TMI ALERT!! HAVE to have C-Section....wanted VBAC!! :-(

[clouiseg]

Hi all.

Well I've been banging on about being adamant I wanted a VBAC with dc4 due in May. Various issues to consider including vascular issues & previous DVT with subsequent P.Embolism BUT I would give my right arm to have as natural a birth as possible. Not to be apparently....

So...saw my GP today as I have (and heres the TMI...sorry ) severe swelling on one side of my fanjo. Had a lot of pressure down there but put it down to being 4th DC.

GP was horrified when she examined me and said (and I quote!) "those are the biggest vulval varicosities I have EVER seen in 24 years of practice...you poor soul!!".

So it seems the hugely painful, tear inducing cauliflower type swelling I've had since Saturday is not normal . She immediately got on the phone to my consultant who ordered complete rest, I am to lay on my back or left side only. Oh...and there is no way I can deliver naturally if the swelling doesnt subside as the risk of rupture is too great.

There was also talk of delivering early if the swelling worsens, and the bedrest is to allow baby to 'cook' as long as possible

Needless to say I'm not impressed. I didnt realise how bad it was. I mean I knew it HURT but dont most 4th (and earlier!) pregnancies??!!! I am especially upset that another CS is on the horizon and I had such a bad experience with my last I feel physically sick at the thought of another.
The other issue is that if bedrest is the only means to preventing early delivery I'm stuffed!! I have 3 DDs, one not even 2 and another disabled. I simply do not have the support to be able to lay down all day. DH works nights so I dont stop all day.

Not sure if anything can be done but I just wanted to feel better having a moan.

Sorry. And thank you. x

Oh that sounds so painful & I am sorry that you may be having another section that you didnt want :(

Fingers crossed that the swelling goes down; I take it they can't actively treat this during pg?

It was my understanding that they could treat them in pregnancy but suspect my medical history is a factor.

I have a rare venous condition in my pelvis which is connected to the embolism & 2 massive labial haematomas I had post delivery with DD 1 & 2. I swelled in pg & it got progressivly worse - teamed with the risk of rupture thats the reason they did the CS with DD3 (& she was breech anyway so...phew!).

They tried to operate on the right side in 2006 and I nearly didnt make it so I'm assuming they want to leave well alone until little one is here. Hence the bedrest?? The current swelling is on the left now...FAB!!

I think the most frustrating thing is that whilst I know ELCS is for the most part a very positive experience for most women, I hated every second of it. The spinal made me so ill the machines were going beserk and I felt paralysed and couldnt speak until they corrected it. I vomitted in my hair/ears constantly on the operating table. I had a large bleed post delivery. I had the Pulmonary Embolism. DD3 had huge feeding issues and ended up TC, we were in for 10 days. Just horrible!

I yearn to labour and at least attempt delivery, but am aware that the safest option is ELCS.

I suppose its the feeling that the choice is taken away from me. Plus the potential for early delivery if the swelling worsens (I would prefer to wait til 39w to avoid breathing/BFing issues).

.

Wow no wonder you really dont want a C section. I don't know much about anaesthesia but I hope you get chance to get an explanation about what might of made you so ill last time & what steps thay can take this time to avoid it.

FWIW I think given your circumstances you are well entitled to have a good moan about it as & when you need to & don't let anyone tell you otherwise

Hope the bedrest helps & your LO can stay put as long as possible. Bet it's driving you mad already specially with other DCs to consider.

No advice or relevant experience, but wanted to offer my sympathies, sounds like you're in a crappy situation.

Have you no family or friends close by that could take your other kids so you can at least get some bedrest? If not, you can only do your best. Obviously with 3 young DDs bedrest isn't realistic.

that sounds very painful - so sorry you are gping through it. Also it sounds like you had a bad CS experience last time but (if its any help at all) they don;t have to be. I ended up with one and can honestly say I recovered no slower or with more pain than nay of my friends who had VB. Take all the pain med they give you and enlist as much help as you can for the other DCs when you recovering. Good luck

Thank you so much!

Its nice to be reassured that I dont have to feel guilty about having a moan!! One of the reasons I love MN!!

DH LOL'd when the bedrest was ordered as he knows I'm the last person who can sit down for 5 mins. Have ants in my pants all the time and am on the go constantly. However, was having a moan that I could do with 5 mins to myself the other day...didnt mean for fate to take the pi**!!

thorny I had a call at home from the consultant anaesthetist recently to discuss this exact condition and I did manage to chat about the side effects. He said its something they are "learning to deal with better"...very reassuring!!

Sarah we moved up to scotland recently as this is where MIL & FIL are. They are helping with DDs for this week but are off to their house in Spain on Sunday for a month!! Not back til 2nd April . MIL had a dig yesterday about "if we had known sooner we could have changed the flights to May instead"!!! So sorry my fanjo didnt consider your holiday plans....

trixie ty for the comforting words. Hopefully the experience can be positive this time round. Incidentally as gravity would have it, I am in no pain when lying down as the swelling eases. But as soon as I stand it is agony. TMI again but I can literally feel the area 'filling up' from the pubic area right down to my baby exit . So painful and walking is difficult .

