To go to the GP- 14 days postpartum

[Mammabee20]

Hi all, I am just wanting some advice on whether I am being unreasonable or not? I had an EMCS on the 10th January as my baby wasn’t growing properly and I couldn’t feel any movement. My DS was born weighing 3 lb 8. They kept me in for 11 days postpartum as I had a bleed and my baby needed assistance with feeding so they allowed us to stay together on a ward for mum and babies.

The midwives would take my BP, temperature and pulse every day twice a day and they would check my CS incision. It is the second one I have had by the way. They always said it looked fine, pretty much perfect etc.

I am now home with little one and all I can think about is possibly getting an infection and ending up back in hospital or something. I’m obviously not living in a fantasy land of not having any pain but any little twinge or clot (sorry TMI) I am panicking and feeling anxious. I had a midwife out on Tuesday who says it looks lovely but I am wanting 100% confirmation that nothing is wrong inside and that I am going to be okay.

My AIBU is is it unreasonable to make a GP appointment if you don’t have any infection symptoms yet?

Go to the GP, you need to discuss your fears.

I think your anxiety is justified, but it's better to talk about it, in case it does get out of hand.

If you develop an infection you will have symptoms, unfortunately the GP can’t tell you whether you will develop one and it doesn’t sound like you have any signs of one now?

You might be suffering from anxiety though - I had a similar situation with one of my twins (slightly different as he was in nicu for a couple of months but same starting point) and I had awful anxiety for months afterwards.

Yanbu to see a gp but maybe you should go to deal with your anxiety symptoms and reassurance instead? A gp isn't going to be able to tell if you are healing well on the inside, they don't have the technology to hand to check. You would need a referral and tbh I do not think your symptoms warrant it unless you are showing signs of an infection. You could still ask your gp about this though especially as you had a bleed in hospital. At best they will be able to check your scar and check you are healing nicely on the outside and a referral.

I have had two c sections too, are you making sure you are getting enough rest? Is there someone on hand to help support you with the baby as you are only two weeks post partum and it will take you some time to get over the pain and feel stronger. I would ask for help from family with meals for the foreseeable and consider getting a cleaner in the short term. Also see if anyone can pick up or help with your older child. It will get easier X

I didn't think the gp would see you before you have been discharged by the midwives. I would keep speaking to the midwife if you have any worries including anxiety. They can help you in the first instance.

OP, why don't you take your temperature and pulse on the same schedule as in hospital, and track it on a chart. Show the HV when she next visits.

It will help you spot immediately if there is any variation. It might make you feel more in control, and it will help the hv understand your anxiety.

If you feel anxious, call 111 and talk to the nurse too. x

Health anxiety is horrible. Whether it's around an actual illness or worrying about getting one.

I always get it after I have a baby. My baby is 13 months old!

Cant see any issue to have the incision checked over by the gp.
I had midwives, community nurse and gp all keep an eye on my wounds. (Admittedly i had further surgery after section).
My gp was great and had specifically asked me to get the nurse to call him in whilst changing dressing.
My wounds never had infection.
Congratulations

I feel for you as you are obviously anxious by please don’t tie up a gp appointment unless you need it. It’s usually fairly easy here to get an appointment but I’ve been told the first appointment I can get is now mid February!

It sounds like your totally fine health wise. However, anxiety is a nightmare. So go see your GP. Get them to give you a once over. Tell them you are feeling anxious. Don’t hide your worries away. Share them.

2 weeks pp I was still under care of the midwives and went back to the antenatal/labour wards to have my c-section incision checked out by a surgeon. Have your midwives discharged you, because I would contact them first if not.

Hi all! Thank you so much for your advice. I have spoken to a GP on the phone this evening and explained my concerns and they’ve made me an appointment for the morning. He said it does sound like I am suffering with a little bit of anxiety but he has booked the appointment for a female doctor to look at me.

I am trying to be completely transparent in my concerns, I’ve had a hell of a time the last 2 years. I had a EMCS with my DD in 2018 and my whole pregnancy had been riddled with Gallstones! They took that out in April 2019 via keyhole surgery. I got pregnant with DS in May so only recovered for a month.

I have put my body through a lot and I feel like surely I can’t keep being okay.. so after the blood loss after the 2nd C section I convinced myself that I was right and something bad was going to happen to me.

I would definitely see your gp I was in hospital nearly 3 weeks after ds had a horrific foreceps delivery followed by blood transfusions ,infection and being in a wheelchair for weeks no surprise I developed extreme health anxiety the doctor seen me every time but I had to go on medication to control it. you will make a good recovery if the midwife said no infection there won't be but get it checked anyway.

YABU to think your midwife can’t spot an infection

@whiplashy- it’s not a case of I don’t think my midwife can spot an infection, it’s a case of I’m overly worried that something will not get picked up and I’ll end up with an infection and maybe have to go back into hospital. I was in there for 14 days, 10 of which were postpartum. The days before that I was fighting to get my baby taken out early because I knew something was wrong with him. They wanted me to get to 36-37 weeks and they were happy to do monitoring every day, I had stopped feeling him move and I didn’t feel pregnant anymore.

It sounds like you have had a really really scary time of it leading up to and after your recent birth. It's hardly surprising that some of that fear has stuck with you. It seems like you are aware that you are focusing your anxiety on things which rationally aren't a cause for concern, but I know it's very hard to shake anxiety.

Do you have any outlet for talking about your feelings around the birth and the fear you experienced? I think very often women are expected to brush their own traumatic experiences under the carpet if baby arrives and is healthy; 'that's the main thing / be grateful' etc. But your feelings are important too - you've been through something massive and it sounds like you need some support to process it.