AIBU to consider having a planned C section?

[bratzybaby]

Hi, I originally posted this on the Parenting board but only had one response so hopefully it's okay to post here.

This may be a long one so thank you for reading!

I had a baby in May and to say it was a traumatising experience is an understatement! Long story short I had an emergency epidural as the baby was in distress. The epidural was given as I needed to be put on a hormone drip which would push my contractions together so I was able to push the baby out. Originally I didn't want an epidural but I wanted the baby to come out asap so I said I'll have one.

The anaesthetist that administrated the epidural ended up puncturing my spine. This resulted in something called a spinal headache a day later and I needed three producers to fix this. Both mine and the baby's blood pressure dropped because the epidural wasn't working and we had midwifes and doctors rushing in to stabilise this. They were finally able too and after some hours, my epidural had to be redone because the original anaesthetist had put it in the wrong place so it was ineffective.

Eventually I pushed the baby out but was taken to theatre straight away as I had lost 2L of blood because my uterus wasn't contracting. The doctors were great and managed to stop the bleeding but I immediately had to have a CT scan and so many other things. Both baby and I were put on the High Dependency Unit and had to be monitored closely. After my first procedure to rectify the spinal headache, baby and I were moved to the postnatal ward. This is where it gets even worse.

Baby and I were in hospital for a total of 7 days. For the first two days when we were in HDU, the midwives would express colostrum and feed it to the baby as I was completely unable to move or bend my neck (due to the effects of the spinal headache caused by the puncture in my spine). When we were moved to the postnatal ward, the midwives refused to help and said they weren't allowed to touch the patients breasts. They kept on encouraging me to latch the baby correctly and simply weren't listening to the fact that I literally couldn't bend my neck to see what I was doing. I was given syringes and left to it.

On day 5 when baby was weighed, she had lost 15% of her birth weight and I was told that it was normally expected for babies to lose 5-10%. When the pediatric doctor came round he set up a feeding plan for me to stick too and explained to the midwives that the baby wasn't receiving nowhere near enough food due to my condition and that they needed to start helping me asap. If the baby didn't put on enough weight in two days then she'll have to get taken to intensive care and be put on a feeding tube. It was all too much and this was during Covid times so my birthing partner (my mum) could only stay for 4hrs a day. I was basically all by myself.

Fast forward to now, I've had a debrief with one of the professors at the hospital. I've had a meeting with the head of the anaesthetist team and a meeting with the matron of the ward. I've sent a complaint letter to PALS and we're also planning to sue for negligence. I've since had CBT therapy which has helped SO MUCH with dealing with the trauma. My therapist was amazing and I've made a lot of progress.

I'm now pregnant again! I've changed hospitals as I refuse to give birth at the hospital where I had my firstborn but I now have the option to have a planned C section. This will be done by Consultants only or I can go into spontaneous labour and see what happens. This may not seem like much of a question but honestly I think I'm just scared and wanted to voice my worries as the consultants that are currently leading my pregnancy are trying to point me in the direction of having a spontaneous labour.

Of course a C section has it's risk so I see why the consultants are recommending that I go into spontaneous labour but I'm just not sure. I definitely do not trust health professionals as much as I should due to my past experience.

I have to make my decision in a few weeks and feel that I should have questions written down at the very least but I have so many worries I don't even know where to start. I also have a physiological birth plan which my therapist has helped me write up so that has a lot of my concerns on paper and on my file which is great.

I just wondered what other people would do/think they would do in this situation or if anyone has been through anything slightly similar?

I'd definitely go for a C section in your circumstances. I don't think anyone would opt not to.

Can I ask though, have you been left with any permanent damage from your first birth? Sorry it's not clear unless I've missed something.

I haven’t had a c-section, but I had quite a traumatic forceps birth in theatre with back-to-back DS. Like you, I lost a lot of blood, had an epidural (which at least mercifully worked), the drip and later a spinal. I also had a massive episiotomy that still gives me some pain every month on my period

I am not sure I want to risk even more damage from another delivery like that, so may well request a section with any future DC, although I understand there are massive risks with that too.

I had a planned c section for my third

Best birth ever

Also was quickest recovery, as first two were pretty traumatic ...

