Hi Ree

I can hopefully answer some of your questions!

I had an elective C/S due to DS's position. Was not under GA but full spinal block obviously.

1. I would be pretty sure they would insert a catheter because my understanding is they do it to keep the bladder empty and away from the uterus so as not to risk cutting the bladder. So they'd need to do this whether you are under or not. When they did my catheter I'd already had the epi and felt nothing at all. But having said that I had to have my catheter reinserted a couple of days after because I couldnt wee and it didn't even hurt then.

2. Sorry can't answer that.

3. I was a little bit anxious about the epidural but really it was nothing. They get you to curl forward and you feel a bit of a pop but then it's over. I imagine a chest tube would be way more scary and painful - and done under far more stressful circumstances. My anaesthetist was joking the whole time which lightened the mood.

I obviously would have preferred a natural delivery but really the C/S was not as scary as I'd thought. My only problem with it was I got extremely shaky and cold (apparently common) and had to keep eating sachets of sugar because my blood sugar dropped as I'd been fasting but otherwise it was fine. Don't let worrying about it take away from the exciting rest of your pregnancy.

Hope that helps!