Anyone had a bad third birth?

[lumpasmelly]

Hi - I'm due in April and currently scheduled in for an elective c-section due to 2 previously traumatic births (both large posterior babies with long labours.....DS1 with ventouse, shoulde dystocia and episiotomy, and DS2 easier delivery but then retained placenta with further complications post birth). My consultant is happy to give me the c-section as she is taking into consideration my "psychological" needs too (and those of my husband who thought I was going to bleed to death during the birth of DS2) - however, she does hint quite strongly that a third birth would be a pice of cake if I had the courage to do it naturally. So obviously I am now feeling a bit torn, and having visions of a nice easy birth where I could be up and about a couple of hours after the birth!!!(something I have NEVER expereienced before as both my previous births had really long recoveries of 3 months or so) Just wondering what other people's experiences have been.....anyone have 3 really bad VDs in a row, or is the third time always the charm?

'a nice easy birth where I could be up and about a couple of hours after the birth'

that's something that very few of us experience! Even though I consider my third birth 'easy', I was still in labour all night, and could barely get out of bed for the next week due to heavy blood loss.

Interested in hearing replies about this-due dc3 beg august. First birth was ok but got too tired to push so had episiotomy and ventouse. Second birth quick and fine until afterwards when I had retained placenta removed in theatre then blood transfusion.

Still wouldn't want a c section though- one exit already been used so why mess up another area too?

I think i have too many friends who are great birthers, hence the unrealistic expectations.......some of them describe birth as being "beautiful" and many of them have been discharged from hospital on the same day!!! but then I suppose most of those women don't feel the need to post about their births on this site as it would be churlish to do so considering all the terrible experiences that some of us have had!!!

But seriously though, in bed for a week or so would be a result for me, as I was bed bound for 3 months with each of my 2 previous deliveries, and needed more surgery after the second at the 3 month stage (after being rushed to hospital in an ambulance after yet ANOTHER PPH), so I guess it's all relative!

well you defnitely win on the bad experiences then!

with dd1 I was only in for a night, dd2 for 5 nights then felt like a space cadet for a few weeks after.

I'm seeing the consultant after my 2nd scan at the end of march to see if there is any way of reducing risks of retained placenta. If it hadn't been for that I would've been one of those people out of hospital the same day!

What you need to do is ask your consultant exactly what the risks are of a retained placenta/shoulder dystocia etc.

Ask if a c-section will increase or decrease a PPH in your case.

and ask what can be done to decrease those risks.

I am due to have DC3 and an also hoping for nice easy birth where I can be up and about in a couple of hours - this is what I experienced with DS (DC2) - and yes his birth was beautiful - both IMO and also per the midwifes who watched (but had no need to come near me at any point). Got out after 8 hours (would have been 6 but this coincidenced with 6am and they asked me if I wanted them to wake up the person required to discharge us - I said no need!

It was the May bank holiday and really sunny and we all went to the park in the afternoon, and I took delight in telling everyone I saw it was DS's actual birthday! I was feel well enough that afternoon to chase DD around park - despite having no sleep the night before.

His birth was much easier than my DD (first birth) - pushing for far too long, she was distressed, I managed to push her out just before dr arrived with "help" and ended up with 2nd degree tear and she was very blue & needed crash team to resuciatate her - basically its easier 2nd time esp if baby in a good position.

Can you find out if baby is posterior before making a decision about CS? If baby is in a good position birth may well be fine. Also discuss risks of retained placenta - is it just chance or are you higher risk for it now?

DD#1 ventouse/episiotomy delivered in theatre as considered likely to be a c/section but narrowly avoided. Nightmare post delivery healing and wish I'd had a c/sect.

DD#2 13 hour labour and bad tear, I was pretty traumatised after her birth.

DD#3 - 3.5hour labour with the most fantastic water birth and the tiniest little tear. Why couldn't they all have been this good.

girlsyearapart - wow your birth history seems just like mine! Spooky! Did anyone tell you why you had a retained placenta?....mine was very "stuck" and the work accreta was actually used in my notes which was a bit freaky (and not something you'd want to google). I was told the risks of retained placenta again were about 50%, but maybe more so if I am induced - but I'm not allowed to go beyond my due date as I have a history or growing babies that are too large for me, hence the problems with the should dystocia first time round. This baby is already measuring in the 99th percentile, so I think its going to be a big'un too. It's so difficult to make a decision....the consultants ideal plan would be to induce me at 39 weeks and she reckons that the actual birth itself would be fine as we shouldn't have an issue with the size, and she is confident that she can turn the baby during labour, if its posterior (i.e. it will still have enough room to turn more easily). however, I would need an epidural and I would need to give birth in theatre so that they can get onto the retained placenta pronto, should there be an issue. I think that a lot of the blood loss last time was due to the fact we were waiting around for theatre and didn't get in there until things started to get really hairy. She also said they could give me a GA in theatre for the retained placenta (as I know I would probably be freaking out by this stage and I really didn't enjoy lying there with a man fishing around in my uterus for 3 hours, commenting upon the "seriousness" of my predicament).

Oh - decisions decisions!!! This is my last child, so I really want to end my birthing experiences on a high!!!