If you want a c section have a c section. It's your body and your mind.

C section all the way. You don’t have to justify your reasoning.

YANBU to want to go for an elective c-section. The error in giving the epidural sounds like it was because they were in such a rush. I experienced a vaginal birth with an epidural and instrumental delivery and then for my second had an elective c-section which was a much better experience. The anaesthesia for the c-section was spinal anaesthetic which seemed much more effective than an epidural, I felt numb from shoulders down.
I suppose if you wanted they could do the c-section under GA and then you would avoid repeating spinal anaesthesia. Is that your preference?

Your birth and the aftermath sound very traumatic. My first birth wasn’t similar but I am 35 weeks and had a fairly traumatic birth with my first child resulting 3rd degree tear that required further repair surgery down the line. I’ve been lucky and have healed without further issues. The consultant said he’d support me with whatever option I chose but emphasised the risks of attempting another vaginal birth. So I’ve opted for a section.

I think you should give birth the way you want to.

Your body your choice.

Yes I'd go for the elective C-section it will be a much nicer experience for you. It's a sensible choice for your wellbeing.

Thank you for the replies so far.
I know it's my body and my choice and I know it's my decision but when speaking to a consultant recently they made me feel so dumb that I wanted to have a C section. It put a bit of doubt in my mind even though the professor I had a debrief with at the previous hospital, agreed that a C section would be the best decision if I was to ever get pregnant again.

@mummyh2016 sorry I never said anything about permanent damage. I no longer suffer from spinal headaches as I had a MRI scan to confirm this but I now suffer from migraines because of this. So I take medication to help as I've had a migraine everyday since the spinal headaches started! It's honestly been hell.

@sosorryhowawful I think that's my concern! The spinal anaesthesia is what I'm really scared of. It's somewhat reassuring that everything will be done by consultants only as the previous anaesthetist that punctured my spine was a junior doctor. I haven't heard of GA so I'll definitely get to researching

Why not ask for a c-section under GA then? It is often what they have to do in emergency c-sections so they should be totally used to it. Best wishes whatever you decide. Feeling in control of what happens is very helpful after a bad experience.

My hospital really tried hard to deter me from a c section. When I turned up on the day, the team were all congratulating me on my choice saying they'd done the same for their births. It's like you have to pass all these tests then you arrive and it's like you won! Very odd. Just stick to your guns and tell them what's going to happen. And make them book it when you're 39 weeks plus how ever many days. Cheeky fuckers tried to book mine at 41 weeks. Luckily caught that one and my partner gave them what for. Good luck!

In your shoes I'd go for a general anthestetic c section. No way would I want anyone near my spine again based on what you went through. Good luck Op go with what you feel is best.

I think in your circumstance I would go for a c section but I've had 3 and lost 2.5 litres of blood in the first 2 ( recovery after that was fine) and in the last one had a reaction to the medication that left me with hives and BP dangerously low however no blood loss this time and I felt more full of energy straight after due to this.
I'm only 1 week pp so I'm still healing but the c sections themselves were calm and quick, I didn't know I'd lost that much blood until they told me and recovery wasn't bad at all and traumatic experiences.
Only telling you this so you know that things can still happen but I understand why you feel the way you do and I hope it goes well for you this time

I had a planned c section following a an emergency c section with my first child. It was extremely calm. Given what happened with your epidural and spinal headache I would want to go into any c section very confident about the anaesthesia and that procedure because you will have to have a spinal (unless they agree to GA given your history).

My planned c section was a very calm experience and I would recommend it to anyone considering it.

I had a similar experience OP, and had a planned c-section with my second. The hospital tried to get me to agree to try a vaginal birth first, with a c-section as an available option if I changed my mind. I decided to go for a planned c-section as a friend in a similar situation went into labour, and they then refused to do a c-section at that point as she was “too far gone”. I really had to fight for it though, but they finally agreed.

My planned c-section was wonderful, quick, calm, quick recovery, and I felt in control.

You are absolutely within your rights to ask for a section, and I can understand why you’d want to after your horrible experience.

