C/Section, some questions for those who have had one

[jofeb04]

Hiya,
I have to carry out a presentaion on c/sections, and want a few "real life" (iykwim) statements from those who have had one.

If your willing to help, can you answer the questions below:

1. Was it a planned, emergency or crash Caesarean section, and do you know fully why it was needed?

2. How did you feel when you found out that you needed one (or asked for one and hospital confirmed that you could have one) - worried, happy, etc

3. What was the Caesarean like (did you still use a birth plan, skin-to-skin quickly etc)

4. What was your care like during your stay in the hospital?

If you want to leave a message here, please do, otherwise, please email me on
jopowell1 at yahoo dot co dot uk

I am aware it may bring up difficult emotions, so please email me if needed.

Thanks

ive had 3.will try to answer but after 2 years still have baby brain-

1. Was it a planned, emergency or crash Caesarean section, and do you know fully why it was needed?1 emcs,2 planned.yes i knew why.

2. How did you feel when you found out that you needed one (or asked for one and hospital confirmed that you could have one) - worried, happy, etc
   with the planned ones felt bit nervous but ok.

3. What was the Caesarean like (did you still use a birth plan, skin-to-skin quickly etc)was put to sleep with emcs so didnt see dd till 20 minutes after birth,next 2 no birth plan but felt listened too .

4. What was your care like during your stay in the hospital?
   great with all 3.except hospital was bad at catering for veggies!!

I've had tow so I'll answer it twice.

1. Was it a planned, emergency or crash Caesarean section, and do you know fully why it was needed?
   1st- I was already under GA for an exploratory op when they realsied I ahd a placental abruption and performed a CS.
   2nd-El.cs

2. How did you feel when you found out that you needed one (or asked for one and hospital confirmed that you could have one) - worried, happy, etc
   1st-I wasnt aware until it had been done
   2nd-I really didnt want one, but my cons told me I had no choice

3. What was the Caesarean like (did you still use a birth plan, skin-to-skin quickly etc)
   1st-Was under GA, but it was incredibly hard on the recovery, mainly because I ahd had other ops at the same time I assume
   2nd-I didnt have skin-to-skin nor did I have a birth plan but the surgeon did know how worried I was and DS was given straight to me

4. What was your care like during your stay in the hospital?
   both times I think they cared for me very well. I wasnt impressed with the cons telling me what I could and couldnt do wrt cs/vbac.
   I've also since found out there were other factors should have been checked during my pg with ds as I am og again now that weren't.

Hi

My experience was pretty calm tbh.

I had been in labour for 24 hours when the consultant decided I needed a c-section.

It was classed as an emergency one but was not what I classed as an emergency as there was no rush about it etc - DS was back-to-back and was stuck and they were concerned about his head becoming misshapen so yes I did know exactly why I needed one. There was about 90 minutes from being told I needed a c-section to actually having it so, in my view, that was not an emergency.

My feelings when they told me - tbh, it was relief and happiness! Because DS was back-to-back, the contractions were all in my back and SO SO painful and there was no relief between them as they were coming so quickly - and it had been like that relentlessly for about 12 hours - so all I wanted was the pain to stop and my baby to arrive safely. At the time I had no strong desire to give birth vaginally so I was not upset that it hadn't happened.

The actual operation was calm, dh could see what was going on, I couldn't - they briefly showed me DS when he came out and then took him away. I didn't really have a birth plan and I am very much a 'go with the flow' kind of person. I got skin-to-skin contact within minutes of him being born.

The care in the hospital was ok - nothing to compare it with though. They bought the pain relief when they should. I was fed and watered (although the food was disgusting). They took DS away to the nursery for a few hours the first night to let me get some sleep which was nice. Thye were very supportive about my attempts to bf and didn't give me hassle when I opted to ff 2 days later. They showed me how to bath DS. However, I was desperate to get home but that was not because the care was poor - I just wanted to be at home, in my own bed, with my new family. I was discharged 3 days after giving birth which was not soon enough.

