C-section after vaginal birth trauma? Any one had this? **MNHQ adding content warning, this is a hard read. Also sending love to all of us who had difficult births**

[Blondewave]

Hello has anyone any experience of recovery after C section after a traumatic vaginal birth and how they compare? I used to work on labour ward as a scrub nurse so I have physically done C-sections to women so I know the process medically from start to finish also I know all the complications and have witnessed them. Post operative I’ve seen women scared to get out of bed. So this worries I’ve also seen big bleeds from c sections and bad stictch up jobs. As there are 4 layers to operate through to get to the uterus and then cut it open and the uterus is a big muscle full of blood vessles which bleeds and bleeds when cut open for c section so has to be clamped and stitched quickly.

My first birth and only birth was 11 years ago. I had pre eclampsia so got induced. Was told I was having a small baby but he was huge. 4 pessaries later still no baby but I went into labour quickly shortly after and was 7cm by time I got to delivery suite. I was then given an epidural to bring blood pressure down due to pre eclampsia. Was rushed to theatre due to heart rate dropping, he was back to back, I’m 5’3 petite 50 kg and small pelvis. They said he was stuck so did a Rotational keillands forceps. It took 4 attempts of two people pulling SO hard I thought i would fly off the bed. Then I heard them say his shoulders were stuck, shoulder dystocia and loads of people rushing in. He was delivered and taken for resuscitation. Whilst I was worried about my baby they couldn’t get my placenta out it had broken up into tiny pieces so I had to have a manual removal where they put thier hands/arms up into my uterus and pulled it out in small chunks. Was like a horror scenes. This led to a haemorrhage and I heard what sounded like a bucket of water being poured on the floor but it was my blood. I blacked out and can’t remember much else but I know they stitched me up as I had episiotomy and third degree tear.
Recovery I tried to walk and my legs were pointing inwards and I couldn’t put one leg I front of the other. The pain was excruciating I had to pull myself across the floor with my hands. The pain in my pelvis was worse than any labour pain or third degree tear. They said I had split my pelvis as my baby was big for my stature 8lb and then the rotaional forceps and shoulder dystocia manoeuvre had led to pelvic trauma. I then passed out on the ward as my HB (red blood cells) were 7 due to haemorrhage but I was never given a transfusion. I was very poorly and had an episiotomy which was the easiest thing for me to heal. It healed quickly.
I’m due to have a baby early days still but I’m already so anxious about the birth.
I feel C-section will be given definitely if I ask but I’m scared of that due to what I have seen working there but then I couldn’t cope of the vaginal birth went so wrong again.
Not sure what to do. C section is major abdominal surgery and I know I ‘might’ not have such a truamatic birth this time but I just couldn’t cope with it if I did. I was ill with PND and PTSD for a long time. The trauma of it led to the break down of my sons dad, my son who is now 11.

I’ve also operated as my job in emergency c sections and I don’t want to try normal labour then go to that as risks again of complications are then high as a laboured uterus as more at risk of bleeding/haemorrhaging more.

As you can see sometimes ignorance is bliss and the fact I worked in this daily does not help the situation. I have witnessed too many horrors 😂

Any advice or reassurance greatly appreciated 😁

Hey Blondewave, sorry to hear of your awful experience. My first Labour was similar but nowhere near as bad - long back to back Labour and then chin first presentation discovered during second stage, so she was in danger of her neck breaking if I pushed any more. The midwife had to push her back up the birth canal, which was so painful even with an epidural I actually saw stars, then rushed to theatre for a keillands rotation. You know what the recovery is like.

It took 4 years before I'd even consider another baby. When I did get pregnant again, I demanded an elective c section. The two birth and recovery experiences are incomparable. DD2 came early, so the section was technically classed as an emergency as I was in established Labour when we got to hospital but it was so calm and easy. It really helped heal some of the trauma of DD1's birth.

Sorry, posted too soon. I was able to walk (shuffle) unaided to the shower next day and was discharged next day too. The section wound makes you walk a bit bent over at first, but I was walking perfectly normally by day 7. The scar was a bit itchy when healing but that was it.

The pain from the keillands lasted at least 2 years, and was unbearable for a good couple of months. I feel tense just writing about it now and DD1 will be 18 next week!

Honestly, a section will be a walk in the park compared to what you've been through. Good luck.

yes had 2 c sections after a shit-show vaginal birth/haemmorage/add what you want/it was horrible

The c sections were great. The second one I was home the next day. The crap forceps/4th degree tear/vaginal birth was awful. As the seond obgyn said when I asked for a c section "well you had a c-section already - just not in the right place"

That sounds an awful birth, I'm sorry you had to go through that!!

Nothing as bad as you went through, but I had forceps and episiotomy in theatre in 2018 and had a c section 8 weeks ago. My 2nd DS was stubbornly breech, it was supposed to be an elective section, but my waters broke at home before the date so technically it was an emergency section.

But it was a really positive experience and was super relaxed.

Recovery in the immediate short term was hard, I was up and about 4-5 hours after and was out of hospital the following day. The next few days were hard, but it got easier and after 2 weeks I felt great.

