OBEM - 08/02

[hermionestranger]

No one else?

How was it sensationalised ?

DD1 was a shoulder dystosia baby and was 7lb 9, so a pretty average sized baby. She was also Back to back.

Did they give an extra warning before the show, I am guessing they must have. I had forceps and shoulder dystocia for my ds' birth but not like that. It was agonising watching for anyone but sounds like it was esp traumatic for those of you who had similar births.

I really felt for everybody in that room particularly the poor baby ( I feel guilty that poor ds had forceps) . Pretty sure the splint was for the canula in her hand but they focused on it all the same.

I think they mentioned her having a drip during labour - was that for the contractions? Read that can be associated with sd and was for me.

oh that was horrendous, i was shaking myself that poor poor woman, really hope the baby hasn't been starved of oxygen to the brian or anything.
i thought the dh did a really great job, he said he felt helpless i wish men could understand how just being there holding a hand wiping the eyes sayig calming things really helps, i'd give him a pat on the back.

mrsdv

the thing that got me was, you know the baby will be ok, as they wouldnt show the birth otherwise, and its still really really scarey to watch even when you know all is going ot be ok.

Am in floods at Dawn's birth :( But her baby is BEAUTIFUL. My DCs were 10lb 2oz and 10lb 7oz. Had growth scans with both and knew both were big. The MWs mentioned shoulder dystocia to me but in both cases said 'you don't want to know'. Of course I googled it madly. But what they did say is that it's not really the size but the position that makes SD more likely. I guess though that a bigger baby in a difficult position for delivery is going to be harder to manipulate. I was absolutely terrified of SD throughout both deliveries....had recurrent nightmares and still do. I was so so so lucky that both of mine were in good positions and I could push them both out, although DS2 was back to back and the pain was extraordinary. And they never got round to giving me the f*ing epidural. I'm so amazed at Dawn and her DH.

why could they only try and turn the baby for 30 seconds a time?

Was awful to watch

In my case, ignorance was bliss. I had birth pool, stayed at 9cm for bloody hours, finally epidural, then feotal monitor as heart rate dropped. Then shoulder dystocia and out came the forceps and ventous and lots of cutting for me. They pulled me off the bed at one point and dh was asked to hold me down. All in the delivery room! Ds was born crying, pink and with an apgar of 9 then 10. I fed him, had tea and toast then was helped into a bath. It never occured to me that this was a traumatic delivery as I had no concept of what was good or not, other than a healthy baby.

There was a small cut on his cheek, other than that, perfect. I don't think the forceps are so scary but I'm glad I didn't have to see it happen. I imagine a C Section is even more horrific to watch.

Wow that was hard watching, poor Dawn, so glad the baby was ok. I saw one forceps delivery in theatre, which was a simple one but blimey her poor tattered fanny, not to mention the manual removal of placenta which had a big meaty Dr's arm up to the elbow in a poor ladies chuff and she had given birth entirely without painkillers the poor cow.

I used to feel a bit remorseful that I had 3 c-sections, the only one of my babies which had a chance of coming out the right end was ds1, he was well engaged and required forceps to pry him out of my pelvis. I was always a bit sad I hadn't tried for vbac with him, but that forceps delivery shows that it's not always that simple. I know that weight does not=shoulder dystocia but my ds1 was very chunky, big head, short and fat. Fuck it, glad I have had healthy babies and non tattered fanny, ta very much.

I too went off the rails when my Dad died (at 15), it happens, my Mum was too busy grieving to actually care what I was doing, such is life.

It was horrific and awful but also wonderful to see everyone working to achieve the best outcome. I think it is appropriate TV (I love it)

Although perhaps not the best to watch until you have given birth.It is very informative and of course real. Yes sd doesn't happen all the time but it does happen.It happened to my best friend at home' now that is sacrey!

Well done Dawn and dh

I think its totally appropriate to show. Childbirth does have its difficulties and things like that do happen sadly.
It certainly wasnt part of my birth plan but it happened and we just had to deal with it at the time. Nothing to do with having a big baby (7lb.9) just got in an awkward position. She turned back to back during early labour too which really didn't help.

It has got to me abit watching it from this view (rather than being blissfully un aware of quite what was happening at the business end). If I had been born 40/50 years earlier then Baby and possibly me would of died.