All in all, it was not a bad experience at all. However, I am seriously considering a VBAC next time - not because of any strong desire to give birth vaginally as I don't feel I have 'missed out' - but mainly because I really don't want to spend 3 days/nights in hospital if I only need to spend a few hours by giving birth vaginally.

Hope this helps - if you want any more information, let me know.

Classed as emergencym but wasn't. Was induced, didn't work, consultants decided that section was better than forcing labour and ending up with real emergency secion. There was also concerns with DD's heartbeat and they didn't want to put any stress on her.

Relief, didn't realise I was so nervous about giving birth naturall, and for me section was the easier option, recovery was fine afterwards and I think very quick.

Section was great very calm, relaxed and DD was immediately placed skin to skin, done as a matter of course without having to ask.

Care in hospital was excellent.

1. Was it a planned, emergency or crash Caesarean section, and do you know fully why it was needed?

It was an emergency cs. DD was not coming out after a 6hr second stage and three ventouse attempts made no impression. Turned out she was trying to make a grand entrance ear first. The surgeon visited me a couple of hours later and explained the reasons very well and assured me that dd was never coming out the conventional way.

2. How did you feel when you found out that you needed one (or asked for one and hospital confirmed that you could have one) - worried, happy, etc

Disappointed, guilty, like I had let dd, my dh, myself down, frightened

3. What was the Caesarean like (did you still use a birth plan, skin-to-skin quickly etc)

DD's arrival was announced as 'she's here btw, been here a few minutes'. I felt robbed of the opportunity to know the moment she was born. They whisked her off to check her over and brought her back fully clothed (didn't feel like my baby as I gave birth to a naked baby surely). No skin to skin and they wouldn't let me hold her until I was in recovery 45 minutes later. I'd planned skin to skin, immediate bf etc.

4. What was your care like during your stay in the hospital?

Not the best. They were overcrowded, refused to help with bf (was just told I'd have to give formula). Pushed to go home 12hrs post op and dd hadn't had a single feed. Forgot to take my catheter or canula out, ignored the bell by the bed when my catheter bag was bursting so I wandered up the ward dragging it behind me, left behind a trail of blood and was given a rag to clear it up myself. Wrote lots of lies in my notes about me not wanting any help with bf when I believe I begged and claimed to have taken my bp and temp regularly when it never happened. They 'couldn't remember' if they'd given me anti-clotting meds, asked me if I knew, informed me that they may have forgotten to write it in my notes if they had and gave me an injection 'just in case'. Oh I could go on. How long do you have?

I still have nightmares and flashbacks most days.

I had two elective caesareans because I was terrified of natural birth. I was lucky because I went private so no-one gave me too much hassle about it. I found them fine, except for the epidural which scared the life out of me (I know from friends who have had epidurals during labour that they are so welcome you don't care about the pain, but I had one "cold" and it was very scary and hurt a lot, especially as I am paranoid when told "keep still"). I did not find recovering from the caesareans too tricky and the scar is ok. I have nothing to compare it with, but for me it was the right choice. With my first child breast feeding did not work; with my second it went really well, so I am not sure the caesarean had much to to with it.

1. emergency, failed induction following waters breaking. i do not know why i didn't go into labour though, whether there was any reason with ds or me. well other than being scared rigid.

1. relieved and a bit pissed off they hadn't suggested it earlier. they wouldn't give me an epidural for the drip induction and wouldn't let me move off the bed and i was too scared to ask about having a wee. it was the third night i'd be awake too (previous 2 pessary inductions) so i'd had no sleep for about 72 hours.

1. wasn't offered skin to skin or, now i consider it, given any role at all. they gave ds to dh too. the midwife was very nice though so i didn't mind as the others had been so awful.

1. appalling. all they cared about was that i took the drugs on time. the midwife who was there when i was having drip on labour ward labelled the drip wrongly, took her own blood pressure constantly and elevated the bed so i was in constant danger of falling off the end. she wouldn't move it so i was literally hanging on by my toes for 6 hours. she positioned the monitor wrongly so it wasn't picking up any contractions and told me to shut up when i kept insisting they were happening and i was in pain. she refused to call anaesthetist for epidural and gave me pethedine when i really didn't want it. i was so happy when her shift ended. the maternity ward was boiling hot and dirty, they were anti breastfeeding and i was there for a whole sodding week.

phew. rant over.