I just wanted to say however, that although elective sections for many are a great option, I had one and hated everything about it. My need for section was medical (placenta praevia). The spinal caused a profound drop in my blood pressure which resulted in significant nausea and vomiting during the procedure. I had a big blood loss during the procedure. As I was vomiting I couldn’t have skin to skin immediately after my baby was extracted which (I think) massively impacted my bonding with him in the first few days. My milk was also very late coming in (day 6) which is common after a section and after a big blood loss and we therefore were readmitted after a few days with a huge weight loss and a very dehydrated baby who needed intravenous fluids.

I will do my absolute best to avoid a section if I have another baby, though appreciate that at the end of the day I have a healthy wee boy which is what matters most. But I see a lot of posts on Mumsnet suggesting that an elective section is a ‘better’ option than a vaginal delivery and sadly I don’t feel that this was the case for me.

My planned c section was wonderful and it sounds like it could be a good option for you. It will take out the worrying and the what ifs.
Just so you know, even for planned sections you don’t always get a consultant anaesthetist. Junior doctors do those lists alone too. And don’t think “junior doctor” is an inexperienced doctor. Many many of them are very experienced, have decades of experience under their belts but have been working other roles so haven’t quite made it to consultant level in their specialty.

My planned c section was also a pain-free delight. I didn't even entertain a natural birth and insisted on a c section. I got push back but I'm pretty head strong. I could easily have driven after a week if I hadn't been so sleep deprived......

Thanks again for the comments!

I'll definitely research having a C section under general anaesthesia as I assumed it was only done by way of a spinal block (clearly don't know much about C sections!)
And I'll definitely speak about it with the consultants.

Like some of the comments, I have no clue why you have to 'fight' to have a C section done. Due to my history it was a given that I'd have one but because I've moved hospitals it's made things a bit more complicated. I definitely this this is the best way to go in feeling reassured and feeling as calm as possible.

My other main fear is going on the postnatal ward once I've had the baby. I'm honestly terrified at the treatment baby and I may receive however I try not to think about it as going on the ward is unavoidable.

These comments have made me remember what I went through first time round and has reminded me to stick with what I think is best. Now I just have to do a bit more research and be 100% on my decision🤞

Sorry to hear you had a rough time.

Anaesthetist here.

Unfortunately puncturing the dura (the bag that contains the cerebrospinal fluid - CSF). It is the leakage of CSF which gives you a "spinal" headache. Most anaesthetists would call it a post dural puncture headache (PDPH).

Such headaches are a recognised complication of an epidural. Even the best, most experienced anaesthetist can do it (I've done it several times over the course of my 15+ year career).

Doing so isn't negligent.

When you have a spinal anaesthetic you deliberately puncture the dura and put the local anaesthetic directly into the CSF. However, because the needles used for spinal anaesthesia are much smaller than those used to place an epidural the risk of headache is much lower.

The risks associated with a caesarian section under general anaesthesia are considered to be higher for both mother and baby. It is not uncommon for babies born after a general anaesthetic caesarian to need to go to the neonatal unit as the general anaesthetic drugs have affected them and they need additional care while they wear off.

You need to weigh all the risks and benefits carefully.

You may get information here that is helpful.

www.oaa-anaes.ac.uk/assets/_managed/editor/File/Info%20for%20Mothers/PR_leaflets/2009_ed3_oct_oaa_pain_labour.pdf

rcoa.ac.uk/patient-information/patient-information-resources/patient-information-leaflets-video-resources

@MauveMavis I never said what the anaesthetist did was negligent. The care given by the midwives was negligent however the mistake made by the anaesthetist was just that, a mistake. I know all the details surrounding it as I was in and out of the hospital with this issue for three weeks. Thanks for the links

You poor thing. To be honest, it sounds as though you could do with some more support around this as your post reeks of trauma. There is an organisation specifically for women who have experienced traumatic birth, TABS I think it is called.

As to the planned c-section, I've had one and would totally recommend it. Elective is much safer than emergency, and all up you can gain a sense of control that can help a lot.

Also, when people bang on about risks, they always ignore the significant risk to the mother's mental health which of course directly impacts the baby's well-being.

Hopeful bump, anymore for anymore😬