Episiotomy without consent???

[Sadiemoon]

Hey Ladies, I had my daughter (first birth) 8 months ago at hospital. My waters didn’t brake properly so after 24 hours of being in pain on a ward they then moved me over to the labour ward. They then broke my waters for me everything was fine after that I managed my birth with just gas and air. I had then been pushing for 40 minutes when I saw the doctor injecting me with anaesthetic and the midwife very quickly giving me a cut!! I had no idea what they were doing neither did they mention it to me or my husband before or after. Once they cut my daughter literally flew out 20 seconds after. I’ve been wondering now for 8 months why they did it and feeling traumitised, I’ve also struggled bonding with my baby. I was also bullied a lot during labour and basically forced into stir ups and ordered around. I’ve been so upset I went for a debriefing this week to find out what happened, everything was very detailed in my notes except the part where I was pushing!!! It also said I have my full consent to be cut, the midwife then got the heart monitor sheet out and said that my daughters heartbeat was going down towards then end but I probably had another 10 minutes!! I haven’t slept since and I’m struggling as I feel like I will never know what has happened. Has anyone else been through anything similar and did you make a complaint? Or if anyone has any ideas why this might of happened? Any help would be appreciated

Sorry about the spelling I’ve just read through it as my daughter was crawling all over me xxx

I had a similar experience with a first labour, and it was my (ex)H physically getting between the midwife with scalpel and my body that stopped it happening. I tore, but only the most minor kind.

I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's a dreadful thing to happen and there are lots of MN discussions about it, and an MN campaign led by the wonderful @RowanMN.

Hi Sadie, I can’t comment much as I don’t know.

But I am 4 months postpartum and I too am upset about the incompetence I received during labour ... I was constantly undermined and my pain was minimalised and I was told I should be at home and should be grateful I’m even in hospital and to not complain of pain ... because I’m not even in active labour yet... and my son flew out within half an hour ..

I kept saying I’m pushing and they kept refusing to believe

I had a newly trained midwife maybe that’s why

My son was born very blue and black with lack of oxygen and it haunts me ..because they didn’t reduce the induction dose when I was pushing because they didn’t believe I was...

I didn’t know u can go find out the details afterwards ... might think about it

I wasn't asked for consent either. The first I knew it was happening was when I heard the doctor ask the Midwife for the scissors, the epidural had long worn off and I was given no analgesia prior.

IMO consent is a massive issue in childbirth and maternity care. Of course there are sometimes obstacles to obtaining true, informed consent during labour but this is used an excuse to just not bother with trying to obtain any at all. I think it's very common for procedures to be carried out without the woman even being told yet it will be noted that she has given permission. It's awful.
Sorry you're going through this, I felt the same after my birth experience where lots of things such as VEs were done without any consent. I felt completely violated and distressed and it still effects me now.
If you are in an okay mindset to do so then I would urge you to make a complaint, women need to speak up against this kind of treatment

This is called assault
It is not ok that this occurs regularly
All medical professionals should ask for consent
You should complain to protect other women and to find justice for yourself

This is awful and should not have happened. Having a procedure without consent, no wonder you feel trauma.
Look up an organisation called birthrights, I'm sure they could support you.
Also did you have a birth partner in with you, could you ask more questions of them?
Good luck 💚

That’s horrendous, I really think you should take this further and complain.

Also, a number of my friends have had experiences where their notes conveniently miss out anything that doesn’t show medical professionals in the best light. Funny that!