Just to add, I know you didn't ask but...

I bf successfully and exclusively for 6 months and am still predominantly bf at 7.5 months.

My recovery was fine. I needed no pain relief after the spinal block wore off and was up and about the next day, moving gingerly but without discomfort.

oh yes they lied in the notes too.

1. planned, and yes.
2. Bit disappointed that it wasn't going to be vaginal, but by that point I didn't actually feel up to a labour in any case.
3. Never even considered making a birth plan for a section, it was all so medicalised, I never really realised there were options. I did have a quick see of the babies, but only briefly - I couldn't hold them or have skin to skin.
4. crap. I was given no support, despite having twins. Was pressurised into giving formula, no help with caring for the babies, even when still numb and catherterised. I had the cots right next to the bed and had to lift them and change them myself.

fishie, sorry to hear you had such a rough time too.

How long ago was this?

Oh just to add, MW took DD from me for 6 hours one night so that I could get some sleep, they weren't busy. They were lovely and so looking forward to giving birth there nest June. It's DOrchester in DOrset by the way.

Chopster, they put dd in bed with me, put the buzzer out of reach and sodded off. It was 2am, had been up for 3 days (2 in labour), was hallucinating that dd was talking to me and terrified I'd drop her. I am so angry that I was a 26yr old, educated, semi-intelligent (!) woman and I was lying there crying 'help, please, I can't get up, help, anybody...' Never felt so bloody alone.

Sorry, jofeb04, this isn't my personal therapy I know. Will shut up now.

show of hands. I know what you mean about the hallucinating - I was seeing three babies!

1. Was it a planned, emergency or crash Caesarean section, and do you know fully why it was needed?
   Emergency for me - think because I had been in labour for about 55 hours - got stuck at 9cm even after being put on a drip to try to get that last centimetre - I had also specifically said "no forceps" on my birth plan. Still not totally sure why it all happened though - think it was the drugs as I know I was told and also visited by surgeon and midwife the next day

2. How did you feel when you found out that you needed one (or asked for one and hospital confirmed that you could have one) - worried, happy, etc
   Felt relieved - was exhausted and just wanted my baby out safe and sound. SIL had had 3 so I wasn't scared of having one.

3. What was the Caesarean like (did you still use a birth plan, skin-to-skin quickly etc)
   It was a strangely enjoyable experience - they were good at keeping on talking to me and making me feel at ease. No skin to skin contact though - didn't know you could have that with a c-section. Disliked the fact that dd was taken to another room to be checked etc - knew in advance so sent dh with her.

4. What was your care like during your stay in the hospital?

• ok - but was made to express on day 2 - never felt I got enough bf suport but perhaps I didn't ask enough due to being pretty away with it after all the drugs. Had to ask for catheter to be removed. Had to constantly ask for my painkillers.

Meant to say - dd stopped breathing whilst in dh's arms after she'd been checked over - they were very good at not panicking us and she came round again pretty quickly - however to this day I still don't knbow why this happened

1. Was it a planned, emergency or crash Caesarean section, and do you know fully why it was needed? Emergancy C section - pre eclampsia.

2. How did you feel when you found out that you needed one (or asked for one and hospital confirmed that you could have one) - worried, happy, etc. Relieved, it was that or we both died.

3. What was the Caesarean like (did you still use a birth plan, skin-to-skin quickly etc) the epidural failed I had to be knocked out completly, It was a shame dh wasn't there and that I couldn't see ds for a day. But then I wasn't able to hold ds for a onth as ds was so ill.

4. What was your care like during your stay in the hospital?
   I was treated with respect, but was on a normal ward, with other mums whose babies were with them and well, where as my baby was very ill and in scbu.

I have had three.
The first one a crash under general.
The second an elective with a spinal
The third an elective with a spinal.

First hospital stay 8 days.
Second 3 days
Third, I got out after less than two days (2 nights in hosp).

