I was told right away that an epidural was the sensible choice as it was going to hurt more than normal otherwise so I took it gladly - I was scared but the brisk and sarcastic manner of the anaesthetist made me laugh and thankfully she did a good job. The other anaesthetist who took over in the evening was similar and let me hang onto her hand and talk mind-diverting drivel to her all through the op. I asked one if she had a thing about needles considering her specialism and the other I accused of being a sadist.
I'm calm because I have to be, but I have had some screaming fits over the inability to get the steriliser into the microwave and thinking I'd given the tyke nappy rash (it was his antibiotics which did this)
And davem has taken to it all like a duck to water.