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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

Advice needed on Syntometrine injection and refusing it, pleeeeeeeeease!

139 replies

EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 00:11

Hi
I had the injection after giving birth to ds, it made me very sick and i then had to have further medication to stop the sickness. Unfortunately the anti-sickness medication makes my Narcolepsy (sleep disorder) worse and following it I slept for over 12 hours, meaning ds didn't feed for almost 18 hours after birth. This wasn't too much of a problem, he took to bf absolutely fine and we had no bonding issues.
I am due on Monday and now very worried that the injection could cause the same sickness again. I really do not want to have another child and not remember much of the first day of their life.
As I know it didn't cause huge problems with ds, if i need to i'll have the injection, but if i can avoid it I would like to.
If I refuse the injection, how dangerous is this? What else can I do to lessen the chances of a heavy bleed (my mw tells me this is why i should have it so want to go armed with alternatives)?

HELP!

OP posts:
lulumama · 06/04/2007 15:00

ellie- might be that your last baby was OP

that can lead to a longer , slower more painful labour that is intense before establised labour is underway...and that might not happen again!

i would like to suggest you try some visualisation of the birth, have a bath, light some candles, and really imagine strongly how you want this birth to be

imagine it as something that you can cope with

say, the image of waves breaking onto the shore....if you are not prepared for the wave, as they get stronger, they can knock you down, if you are prepared, and stand firm , they wash over you and you can stay with it..

each pain you have is one you don't have to have again, and each one brings the baby closer....

a positive mindset can really help , you can find the inner strength, i really thought i would not cope without an epidural, but i did it,

nothing to say you won;t do it this time too !!

Klaw · 06/04/2007 15:03

Ellie, if I haven't already asked you please read this . It helps to explain the way labour works and the hormones involved.

Also if you would like to chat to me (or Lulu, I'm sure) please email me with contact number and I'l call you. OK??? (klaw @ macmail dot com)

Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 15:04

i'm willing to try lulu but as i haven't really enjoyed being pg or the thought that i'm having this baby, the thought that it just brings my baby closer doesn't help me.

i desperately wanted to use the pool last time but they don't understand Narcolepsy, I am not consultant led care so whichever mw i end up with in labour will only know as much as i can tell them then, and they seem very wary of anything other than on the bed, epidural in.

OP posts:
lulumama · 06/04/2007 15:04

definitely...my website addy is on my profile, you can contact me through that x

Klaw · 06/04/2007 15:05

BTW, when I looked up Doulas in you area Becky Drayton was the name I was drawn to.

Also contact Jackie Barrow, she should also work under the Hardship fund,

Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 15:05

what pisses me off is that i can drive, i only see my consultant every 18mths, i know what i can and can't take, and yet they still know what's best for me, and tell me they can't risk these things becase of my condition. AARGH.

OP posts:
lulumama · 06/04/2007 15:06

ellie-- that might be a stumbling block, and one that needs to be dealt with, hopefully before labour starts ! any unprocessed fears can hold you back,

the reality is, the baby will be coming soon, and i believe that if you felt supported now and knew that you would have good support in the birth, then you might be a little less fearful?

any mnetters near you? you never know, someone out there might well be up for helping you out !

Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 15:09

deepest darkest suffolk doesn't seem to have that many MNers lulu! the response to my thread on it was somewhat minimal and they all disappeared quickly!

OP posts:
lulumama · 06/04/2007 15:11

might be time to bump that thread!!

Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 15:11

i'm getting there, i am more excited than i was, and i was hit by it when i had to go in to hospital earlier this week. I love being a mum and can't wait to do it again, it's just the fact that it ties my ex into my life that i hate. tho having met with his parents yesterday they are completely behind me which made me feel better.

OP posts:
lulumama · 06/04/2007 15:13

good !! happy, positive thoughts only please ! LOL!!

am excited for you , my lovely, and i know you will be fine, you will cope , you are strong , you are capable, you are woman, lets hear you roooooooaaaaaaaarrr!

Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 15:18

don't make me laugh, my pelvic floor can't cope

OP posts:
Klaw · 06/04/2007 15:26

Have to go dispose of 4 headless bunnies from behind the bikes (cat thinks he's sooooooo clever!) but will be keeping this thread open to keep an eye on you!

Let us know if there's ANYTHING we can help with and as Lulu said, BUMP the Suffolk support thread to see if you can get anyone to be more forthcoming...

((((((((((Ellie)))))))))))))

PS your ex's folks sound great, keep in with them as you will benefit from having grandparents involved as much as they will enjoy their grandchild. What ex does is up to him and ultimately he is the one most likely to lose.

Klaw · 06/04/2007 15:28

Woooooaahhh! It's hit me like the preverbial - what about ex's mum? Any liklihood she can support you in labour?

Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 15:30

she's lovely, but i hardly know her, and would feel a bit weird her being there. and she has her grandsons for the next 10 days.

OP posts:
Klaw · 06/04/2007 15:39

worth talking to her about this anyway? this will be one of her granchildren anyway so she might jump at chance!

but it is reasonable that she feels she has prior commitments, but as usual if you don't ask, you don't get!

Back off out to clear up cat's presents. Turns out there were five of them, all youngsters and one particularly cute little baby bunny. My cat is such a good hunter, we no longer have mice brought in, he's cleared them all I think....

Klaw · 06/04/2007 15:54

Incredibly nosey, I am , been googling.. is yourt narcolepsy with or without cataplexy?

Been trying to find info on narcolepsy in childbirth, obviously!

Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 17:25

i don't have the cataplexy, i'm very lucky x

and no, it might seem a good idea but even the thought of her being there would make me more tense, my friend will still be with me whatever, but like you say, it wouyld be good to have someone the midwives might respect a little more

OP posts:
Original poster
EllieKthePA · 06/04/2007 17:34

can't be here right now, utterly sick of MN and the need to constantly get at the antenatal threads. the girls on due in april have my email.

i need to stop crying before i can come back.

OP posts:
lulumama · 06/04/2007 18:07

i go out for a couple of hours and ellie is crying someone fill me in???

Klaw · 06/04/2007 18:15

dunno Lulu, am off to investigate, but you're probably already on the case!

DaisyMOO · 06/04/2007 18:15

Hi Ellie, don't know whether you're reading this still I'm not a registered doula yet, but I have 'doula-d' for friends in the past and I'm considering registering if I don't get a place to do midwifery this year. I live on the border between Suffolk and Cambridge, so might be able to help if you are interested? I totally understand if not as you don't know me from Adam, but feel free to get in touch if you would like - nappymad @ yahoo . co .uk

lulumama · 06/04/2007 18:16

she needs lots of support , i have left a message for the april thread, asking for my email to be passed on to her...

mears · 06/04/2007 18:17

Just incase you manage to get back Ellie - can I just say that you will not be alone in labour you will have a midwife with you. I have often looked after women who have no other birth partner with them - I certainly do not 'bully' women into anything. I have a great resect for dulas however I sometimes get the impression that women need protecting from the midwife at all costs!

I would ask to speak to the senior midwife in the labour ward - she could probably allay a lot of your fears. Ask your community midwife to help you. Midwives should not be pressurising women into anything they don't want. I read and discuss women's birthplans with them. An epidural does not make my life easier - infact it causes more work if anything.

I am sorry I haven't been able to get back here sooner.
Please do not think that the midwife looking after you in labour will not care what you want.

yogimum · 06/04/2007 18:17

I have been watching this thread for a while. Im sure ellie feels that she's not in control and needs to express her concerns to someone especially as she is so soon to have her baby. I also felt this way that everything was out of my control. I requested to speak to the head of my maternity unit( who was also a midwife) to clarify what my options were. It doesn't sound like she has a lot of support! I think someone of the girls on here are been very supportive, well done you guys!