I am writing this because I am hoping someone here can help me and point me in the right direction- I am 8 weeks pregnant with my second child and am already having fears about giving birth.
My first birth experience was pretty traumatic - my water broke at 11:55 pm as I was brushing my teeth to go to bed. I labored at home for a couple hours but things seemed to be progressing really fast. We got to the hospital about 2:15, and while I was in triage waiting to get checked in I got really sick and vomited 2 times. By the time I got to my room, labor was pretty tough. I tried to breathe effectively, but it wasn't working, I vomited 3 more times, especially when they made me lay down do they could find the heartbeat. By 4:30 I was falling asleep standing up and I was begging for an epi. I fell asleep in the nurses arms while they were doing the epi and was able to get some sleep.
WHen it was finally time to push, I pushed for 2 hours. LO was stuck and had to be vacuumed out. When he finally came out, he overinflated his lung stopped breathing, he had to have CPR done and then was put on a vent and then later a CPAP. It took 6 hours before I was able to hold him..
Looking back, I am still pretty traumatized by this whole experience. I know some of it could have happened even if I had a natual birth, but I also know some of it happened that could have been different. I really didn't know how to breathe, so I was hyperventilating, which caused me to vomit, which was exhausting both emotionally and physically, which was the reason for the epi, which then caused pushing for 2 hours.
I want this time to be different. I don't' have issues with epi's but at the same time, I want to be able to labor more effectively and hopefully avoid one.
Does anyone know where to start? I love my OB and will have a hospital birth again, but I am looking for some info/ training on how to breathe and labor more effectively. Any words of advice or encouragement would be great thanks!
Re: child birth fears becasue of previous birth
I'm sorry to hear of your traumatic experience. It's great that you know what went wrong the first time (hyperventilating, for example) and what you can change this time around. I strongly believe that if you are more prepared emotionally, labor and delivery will be that much easier.
I would suggest trying to take a hypnobirthing or a Bradley class - many of the "natural birth" classes will coach you in how to best handle the process and pains of labor. It can also guide you in various relaxation techniques, etc. The fact that you've done this before and know what to expect can be very useful to you as well - watch plenty of videos of natural childbirth - it will help you to prepare. And most importantly, don't let guilt over the previous birth ruin the experience of your upcoming one.
Good luck!!
Thank you for all your responses- you have given me a few places to start.
I know this one will be different, but I also want to be more prepared this time around.
I thought I was prepared, cause I took a class through my OB/hospital. Turns out, I wasn't.
Now I know for next time.
Thanks!
A kiss he will never forget- Disney World 2014
I'm so sorry you struggled so much in your first birth. My first birth took a very unexpected form and it took me a long while to process not only the birth but the reactions of people after the fact. It also took some work to figure out what to expect from my second birth.
The Birthing From Within book has a lot of information to help you work through previous tramas. That's something you could start on now rather than waiting until later when the how to classes start. I didn't read it until after I'd worked through my feelings from the first one, but I think it would have helped speed up that process for me.
Good luck finding the right path for this birth!
During my second L&D I focused on my affirmations and staying calm and relaxed. It made a huge difference in my labor. I felt more relaxed and in control and had a much better experience.
I would also recommend working with your OB or a doula to come up with a game plan and birth plan to help ease your anxiety.
Also, check out the forums on Solace for Mothers, which is a traumatic birth support site.
And ::waves:: Nice ticker ya got there.