Discussion Topic
My C-Section
Posted on 04/02/08, 11:57 pm
I was not prepared at all for a c-section!!! First, I definitely have what I like to call "birthing hips." There is no reason why a watermelon couldn't fit through them if it had to. Therefore, I skipped EVERY page on c-sections in EVERY one of my baby/childbirth books. Sure, the doctors had brought it up as a "just in case" scenario, but I honestly never thought twice about it!
Then life took over. I was put on bedrest for the last six weeks of my pregnancy due to high blood pressure. My DH and I had several false alarms...the hospital staff knew us very well. Fortunately they were all great. I went in for a check up at 36 weeks and was admitted that day with pre-eclampsia. I was observed for a day and my doctor determined later that I would be admitted and induced the following morning.
I felt WONDERFUL!!! I think two of the best nights of sleep I ever had were the night before my wedding and the night before Theresa was born (go figure). Anyway, I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed. My husband was there, his parents, sisters and one of my best friends were in and out and my mom came from Wisconsin for the birth (we lived in Virginia at the time).
The day started smoothly. I was given pitocin around 7:00 AM. By noon I was dialated to 3 cm. By 6:00 pm....I was STILL 3 cm. The doctor was concerned about my condition even though the baby was fine. She told me she'd see where I was in another hour or so and then we'd make a decision. By 7:30 pm she had pretty much made the decision that an emergency c-section was the only option. I kept telling her I felt great, but my kidneys were in trouble and my blood pressure was up.
I was devastated! That probably sounds ridiculous because I was only hours away from a dream come true...being a mommy! But it hit me really hard. I cried because I really wanted to experience childbirth in the traditional way. The way my mom, my mother-in-law, my grandmas, most of my aunts, and most of my friends had. I felt like I had failed! It was such a difficult thing to deal with.
That said, we knew that it was the right choice to keep the baby and myself safe. So, I was prepared for surgery, Dave, our family and friends came to pray with us, and I was wheeled to the operating room. It really didn't occur to me that I was going to be cut open while awake until I was transferred onto the table. But even then, I wasn't scared.
Everything went pretty quickly once the doctor started. Dave was with me and was so supportive. At 9:14 pm our beautiful baby girl was born. I couldn't have been happier!!!
Everyone kept telling me over the next few days that it didn't matter how she was born, she was here. But for some reason it did matter to me. Is that wrong?
Almost two year later I still feel bad when I think about her delivery. Because of the c-section, nursing didn't go well at all and my recover was totally different from what I expected.
Anyway, I thought starting this group may be a way to heal. Looking forward to hearing more stories!!
Then life took over. I was put on bedrest for the last six weeks of my pregnancy due to high blood pressure. My DH and I had several false alarms...the hospital staff knew us very well. Fortunately they were all great. I went in for a check up at 36 weeks and was admitted that day with pre-eclampsia. I was observed for a day and my doctor determined later that I would be admitted and induced the following morning.
I felt WONDERFUL!!! I think two of the best nights of sleep I ever had were the night before my wedding and the night before Theresa was born (go figure). Anyway, I woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed. My husband was there, his parents, sisters and one of my best friends were in and out and my mom came from Wisconsin for the birth (we lived in Virginia at the time).
The day started smoothly. I was given pitocin around 7:00 AM. By noon I was dialated to 3 cm. By 6:00 pm....I was STILL 3 cm. The doctor was concerned about my condition even though the baby was fine. She told me she'd see where I was in another hour or so and then we'd make a decision. By 7:30 pm she had pretty much made the decision that an emergency c-section was the only option. I kept telling her I felt great, but my kidneys were in trouble and my blood pressure was up.
I was devastated! That probably sounds ridiculous because I was only hours away from a dream come true...being a mommy! But it hit me really hard. I cried because I really wanted to experience childbirth in the traditional way. The way my mom, my mother-in-law, my grandmas, most of my aunts, and most of my friends had. I felt like I had failed! It was such a difficult thing to deal with.
That said, we knew that it was the right choice to keep the baby and myself safe. So, I was prepared for surgery, Dave, our family and friends came to pray with us, and I was wheeled to the operating room. It really didn't occur to me that I was going to be cut open while awake until I was transferred onto the table. But even then, I wasn't scared.
Everything went pretty quickly once the doctor started. Dave was with me and was so supportive. At 9:14 pm our beautiful baby girl was born. I couldn't have been happier!!!
Everyone kept telling me over the next few days that it didn't matter how she was born, she was here. But for some reason it did matter to me. Is that wrong?
Almost two year later I still feel bad when I think about her delivery. Because of the c-section, nursing didn't go well at all and my recover was totally different from what I expected.
Anyway, I thought starting this group may be a way to heal. Looking forward to hearing more stories!!
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Reply #1 04/22/08 10:04pm
I am so glad that you started this group! I have had terrible birthing experiences! I am so glad I have someone to share my story with! I have had 3 c-sections now and like you I miss not having had that "normal" birthing experience. So here it goes. I also had preclampsia with my first pregnancy I ended up with an "emergency" c-section at 35wks d/t high BP, high liver enzymes etc. I ended up with hellp syndrome after the c-section and also had a pp hemmorhage and ended up getting a blood transfusion.I spent a week in the hospital recovering. My daughter spent 2 wks in NICU before she was able to come home. I was shocked when 8 weeks later I got pregnant with my son ( I didn't realize I was preggo until a 3-4months into the pregnancy) Who thought you'd get prego first time having sex after a baby? I developed preeclampsia again with my second pregnancy. I had him at 37 weeks via repeat c-section due to my water breaking. During his delivery my doc found that I had a large uterine window. He was able to see the baby's entire face/hair color etc through my uterus without cutting it because it was soo thin. He told me that I had had a uterine rupture and that it was not safe to have anymore kids and he leaned over the sterile drape and said I'm going to tie your tubes OK? I was shocked. I thought I was going to die. So he tied my tubes and I was devastated I wanted 4 children. But my son was A - OK no problems with him d/t the window/rupture ( what a blessing!). I really struggled with not being able to have more kids so after soul searching and many second opinions last May I started IVF to try to concieve my third child. Thankfully I was successful and delivered a healthy baby girl via c-section on 2/11/08. NO uterine windows or ruptures this time! Sorry to be so long winded, but I was anxious to share my story!
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Even with the joy of holding your new baby, there is emotional stress and pain with unplanned C-Sections. Talking with others may be a way to help each one of us!
