Scared to have the spinal

I have had 2 x c/s and next Monday (if not sooner) i will be having my 3rd c/s
I am totally s#itting myself about the spinal needle :(
i really dont know why im so hung up on it, ive been a pin cushion throughout this pregnancy and had a few hosp administrations and lots of blood tests, none of which bother me but this needle.........eish i cringe at the thought of it.....

1st time was an emergency c/s, i can remember needing to wee and having a contraction whilst getting it put in, that would hard.
2nd time was failed vbac and not as rushed and the needle immediatly brought tears to my eyes

what can i do to get over this fear of the needle going into my spine:o

Oh honey, as you know I had mine last Thursday and through my entire pregnancy, it was the only part of the c/s that ever worried me!

I don't really have any advice except that literally, it is over so fast. The actual local hurts, there's no way around that, but it really did happen quickly.
Make sure hubby holds your hands, or even hubby plus a midwife. Warn hubby that you'll need him to talk and distract you through that part and don't be scared to tell the middie before you go up that you are worried about it.

My middie was great and chatted to me the whole time about my daughter etc and it really calmed me. Can you have some rescue remedy before you go up?

From someone who has literally just been in your position, please know that as I write this I am sitting here cuddling my new boy, who is learning every detail of my face with his gorgeous eyes, and I have no pain and no bad memories of my c/s, only total love for my boy so you KNOW the outcome is so worth every second of anxiety and pain xxxxxxx

I felt no pain with my spinal at all. I wasn't in labour, but did have a sore back at the time.
The guy who did my spinal never stopped talking and my midwife was there.

I wish I had some advice, but know that I'm terrified of ever having a spinal again. \I actually hated the drip more than the spinal.

Oh nic, I'm sorry you're feeling this way :( it sounds scary to me too.

The other girls have provided great advice - and I know you can do this hon - you've done it before. You're amazing!

Thinking of you xo

:hug: I feel for you, nickers. This was one of my greatest fears if my VBAC was not successful this time around, thanks to the complications with my first c/s spinal.

What exactly is it that worries you?

I kept telling myself that it would be worth it to get to see my baby straight away and not be put to sleep. Because a GA is the only alternative. Also, the anaesthetist usually comes to speak to you beforehand, so maybe you could talk to them about what it is that is worrying you.

I can understand your fear. I have always been stressed at the thought of having a cs for the thought that I'd need to have a general as the thought of a needle in my back freaks me out. Then I think how sad it would be for DH to miss out.

I don't know how much you live your DH. But maybe if to totally adore him still you could be brave just for him, for your love and for his love for this baby. sometimes it's easier to do it for someone else than be a sook for ourselves

Does that make sense??

I think you will do an amazing job and I can't wait to hear about your new baby :)

:hug: I completely understand where you are coming from hun. I'm the same, the idea of the needle terrifies me, even though last time all I remember is a few little *****s for the local and nothing else. Don't really have any words of wisdom or advice, just understanding and lots of these :hug: :hug: :hug:

I had an enormous fear of the needle and then being awake for the c/s. My psych told me to zone out completely, and go to a really happy place, like a tropical beach or somewhere I felt really happy. My needle guy was so good anyway, he kept talking to the middie and cracking jokes too so I wasn't at that happy beach place but I didn't think about it either! I also just painted my toes nails bright pink, so they were all asking me if I was planning to go to a party afterwards, lol. GL jun, I hope you don't think about the needle too much xox

I guess it's probably easier to deal with the needle when you're in labour and dealing with contractions, like I did with my previous 2. You've got much more time to think about the needle when you're not going in to theatre, already in labour. Hopefully the local will be all that you'll feel. The anaesthetists are usually pretty lovely people and the midwives in theatre are really supportive (not sure what happens to the night staff - usually had 1 or 2 cranky staff at night on the wards).
Maybe let them know how you're feeling and get them to talk to you as it's happening, so you're a bit distracted.
I remember the needle in the back of my hand hurt more than anything (junior doctor did that one) and half way through the c/s, the anaesthetist got sick of me yelling everytime he injected something into it, so he moved it to the wrist. I guess that's what I'm most worried about this time around. I've even told the obs that I won't be letting anybody put a needle into the back of my hand. OMG it hurts so much when people accidentally brush past it. Funny how we're all so different about what gets to us most.
Hope that the spinal is better/quicker that you're anticipating and will be over before you know it.

Thanks for all your support everyone.
I think its the actual fear is of the pain of the needle when it first goes in and the visual thought of something being stuck into my spinal canal.....
i know there is no way around it, i most definatley do not want to be put to sleep, i want to hear my baby's first cry and for dh to be there with me also, so i wouldnt opt for that over my fears.
dh already knows how worried i am about getting it, i know he will be brave for me.
i guess its a small price to pay for the most magical moment in your life, i guess i have just had a lot of time to think about it this time.
first time was an emergency and i had laboured for 15hrs, and i had no idea what anything felt like.
2nd time was a failed vbac, so i had hope i wouldnt have it if the vbac was successfull
this time i have known from day one i would be having a c/s so have been analizing everything about it.

thanks again girls for your support xx

I guess it's just like any birth. And despite what some people say, there is just no easy option.

Hugs

I was so terrified of the needle that I had the shakes and couldn't speak properly and was stuttering. It was so bad I couldn't answer their questions about if I could feel things or not! I know exactly how you feel. Having a needle in your spine is horrible. Having a healthy baby and surviving a huge fear isn't horrible, it's wonderful.
I think to get the best things in our lives we have to cope with the worst things. I am sure you'll cope. You might not like it but when the time comes you'll manage and you'll get that very specil parcel at the end!

Put a different spin on the thought, turn it into a positive. Remind yourself that this is the first step to meeting your baby, it's very common and the risk of any complications are low especially as you've had spinals before. But focus on the positive thoughts of your baby being born - it's just a step to help you achieve that. I had epidurals during both my labours and that was my thought process. Also knowing the pain should subside helped me a lot :lol:

Good luck and focus on the outcome. :hug:

I was freaked about this too but in the end I was more focused on the fact that those were the last moments I'd feel the little kicks in my belly before meeting my little man.

Before you have your CS you will have a pre-op visit with the surgeon and the anaesthetist. This is a really good time to bring up your fear, the anaesthetist may be able to offer you some reassurance, and if it's still a problem you can request some happy drugs to take the edge off before hand.

Hey Nic,

I have to tell you this time I was terrified too. Similarly to you I had an emerg section and then a failed VBAC and Holly was booked. I was so anxious about something going wrong I actually wanted desperately to ask to check the syringes and drugs they were using (but I didn't). I had to put my faith in that anaesthetic nurse.
Like one of the PPs suggested I spoke to the reg before hand about it and made it clear what I wanted. They were really good about it.

Really not much help but I just wanted to offer some :hug: and empathy.

do u think they would give me some gas or something before hand which might take the edge off it or relax me a bit more?
starangel & Taureen thanks they are both a nice way to look at things

Thats what I was about to ask... Maybe they can give you a few sucks of the gas to help. You'll still feel it but you won't care. Good luck hun!!! Can't wait to hear your BA!!! :hug:

I found the local hurt way worse than the needle for the epi. The local stung so much I neally leapt off the bed ;\ But once that was over with it was all sweet :) I was terrified too but just grabbed the bull by the horns. I really hate the drop too.. man that is awful