Care was good all three times.

The first c-section was because of fetal distress due to position of the baby (o posterior) and cephalo pelvic disproportion (he was 9lb 9oz) then I had a 9lb 9oz VBAC and then was recommended only c-sections after that. The planned ones were best.

Wow... only went offline for half an hour.

Thank you so much for the information.

Fishie, so sorry to hear your experiences. And SOH, please feel that you can talk here, these are the things that I would love to stop happening.

I am on my local MSLC, and even though you are not local to me, I hear of these things quite often.

Sorry for number three I meant,
The epidural failed I had to be knocked out completely, It was a shame dh wasn't there and that I couldn't see ds for a day. But then I wasn't able to hold ds for a Month as ds was so ill.

Do you know of any help I can get jofeb04? There's not a day goes by that I don't feel bad about the whole thing. I won't let dh near me, let alone think about having more and I wanted a big family. Would a GP think I was a prat if I went in there and said I couldn't get over the birth? I'm worried he'd think I have PND. I don't. I'm happy, adjusted, love dd more than gingerbread, enjoying every second of motherhood etc. But what can I do about the bitterness of the birth? I don't want it to affect my decision to have more.

Sorry again. Just wondered if you had any suggestions.

1. Was it a planned, emergency or crash Caesarean section, and do you know fully why it was needed?
   Managed 48 hours of on/off contractions with only gas and air. However despite then doing 8 hours on syntocin drip and being very active I could not get past 4 cm dilated so DH, my doula (the amazing Marslady) and me decided that CS was the only way my chilled child was going to come out. Sat around for 90 mins and then went into surgery

2. How did you feel when you found out that you needed one (or asked for one and hospital confirmed that you could have one) - worried, happy, etc
   We were in complete control the whole time we were in the labour ward despite strong urging by some midwives and doctors to have various medical interventions because my waters had broken on the Sunday night and I didn't go into hospital till the Tuesday night because I didn't want too
   So, by the time it came to deciding on a CS it was totally OUR decision and I felt good about it, excited about seeing my bean FINALLY and intrigued about what the CS would be like.

3. What was the Caesarean like (did you still use a birth plan, skin-to-skin quickly etc)
   Stuck to the birth plan and VERY STRONGLY told them that we wanted immediate skin-to-skin which we got - I pulled down my gown so LO was placed naked except for a little towel thing semi-wrapped around her on my chest and she stayed there until the Ped doc came in to do a quick check and they had sewed me up. I had my iPod playing my own music which we all sang along to (the doc doing the CS was singing to REM as she sewed me up and said it was the most chilled CS she had ever done).
   I told them I didn't want her wiped or bathed and so she wasn't. She started feeding as they were wheeling me into recovery

4. What was your care like during your stay in the hospital?
   The food was incredibly foul. I certainly got more attention than those who had a VB but I also made a real effort to talk to the midwives and had fruit and fudge for them so I'm sure that made a difference. LO was with me the whole time and when she wouldn't sleep in her cot on the 2nd night I was so knackered as I hadn't slept a wink for 4 days so they let me sleep in the hospital bed with her and came in to check on us every half hour while we were asleep to make sure she hadn't fallen out.
   I pushed hard to go home after 2 days and as I was up and about and all the tests were clear they let me go.

Next time I'm having a home birth though as I'm still sure if I'd stayed at home she would have come out fine. Having said that for someone who was planning a water birth with no drugs etc... it was the most un-traumatic experience and I have no regrets

cinnamontam! Blardy hell, long time no 'see'. How's Tilda?!

lojomamma, I have absolutely no doubt that I am lucky to have a happy and healthy baby and as in most situations recounted by most people it could have been so much worse. This does not make my feelings any less valid though. As I clearly stated, I do not have PND and make no excuse for the reaction I had to the birth. It was my birth, it traumatised me. I make no comparison with your experiences. The number of people that say 'you are lucky and should be thankful that dd is healthy' is overwhelming. At no point, ever, have I not been grateful for how lucky I am. I can be grateful and lucky but can also be allowed my own feelings.