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Birth announcements

Share your unique birth stories and read heartwarming stories from fellow mums. For more on your baby’s development, check out the Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Elective C-Section may have been wrong decision

16 replies

Jelliebaby · 08/03/2009 08:50

I had my baby girl 02.02.09 (The first day with the snow) I was due to have a planned c-section the week after (09.02.09) but went into labour a week early. When i got to the hospital i was 2cm dilated and the dr asked if i wanted to try labour naturally or have my planned c-section. I had a c-section with my first DD so knew what to expect and didn't fancy the pain of labour or the 'not knowing' what would happen in labour so i opted for the c-section.

To cut a long story short i had my c-section which went fine and my DD was born weighing 7lb 3oz. I then went back to maternity ward to enjoy my baby but on the way there felt very sick and passed out, when i came round the dr was there who had just performed my c-section and ordered me back into theatre as i had internal bleeding, i was given a GA and opened back up where they found a clot and i had a blood transfusion of 9 units of blood. It was all very very scary and because i was kept under observation afterwards i didn't see my DD for over 24 hours.

The moral of the story is don't be 'too posh to push' I elected for a planned c-section because i wanted my baby to be born a week early, i didn't want the pain and uncertainty of labour and i didn't want to go over my due date. All very selfish reasons really.

So if anyone out there is having to make the decision about natural or elective c-section I hope my story helps. Its been 5 weeks now and im still very sore and very tired due yo blood loss. I feel like ive missed out on a very special time with my baby because i get tired out so easily. Friends of mine who had natural births same time are all fine and even back at the gym now. I am very envious of them and sometimes wish i had tried to give birth naturally.

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merryberry · 08/03/2009 14:12

Hi Jellie I hope you feel better soon, and get past this what-if feeling as well to enjoy the next stages of motherhood as happily as you hope. From my experience recovering post natally, make sure you keep an eye on your iron levels especially since your transfusion, don't let being anaemic add to your tiredness.

COngratulations on your little girl!

ilovemydogandMrObama · 08/03/2009 14:15

You poor thing!

Try to be kind to yourself. Am sure there was no way of knowing that you would have a clot.

dinkystinky · 08/03/2009 18:49

Oh Jellie - there really was no way of knowing that you would have those complications and VBACing when you havent prepared yourself to would probably have led to a c-sec anyway. I'm glad your baby arrived safe and sound - and that you're on the road to recovery. Please be kind to yourself and take things easy and enjoy your little girl.

lljkk · 08/03/2009 19:15

Congrats on your new baby, Jellie.
Sorry to hear you had such a rough time of it.

fingermousey · 09/03/2009 11:24

I am very sorry you have had less than a favourable experience with your elective c-section. I had the horrible decision last year as to whether to have another c-section or to vbac and ended up bitterly regretting my choice of an elective. My bladder has never fully recovered from the surgery and I have been told I have nerve damage that may or may not get better.

I don't know if there is anything I can say to help, I'm not sure if anyone could have helped me feel better about it. All I can say is that you are not alone in having a less favourable outcome. In time you will feel better about it I am sure and there are vbac mums who also don't have a good time either. I feel I lost the whole of my baby's first year due to all the upset and trauma over my bad decision

Lulumama · 09/03/2009 11:28

there was no way of knowing that you would have had complications, you may have had similar complications after a VBAC. you just don;t know

you can;t punish yourself, or guilt trip yourself, you made the right decision for you based on what you knew and had experienced

it is valuable to share it with others, as it is always wise to see both sides of the coin, VBAC re elective.. and that neither are the 'easy' option, both have potential risks and of course benefits

it was pure bad luck, and i hope in time you will feel better about it all

it is still early days

congratulations on the arrival of your DD

AtheneNoctua · 09/03/2009 11:42

Did the section cause the clot? Did they now sew you back up properly. Perhaps none if this matters now, but I'm just curious.

Nice post here by Lulu. Don't beat yourself up. No good will come of that. 5 weeks is not a long time after a section. One day years from now your vaginal birth friends might week in their pants every time they laugh, and you won't care that it took 6 extra weeks to get back to the gym.

I usually regard my section recovery as a very good one. But, I don't think I was running at 5 weeks... probably walking, but not running.

Original poster

Jelliebaby · 09/03/2009 13:12

Thanks everyone. I think maybe if i had of had a natural labour i possibly would still of ended up with a ECS.

