OB will allow/recommend another attempt at a spinal if you do still have problems related to that. I just ask because I also had a c-section (my third) under general anesthesia, due to very low platelets making a spinal unsafe, and it went very well. Maybe you could talk to your doc about that possibility if you have lingering problems or if your fear doesn't subside by closer to delivery- I'm sure your doc would understand given your history! Good luck :-)

Hi vjr and Sahmof3 - many thanks for your responses - I feel a little better! Sahmof, my probs afterwards were due to the forceps delivery (they actually tore a muscle from the base of my spine when delivering my little boy, causing me to have problems with bowels/bladder etc - sorry probably too much information I know!!). The hospital has arranged for me to see the Head Anaesthetist prior to delivery and he will be checking out my spine etc, and I have been a__signed to a Professor (which for some reason makes me feel better too!). I really want to stop worrying about this and I really appreciate all your feedback as no matter how many people I see in the hospital, the advice is never as good as someone who has actually been through it. I am gradually starting to feel a bit more confortable about it now. No doubt I will embarra__s myself on the day and have a cry beforehand though!! Many Thanks for your feedback girls. Hopefully I'll be back on post c-section saying it was a breeze and I'd recommend it to anyone!!! Ali

Hey ali d ! I had a planned section 4 months ago. i was given a pill for anxiety , just to calm my nerves, which i would recomend to anyone because i was super nervous and sick feeling. I still get sick thinking about it to this day but the pill they gave me helped me out alot. When they did the spinal i was completly fine and im paranoid of needles but somehow made it through without even flinching and after my dd was out while i was in recovery i got really sick and i'm still recovering but looks like a lot of these women had a success with their deliveries i couldnt even get out of bed until the 3rd day.

I have had 3 csections, this baby will be my fourth, and I had a spinal tap done with everyone. My last csection the dr had trouble with the spinal tap and it hurt so much I cried but that was the first time I encountered any problems. I would not get an epidural for the procedure, strictly spinal tap.

I was induced on a Mon. at 5 am, my water was broken by the doc at 8 am Tues, and I was rushed into surgery at 6 am Wed. Had I of known my son was gonna weigh 10 lbs 4 ozs I would've most definitely signed up for one instead of an induction. A planned c-section is much different than an emergency one. First of all, and most importantly, you are calmer than you would be if the doctors were running down the hall pushing your bed to get you to surgery. They also have more time to spend on your epidural and also to make sure an anesthesiologist is even there. That also would help you to remain calmer if you knew they were taking their time with you. My epidural was painless, maybe a slight pinch or poke feeling, but nothing compared to labor pains. It didn't take long at all. The nurse turned the food tray to the side of my bed and put a pillow on it and I bent over to lay on it while they did it. Mind you, I was extrememly nervous and shaking, but the nurse was so kind and stroking my hair telling me it'll be ok. If I become pg again, I'm opting for a scheduled c-section. Hope everything turns out well for you.

Thanks everyone - your feedback is really appreciated! I have a meeting next month with the aneasthetist, so I;m hoping that will help calm my nerves too! On the whole most people seem to be saying that a planned C section is a lot better than an emergency, so I feel a little better. I know everyone is defferent and pain threshold differs in everyone, but I just want to go into this with my eyes as open as possible. I think if you're prepared, then sometimes it makes the recovery a little easier you know? Many many thanks for your feedback, it;s appreacited!

Having an epidural when in active labour is an incredibly difficult thing to do. You have to sit sooo still and been yourself impossibly in half, all whilst hvaing contractions. I managed to have one put in, and then topped up, but then it started to wear off and I needed an emergency c setion and because they couldn't get the spinal in I had to be put to sleep. An epidural when you are not in labour (which you won't be if it is elective) is a completely different matter, and it should work well. I would strongly recommend not having a general anethtic (if they give you that option that it). I still get emotional about the fact that I missed seeing my son born. I honestly think you'll have a much better experience this time round.

My first was emergency c-section (general anes.). My second was scheduled. The Anestesiologist I talked to before the second was GREAT! She listed the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of spinal or epidural. I asked her what she preferred and went with that (epidural--less chance of spinal headache, she said). It was no big deal and I'm terrified of needles. I sat on the side of the bed with a nurse in front of me talking to me and holding me still. I felt a little pressure, but no pinch, since she put something on the site to numb the spot where she went in. I wasn't too nervous, mostly because I'd talked to this anes. and she seemed SO competent. I was sure she wouldn't mess it up. If you can get that confidence in your anestesiologist, I think you'll be fine. If possible, I recommend something other than the general. I hated that I wasn't able to hold my first son right after he was born.