My son is4 and half and yet sometimes I can still relive his cord prolapse birth

[LJRT]

My son was born in June 2016 he arrivedbl by emergency c section after a cord prolapse when they broke my waters, I can say it was the most scariest time ever. Thankfully he was fine however there is some delayment issues now but that's another story.

Reason for my post its been such a long time but yet sometimes I can think and relive every moment of it. I've had counselling already and an afterthought service. My daughter was born in 2014 also a bad birth but I don't relive her birth like his. I know cord prolapse are so rare and incredibly dangerous but why do I keep reliving it and can remember every sibgke moment right from I was admitted into hospital at 7am and he was out at 7.32 and the few days staying in the hospital after also. Any one got any advice please

Hi, I didn’t want to read and run. Your story is identical to mine. My DS was born 2018 after I was induced, waters broke by the midwife leading to cord prolapse and an emergency section. He was my first birth and it was terrifying to say the least. The birth almost certainly affected my mental state and my recovery was a difficult one.

I totally understand when you say you relive it, when I think about my birth it feels like it was yesterday. However, I’m determined not to let that effect me anymore. I feel like it stole apart of the early time I had with my son as I didn’t enjoy it or him, so I won’t let me rob me of anymore. I’m currently pregnant again and I am worried about the birth because of what happened the first time, but we will see how it goes! Hope your okay.

Thanks for your reply. Sorry to hear you went through the same thing , Yay and congrats on being pregnant again may I ask have they spoken about what your options are this time round because of the prolapse will you automatically get another csection.

It doesn't play on my mind all the time but every few days i could randomly think about it. Im wondering how long it'll stay in my mind so fresh for

Sorry to hear about your experience. Have you tried EMDR therapy? Paul McKenna has a video called the Havening technique on YouTube. It's really helped me take all negative emotion out of some traumatic memories so I could move on.

I do the same with both labours, both horrendously long and painful inductions with uterine tachysystole and hyperstimulation and feeling utterly alone while midwives ticked boxes on forms and then eventually 'rescued' by doctors who came in and realised what was happening. I think a lot of women walk around carrying this, not that that makes it any easier to cope with. I guess you could ask for counselling? I assume for me it's something I'll always carry with me and I will have flashbacks quite a bit for the rest of my life.

I too had a cord prolapse after breaking waters which led to a c-section. I developed post natal depression after, due to the trauma of the birth. Like a previous poster has mentioned, I had therapy and had EMDR to cope with it. I can still remember his birth, but it doesn’t have the same intensity as it once did. Perhaps enquire with your GP as it’s very effective

I was going to suggest EDMR. It files the trauma away, rather than it being at the front of your brain. Worth a go?

I have recently experienced cord prolapse situation while delivering my baby number 2. Whole experience makes me cry, makes me wonder if I could have done something different and why was it me who had to experience this. I am bit annoyed at midwife team who didn’t give me heads up that such situation might happen or gave me a mention. All this happened while i was in labour ward, ready to get my water broken.
I do want know from the mums who did experience cord prolapse, did you kids had any delays on the developmental milestone or all was fine? And what additional services were offered to you after traumatic birth experience?

You need to talk to someone and get support.

Some areas the NHS do a ‘birth stories’ support session where a midwife trained in counselling reviews your notes and discusses your experience with you.

Plus some personal therapy would be very helpful. Also hypnotherapy can help you detach from the anxiety of the memory - some hypnotherapists specialise in birth trauma.

Good luck. Get yourself some proper bespoke support, you deserve it.

I was a cord prolapse birth, and have had no developmental problems

I know it was very stressful for my mother - for reasons in addition to the actual birth. I was also taken away at birth and she didn’t see me for the first few days.

My DM clearly didn’t get any counselling- this is 50 odd years ago. Our relationship has always been difficult and she has described me as difficult. Part of this is her nature, she picks favourites amongst her many children.

I do wonder if the traumatic birth/ no connection to me for a few days after birth/ no counselling about it all has played it’s part. So I would get whatever help you can to cope with the memory

The medical staff find cord prolapse stressful too! I still remember running down the three flights of stairs and uphill through the car park to the maty block, after being crash bleeped for a cord prolapse section as a young anaesthetic registrar. And that was in 1984!
OP, post traumatic stress is not unexpected after such life events, and the PPs are right to advise you to see your GP. The more you keep ruminating about it, the more you reinforce the neural pathways and amplify the stress. Therapy can help to desensitise you and put the event back into proportion and into the past.

The Birth Trauma Association and Make Birth Better are really great for recovery from traumatic birth. It is likely you have PTSD from the birth and the aftermath which is what would be causing the very real feeling flashbacks. Definitely speak to your GP and get referred for therapy to help you process it

This was back in 2021 I posted this and I must admit I haven't really thought about this since.

But in awnsering your question yes my son still is very delayed and his now 6 his speech is delayed and has some sensory issues still, iv been fighting for 4 years that I think his autistic but his peadiatrician won't agree and have diagnosed him with learning difficulties and global developing delay i suppose only time will tell but theres definitely something still