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I've had 3 c-sections, but only one that was both scheduled and that I was awake for (1st was emergency... I was awake, but too tired to remember much and my 3rd I was under general anesthesia). Anyway, with my 2nd I didn't feel any pain at all during it. There was some odd tugging and pulling sensations, but nothing painful at all. They do have meds they can give you to calm your nerves if you need it. I didn't have those, but I had an anti-nausea med, which made me itch like crazy... and then they gave me meds for that and I felt warm and cozy and very sleepy, but not so much that I fell asleep for the birth or anything. I also had a great (!!!!) nurse anesthetist who sat by my head and distracted me with small talk and I didn't even know when my doctor started the surgery. Hopefully you'll get one that has such lovely bedside manner! I loved her.... well, she was on my good side to start with because not only was my spinal not horribe, I barely felt it at all. I had been really worried about that because my first was an epidural while I was in labor and I could have cared less what they did to me... I just wanted that epi!!! But, having to get the spinal while I was coherent scared me. gl :-)

I had this same concern about feeling pain because the spinal is just a single shot. It's not like an epidural where a catheter is left in your back and they can administer more anesthesia if necessary. All I can say to rea__sure you is that I had two c-sections, both with spinals, and I didn't feel any pain for a long time. I am one of those people that metabolize anesthetic quickly too. My dad is my dentist and can never use the "short acting" novacaine on me because it wears off before he finishes the job. He always has to use the full strength stuff on me that makes my mouth numb for like 5 hours. I was worried I would have the same problem with the spinal anesthesia, but I seriously couldn't feel my legs for quite sometime after being in the recovery room. I will warn you that you will feel a TON of pressure and tugging during the baby's birth. Do not mistake this for pain though. It's scary to feel all of that, but it's just bizzare and not painful. The other thing that happened to me with the first c-section was that I felt like it was hard to breathe. Apparently the spinal can also give you the sensation like your lungs are not filling up and your chest is heavy like bricks. I started to panic, but I had an anesthesiologist with great bedside manner who really calmed me down. She kept rea__suring me that I was indeed breathing normally (because she was monitoring my oxygen levels) and that heavy chest feeling was just a sensation, and that it would be better if I just relaxed. And you know what - she was right!

I had a csection after 20 hours of labor - and it really wasn't that bad! I had no feeling whatsoever below my chest. I was draped so I couldn't see anything, and I just talked to my dh while they prepped me. I only had an epidural, nothing to calm me. I was nervous, but was so excited to see my baby! Dh and I just looked at each others eyes and were nervous together. I felt some tugging, but nothing hurt at all. When she was taken out, it was so fast and my only regret is that I couldn't hold her right away. I got to hear her first cries and watch them clean her up. And to see my dh holding her was fabulous! Try not to worry too much, the drugs are pretty good. Recovery was painful for me, but I would do it again (an am hoping to in a year or two!) in a heartbeat. I've heard good and bad stories about csections, but mostly good ones :) One tip - keep practicing your breathing - it helps to keep you calm!

My c-section was after 24 hours of labor; I was exhausted, in pain, and just...well, you've been there, you know what that's like. But, in my experience...they gave me drugs to stop the contractions...they checked the strength of the anesthetic by having me push the lady's hands with my knees. They did strap my arms down, but had my husband next to my head; he was such a comfort to me, he stroked my hair and my cheeks and just kept telling me how much he loved me, and how strong I was, and how it would all be over soon, etc. When the doctor started to cut, I did feel it - but it didn't hurt. It was like drawing a line over my belly with a ball-point pen. When he took the baby out, it was a tugging sensation, and I'm not sure if this was the drugs or what, but it felt like my hips/waist was being lifted off the table; then I heard my baby crying - I couldn't see her, there was a sheet, but they lifted her up so I could kind of see her, and I asked if she was a still a girl (yes she was still a girl), and then they took her into the other room to clean her up; I sent my husband with her, while they st_tched me up; I remember I was in tears at that point, and feeling pretty loopy from exhaustion, drugs, etc. but then they took me into the recovery room where my husband was waiting with my baby girl, and they helped me latch her on for the first time. But, if you don't mind me askign - why are you having a scheduled c-section if you wanted a VBAC?

I had a Placental Abruption. My doctor said a VBAC was possible but that I have a 10% chance it would happen again. Last time me and my baby were literally minutes from dying and I just don't want to take that chance a second time. Like the saying goes, better safe than sorry.

I had my first 3 mo ago via emergency C section, and I know it sounds strange but it was wonderful experience. I was induced at 39 weeks because of high blood pressure, besides that I had large fibroid and I knew that my chances of having v____al delivery were slim, so I was prepared for C section. I was induced with cervadil, my water broke, contraction became quite strong and I asked for epidural. Epidural worked like a charm, 5 hours later after my baby's heart rate dropped they decided to do C- section. Anesthesiologist gave me more anesthetic and did the test. He rubbed my skin on my arm with alcohol and he told me to tell him when I feel the same cooling feeling on my belly. I haven't felt anything. The doctor didn't say that he is starting, at least I can't remember, he just said "oh, great, no fat on your tummy" I thought it was funny since I was huge. DH explained later that fat doesn’t heal as well as other tissues. Then dr said that it is time to have a baby and that I will feel a lot of pressure. I felt a tap on my tummy and I was waiting for “a lot of pressure” when I heard my baby cry. They took him on separate table just above my head and I saw him as doctors were looking at him and he was screaming. DH was telling me how cute he is and finally he showed him to me and the nurse was snapping pictures. I totally forgot that I’m lying on the table with my gut open. It did help that DH is an anesthesiologist and he gave me “spinals and epidurals 101” and he also gave me the an advice: to ask questions, that way your anesthesiologist can know if something is not right. You can’t know how it is supposed to feel and because of that it is important that you ask questions. For example I was able to wiggle my toes and I mentioned that to my anesthesiologist who confirmed that that’s fine. I thought I will be completely paralysed. Good luck.