First two - piece of cake

Third - Lets just say if it was my first i dopubt there would have been two more.

According to my midwife, third labours can often be difficult.

Bluntly, some people's bodies are not great at some stuff.

Mine is not great at being pregnant (although both births fine). It is possible that your body is not great at vaginal deliveries. It is also possible that you might have an easier 3rd labour.

Personally, I would go for the CS.

lumpasmelly, have you been given any advice on turning your baby? Both mine were posterior too and I had a horrendous 41 hr ordeal with ds1. I managed to turn ds2 during labour and went on to have a very normal and quite wonderful birth .

Am pretty sure that this one is going to be posterior too but am confident that I will be able to turn it.

But after your 2 bad experiences I don't blame you for wanting the CS. But I would explore the possibility of turning...

I had 2 similar experiences, a long nasty posterior labour with ventouse and epis, second shorter nasty posterior birth with emergency paniced ventouse, no pain relief and bad tearing.

I was terrified of my third birth. If it helps at all though I used the pool in my mlu, g&a, baby turned during labour and I had a short and easy birth with no tearing, no complications, no assistance...it was a walk in the park after the others, I finally understood how people could say labour and birth wasn't that bad. I was walking around the place an hour later amazed that I could even stand, as the last times I was in agony and in bed for weeks. I could have done cartwheels in the hours after birth, honestly.

There is certainly hope. But, I don't blame you in the slightest for considering a section, I wanted one and was turned down.

If your cons is offering you a CS, great. The option is there and you don't have to decide now.
I'm going to wait and see what kind of a position baby is in before I make any decisions this time. Last one was breech, turned by ECV but remained posterior and wasn't even engaged at start of labour so was a V long one. If baby is head down etc. this time, I'll go for as low intervention a birth as I can. If not, I'll think again.
You really are due a good one this time though!
Good luck

RnB - I did ALL that spinning babies stuff...i practically lived on my hands and knees, slept religiously on my left hand side (I think I had callouses on my left hip from doing do!!!), never sat with my knees too high, or slouched in a chair!! I was pretty obsessive about the whole thing, and both time my babies reverted back to a right posterior position!! (little sods!!!) - I think its cos I'm short bodied and my placentas always seem to be anterior so they like to face it. I still have memories of climbing stairs sideways during my first labour!!!

Runnybottom - that's a nice positive story - maybe practice does make perfect!!! so glad for you, that you managed to turn it around and have such a great experience after 2 bad ones....

oh, what a dilemma . No-one ever told me about turning the baby until I was pg with ds2 so thought I'd suggest it...

With your previous experiences I would probably opt for the CS tbh, because you can pretty much be guaranteed another bad time with another posterior birth

Have you heard about the piece of reserach linking low thyroid levels to posterior positioning? V interesting...

My midwife told me the best way to turn a posterior baby was in the pool during labour, which is what worked for me. I did not use the pool on my previous births.
No idea how true this is for all, just for myself.

Sounds interesting RnB, I have wondered why
I have had 3 stargazers when I seem to have enormously wide child bearing hips!

RnB - that sounds interesting....what does it say? (and are low thythroid levels the ones that make you fat or thin?)

Low thyroid is the one that can make you fat. Also can have cold hands/feet, feel lethargic etc.

Although I'm a normal weight, I can put on weight v easily, and also have cold hands/feet and am often tired. I actually had my thyroid checked just before I got pregnant and it was within the normal range but low. This can still cause problems according to the study. Have a look [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8425901.stm here]]

sorry here

My no 3 was v. overdue, pretty big, and a compound presentation, and got a bit stuck, so I had do bring all my birthing skills to bear on getting him out. With hindsight my thyroid was probably already failing by then (although undiagnosed at the time).

No 4 was a lot better though, a slimmer and more co-operative baby.

I think it varies but you do get better at doing it because you know what to expect.

Its a shame that we can't grow our babies in large test tubes and then just go and collect them at nine months when they are ready!!!!

Wow, RnB, thats something. I am fairly fat (although losing weight it does not come off easily), have constant cold hands and feet and am very lazy lethargic! And have had 3 posterior babies.
I feel perhaps a blood test coming on....

I have an underactive thyroid although have been treated very cautiously throughout each pregnancy - have had 7 blood tests this pregnancy, but consultant says don't need any more as all under control.

What most GPs don't realise is that the ideal range for pregnant is NOT the same as for the general public. ie if it was "normal but low" that is not optimal during pregnancy. Same with conception - its harder to conceive with slightly underactive thyroid even if in normal range.

I have been very carefully monitored to check my TSH does not go above 2. On the one occasion at around 10 weeks it went slightly above 2 my dose was adjusted upwards. (Normal range up to 4.5). I always ask for the actual numbers as the receptionist will otherwise just say its normal, even if its between 2 and 4.5. I posted about this a few weeks ago on the pregnancy board after someone posted that link about low thyroid being linked to posterior babies.

Yes symptoms - weight hard to shift, lethargy, cold hands and feet. I recommend blood test at GP AND ASK for the numbers, don't let them say its normal - this is useful document to take with - basically guidance that TSH in pregnancy should not be above 2.

link

Happy to answer any more questions on this!

V useful MumNWLondon. Thank you!