Hi everyone,

Just wondering if anyone knows how I could find out if the anesthesiologist will give me something to minimise anxiety during the c section - either a pre-op calmative or gas, OR, if neither of those are an option, something in the IV to calm me down once the baby is out.

I asked the midwife when I went to the birth preparation appointment but she didn't know. She said you get a consult with the anesthesiologist an hour or two before the C/S and you can ask him them. However, I'd like to know NOW if it is an option or not - if it's absolutely out of the question I don't know what I'll do.... but I need time to prepare...

Does anyone know how I would find this out? The staff at the hospital won't put me through to the midwifery department, and refer me to the booking-in department, who are never there and never answer the phone. I can't ask the OB because the OB I'm seeing isn't the OB who will be doing the c-section (I'm going to a public hospital so have no idea who will perform the c/s). The OB i'm seeing has said that I might be able to ask for a pre-op calmative, but he doesn't know what the hospital's policy is or if it really is an option or not.

I know there are other ways to manage anxiety: the staff will be lovely; everyone will talk to me and distract me; hubby will be there to distract and reassure me (at least until the baby is out and then he'll take the baby to the maternity ward and leave me all alone lying on the table while they've still got 40 mins of stitching up to do (hospital policy)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!); i can bring an IPOD with relaxing music, seeing the baby will distract me, etc, etc. I also know that many people have good c/section experiences without much trauma...... BUT, I'm not looking for advice on how to deal with the anxiety or reassurance that it won't be as bad as I think (I have heard all that, and thanks to everyone who is kind enough to offer their kind words and experiences)... but to be really honest I really just want to know how to find out anti-anxiety drugs are available or not, if anyone has asked for and received them, or if anyone was given a calmative/sedative after the baby was out.

I'm going to a public hospital in south east Melbourne.

Thanks in advance to anyone who replies.