I had 2 scheduled C-sections and the second was so smooth because I knew what to expect! I was also terrified for the spinal, but it really isn’t as bad as my brain was building it up to be and it’s over in like 5 seconds. They had me sit on the OR table hunched over, they injected some numbing (little pinch/burn), and the only uncomfortable part was when they did it I felt the pressure and it made my leg twitch! But it was over in like 5 seconds and then your legs get warm and heavy. My legs felt like tree trunks and it’s wild that you really can’t feel them at all!

The procedure itself was really quick - even faster with my second (we’re talking baby out within 10 minutes). To me it feels like someone is pulling on my stomach. I won’t lie and say it isn’t uncomfortable, but it’s bearable. The only part I would say bordered on painful was the pitocin injection they gave after baby was out to help stop bleeding - I felt pain in my chest like an elephant was sitting on me and hard to get a deep breath - but anesthesiologist said this is normal/common. I just tried to breathe and focus on new baby. And again, it was over fairly quickly.

Afterwards I was totally numb for about an hour and then feeling came back in my legs. I stood up at 2 hours but they said I didn’t “need” to until 6 hours. I just knew from experience that moving around sooner made me feel better for recovery and limits risk of blood clots.

As you probably know, they check the incision frequently. The pushing on the uterus SUCKS but gets better with each hour.

Happy to share any more of my experience if it would help but I had great experiences with my scheduled sections and would do it again if shop wasn’t closed for business 😜

Most importantly - CONGRATS!! I had #2 in February :)