So as of Sunday I'm flying solo as DH is upping his hours to earn more so he can afford to take paternity leave (agency driver). I do have a lovely neighbour who has offered to help as much as possible but she is 35 weeks pregnant and on crutches with SPD!!! Due for her CS in 3 weeks. Honestly...you couldnt make it up!

Also now harbouring guilt about DD3 who is used to daily walks, swimming, trips to the park etc. Breaks my heart to think she'll be stuck in the house until MIL is back in April . Toddlers need fresh air!

Please feel free to give me a MN virtual slap if I ramble on too much. Hormones dont help!!

Just seen this thread clouiseg How awful for you. I would turn the waterworks on for MIL and beg her either to stay or to take DD3 to Spain with her. Failing that, it must be worth speaking to the health visitor about any kind of home help that might be available. We have homestart round here that a number of friends have used. Or ring the CAB as they might know of some local organisation that can help. With regard to the fear (is that too strong a word?) of the section, keep talking about how you found the previous one to the consultant because if they understand your concerns they have a hope of making it better this time round. Keep rambling and whinging here, it probably helps and certainly can't do any harm.

I was going to suggest Homestart too.
Sorry to ehar that OP, it sounds awful!

Oh my gosh I hadn't thought of homestart! Great idea. Will get onto HV tomorrow, she's a star and has helped us no end with our special needs dd. Thank you so much for the advice! X

OP, I know these will be no words of comfort for you, but will maybe validate for you the doctor's decision. I had an undiagnosed varicosity which popped as my baby crowned and split along the side of the vaginal wall. It wasn't a big varicosity (otherwise I am sure I would have noticed it,) but it was big enough to result in second and third degree tears. It was repaired in theatre and healed well, but it was a bit of a surprise when it went, and caused ywet another blood soaked birth scene for me. Each of mine has been born differently, but all with buckets of blood!

Get help - if you don't you'll probably end up as an in-patient and then someone else will have to look after your other children.

back I'm utterly [shocked] for you! You poor woman, as if childbirth isn't enough to cope with! How are you now? That has given me the willies tbh as mine are massive . gosh lots to discuss with my consultant.

japhrimel I agree there! I stood to do DHs lunch for work tomorrow & give a poorly DD3 calpol and I'm paying for it now . I honestly don't know how the next several weeks will pan out but my biggest concern is early delivery. I want little one to stay in as long as possible.

On the plus side, I contacted my gem of a HV earlier & she is doing an immediate referral to 'homecare' but she only mentioned someone taking DD3 out for an hour a few times a week to the toy library??

clouiseg, in all honesty it was really OK. I had intended a hospital VBAC, but had an extremely rapid home birth instead. Just as I was getting all excited that I had managed it all by myself at home, the MW told me I needed to go to hospital after all. I had a very competent (and funny!) surgeon, and it took them about one and a half hours to stitch. I told him to do a good job, and he did. I was back riding a horse after 5 weeks, and have had no problems at all. All of the tearing I had was fairly superficial in depth but extensive in area. My friend had more bother with her episiotomy. Obviously I have no way of knowing how big my varicosity was compared to yours, but then again I haven't come across anyone else who had one. The only lasting effect is that all photos of the first 10 minutes of my son's life are in black and white, so you can't see all the blood! I lost about 500ml in one big gush.

Oh clouseig- what can I say! It's a totally shit situation- sending you big hugs and feel free to moan away - you are entitled given the circumstances. I had fanjo piles with ds3 and it's crap but nowhere near your severity. Bed rest with 3 kids and no help just doesn't add up no matter how u look at it. One tip- I downloaded angry bird on my phone yesterday and I can't get ds1 (4.5) off it. Think he could happily spend the day playing it but depends on the age of dd3 for you.

Bless you lolly

There have been some developments recently. The home care referral was a success and I already have a lady who is going to be coming 2 hours twice a week to help with DD3! Very pleased. Still not easy as DDS are off school in Scotland until 18th April (in fact only in school 7 days in the whole month!).

The C section has been decided on now after a stern talking to from my HPs at the hospital. I was still trying to argue but further investigation has revealed that my underlying vascular issues are the behind the severe swelling & given my history of rupture I decided to be good and listen

They have decided to deliver LO at 37 weeks via CS. Not the outcome I wanted, 38w would have been my minimum for IOL and 39w for CS but I understand their concerns.

So now trying to get my head around the fact that dc will be here in 2 weeks, much sooner than planned. And also trying not to worry about what is IMO an early section . As long as LO arrives safely!

Ty for the great support! x