problems after traumatic labour can anyone advise (tmi alert)

[notnewbutshy]

Hi Im not new but feel I need some anonymity if im to be really honest so have name changed for this.

I had my ds 7 months ago and had a traumatic delivery, 1st stage went well, prolonged second stage, baby stuck, episiotomy and forceps delivery, partialy stiched up before placenta delivered placents stuck, theatre, spinal, manual removal of placenta, post partum heamorage, numerous wound infections. Miwife even comented that she had never seen such terrible stiching.

Anyway i now have been left with difficulty having bowels open and had a colonoscopy which has shown some kind of mucosal prolapse, i have got a partial prolapse of back wall of vagina and have to have another investigation shortly then maybe some sort of surgery.

Im struggling with all this and dont really know whats involved, what kind of surgery i may have to have, I asked gynae consultant if things could have turned out differently if my 2nd and 3rd stage of labour was handeled better but she skirted the question. i dont fel like im getting the answers i want and im worried about everything. Surgery, sex life, recovery, getting pregnant again,(I really feel i couldnt have another child),you name it.

Sorry its long but has anyone out there had vaginal and rectal problems/surgery post childbirth that could tell me any info, good or bad i just want to be better informed than i currently am from a consultant who I feel isnt giving me all the info I need.

sorry for spelling!

there is a thread on here called something like 'sphincter injury /fistula lets support each other' which might be of use

IMHO, a prolonged second stage, instrumental delivery , manual removal of placenta, PPH , infection and bad stitching can contribute to post birth issues with continence. the first two things in themsleves can cause issues.

there is also www.birthtraumaassociation.org that has volunteers you can talk to re post birth contincence issues and prolapse

sorry no advice but have you also posted in childbirth thread? I think that you will get a quicker response there. Best of luck.

Thanks very much, will look into both those. Ps whats with the 'wanker' at the end of your name? lol

sorry, i need to change it back. was to do with a different thread i was on today

I had a traumatic forceps delivery and PPH and MRP but luckily have minimal problems now. Just some perineal tightness which makes sex uncomfortable at times.

You may find some better support on this thread

I would be looking at legal action.

Well beeper i have been thinking about formally complaining but cant seem to find the energy to write it ll down at themoment im in the middle of having tests. have got to have a defacating proctogram which is just the most humiliating thing I can think of basically im given an enema then have to pass it while xrays are taken to see how my bits are all working. Know I hve to get on with it but at the moment it just all feels too much to take on.

I had pnd and flashbacks for couple of weeks after the birth, ws hving dreams of being raped thankfully that seems to have settled down and I feel im moving on from pnd and enjoying my baby.

Thanks all for the link to the other thread im slowley reading through it!

oh dear sounds like PTSD, you might find some counselling benficial.

when you feel up to it, you should at the least talk through your birth with head of midwifery, and certainly think about taking it further

why were you partly stitched before the placenta was delivered?

Good question Lulumama, I dont actually know the doctor just started snapping at me, come on come on you need to push this placenta out, I huffed and puffed, midwifes pressing on my belly but it wasnt shifting. So the doctor just sat herself down and said Ill make a start on the stiching (not sure if it was becuse I was bleeding) but half an hour later, no placenta so I had to be transfered to theatre, cut again to have the manul removal of placenta and then stiched again.

I went for an app with gynae cons a few months ago, she agreed (after me crying all over her) that I had had a trauma and said she would ask her secretary to contact me to come back in to her rooms to go through everyting with me outside of clinic time. It didnt happen .

I have annother app at her clinic in a couple of weeks so Ill have to bring it all up again. Im going to write a list I think

am sorry to hear that. you might have to be proactive and make the hospital listen to you, your local NCT might have a representative on the maternity services liasion committee who could help you with this

Oh honey. You sound like a bunch of us. I'll see if I can find the links for you.
((((HUG))))

Horrible labour, trying to decide on C-section or natural delivery for number 3

TMI alert, another bad labour with complications

Anybody have to have vaginal surgery after childbirth?

And here is another good one for you.BIRTH TRAUMA SUPPORT THREAD

Thanks so much for the links. I wouldnt wish this on anyone but so helpful to share info and read other peoples stories.

Im off to bed but Ill catch up tomorrow and read those threads, thanks again.

Gosh you poor thing, you must be absolutely reeling and exhausted. I had a retained placenta and manual removal and that was more than enough for me to get flashbacks and nightmares.

You have a little baby to look after and you need to find someone to look after you. Can your dh/dp make contact with your gynae and demand a meeting?

With reference to getting pregnant again, I was terrified of the same thing happening and was told there was a 50% chance. When I did get pregnant, I was very fortunate that I had a very sympathetic midwife who was understanding - she called the procedure of manual removal almost vetenarian (I remember the midwife I had previously laughed and said oh did you dc forget to bring his luggage with him, unless you are with someone that has had some experience of this you may get a lot of ignorant remarks) I was given an elective c-section.

I would second Lulumamas advice with the birth trauma association, they were a great support to me when I needed them.

I would also look at the Hinchingbrooke trial that was held at Bristol, I think you can access the report via the Lancet but it will give you the statistics you may be looking for with regards active versus managed delivery of placenta. There is a link here Hinchingbrooke, I think they make you pay to see the article in full now, but you may be able to access the info via google.

There is a book that I found useful called a better woman detailing one woman's very traumatic birth story and it touches on things that you have experienced.

Barking x