Glad i'm not alone fingermousey and I hope that in weeks/months to come i'll feel better about it all.

AtheneNoctua - Not sure what happened with regards to the clot, they said there was a tear on a muscle in the uterus, it took them 20 mins to find it when they opened me up the 2nd time. I regret not asking for more information, did they cause the tear? etc but i think i was so pleased to be ok that at the time i never thought to ask. Something else that is playing on my mind now!

OP posts:

AtheneNoctua · 09/03/2009 13:29

You must have your 6 week check coming up. Why don't you ask them for a copy of the notes and just say you want to better understand what happened and why.

It may be the case that this had nothing to do with the section. So your decision is completely unrelated.

traceybath · 09/03/2009 13:34

Agree with lulu.

I had an elective with ds2 and it was earlier than planned as i went into labour at 37 wks. DS2 then ended up in NICU for a week with breathing difficulties which was probably exacerbated by the c-section.

I too felt very guilty but then put my sensible head on and realised that even if i'd tried to vbac i'd probably have ended up with an emcs as i tend to have giant headed babies and i'm pretty small. So the end result would have been the same really.

However am now pregnant with dc3 and will again go for an elective but i know the pros and cons of both.

Congratulations on your baby!

MmeLindt · 09/03/2009 13:34

I agree with Lulu, don't feel guilty about it. You had no way of knowing that you would have any complications and risking a natural birth without preparing for it might have been just as traumatic for other reasons.

Congratulations on the birth of your lovely baby.

Nicki10 · 09/03/2009 13:54

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl who is happy and healthy which is the main thing.

Your absolutly right Jellybaby ven if you had tried for a VBAC this may well have still happened. I had my DD 17 months ago now and it was an ECS but ended much like yours with me hemaragging!!! can't spell and it going to code red while DP and DD still in there. All wer whisked out and I was given a general and also 9 units of blood and plasma. I still feel awful about my delivery as when I came round I was so ill I didn't get to hold or see DD for 5 days. In the end I had to go back to surgery for them to sort me out.

However when I went for my 9 week check they told me that although it had been awful I would still always need a C-section as my body just won't allow a baby through my pelvis. I have come to accept the 5 precious days that I have lost as I have had so many special times since and we are currently trying again and if it all happened the same again next time (which I hope it does not) I won't mind as long as my baby is healthy. Remember you were the one who did the brilliant job of keeping it safe for 9 months to give it the best possible start.

belgo · 09/03/2009 13:58

Jelliebaby - congratulations on the birth of your baby.

You are not selfish for making the decision you made, you made it based on your previous experience and medical advice.

I've had three very natural births, and after the two home births, I bled loads. I passed out twice after dd2's birth, and just missed needing a transfusion. It took me months to recover, you really need to look after yourself and try and rest as much as possible. And yes, it can even happen after completely natural births.

Lulumama · 09/03/2009 14:01

you should definitely discuss this more at your 6 week check, if you are are seeing your GP rather than obs/hospital doc for your 6 week check, you should definitely ask to discuss ith with someone who has full access to your notes and go through it all with you , having answers and concrete facts will help.

MrsMattie · 09/03/2009 14:04

Congrats on the birth of your DD.

Sorry to hear you had a hard time. It sounds like you were unlucky and it was 'just one of those things'. Please don't blame yourself. You took the decision you thought was best at the time.

Do get your rest and take your time recovering.

jellybeans · 25/03/2009 22:16

Congrats on the birth of your baby! Your section sounds just like my 2nd section, went into shock in recovery and was taken back to theatre, lost masses of blood from a ruptured artery. I also didn't see DS for 3 days as he was in NICU and me in HDU. Felt ill/weak for ages after. I also get fed up of people making out sections are easy! I would never choose one (my 1st 2 c/s were emergency) but I had to have an elective with DS last year as I had already had 2 c/s, was very very high risk for other medical reasons and was not offered VBAC.

I was sooo scared all the way through of bleeding again, I thought I would bleed to death, luckily it went really well and normal blood loss. This time I had a very senior consultant whereas last time I had a junior. Going back to theatre is very rare luckily (I read is a 10% death rate) but I felt quite isolated after the trauma although grateful for DS surviving as had had a stillbirth beforehand. Anyway sorry to waffle, enjoy your baby, hope you feel better soon!

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