Compared to my first birth?? The forceps birth wasn't as physically tough but the pain lingered for much, much longer and I don't know if it was because I had a 24 hour labour running up to the forceps, but if I were to have a 3rd baby I'd go for another section

I had a terrible birth for my first which meant I still can’t really talk about it 11 years on. It destroyed my experience as a FTM and I had hugely negative feelings about motherhood for the first two years.

Second time around I insisted on a section and it was the most beautiful experience I’d my life - in fact I wish I could relive it although I was obviously petrified.

I recovered quickly - I honestly think helped along by relief.
We bonded instantly.

I would also recommend perinatal counselling - I was given this as an urgent case because I was so anxious about pregnancy that it was affecting my mood really severely.

I appreciate that you know more than most about c-sections due to your direct involvement in them, but at the same time from where you have said I think this would be the best option for you. There are so many different ways a vaginal delivery can go and, not to say that c-sections are always straightforward, but statistically it’s likely to be smoother and calmer. Of course you’re going to be thinking about everything that can go wrong with a c-section because you’ve seen it first hand etc, but try to think about the positives too.
I had a vaginal delivery just under 7 weeks ago with episiotomy and ventouse and I wish I had a c-section; it was incredibly traumatic.
I stayed one night in the hospital and the girl in the bed next to me had a c-section. Not only did she have her baby after me, but she was also discharged before me too!
Take care x

I’m so sorry to hear this. It makes me mad at how little care women are given just because it’s childbirth and ‘natural’ rather than if in for another reason.

Trauma first birth with foreceps. Whist I appreciate it kept my daughter alive the physical and mental recovery was dreadful.

Elective c section second time was amazing. Relaxed going into theatre, amazing consultant who understood the history, and recovery was fine (and 100x better than recovery from my first child). I had a panic at 16 weeks when an amazing midwife helped me get under consultant care and get signed off for a c section.

I had a terrible vb needing extensive surgery and a blood transfusion, it took took the whole of my maternity leave to recover properly. I said I'd never have another child, but two years later I wanted my first to have a sibling. I had a planned c section which was fine, despite going into labour early and being 7cm before they even prepped me. The surgeon even managed to delay cord clamping for a few seconds, which I'd asked for if it was possible.

I felt scared just reading that OP. If you go back for another vb you are the bravest women on this planet. I've had 2 cs and loved them. Like pp I wish I could relive them, such a wonderful experience. Recovery was easy. Even if it wasn't, and I know it isn't for some, I'd take "scared to get out of bed" over what you experienced. You also couldn't get out of bed, right? But it's really individual and you will make the right decision for you.

I had a fairly awful VB (brow presentation, forceps, 4th degree tear) then a CS. The thing I noticed about a section is that there seems to be less expectation to just get on with it. After my 36 hour labour and nightmare VB, when I had a catheter in, I was refused help with my baby - had to get out of bed to get the changing bag etc - whereas the lady in the bed next to me had loads of help. Likewise I couldn't get my own breakfast the next morning so didn't eat until DH arrived but when I had my section food was brought to my bed crap food but anyway

@Blondewave sending
I’m so sorry you had that experience. I had a similar horrendous VB experience which physically took over a year, and mentally resulted in PND and PTSD. Plus baby ended up in NICU. Plus I needed reconstructive surgery.

My second child was delivered by elective CS and was genuinely one of the most beautiful moments of my life. I still think about it and smile. As PP said it was also an incredibly healing experience.
I was walking the next day, driving after 10 days. Yes I have a visible scar with an apron - not sure why they stitch it that way
I hope you find this reassuring. Good luck. X

I had 2 planned csections after a horrific experience and they were both amazing, very calm and because of no trauma recovery was very easy x

Thank you so much everyone this is all so lovely to hear 🥰 when I worked on electives I have to say in general it was really calm and lovely only the occasional emergency/bleed but these were often preempted with high risk mums/high BMI etc so the mums were informed and prepared. It was just the aftermath I was worried about having never had abdominal surgery as I know some women after c section can’t even lift their babies. So this made me wonder if it is horrific. Thank you so much for all your reassurance 💗

Also a little inside information for anyone, considering C-section. During Elective C-sections you will always have a consultant do it. On labour ward the emergency sections are done by junior staff the consultants don’t tend to do them. They would only call a consultant to an emergency c - section if they were not coping or managing blood loss during this procedure.
So knowing you have a consultant doing your delivery is reassuring too I guess 🙌🏻

Just a note as well as I know most people that have posted had traumatic births. I decided 11 years ago I wanted to train to be a nurse after my experience as I never wanted anyone to feel how I felt. As sometimes communication and compassion is forgotten in emergency situations.
So I studied at University when my son was 1 I then got a job as maternity nurse purely assisting with traumatic births and the after care. I found this very therapeutic for my own healing. I don’t do it anymore due to childcare issues but just goes to show what an impact birth can have on us that can lead us to take completely different career paths. Sometimes our trials and traumas are what make us.

