csec anxiety med

springbaby03 · March 2014

I'm up for a repeat csection. My first was an emergency 2.5 yrs ago.

I was wondering I'd any of you ladies had anxiety issues and if so did they give you something to calm down?

I've got major claustrophobia and the idea of being tied down to a table is freaking me out a bit.

Last time I was given stadol prior to csection, I'm not sure why though since I was aiming for a med free birth.
Anyway that seemed enough to keep me foggy that I didnt mind being reatrained and I had no anxiety about the surgery itself.

So anyone in the csec anxiety boat?

hgroeschel · March 2014

I'm trying for a vbac, and the thought of another c sec literally scares me to death. Worst experience of my life. This is my second attempt at a vbac , so hoping it works again!!

CMheart1011 · March 2014

I had a repeat c/s three weeks ago. When I had the first, I had been in labor forever and was all drugged up with low blood pressure and I really didn't care what they did to me. I could barely stay awake for the c/s. This time, I was very conscious and very aware of what was going on, and I was freaking out. The anesthesiologist told me he was going to put something in my IV to calm me down as soon as the baby was out. I don't know what it was, but it did help.

farmrose · March 2014

No experience to speak of, but talk to the anesthesiologist. They can find something they can give to help.

VanessaBee · March 2014

Just a thought - are you for sure that they have to tie you down? I was a little worried about that part too, but when I asked my doctor about it she said she never never does that for her patients. I know policies are different all over, but it might be worth discussing if you haven't already.

ArubaLove · March 2014

Thank you for posting this. I actually found out this week (I'll be 39 weeks tomorrow) that baby girl is breech and I will have a c-section next Friday. This will be my first baby but I get very anxious at the doctors as it is. I do plan on speaking with the doctor/anesthesiologist prior to the surgery to see what they can do for me. I am curious the other responses you will get here! Good Luck!!

kstar83 · March 2014

yeah, im planning on vaginal birth, but this is honestly the biggest reason why. I have severe anxiety about medical procedures, I even have to take something special to go to the dentist for a cleaning. I just know I would freak out and I really don't want baby to come into this world with a mother who is having a panic attack...

so no point or help here, excpet you are not alone!

sebullows · March 2014

Mine was an emergency although i basically knew it would happen since he was too big for me. I wanted to try pushing anyway. Wish I hadn't. Ouch. ANYWAY, I wanted to say, unless I wasn't aware of it, I wasn't tied down. They said as long as I didn't move my hands off the boards to try and touch my tummy, they would keep me free. I was too scared to move so I kept them out to the side. I haven't heard of anyone being held down. I wonder if you can request not to be? And in asked my dr about anxiety meds but she said I'd be fine. I was a mess going in, but the anesthesiologist was wonderful and kept me calm the entire time. He joked and comforted me, more so than DH. I know how scary it is, just think about how fast it is and take lots of deep breaths! Good luck, I'll be thinking of you.

legallyginger · March 2014

I distinctly remember the anesthesiologist asking me if I was anxious and if I needed something for it and I said yes. He also asked if I was nauseous and wanted something for that too (yes). He also gave me something to stop me from flopping around like a fish, because I was in transition and had been uncontrollably shaking for what seemed like hours. DH said the guy told him what he gave me and it was a laundry list of things.

That said, I passed out before DH even got in the room and was apparently snoring on the table. Not sure if it was the drug cocktail or being overwhelmed from two days of labor though.

kjbc2003 · March 2014

Oh I'm so glad someone posted this!!! I am having my RCS on the 31st and I am freaking out. The last time it was emergency and all I could think about was get the baby out safely I dont care what you have to do. This time knowing the date and time I am much more nervous. I just wrote down a bunch of questions for my dr to ask her on monday at my weekly appointment. My arms were tied down the last time and that i didnt mind as much as i was extremely thirsty and couldnt get any saliva half way thru the surgery so im asking about that. Hopefully like others have posted i can let the anesthesiologist know and we can come up with something together so i wont be that bad. But oh yes i am freaking out now, excited to meet my little man but way overwhelmed!! You are not alone!!

springbaby03 · March 2014

Rofl @legallyginger‌...Fish flopping!

Its possible they wouldn't have to tie me down, it hadn't occurred to me last time because it was a rushed csec.

