I'm a midwife AMA

[Jemima232]

Community Midwife with four children of my own.

Also worked as an Independent Midwife.

Breastfeeding Counsellor and Sleep Consultant.

I’ve read that elective c-sections are the safest (slightly) form of birth for babies - is this true?

I’ve read that elective c-sections are the cheapest overall form of birth for the NHS when you take in to consideration virginal birth trauma costs such as operations, physio, legal costs etc is this true?

Thanks 😊

my question (sorry if its been answered)

Whats the likelihood of haemorrhaging a 2nd time? (natural birth or c section?)

I had a blood transfusion - there was a LOT of blood. No issues with natural for a 2nd time but i would not like to go through that again.

More risky natural or section?

They have already said they will not let me go to term

Sunday Evening

Sorry everyone

Have spent the day binge-watching Gary, Tank Commander doing the ironing and then went for a ten mile walk so I will catch up with your questions tomorrow.

@Rarfy

Formula Feeding

I am so sorry that you felt judged at baby groups for formula feeding.

You did your very best in difficult circumstances. Always remember that.

Without expert and consistent support a great many women find themselves in your position.

It isn't unusual for women to have trouble with breastfeeding after a CS. The pain, the blood loss, all contribute to making the whole thing very difficult.

Please don't feel guilty about this. You LOVED your baby and I'm sure made her the centre of your life that is the most important thing.

@baubled

Back-to-Back Labour

Yes, I would always tell a woman if her baby was OP during labour.

It would not in itself be a reason to transfer a woman from a MLU in second stage. The majority of babies turn either during labour or as they make their way through the birth canal in the pushing stage.

Some do not turn and come out facing upwards. This is not unusual at all.

An experienced midwife or doctor can feel, when performing a VE, if the head is turning and descending progressively, and if there is room in the woman's pelvis for the baby to get out.

If the baby gets stuck and cannot descend any further, transfer to the consultant unit (10 mins away) is reasonable.

If the baby shows signs of distress prior to full dilatation and there is doubt about the adequacy of the mid pelvis or outlet, then the woman can be similarly transferred.

As usual in midwifery, lots of ifs and buts.

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff

Fancy That

Ha!

I wasn't there but you delivered on your hands and knees outside the bathroom.

As a matter of interest, which things were most important to you in your labour with the twins? I am guessing:

• no epidural

• no being made to stay on the bed

• no CFM

• no spectators

It doesn't sound like any of your requests were unreasonable to me.

@Sprinkle of Sunshine

Recurrent Miscarriage

I am so sorry. It's beyond distressing. I remember saying to DH after one of mine that I felt old, ugly, fat and useless

I did have four live babies. My miscarriages were interspersed between them. My first two pregnancies ended in miscarriage. It was devastating.

I had a lot of investigation after I had had 2DC and six miscarriages. I had three in a row after DS1.

It was awful having to go back to work and care for pregnant women and women in labour.

But in answer to your question about supplements etc - no, I did nothing different in my pregnancies which stuck. Nothing at all.

My consultant told me that as my miscarriages were all at different times and for different reasons, that he could not recommend any particular treatment, and he was right. I had a miscarriage at 14 weeks (blighted ovum which turned out to be hydatitiform mole) and several around the 5 - 6 weeks mark. Then there was the missed MC at 11 weeks, on New Year's Eve.

I remember them all as if it were yesterday.

I do hope that you get good advice and have the necessary investigations.

I hope you have a successful pregnancy soon, too.

Sending you love and sympathy.

@OhMyGiddyAunty

There is nothing missing, hormone-wise, which is stopping you going into labour spontaneously.

My DS1 labour didn't start until 42 +4 weeks.

At what point and for what reason were you induced three times?

@HotPinkAngel19

Stress as a cause of delayed labour

Losing people you love is devastating at any time and pregnancy is no exception. It must have been very stressful and sad for you.

I am sure that stress, anxiety and bereavement can stop the natural labour process.

It does not generally cause fetal distress, in my experience. Your baby's heartbeat would have been monitored, as all babies' are.