Ask for C-section OP. I had a similar experience to you (I’m also the same size/weight). Baby got stuck, instrumental delivery, 3rd degree tear, PPH, air-lifted to bigger hospital for blood transfusion, DS in NICU with intracranial bleeding. PND after (had severe HG until term). Was referred to specialist obstetric psychiatrist, had pelvic floor physio and my doctor wrote in my notes that a C-section was required for any subsequent deliveries (I’m in Switzerland).

DS2’s birth was a dream, in comparison!

Very similar first birth, even down to Hb level! 2nd birth (12 years later) emergency c section. It went fine although i again lost a lot of blood.

I had a traumatic vb with my first - prolonged early labour, back-to-back, no pain relief as Diamorphine had worn off & the anaesthetist never arrived to do an epidural, then baby twisted as she was coming out giving me a 3b tear, massive haemorrhage & transfusion, retained placenta which midwife tried to pull out & had to be removed under GA. DD was born at 9am, was taken down to theatre around 10am & I wasn't fully conscious again until 5pm.
When I was pregnant with DS I was petrified but didn't feel I could ask for a csection.
In the end I was induced, but after Labour started it stalled as DS had gone back up into my womb out of the birth channel & was lying oblique. All my waters had gone & was told I would have to have a csection. Was very nervous but honestly it was so calm & quick & painfree. It was so much better an experience than my first.
Recovery for me, was easier after the csection than the vb - the scar hurt, & getting up only a few hours after was awful but I had no complications & all healed fine.
In your situation I'd go for a csection.

I've had 4 csections. My 2nd was by far the worst recovery.
The pain relief had started to wear off. I pressed and pressed that buzzer. The pain was so bad that I could actually feel the cathetar inside me.
In the end I had to call my partner ( he was at home with our other child) and he called the hospital up to tell them I was in agony. Then they gave me an injection in the leg to give me fast pain relief. The next morning I had all sorts of official people visiting me to apologise about not mistakingly not giving me enough pain relief. They basically gave me a one to one nurse after that.

Have the elective c section. There won't be a rush or panic so much of what you describe as complications will be unlikely to happen. My first child was a natural delivery after a failed forceps.
My second was an emergency c section, but by the time I was prepped for the surgery, ds's heart rate had stabilised again. It was such a positive experience and the pain meds afterwards were incredibly effective.
My recovery was rapid. I was so much more mobile the next day. I guess I was lucky but I was also 42 with a 19 year gap between babies, so age wasn't on my side.
If it were me, I would definitely opt for the c-section. I would feel reluctant to disturb the scar tissue etc that you already have and also relive the trauma - even though chances are that this time you will be fine.
Lifting the baby wasn't a problem. Using a v-shaped pillow made feeding easier - honestly, there is nothing to be scared of. Even having the staples out was quick and relatively painless.

I could have written your post. I ended up in HDU after transfusions due to forceps and a PP. The lady who delivered my baby put her back out and was off work for 6 weeks!!

I'm now less than 3 weeks away from my due date with my second baby and my request for a c section was given but AFTER my due date. They have said don't worry if you go into labour before hand you'll still get it but what they don't understand is I don't WANT to go into labour and my 2 sets of counselling and PTSD isn't enough to be a medical justification to get a c section any sooner

Feel for you and hope you get what you want xx

I had a c-section as my dd was breech and just wouldn't turn. So it was elective. It was a really lovely, calm experience. Or so I thought. Apparently I had a massive bleed and had to have a transfusion, but I was none the wiser. Still, finding that out didn't change the lovely memories of the moment for me.

I wouldn't hesitate to have another one, not that I want anymore babies! But I don't think I could give birth vaginally now.

As for recovery, it was the first surgery I had ever had, and it wasn't as bad as I expected. A couple of years ago I had my gallbladder out and that was far worse recovery and pain wise.

Go by the stats then. No problem with my EMCS.

I had elective csection, baby was transverse breech so no choice.
The theatre was calm and reassuring. Everything went to plan although DS was a 36 weeker so ended up in NICU. We were in for ten days post birth. I had a text book recovery so by the time I got home I was fully recovered. I would say I felt fully back to normal after 22 mnths but that goes for many major abdo surgery.

I've had two emergency sections. The first followed 75 hours give or take of back labour, pushing and failed forceps. I was on my feet within 6 hours, walking the length of the hospital including stairs alone to Nicu within 24 hours. I had no pain killers post theatre and no real pain, especially compared to my agonising contractions.
My second was a similarly easy recovery and I was pushing the pram on the three mile around trip to preschool within 3 weeks. I had no issues picking either baby up.
Like a previous poster, age was not on my side for either as I was 37 with dc1 and 40 with dc2.

I'd go for an elective. My second was a lot less of an emergency and was amazing, I got to watch, skin to skin...all the stuff I didn't know I needed.

Oh my goodness OP, what a terrible experience. Mine was luckily not so bad but I was induced far too quickly on a drip without pain relief which was scary and meant that I had uncontrolled tearing and a broken coccyx in labour. I opted for a c-section the second time and it was just so lovely in comparison. Very little pain, much quicker recovery. I know it is major surgery but I was up the same day and pain-free relatively quickly. After the vaginal birth I had pain and discomfort for months and months. Good luck!