Scared and looking for answers

[Fefefe]

Hello all :)

I am currently going through something just now post birth and I am pretty stressed about it. I wanted to see if any body has any similar experiences?

So my beautiful baby girl was born on 5th Feb of this year. I had opted for a elective c section. That went well and out came wee Lula. About 2 hours later I was in the ward and happily munching away on a sandwich. I felt some pain in my tummy and just assumed it was pain from operation and the numbness wearing off. I was given ormorphe. Pain for worse so midwife had a look at my pad. She called for a Dr and it all kicked off from there. Long story short my space filled up with drs and surgeons and I examined Inside and several clots were found in me. My uterus was massaged to try and get rid but I was the rushed to surgery. It was horrific and I remember them running with me and thinking I might not see my baby again. So i had a massive post partum hemorrhage. I had a balloon inserted in my uterus and packing in my vagina.

I am currently recovering at home. I was discharged after 2 days in HDU. I got myself up / showered and walked about to show I was ready to go home.

Pre birth I had 3 or so weeks of lots of swelling in my feet, and slightly less in legs.
I have also had lots of swelling in my hands as well as carpal tunnel since early days.

A day after getting home my feet and legs have swollen even more. I am at the point where I cant walk normally and turn sideways as my thighs and bum have swollen up too. I have been tested constantly for pre eclampsia and bar once post emergency surgery my blood pressure has been perfect.

My mid wife was shocked at how swollen I am so I was sent to triage on Saturday night. I lost 4 pints of blood (is it measured in pints ?) So had 2 blood transfusions and now am very anemic and have iron tablets.
Dr thought it might be kidney related but bloods came back clear.
I have been told to provide a urine sample to my midwife and if my legs haven't started to go down by Wednesday then I shall probably have to go into to stay for tests.

My inner thighs are now going and I'm becoming increasingly immobile.

I am petrified. My placenta that I was told had moved up enough hadn't hence the hemorrhage. I hate being dramatic but I think I have been left traumatised by it. I'm scared of hospitals now and being told one thing and it turning out to be something worse. My legs are so bad and I am so confused. I cant carry my baby as my balance is bad now.

I guess I am asking if anybody has any similar experiences to mine?
Or any words of comfort. I would go through it a 1000 times for my beautiful baby but I feel so scared right now.

Thank you for reading 😊

Hey there didn’t want to read and run , I don’t have any experience in what your going threw but it sounds horrible here to give you a hand to hold ! I suffer from ptsd due to a traumatic event at a hospital so I understand that part , my only advice is take no shit, tell them you except the best care and after care even in months to come make sure you allow yourself to feel and heal from this don’t let anyone tilt there time and say “oh I must of been really hard” because ptsd left untreated with out proper support can really be distressing I hope everything starts to ease from here and you get to enjoy your baby x

I had a similar experience, although mine was an emergency c section and I lost 4 litres during the operation and had 6 transfusions, balloon and packing.

I had an afterbirth briefing about 6 months after my daughter was born which was incredibly helpful, I would recommend this as it really helped me come to terms with what happened.

I had PTSD and really bad anxiety for about a year and the fog did lift, I’m now expecting number 2 next month!

Big hugs, it does get better xx

Sorry, I’ve just reread my post and the first paragraph makes it seem like I’m trying to say mine was worse!!!

It was not at all, and I can’t imagine how scary it must have been to experience what you did after the surgery when you think you’re on the mend xx

@Babyjune21

Hey there didn’t want to read and run , I don’t have any experience in what your going threw but it sounds horrible here to give you a hand to hold ! I suffer from ptsd due to a traumatic event at a hospital so I understand that part , my only advice is take no shit, tell them you except the best care and after care even in months to come make sure you allow yourself to feel and heal from this don’t let anyone tilt there time and say “oh I must of been really hard” because ptsd left untreated with out proper support can really be distressing I hope everything starts to ease from here and you get to enjoy your baby x

Thank you so much for your kind words:) It's ironic as I opted for a elective caeserian as I was badly sexually abused as a child and having strangers near my vagina triggers my cptsd. During the bleed I had many more than would prob have been during a birth. Ironically it's kinda helped me get over it now.