I'm also having a lot of anxiety about my upcoming scheduled c-section. I had my daughter 4 yrs ago by an emergency c-secton under general due to preeclampsia and fetal distress, after 27 hours of horrible labor. I had 2 epidurals, neither of which worked. When they tried to crank up the epidural for the c-section, it just didn't work. I could feel everything when they gave me the "tests" to see if the epidural was strong enough. So I was put to sleep b/c it was an emergency to get the baby out ASAP. I'm now scheduled for a c-section next month (drs. won't attempt a vbac b/c of my prior history) and I'm terrified of being awake for the c-section and that the spinal/epidural won't work again or will wear off before the surgery is done. Also, I have panic attacks (which started after my last delivery) and I'm so scared I will have a panic attack during the c-section. Has anyone had elective general anethesia for a c-section? Or been sedated for a spinal block c-section?

You will be fine! im the biggest woos in the world i had an emergancy but i was awake because i had an epidural. you are completely numb, they keep testing you before they start to make sure. you feel NOTHING AT ALL it was GREAT!! the epidural will not wear off because they put in enough to numb you for aroung two hours and the whole thing takes alot less than that! DONT WORRY!!

YOU WILL NOT FEEL ANY CUTS! They put up that cloth screen and you don't see or feel a thing. I felt nothing the whole time, I had no idea what he was doing (nor did I want to). He told me when she was coming out. The surgery is very fast. 30 minutes in and out. Don't worry. Getting a tooth filled is a 100 times more painful! Stubbing your toe is more painful! You won't feel a thing, I promise.

Well my C-section is scheduled for April 25. That only leaves me with 11 days to "stress and worry" over it. Reading your stories has helped. If anyone has any more please feel free to tell me about it. Thanks.

I am greenterry, i feel your pain. I am having a cesarean and hysterectomy July 10 2007 for a large baby and ovarian cancer.

No need to worry! The epidural ( it really is different than an epidural during active labor this is more of a spinal block) wll not run out there will be an anaestheseologist right above your head monitoring every second as well as communicating with you as well. They will also give you an oxygen mask to help with your breathing especially if you are nervous, the oxygen is also best for your babies safe arrival. My experience was like yours the first time...emergency. The second was a planned c-section and let me tell you it was a world of difference in a very positive way. If I knew a planned one was so stress-free I would'nt of waited 8 years between children. Also my recovery time was alot quicker with the planned section compared to the emergency because it was way less stress on my body. My first hospital stay lasted 6 days and the planned section I was home in 3. I was'nt running marathons or anything but it was a less painful recovery with a planned section. Good Luck, please don't worry about it, enjoy your pregnancy:)

Hi Ladies. I'm 30yo. Just had a C-Section on March 17th after 26 hours of torture...I mean Labor! It was my first pregnancy, and I plan to go with a C-Section in the future. I didn't feel any pain or movement during the operation. I didn't even know they had started! I finally asked, and the nurse said "Yeah! She's almost out already!!" I was like "Wow...my daughter's almost here!" And a few mins later my beautiful baby Alexandra made her debut. I will say this though...I couldn't hold her or bond for like 12 hours after because I was in recovery with very high blood pressure and low oxygen levels related to my asthma. But all in all, the surgery is the way to go...I think. My boyfriend also agreed that after 26 hours of labor, we made the best decision to go with a C.

Melissa try not to worry!! It's sucks but it's doable! I can explaon it best as what your mouth feels like at the dentist when it's frozen. You can still feel the pressure when it's applied but no pain!! I only had a spinal which lasts only 1hr to 90mins so I was terrified the whole time I was feel some sort of pain, I never did! And I could still move my feet and toes and normally you can't! I was so scared, but I made it thru! The thing I was never told was that uncontollable shaking is a normal side affect of giving birth, I thought the med was wearing off! IT wasn't but I was freaking out, so that's normal, and the worst part for me was not the cathader, or the spinal but the iv needle. I'm posting my birth story in thr 3rd tri forum if you want to read it! I'll go into better detail on what happened to me there! Don't worry it will be okay!!!

Well my sister's started to wear off, they will stop and put you to sleep, but with me I was awake and I didnt feel ANYTHING, not even contractions. U will shake but its normal. Dont worry. You'll be fine

HI I just wanted to point out one more thing about c-section re: shaking after your surgery...the first section I had I had the shakes very badly..the doctors said it was because I was in labour and trying to deliver v____ally for many hours previous to the surgery...my body had been through the ringer. I am happy to tell you that with my second c-section this did not happen at all....the nurses attributed it to me being under less stress because I had a planned c-section...the less stress on your body before the operation the better.