Traumatic labour that I can't get over !!!

[alakhx]

My DD was born last year in July. I was labouring for a very long time, at 8-9cm dilated her heart rate dropped dramatically and I was rushed down for a c section. I was so exhausted and out of it and just wanted it to be over with. I can't even remember details but I have flashbacks of very disturbing events. I thought it was all over until 5 days later whilst I was asleep in my own bed I woke up gushing blood. I literally thought I was going to die I went blue and was losing too much blood. Thankfully the ambulance came and rushed me to hospital and they saved my life. I just wanted to share and see if anyone else has had any similar experiences as I just can't seem to get over what happened to me and if there's any advice on how to move forward and try to heal . Thank you xxxx

That sounds terrifying, I’m so sorry. If you are having flashbacks and struggling it may be that you need specific trauma focused therapy (trauma focused cbt, or EMDR). If you look up your local talking therapies service you should be able to self refer or your GP can.

@SRK16

That sounds terrifying, I’m so sorry. If you are having flashbacks and struggling it may be that you need specific trauma focused therapy (trauma focused cbt, or EMDR). If you look up your local talking therapies service you should be able to self refer or your GP can.

Thank you I have healed much better in the last couple of months but I do have very bad days, most days I struggle to keep everything out of my mind . I will give my gp a call I just thought they would put me straight back onto anti depressants and don't really want that as I EBF

Ask the hospital for a debrief- I found it a useful experience x

@frenchfancy81

Ask the hospital for a debrief- I found it a useful experience x

Can you just ring the hospital (midwife) and ask or does it have to go through the GP? x

They often have a specific debrief service, if you can’t find the info online you could ask PALS if it exists in your area. The midwife who did my debrief was also about to refer me for counselling too.

Able, not about

So sorry to hear that OP, as the pp said refer yourself to your local talking therapy service. You can usually do this online instead of having to go through your GP and if you don't want medication you don't have to but if it might help then it is something to consider.

Have you had a debrief session with the hospital? They can have a proper sit down with you, go through your notes and discuss everything that happened and answer any questions that you have which might help you get some closure. You can try ringing your maternity department at the hospital and asking who exactly you need to speak to to request this.

If you are having flashbacks you may be suffering from PTSD so it is worth pursuing imo.

All the best

I’m sorry this happened to you. Where I live, women within one year of giving birth can access counselling services on a sort of fast track service- is it worth asking your gp or health visitor if such a scheme is available to you? I had a traumatic birth and developed ptsd. I struggled on for nearly a year and then couldn’t. I had cbt and it was hard to talk about etc but I finally processed it all and honestly it now doesn’t upset me and I didn’t think that would be possible, so you will get there. Xx

The Birth Trauma Association should be able to help and advise you. They are a specialist charity helping women in your position. Get in touch with them and see what they can offer.

What have you done op to try to manage these feelings? Go consultation, hospital debrief, counselling?

I agree with the debrief. I found it really helpful to be able to see how the notes fitted into mi perception of what happened. And certain things that I felt could have been done differently it was explained why that decision was made.

Also agree with the debrief idea. I had a traumatic birth with my first and thought I'd dealt with it until I got pregnant with my second and then it all came flooding back. They can explain to you what happened, what they would do differently again (if anything) and why, plus what the risks are of similar happening next time around. I found it very cathartic

And yes, I just asked my midwife to talk through what happened at my first birth. She looked into it and got back to me about a week later.

I had e m d r which worked really well

I had an emcs at 35 weeks. And a suspected heart attack post op.
Just medics in the room and I Iooked around thinking I was dying among strangers..dh had taken oldest dc to see the baby.
Speak to a professional op. Soon.
Glad you are both OK though. That's what to concentrate on if you can.