@autumncountryleaves

Sorry, I’ve just reread my post and the first paragraph makes it seem like I’m trying to say mine was worse!!!

It was not at all, and I can’t imagine how scary it must have been to experience what you did after the surgery when you think you’re on the mend xx

No dont apologise! I appreciate you sharing your story with me ! Yeah I shall ask about that. I wont have any more children but I can imagine if you planned on then having that worry would be terrible. I am so chuffed you are expecting number 2 :)

I had a lot of water retention/swelling in my feet and ankles after my last birth. All three of my births have been c sections. I can't remember how long it lasted but I think I was still struggling about 2 weeks post birth when my youngest was released from the nicu. Mine was nowhere near as bad as yours sounds, I know you are under proper healthcare and i'm so glad for that as you have really been through the mill and back. I do remember it taking a few weeks at least until I could get a shoe on and walk comfortably. I hope it does settle for you soon and if not that they get to the bottom of it quickly.

I'm so sorry you are going through this Op.
Although my experience isn't exactly the same, I had a EMCS with my son. I haemorraged during the operation and lost two units of blood and needed a transfusion, went straight into HDU as well.

24 hours after being discharged I was blue lighted to A&E as my heart rate was abnormal and I was struggling to breath. I spent a further 4 days in hospital, having MRI scans, blood tests, ultrasounds etc. The hospital's initial thought was that my bowel and uterus had fused together from the operation! After a heavy case of IV antibiotics and many specialists later, it was found that I had a serious infection in my uterus, which had completely caused my body to start shutting down as it just wasn't coping.
I was honestly terrified and thought it was going to die, so I understand the terror. Especially as a new mum.
You will be OK and hopefully be on the mend really soon

I'm obviously mad because I'm expecting my second!

@speedyhedgehog

I had a lot of water retention/swelling in my feet and ankles after my last birth. All three of my births have been c sections. I can't remember how long it lasted but I think I was still struggling about 2 weeks post birth when my youngest was released from the nicu. Mine was nowhere near as bad as yours sounds, I know you are under proper healthcare and i'm so glad for that as you have really been through the mill and back. I do remember it taking a few weeks at least until I could get a shoe on and walk comfortably. I hope it does settle for you soon and if not that they get to the bottom of it quickly.

Thank you so much for replying 😁

I am back in hospital as my swelling isn't going down. Yeah flip flops are my only available option just now!

@readyforroundtwo

I'm so sorry you are going through this Op. Although my experience isn't exactly the same, I had a EMCS with my son. I haemorraged during the operation and lost two units of blood and needed a transfusion, went straight into HDU as well.

24 hours after being discharged I was blue lighted to A&E as my heart rate was abnormal and I was struggling to breath. I spent a further 4 days in hospital, having MRI scans, blood tests, ultrasounds etc. The hospital's initial thought was that my bowel and uterus had fused together from the operation! After a heavy case of IV antibiotics and many specialists later, it was found that I had a serious infection in my uterus, which had completely caused my body to start shutting down as it just wasn't coping.
I was honestly terrified and thought it was going to die, so I understand the terror. Especially as a new mum.
You will be OK and hopefully be on the mend really soon

I'm obviously mad because I'm expecting my second!

Ohh thats terrifying. You must have been so confused and had such a shock. I am glad you are well and expecting again!

I've been readmitted as my legs arent getting better. I am utterly exhausted mentally and physically. I get breathless when moving due to the anemia but a Dr decided to test for covid. It's been nearly a day and no result back yet. I'm in a side room on my own and feel even more isolated and alone. My baby is here but I feel terrible her being here. I know it's just a matter or procedure to rule out covid but I feel its added stress upon stress.

I am so traumatised from this all that I constantly cry.

@Fefefe

I haven't given birth yet, so no experience but i just wanted to send some virtual support/handhold.
You have been through so much. You are a very strong woman.
Hope they can find the cause of this swelling and you are (literally) back on your feet soon.