Forceps/epidural/nerve block

[clo1992]

Hello ladies

Delivered my baby yesterday. Had a very scary birth. Had an epidural for around 12 hours and finally fully dilated. Was pushing for 2 hours with no success. Baby had gotten stuck. Ended up in theatre with screaming pain from contractions as epidural wore off. They took epidural out and nerve blocked and numbed my whole body to get baby out forceps or c section ASAP as she was very poorly and stressed.

Very traumatic birth but luckily baby ok after oxygen.
However I am in pain around epidural & needle sight. I limp as I walk it's horrible. Is that normal? If so how long does that last?
I'm back on my feet now with out catheter and my wee level is fine however my control is rubbish! I peed myself the first time. Anyone also had this and it improve after child birth. I'm quite stitched up down below obviously had a lot of drugs in last 24 hours. Please say this improves?

I'm FTM

It will improve. I had forceps, third degree tear and episiotomy. You’ll start feeling better. It’s early days.

Congratulations! Take care of yourself too x

Congratulations on the birth of your little one ! It's so hard to enjoy it all when you feel
Like you've been hit by a bus though isn't it !
If I remember correctly the first few days are a real
Struggle but by the end of week one I felt a lot better .
By day 3 the effects of the spinal block wore off and I wasn't wobbly on my feet anymore , keep taking painkillers for your stitches and I can't recommend baths with abit of salt in enough - so soothing

I had a similar experience, you will feel better in a few days. I remember being embarrassed when I farted infront of friends as I didn't have the ability to stop it. I so suggest seeing a physiotherapist in a few months. Congratulations on your baby xx

Congratulations. Sounds like it will all get better in time - wee will improve (though pelvic Physio may be helpful if it takes more than a few days). Limp and back pain could be normal, depends what you think is causing it. As pp mentioned you’ve been through a lot so it’s normal to feel a little unsteady on your feet. However your block should have worn off so you shouldn’t have any numbness or weakness. If you are limping because of weakness on one side that may be a complication - best to be reviewed by an anaesthetist if that’s the case (I assume you’re still in hospital so should be easy for your docs to arrange if needed).

@snitzelvoncrumb

OMG yes the farting! It was as much a surprise to me as it was everyone else. I remembered farting as I was walking about the ward and some unpleasant people next door and their family were stifling their sniggers. I really didn’t care at the time. Looking back I wish I’d told them to FO.

Pain at the epidural site and limping isn't normal. Please flag this to the staff. It's a known complication of spinal block - the anaesthetists need to be made aware. It will likely resolve so don't worry but do flag it up!

Congratulations on the birth of your baby OP!

FTM here too, DS is 4 weeks old tomorrow. I also had an epidural, forceps birth with episiotomy and 2nd degree tear. I didn’t get proper feeling and mobility back in my legs for around 2 weeks but did see a little improvement every day. I’d advise:
-take everything extremely slowly when moving around, especially on the stairs at home and getting in and out of the bath if you have a shower over bath like we do (I slipped getting in and it was not good)
-push baby in the pram when out and about as it gives you something to hold on to so more stability
-do exercises to reduce the fluid and swelling in your legs and go for gentle walks as often as you can
-get a crescent breastfeeding pillow to sit on as the stitches are uncomfortable when you start getting more feeling back. Also make sure you have a good stock of painkillers.
-Spritz for bits is brilliant
-consider getting a back support belt as you may well find your lower back is very sore. I got the one in the picture from eBay for about £6 and it was great.
-don’t struggle more than you need to and ask people to fetch you things rather than trying to get up and down too much.

Hope you start to feel better soon.

Thank you all.

Sounds fairly normal then. I will flag up the pain in pelvis again before I leave.
Defo will see pysio about pelvic floors. I can make it to the loo now but not a great amount of control but that area has been through a hell of a beating. I'm feeling the stitches more today so I guess nerve blocks left my system and less wobbly.

Serious pain in pelvis tho so I'm going to have to get that looked into I think.

It's lovely being a mum but I am super struggling getting about doing everything on my own in hospital. I hope to be home later where I can relax and rest more.

Honestly you lady's are super woman. I'd never go through that again was absolutely hurrendous.
But thank god I got my little rainbow babe

Congratulations on the birth of your little one.
I’m sorry your birth was a traumatic one. If you haven’t been given a debrief about what happened and I why, I really recommend you ask for one. You may not feel you need it, but you will reflect on your birth and it’s good for you to know why decisions were made.
I hope you heal fast xxx

@BeMorePacific I think I screamed the whole labour ward down 🙈
And the theatre team arrived and I signed the paperwork without reading it as was getting 5 contractions in 10 mins 😂
Honestly I was like get this baby out and alive they could of done what they liked to have gotten me out my pain. It's just traumatising I guess but they were absolutely amazing saved my baby's life. And mine because I think I'd of killed myself if that pain carried on 😂

I don't think pregnancy is my cup of tea 🙈

I had a similar delivery. It does improve but if you're worried about anything at all then ask, don't keep quiet.

The peeing thing is normal for the first few days whilst the swelling settles down. I had forceps plus 3rd degree tear and episiotomy and I was exactly the same.

If you’ve got pain in your epidural site that needs checking. I was limping a bit after delivery but only from where my stitches were sore and swollen. If you’re limping from pain in your back or leg weakness then ask to see the anaesthetist again.