Carrie - There are a number of different manouvres they can perform during a shoulder dystocia birth. As I understand it, they try each manouvre for 30 seconds before moving on to the next one to maximise the chance of one of them working and baby coming out. They are aiming to get the baby out within 3 minutes, as after that the risks of oxygen starvation and the long term problems that causes increase.

I'd also say to any pregnant woman now scared of SD, it isn't always like the birth on the programme - that was definitely on the traumatic end of the scale! DD was 10lb 5oz with SD, so the same as on OBEM, and was freed with a couple of manouvres by 2 midwives, while about half a dozen HCPs stood in the room, just in case. In fact it was only the extra people being there that gave me any inkling that it wasn't a 'normal' birth, and I found it quite confusing when each new HCP who approached me in the postnatal ward greeted me with the words 'I hear you had a traumatic birth'. It really wasn't that bad.

Just watching now and as an ex-midwife getting concerns about size of the baby - I know this is the shoulder dystocia and all the warning signs are there. slow descent etc especially when it's a subsequent baby. I know the baby is going to be fine because they wouldn't show it if not but scared already.......

Thanks Janice that makes sense, good explaination.I'm.glad.you.were.ok

I watched this last night. Dawn's birth was brutal - but that's not a usual outcome. Definately on the extreme end - and they got the baby out and she looked ok. I really felt for the dr and midwives- what a horrible position to be in. Worse for mum and dad obviously but still absolutely awful. It is amazing that people can just keep thinking, keep working when as the senior midwife said the other option is just to stand there going 'aaaaargh'. This is why I'm not a nurse - would definately be in the 'aaaargh' camp.

Dawn's age put her at increased risk of a complicated delivery too.

People might not like teen mums but their bodies are better at childbirth.

Dawn's age put her at increased risk of a complicated delivery too.

People might not like teen mums but their bodies are better at childbirth.

Missed last nights episode,anyone know if it is repeated please?

Last night upset me :(

It was so close to DS birth. I couldn't have a water birth as when my waters broke they were not clear.

Then when pushing he wasn't moving down and his heart rate was showing he was in distress. They rushed me into theatre, took DH somewhere to throw on scrubs and said right, we will try with forceps but if they don't work we will have to knock you out with a general as there is no time to numb you for a emcs.

They did get him out with the forceps. The cord was round his neck which was why he wasn't moving down. Luckily he was absolutley fine but they took him off too check him and the twenty seconds or so till he cried felt like an eternity.

It took them over half an hour to stitch me back up and DS was handed to DH and I never got any skin to skin

I really didn't realise it had been a traumatic birth and was just so relieved to have him back. I had him at 5am and left hospital that afternoon.
I was doing the shopping in the supermarket the next day and hosting 5 friends round that night to come and see him and have food and drinks. DH went mad. Then I was back in work 10 days later, although only part time in the office and working from home. The stitches were horrible :(

Watching last night really brought it all home. I was in tears.

DH said he could never go through that again and we were so lucky to have DS who is perfect he would never risk pushing his luck by trying for another one.

Makes me a bit :( but I am just so greatful for DS and feel very lucky

you just had to look at the faces of the other medical staff in the room to see that this is not usual.
my sister had sd with her first baby. 5kg (no idea what that is in pounds). they talked about breaking the clavicle to get him out but managed without. poor boy had a paralysed arm for about half a year, but with loads of luck and physio you would never know now.

Is anyone else still a bit wobbly after watching OBEM last night. Its haunted me a bit and I had 2 straightforward births. It's really made me thankful for this and I have the ultimate respect for those MWs who stay calm in situations like that.

I wonder.if.dawn had a bit.of.gestational.diabetes or something and perhaps that's why the baby got.so big

yes Ifancy, it only hit me yesterday that my first birth was a bit traumatic too. (baby not breathing for a minute, placenta bloodless at birth, ventouse, pph)

and every time I watch birth-tv my stitches itch.

I thought it was perfectly fine to show this, we've made it through one and a half series of OBEM without any truly awful births, and that in itself surprised me (as I know lots of people who have had similar difficult births including myself).

I know we all wish we were like the lady in the red bikini who breathed her baby out without a squeak, but the reality is that instrumental deliveries are quite common, even if SD is not, as are babies who are in distress/not breathing when they come out.

I must admit though, I felt sick and stressed during the programme. Totally impressed by the midwives though, even though they were panicking, they were professional and did the job, which was ultimately what was needed.