2nd pg and very scared. Moved from Childbirth in hope of responses here!

[ATourchOfInsanity]

I have just found out I am pg with my second. I am really hoping some of you can put my mind at rest here, as I am trying to keep calm (yes, I am only 7 weeks or so and petrified, what a plonker!).

My first pg was not majorly bad, but I did develop 3 signs of DVT and had to have a leg ultrasound (right leg thankfully) and they caught it in time - was 33wks pg. I was also hugely anemic. I went to 17 days overdue, if you count the 3 days in labour. I failed to dilate past 7cm on Oxytocin and they said I was not progressing fast enough and was too exhausted to push. So I had an Emergency C-section. Unfortunately somehow I could still feel the catheter in my urethra throughout the operation and kicked out, causing me to hemorrhage. I had been calling out to the anesthetist about it and was merely getting further doses of whatever epidural through the tube over my shoulder (I think I counted 4) and then a mask with gas in, which didn't stop the pain, just made me unable to talk. I realise now that I was hemorrhaging and this was necessary to sedate me as I kicked out, but at the time I was scared and was not expecting the pain.

My baby was beautiful and healthy though, and a whopping 10Ibs 1Oz DD :)

I didn't really feel myself (v.dopey and confused) for about a week after the op and was in tremendous pain. My scar is still a thick red line 11 months on and I am pretty petrified about many things that I really hope some of you can put my mind to rest about and/or offer suggestions for this birth:

1. Risk of rupture of old scar - still feels tingly and almost achy inside?
2. Will my 2nd baby be as big or bigger? See above.
3. Risk of another c-section - could mean hysterectomy and future problems for another baby plus risk of hemorrhaging again (is this more likely if happened before?)
4. If I try for a VBAC then end up with another Emergency C-Sect then the same pain in urethra will happen (am I wired wrongly down there? Is it because it wasn't a full spinal block?)
5. I don't know if I can look after a toddler and NB if I have the same pain/healing time as before...

Any advice is welcome - may just need a slap!

I think it is normal to panic a bit when you have had previous birth you have had. I had an emergency cs and 2 days of induced labour but I was pretty much numb except a patch on my stomach. My scar is not great either. When you have your booking in appt your midwife will go through the issues you have raised and you will have an opportunity to discuss your concerns later with a consultant. you should be able to request a cs with your history if thats what you want and they will keep a close eye on the size of your baby through your pg and may even give you a cs a few weeks early if it is large. I think with an epidural out depends how skilled the anesthetist is at getting the needle in correctly so likely to be different next time. I know you are v worried but you need to try and takes things a step at a time. you still have 7 months until the birth so yet and enjoy your pg for now and tell yourself you can discuses your options about the birth with the consultant at a later date and I ask sure you will feel better when you do. good luck.

hi, can i ask you what " kicked out" means? thanks

Hi, I'm sorry u had a scary time first time round, I've not much advice on that I'm afraid but just wanted to add something re dvt.

I've had 3, 2 in pregnancy and ive been diagnosed with a clotting disorder.

Each pregnancy, or high risk situation eg flying, long journeys, surgery, I need anti coagulation.

I'm 22 weeks and have been on fragmin (a type of heparin safe in pregnancy) since about 6 wks and will be until 6 weeks post partum. They are twice daily injections.

Just advice to get a referral to a haematologist ASAP. If u are aware of all this already then apologies!

Best of luck.

Thank you. I had my booking in the day before yesterday and I think that may be why I am worried. My new midwife didn't let me talk about feeling depressed (kept telling me it was just shock) despite me saying I have had depression before and was concerned. Also on her paperwork there was a box with previous complications in labour and she put NONE. When I queried this she said that no one ever looks at it anyway. I don't have much confidence in her to be honest and don't feel she listened to me at all.
However she did say I get a consultant appt this time around, who will go through the medical notes from last time. I don't think that meeting happens until 2nd Trimester though?

I kicked out, as in the pain was so intense and sudden my reflex was to move my leg up and out. I have no idea how hard I kicked or if it felt bigger than it was as I couldn't see with the screen.

Dreadful - that is really interesting, thank you! I think I worry as my mum had a clot and was on Warfrin so it may well be a genetic issue. I think i need to call up and ask for a new MW and find out if I can see the consultant earlier perhaps and get referred to hematology. I know I have bad circulation so wondered if that was the issue.

To be honest I think a VBAC would be the way forward as the idea of being in theatre again really scares me, especially if it got to emergency stage, but then I wonder if a planned section would be wise to avoid an emergency... I just worry my nethers are wired in a weird way and I will always feel the catheter!

Keep going around in circles with it really.

Pretty sure the anesthetist was top dog at the time as he was training 3 trainees when he did the epidural - I had to consent to them watching.

Hi, your mw sounds useless tbh. As soon as a previous clot is mentioned u should be seen ASAP. My clot in my first pregnancy was at 9 weeks, before my referral had even come through, so perhaps get your gp to go over mw head if being rubbish. My mum and brother have had clots, my db has same clotting disorder as me. There is def a genetic link in my case.

Oh, forgot, you will need to see anaethetist during pregnancy if on anti coagulation, as there is risk of bleeding a lot in labour if on them (they take u off them for delivery, I had/will have a planned induction so this can be managed). They actively try and avoid c sections for me as this (or any) op raises the risk of dvt.

I think I will call them tonight and see if i can speak to the head MW and get a consultation sooner to go over it all and see about a referral. I was shocked that she just dismissed it - it is clearly a complication! Thanks for your advice, glad I'm not going mad!