The medicine they give you once the baby is out is called versed, the twilight drug. From what I remember and have read, it sort of makes you zonked out but not actually asleep. I remember seeing my daughter, then i was shaking because i was cold then I remember waking in a recovery room.

I meet the anesthesiologist on Monday, I will ask him what he can do for me to keep me from having an anxiety attack on the table.

I want to see my baby but I don't want a damned attack either those are horrible, I recently had 3 during an MRI. Ughh.

babylimas · March 2014

Great question! I didn't even know they did that. I definitely will ask if I have another. No need for it afterwards but the surgery was pretty horrifying for me this time. Same as a PP I was exhausted with my first and barely even remember the surgery. This one I was so aware that it was just too overwhelming. I have a phobia of punctures and feeling the pressure of the surgery and the people talking about what was being done made me panic. I'm terrified to do it again and I think I would need some meds for a RCS.

babylimas · March 2014

And now my husband is going to be unhappy bc I said I would never have another baby because of the fear of the delivery. Now that I know I could be mentally sedated I'm feeling some stirrings.

clo1982 · March 2014

They asked if I felt that I needed my arms restrained and I said no so they didn't, they just said I would need to keep them out to the side. I'm sure if I started flailing they would have tied them down but really there wasn't a damn thing I wanted to see going on behind that curtain!!

sebullows · March 2014

Maybe they did give me meds... I couldn't stop shaking nor could I stay awake! They may have pumped all kinds of crap into me and I had no idea. Maybe that's why I loved my cs experience....

Natty13umppo · March 2014

I wasn't restrained last time. I did have some sort of drug before going into the OR for the c-section. I had hoped for a pain-med free vaginal birth, but after hours on pitocin (and no pain meds) and then the decision to do a c-section I was like Eff it! I want some drugs! So the nurse gave me something in my IV. (Having non-meaningful contractions while waiting for your c/s is not a lot of fun... And there were two emergency/more critical c-sections before me so I was waiting for awhile. It kind of sucked.)

So maybe whatever that was (plus just all the adrenaline of laboring all day) kept me surprisingly okay in the OR. I wasn't restrained, i just remember being FREEZING and throwing up well after she was out (off getting whatever done with DH). But maybe what I thought was just exhaustion was actually some sort of drug haze... I don't know....

That said, if I end up with a scheduled RCS, I think I might being freaking out a bit more going into it (and not sleeping the night before) so I might ask the doctor if there's anything I can take...

lesleygosooners · March 2014

I was not restrained and they gave me something for nausea. They also asked me of I needed anxiety meds. I had a very good experience with my c section. It could not have went better. Don't be nervous. I'm sure everything will go smoothly & you will do great!!:)

crystaljoanna · March 2014

I'm glad you posted this! I was researching ways to reduce anxiety during a c-section this morning. I'm a FTM and the closest I've come to a surgery is wisdom teeth extraction. My nerves are through the roof. I talked to my OB about ways to relax today and she suggested breathing, visualization, keeping in mind the end result, etc. I left the appointment and spent some time crying which actually helped. I think it's both the nervousness and some grief about giving up a med free birth and vaginal delivery - my original plan before a few weeks ago.

I was told I wouldn't be tied down which is great. She didn't mention anything about anxiety medication.

I hope your anxiety lessens as you get closer! I'm hoping mine will too.

springbaby03 · March 2014

My aunt is a l&d nurse. She seemed to suggest that if they see you fidgeting, panick breathing or shaking they will give you meds. I can't imagine a wiggly patient does them a lot of good.

@Natty13umppo‌
I think that must be why they gave me stadol, I was having contractions that weren't helpful. So perhaps the meds were to keep me from hurting while I waited on csec to start.

@crystaljoanna‌ speaking for myself I can imagine that breathing techniques focus and the end results only get you through so much. I'd like to think if they see you panicky they will iv the patient some chill out meds asap.
Good luck with yours!

pepperedmoth · March 2014

I've watched several sections (plus various other surgeries under a spinal) and never seen one where the woman or patient WAS tied down. That seems wicked creepy to me.

Want a personalized experience?

csec anxiety med

Re: csec anxiety med

Choose Another Board

Search Boards