@sweetsandcrisps

Caesarean Section

Can you supply a link to the information you've read about elective CS being the safest method of delivery for baby. I have posted a link below which refutes this.

I cannot see that it would be cheapest for the NHS, either. There has to be two obstetricians, an anaesthetist and a paediatrician present in theatre, for one thing, not to mention the midwife, her runner and the baby-catcher. Oh, and the anaesthetic nurse.

www.vbac.com/how-does-a-cesarean-affect-the-baby/#.XOMdy_ZFzIV

@Carly290

PPH

You are more likely to have one if you've had one before and you're more likely to have one with a CS than with a normal delivery.

Here's a link to a lot more information

www.nlg.nhs.uk/content/uploads/2014/04/Heavy-Bleeding-After-Birth-Postpartum-Haemorrhage-IFP-0773.pdf

Where are you @TheNameIsWeasley? In labour?

@crazyforpiggies

Has the bleeding stopped? How are you?

Have I finally caught up or is there a question I've missed?

Because I am going to start watching the box-set of The Forsyte Saga for the eleventh time

DH says over his dead body he's really looking forward to it.

@Jemima232 pretty sure I've died and gone to hell. Toddler bug has infected the two adults in the household. Now terrified of labour with a vomiting me and husband. What do midwives do in this situation if labour happens?!?

@jemima232 yes the bleeding has stopped. I'm feeling fine! I'm much more confident in this pregnancy now but keeping my fingers crossed that everything stays ok. 6 weeks until my 12 week scan.

@Thenameisweasley

Oh no! I suppose it was always on the cards.

I hope you don't go into established labour until you feel better.

There's nothing you or your midwife can do about this, unfortunately. Just keep hydrated and if you're vomiting a great deal, ask your GP for advice.

Fingers crossed for you.

@crazyforpiggies

Excellent news.

I have another question!

I have started having palpitations in the past week (now 24+5) never had them before in any of my previous 4 pregnancies.

Mainly when i lean back on sofa or lie down. Google suggests its ok. Am i ok to leave it until i next see mw (4 weeks) or should i be getting checked over

@IVEgottheDECAF

Palpitations in pregnancy are incredibly common.

I would go and see your practice nurse. S/he can do an ECG, which will probably be normal, then you can relax.

If you have shortness of breath/dizziness/fainting as well as the palpitations you should see your GP. Here's a link:

www.womenshealthcaretopics.com/Heart-Palpitations-Pregnancy.html

Hi,

I had a horrible labour with my DD 4 years ago and have never properly understood what happened.

I had contractions for 36 hours, the last 4 I was trying to push. It ended with the midwife calling for a doctor who used the suction cups and an episiotomy to get her out.

The midwifes didn’t seem to understand why I was struggling so much until they called for the head midwife. She examined me and said that the baby’s head was titled and not in the correct position. Would this have been why I struggled so much to get her out? I was examined by 3 other midwives and none picked this up, should they have done? Also, should I have been left pushing for FOUR hours? I had no pain relief by this point (they said gas and air might slow things down) and was in excruciating pain. All they kept saying to me was “just keep pushing, keep pushing...”.

It’s something that four years on still plays on my mind .

Have you ever met a male midwife?

@ThePartyArtisi

Male Midwives

Yes, I've met quite a few, and they were amazing. They had a lot more compassion and empathy than many of my female colleagues.

One delivered his wife's baby at home. She was also a midwife. One of the community midwives also attended.

I had a Male midwife and Gynae.

Both extremely caring and very empathetic.

@CookieBlue

What you describe sounds like a combination of an OP labour and a tight fit.

The midwives earlier in your labour would have known and should have told you. If they weren't sure of the position of the head at any point they should have asked a more experienced midwife or senior doctor to confirm.

I am guessing that all the pushing was in hope that your baby's head would turn in the second stage of labour. Most baby's heads do.

I do not agree that gas and air being withheld was clinically necessary. You were entitled to pain relief. Gas and air does not slow things down.

I would ask for a debrief as this will help you to get an explanation and to come to terms with your experience.