Natural birth after difficult / traumatic one

[lucyloo78]

Hi - I’m getting quite anxious about giving birth as my daughter had shoulder dystocia so was rushed to theatre at end of my induction birth 15 months ago. After forceps & mcroberts manoeuvre she was born naturally And apart from forceps marks for couple of days was fine. I’m currently 35 weeks pregnant and assumed they’d promote a c-section birth but consultant says I need to speak to mental health team next week to discuss further.
I’m very unsure what to do & if my anxiety will go into overdrive with natural birth and particularly an induction.
Though with a 16 month old I’d find the recovery of a c section hard and in current situation particularly is want to be home ASAP.

Any advice & previous experience of SD would be hugely appreciated. TIA x

My dc1 was a long and difficult birth.

dc2 slipped out without me even making it to the delivery suite.
Now, I'm no medic, but it seems logical to me that the whole giving birth experience is new to all the muscles first time round, but, there's not a lot left to offer resistance second time round.

It is known that, statistically 2nd births are a lot quicker and a lot easier.

Are you able to discuss birth choices with your midwife at your next appointment?

You could request a section if you feel this would benefit you and the midwife can discuss all the pros and cons.

Just from my own experience, there’s 20 months between my oldest 2.
DS was my first and was a very stressful 39.5 hour labour, sent home at 3 centimetres, came back half an hour later as I couldn’t manage. Ended up vomiting constantly because of the gas and air, ventouse delivery, 2nd deg tear, DS very poorly and ended up admitted for a week to SCBU, stitches broke down ended up back in hospital. All in all a bit of a flap.
DD could have been more different, had a sweep at 4:30 pm, arrived at the birthing unit she was born in the pool 4 hours later and I went home with a few stitches the next day. Genuinely I’d have 10 more kids if all births were like hers.
X

My first son was born after an induction with shoulder dystocia too. I had my second in October via elective c section. I was quite nervous as I didn’t have my chat with the consultant until 36 weeks (on the phone - COVID!) but she agreed the csection was the right plan and booked me in for 39wks. I was then worried I would go into early labour! But I lasted and it all went really smoothly- out after 24hrs, pain much reduced after 4 days and back to running 5ks 12weeks (it took 6-9 months after no1) later! Tell them what you want and it will no doubt be what they would recommend anyway. It is a discussion to ensure you are aware of csection risks etc but I genuinely felt as though we were all on the same page after the SD. Good luck, it will be fine and a breeze compared to your first I imagine! Xx

I didn't have shoulder dystocia but did have a very difficult birth with DS as he was back-to-back, got stuck, went into distress and needed an emergency delivery via forceps and episiotomy. Also the maternity unit was so busy it closed while I was there, so I got left alone in labour by the midwife for periods as she had other women to look after, and they didn't realise baby was back-to-back until very late on, so I was in labour for around 80 hours (active labour for about 12 hours) and she blamed me for 'not pushing properly' even though I burst blood vessels in my cheeks and eyes from trying so hard (to do something that wasn't possible). It was pretty traumatic and I don't feel I was cared for particularly well. Postnatal ward was also vile.

I had a homebirth with DD because I couldn't face hospital again and it was perfect. 4.5 hours from first twinge to holding baby, no pain relief just breathing techniques and birth pool, and my body felt like it was actually doing what it was supposed to. It was magic. And eating hot buttered crumpets on my own sofa straight afterwards then getting in my own lovely clean shower was a dream.

Have you tried any hypnobirthing at all? I did the positive birth company online course second time round and I felt much more confident. The techniques can be applied even if you're having a hospital birth/ induction/ c-section.