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Get some antenatal education. Find local classes, or hire a doula. Then you'll be able to make properly informed decisions. And I'd definitely recommend some form of hypnobirthing, to help ease nerves and stay calm.
I second maybe go to antenatal group or NCT, or antenatal yoga. I did hypnobirthing and yoga second time. Definitely did help. With staying calm and relaxed. I have had two c sections at GWH now. The team are really good, will definitely look after you. Pros and cons list is good idea.
I’ve had 2 births at GW my first was Emergency C Section second was VBAC. I went gas and air with my second and ended up asking for an epidural - I still felt everything as it wasn’t done soon enough but that’s on me as I wanted to try without! I would agree with Georgie on here go with epidural. But also do get advice and write a pros and cons list. The recovery from a c section is obviously dependant on each person but I found it really tough I ended up with infections etc and it took me ages to feel at all myself again physically. 2 years on and my scar still looks awful and I don’t have full feeling around it. Everyone’s experience is difference but I wouldn’t choose to have that again unless needed!
Go for an epidural lovely x doesn’t hurt at all just use gas and air when they put it in but they numb your back. The early contractions are like teenage menstrual cramps so gas and air will get you through it. It’s not scary and not that painful. An epidural will chill you out and it’s sooo much fun as you can sit and relax quite a bit more than without it. I’ve done a birth with and without epidural x