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that's exciting!! Congrats! The 3 things you mentioned weren't bad at all for me :-) The IV wasn't so bad.... The spinal I was super worried about with my 2nd baby (with my oldest I had an epi in labor and didn't care what they did to me as long as they made the ctxns stop LOL), but with #2 I had 9 months to worry over it, but when it came down to it , it was the slightest pinch and then it was all done!!! I did feel the catheter... for some reason I just wasn't numb in there, but even that wasn't so bad. A little painful, but it only lasts for a few seconds. Once it's in you don't feel it anymore (at least I didn't). Each of those (minus the prep) will only take a few seconds and probably won't even add up to 1 minute of your special day ;-)

Congrats! Honestly in my experience, the IV was the WORST part. If you can make it through that, you will be fine. Also bear in mind before you get too scared that for some freakin' reason even though I was supposedly at the best hospital in the state, I had some dumb trainee administering my IV and had to take like 4 tries...so hopefully it won't be so bad for you. It hurt like hell and I have 7 tattoos so definitely am not afraid of needles! Like sahmof3 said, my spinal was not bad at all, and I had it before my catheter was inserted so I didn't even feel the catheter going in. But even when they took it out it just felt like a burning kind of like I needed to pee and only for a second. Good luck!

Hi There,
I haven't had a c-section, but I've had tons of surgery, tons of needles, and gave birth the normal way last year. I can tell you that the catheter might be uncomfortable (but thats it) going in if you haven't already had the spinal. But it won't hurt. The spinal... I had epi so not sure if its the same... but they washed the area with iodine first, then gave a topical anethetic, then did it. I felt NOTHING going in. If you're nervous, ask for a topical first... IV's... you know the thing with these IVS is that you notice them more going in if you think about them going in! Seriously. In reality... if you think about the baby you're going to be holding you probably won't notice it going in. But if you do... its only for a second. They tend to bug me more once they are in, rather than when they are being inserted. Please come back and let us know (when you feel up to it!) how thigns go for you -- I'm having a c-section in June... so I'm a bit nervous too!! Good luck!

Oh, hang in there. I had a very good C-section experience and I had emergency C-section. And worst pain I experienced were contractions, far worse than any needle pricks. I received epidural and epidural is admistered with thicker needle. I haven't felt the needle only doctors fingers on my back. Dr numbed the are with local anesthetic. I was afraid of it, just an idea of someone sticking a needle in you back horrified me, but it turned out much better than I expected. I have felt the chateter at all, they put it in after my epidural took. Taking it out didn't hurt at all either. It was just inconvenice. Couldn't get out of the bed before they took it out. I was lucky with IV. Nurse started to make comments on how she needs to call a doctor since she can't see my veins well and how she will have trouble setting it up, DH offered (he is dr.) to put IV and I trust him so he got it in on first try, quickly and with little pain.

Dear meelycat82, no worries. Many are now choose c-section over the painful normal delivery. I have had 3 c-sections for all my 3 kids. Now I am expecting #4 which will also be a c-section. The catheter is inserted with some gel on it, so there will not be any pain. The epidural thing is all based on your anestesist. My anaestesist was and old man with lots of experience. Usually people don't choose anaestesist . I choose my anaestesist. I never had any pain. Not even a needle preeking pain. It was all over within seconds and he will ask you to lie down. But if you choose GA (General Aneastist) , you will sleep throughout. I have experience both and I prefer epidural where I can see the baby immediately. Good luck. Enjoy your day.

I have had 3 babies and all were csections and am preggers with #4 due to have a forth csection on May 31 if things go well. Anyway just ask the nurse doing the IV tell her your fears and usually they will do there best to find the right vein so the only poke you once. the IV is not very painful and the spinal can be painful if you dont curve your back right, I got nervous with my 3rd and ended up crying from pain. though my 1st and 2nd spinal were so good they felt like a little pinch and there was more pressure feeling than anything. you could do back exercises, thats what an anesthiast consultant told me to do, its where you stand with your heels and shoulders against the wall and you practise pushing your lower back against the wall. When it comes to the catheter it is very uncomfortable and a pain in the butt but some hospitals put it in after your spinal so you dont feel a thing, thats what im getting done. The level of pain for all three of them for me was like stubbing a toe, thats the worst.

All of the things you mentioned are relatively painless. Don't worry about the catheter, it was nice not to have to get up to use the bathroom! The iv is not painful when inserted, but sometimes can be itchy or make your hand get swollen, and that can be uncomfortable, but it's not a painful thing. My c-section was pretty easy, and very fast. Don't worry, the only thing you'll be thinking about in those moments before he takes the baby out, is your baby.

Hi again!!! Well its now Tuesday, I had the section on Friday... Ill start a new post to tell the story! xxx Thanks for all ur help by the way!

just focus on the nice present you will get at the end of it i hated the drip in my hand the most didnt feel the catheter go in as id had the spinal block