Still dealing with PTSD and PND from 4 yo DD and now pregnant...

[ladymarian]

I am so scared and wondered if anyone else has managed to cope with a second birth.

DD's birth was traumatic and I was only diagnosed with PND and PTSD when she was 15 months old when my anxiety and panic attacks got really bad. I've had 2 lots of counselling and been on ADs for 2 years (been off them for almost a year now) I complained about my HV as the advice and support I got from them was shockingly inadequate.

Coincidentally I have a debrief this week with the consultant involved in my DDs birth (better late than never) but I want plead for a c section for this birth and I won't survive another birth like DDs.

Just looking foir a bit or reassurance I guess

Hi there. I also have a 4yo DD and suffered a traumatic birth with her. I had really bad PND which developed when she was about 6 weeks old, I didn't have PTSD but had severely disrupted sleep and anxiety / depression.

It was a hard decision for us to try for another baby, I had lots of fears. When I got pregnant I saw a consultant and asked for an elective c-section but it was refused. This made me very anxious, I dreaded another hideous birth.

What really helped was doing a hypnobirthing course. I don't know if it's something you considered? I never thought it would make much difference, but actually it really helped. By the time of the birth I was much more relaxed. I ended up having my DS naturally, in the birth pool with just gas and air. The labour was much quicker (5hrs compared to 22hrs with DD).

I have had PND this time round (just recovering) but I was well for much longer before it developed (6 months), and I had the right support in place and got on the ADs much quicker this time.

Thanks for your reply. Its been a very difficult decision for us to try for another baby too but the bottom line is that my DH ad I don't want DD to be an only child
I'm shocked that your request for an ELCS was refused for your 2nd DC but glad it worked out for you.
I'm hopeful of having an ELCS as my GP has been supportive of this option and it is her who set up the debrief with the consultant.

I probably could have got the ELCS if I really pushed for it, but TBH I am actually glad now that it was refused. It has been a really healing experience to have a good birth and it has really helped to put the trauma suffered before to bed. Although at the time I was upset with his attitude, in retrospect the consultant I saw was right - he said that ELCS was not an "easy" option - the complications that can result from major abdominal surgery can be a lot worse than a vaginal birth and he also said that PND was more likely after a c-section (don't know if that is true), plus in our cases we also have an older child to look after - harder after major surgery unless you have family or other support nearby to basically take over for a month or two after the birth.

I guess it depends on what your issues were during your DD's birth. In my case it was a classic cascade of intervention - stress caused contractions to slow, leading to syntocinon drip, continuous monitoring, epidural, bed-bound labouring on my back which slowed descent, leading to pushing stage with my legs in stirrups whilst they considered forceps (didn't come to that, thank goodness). I tore badly, haemorrhaged and had major pelvic floor damage.

I was much more informed for my DS's birth. I was much more active, upright and had a lot less intervention. Maybe it was partly luck, but the birth was much more straightforward. I also did quite a bit of "work" beforehand on getting baby into correct position, and perineal massage (which I didn't bother with before DD was born).

It's your decision at the end of the day, I think wasn't there some change in policy recently that meant all women wanting a c-section should not be refused?

Like you, we didn't want DD to be an only child. I think there are preventative measures you can take re. the PND, such as starting ADs soon after delivery in an attempt to stop it developing.

Thanks for taking the time to share your story. For me, I've always had a huge fear of childbirth but during my pregnancy I was just told I would be fine. I don't think anyone took it seriously tbh. I was made to feel like I was being silly. Then I ended up with a long labour, morphine injections that made me spaced out and scared but didn't take away the pain, then ventouse and episiotomy which I had dreaded. I lost about a pint of blood and felt physically and mentally ill for months afterwards. All along I was told I was doing fine and that I was fine even though I was having flashbacks, nightmares and panic attacks! If I had spoken up about my fears or done hypnobirthing things may have been different. Now I feel a c section is the best option for me even taking in to account the recovery time. As I said to my GP, my recovery time from my DD's birth is 4 years and counting! I have no desire to experience childbirth again.

I heard there has been a poilicy change allowing women to request a c section but I think that is only in England and Wales and unfortunately I am in Scotland