difficult 1st birth, but can't remember details. do midwives keep records of birth experience to inform 2nd birth plan?

[Whatabeautifulsight10]

I'm worrying about having a second baby. (nowhere near this yet, dd1 is only 3 months old).

My worries surround my lack of knowledge as to what the difficulties were during first birth. This is mainly due to gas and air, my low blood pressure, and general panic as the birth was a busy day with travelling in Ambulance between venues and multiple problems in birth.

I worry that my version of events is not correct, or that the same things could go wrong again if I were to not flag up my concerns.

So, aremedical records kept, so should I fall pregnant, I could go over things with midwife and work out safest birthing options for 2nd birth?

Any advice is appreciated, thank you.

Hi

What area are you in?

I'm in a similar position, didn't have a perfect birth first time round (that's being positive) and now expecting DC2 i was really worried about how to choose a safe birth option partly because I couldn't remember everything from my first birth due to the tiredness and the gas and air!

Anyway, I've only met my midwife once so far at my booking appointment. During the appointment I expressed some of my worries but she couldn't really agree a plan with me as I need to see a consultant at around 20 weeks which is fair enough.

Aside from this a friend of mine gave me a number for a lady she saw who is a midwife counsellor based at my local hospital. I made an appointment and wow am I so glad I did?! I came out feeling so so positive about this next birth. She dug out my previous notes from the archives and went through my labour word for word what was written down by the hospital staff. It was so amazing to hear my labour story over 2 years down the line and being in a completely different place mentally. There was so much stuff that I hadn't known was happening at the time and things she explained to me that the staff at the hospital didn't bother to (either that or I was too high to remember). She also told me the times of which each examination, progression of labour etc happened and I was amazed at how different they were to my memory! I'd even blanked out the tea and toast bit! She also focused on the positives and said it's amazing how quickly my cervix dilates rather than focusing on all the other negatives. When I explained my fears for my next labour she gave me some tips on what I can suggest to my consultant at 20 weeks to agree that I don't have a repeat of last time such as having a sweep before I'm due or even getting induced on my due date.

I really think it would be worth looking to see if there is such a person at your local hospital. This lady really was a star

Sorry I should have added that you don't need to be pregnant to see a midwife counsellor, in fact most of their patients tend to be mothers that have very recently had a baby

Thank you so much this has really helped. I'm in the south east and I'm sure they would have this/ something similar.

As you've said, it's very difficult to remember what happened, but I know I don't want a repeat of it, and there was so much happening that my dh can't piece it all together.

There were lots of good parts like 15 min pushing stage which I need to remember, I hope a midwife counsellor could help me with this, as they clearly have done with you!

Also the fact that they have the medical notes is really reassuring.
Thank you, that's completely changed my mood. To be honest it's the not knowing what happened that's bothering me, more than all the scary bits I do remember.

I really hope your second labour is a more positive experience, and at least they can work around potential hiccups.
Best of luck with your pregnancy and thanks for the advice

My medical notes were sparse. I think the quality of medical notes varies between hospitals. My hand held records this time have lots of pages to fill in with the bits that were effectively missing from my first birth, so I guess this hospital keeps better records.

That's ok, you're welcome I'm in the south east too, in West Sussex.

I would get a debrief from the hospital ASAP. I had mine over the phone with he doctor who dealt with my complications.

The midwives had my notes from my first brith or my second 2 years later and we were able to discuss them and I went ahead and had a straightforward water birth in the midwife led unit. Xx

I'm pregnant with baby number two after 6 years. They've still got my notes from my first pregnancy/labour even though the hospital has changed authorities. They dug them out for my booking appointment at 7 weeks.

I recently had a VBAC appointment and the midwife briefly went through my notes with me and explained what happened last time so we could have a plan of action for this time. I found it really helpful.

Thank you so much everyone. It appears that every births records are kept and this has made me feel much better.

I'm hoping for a water birth next time, so hopefully I can at least use water in some way.

Thanks for your advice

Hi,
I recently had a debrief 4 years after birth-it was really helpful (arranged with supervisor of midwives). It also reassured me about next time. I did this before trying to conceive.....I am now 30 weeks! They have to keep your notes for so long under clinical governance laws x

My ds was nearly 4 years ago it was awful midwifes were unaware of what happened to me son came out not breathing etc I have been through the scenario 100 times with my midwifes consultants etc the consultants notes were completly wrong to what I remember apparently I refused pain relief oh I think u find I had everything going. I was un co operative I had syntocyin drip up on max for 16 hours and it was bak yo back and I had bad spd, I couldn't move much. She said I got to 8cm I didn't it was 9/10 but he was coming out sideways instead of normally. I was also apparently was indyced on due date I wasn't I was induced 13 days over due as hospial were to busy to take me and kept sending me home

Medical records are kept for 25 years and you can apply for copies of them, for a small admin/photocopying fee. Your baby's notes are kept too.
You can apply to your hospital for them, check the website as it might have more information on there..

You can request a copy of your labour notes from the hospital, you just pay for photocopying. I got mine from dd's birth as I didn't have a great experience with the hospital and didn't trust them to keep them safe! I plan to take them along to my midwife if and when I am pg with #2

X post with Harriet!

You can request a copy of your notes as others have said. Be prepared to read a different tale to the one that you remember. Some MW don't necessarily record what actually happened rather what should have happened. For example, on my notes from the birth of my first DS, the record states that I declined pain relief and that I was "comfortable". I actually screamed for a epidural. The notes also stated that consent was obtained for several VEs and an episiotomy. I did not consent to any procedure. My DH was a witness he would agree that procedures were just "done".