PPD and emerg csections

silvie25mar

I'm going to post this same q on the csection board. But something just occurred to me this morning. Do you think the chances are higher for PPD after an unplanned and unwanted csection with some complications afterwards ?

magdalina.h

I didn't have PPD after my emergency c/s with Aidan. Granted mine was grief, but if you go into the delivery (if you haven't already have one) with an open mind and know that a c/s is possible, that might help prevent strong anger with the c/s. The ones who I know who are extremely angry with their c/s (even though there was no other way of delivery due to the baby's position) had a natural birth plan with a midwife with every little detail planned out.

RayRay007

I think if you have any of the risk factors for PPD and things go unexpectedly and/or there are complications (whether vag or c/s), chances might be higher for developing PPD. However, I don't think having an unplanned c/s, in and of itself, would necessarily lead to a higher chance of developing PPD. If that makes sense? Why do you ask?

RayRay007

magdalina.h:

I didn't have PPD after my emergency c/s with Aidan. Granted mine was grief, but if you go into the delivery (if you haven't already have one) with an open mind and know that a c/s is possible, that might help prevent strong anger with the c/s. The ones who I know who are extremely angry with their c/s (even though there was no other way of delivery due to the baby's position) had a natural birth plan with a midwife with every little detail planned out.

I don't think it's the fact that they planned on a natural birth with a midwife as much as it's their personality - inflexible, closed minded etc. There is nothing wrong with having preferences for your birth and discussing them with your care provider before hand. It is being so steadfast and stubborn that causes a problem, and that has nothing to do with natural birth or midwives. Sorry, going off on a tangent here, but it is upsetting that natural birth and midwives get a bad wrap, when it is the individual and their personality. I had a natural birth "planned" with a midwife and we discussed all of the details at length (not just "I want this and this and this", but "so if this happens, what would you prefer to do" and "just so you're aware, this complication might arise and we might have to do this") and ended up with an emergency c/s and I'm not angry about it. So you could say "the ones that are most angry are those that were steadfast in their plans and inflexible in the face of complications". You could say that about natural birth or someone who wanted a epi from the get go.

silvie25mar

I'm 10.5 months pp and am only now coming to terms with the emotional feelings and thoughts I had about the whole thing. I was induced At 41 weeks and progressed amazingly. In 10 or so hours I was almost 10cm and pushed for two hours. Baby was sideways, 8 lbs and too big to turn do I had a csection. It was only then that I found out the cord was wrapped twice. I ended up with pp per eclampsia, high bp, super swollen legs followed by a leaking incision for weeks. I just never ended up learning about cs because I didn't think I would end up with one. Silly I know. Anyways, I have many signs of ppd or pp anxiety and so I'm just wondering.

RayRay007

silvie25:

I'm 10.5 months pp and am only now coming to terms with the emotional feelings and thoughts I had about the whole thing. I was induced At 41 weeks and progressed amazingly. In 10 or so hours I was almost 10cm and pushed for two hours. Baby was sideways, 8 lbs and too big to turn do I had a csection. It was only then that I found out the cord was wrapped twice. I ended up with pp per eclampsia, high bp, super swollen legs followed by a leaking incision for weeks. I just never ended up learning about cs because I didn't think I would end up with one. Silly I know. Anyways, I have many signs of ppd or pp anxiety and so I'm just wondering.

Yeah, my MW and I never really discussed c/s because I figured if it ever came to that we'd have time to discuss it. Turns out we didn't. She nor my husband were even there. So don't feel silly about not expecting a c/s.

You can have PPD even if things went textbook. And if things didn't go according to plan, vag or c/s or otherwise, chances would be higher, I would think. If you are questioning whether you have it, chances are you do and you should talk to a doctor. GL.

magdalina.h

RayRay007:

magdalina.h:

I didn't have PPD after my emergency c/s with Aidan. Granted mine was grief, but if you go into the delivery (if you haven't already have one) with an open mind and know that a c/s is possible, that might help prevent strong anger with the c/s. The ones who I know who are extremely angry with their c/s (even though there was no other way of delivery due to the baby's position) had a natural birth plan with a midwife with every little detail planned out.

I don't think it's the fact that they planned on a natural birth with a midwife as much as it's their personality - inflexible, closed minded etc. There is nothing wrong with having preferences for your birth and discussing them with your care provider before hand. It is being so steadfast and stubborn that causes a problem, and that has nothing to do with natural birth or midwives. Sorry, going off on a tangent here, but it is upsetting that natural birth and midwives get a bad wrap, when it is the individual and their personality. I had a natural birth "planned" with a midwife and we discussed all of the details at length (not just "I want this and this and this", but "so if this happens, what would you prefer to do" and "just so you're aware, this complication might arise and we might have to do this") and ended up with an emergency c/s and I'm not angry about it. So you could say "the ones that are most angry are those that were steadfast in their plans and inflexible in the face of complications". You could say that about natural birth or someone who wanted a epi from the get go.

Exactly. But from my example, that was the case for the people that I personally know.

tracy41

I don't think that all birth trauma can be classified as PPD. I know a lot of women get up in arms when they hear someone upset by their csection but it's not necessarily just about being inflexible. I won't dispute that women who planned a natural birth and were fixated seem to have a harder time but I don't think that's the only answer.

I know for me it took multiple things to push me over. My doctor went out of town and her substitute cancelled my induction and scheduled a csection without talking to me. When I finally saw her at the hospital she told me I could have a csection or leave the hospital without any discussion. I was already worried my baby was big so I consented anyway but the dr was not helpful. She started the surgery without sending anyone to get my husband. I only knew she had started cutting because the anesthesiologist ran over to the door and started yelling down the hall. She finished the surgery without a word to me and I never saw a doctor again the whole time I was in the hospital. In fact it took 9 hrs for them to get approval to release me because she wouldn't call the nurses back and would not come remove the staples. It didn't help that there were a bunch of sick nurses out and the rest were so busy they kept forgetting to bring my pain meds so I was in pain the entire time I was in the hospital. I was begging to be allowed to go home by day 3. So call me inflexible about my birth experience if you will but that sucked big time.

My RCS is tomorrow and if be lying if I said I wasn't a little nervous but forewarned is forearmed. My own doctor is here this time and I love her. I'm prepared to track and be a pain in the behind about getting pain meds. And I'm divorced now so they can leave exhusband in the hall if they want as long as one of the nurses takes some pictures!

I was definitely upset about my experience afterwards but it wasn't PPD. Just my long winded 2 cents.

ave1012

I do not think that I had PPD as much as disappointment. I went to the MD the day before my due date for my 40 week appointment and ended up with an emergency c-section under general anesthesia (due to an immediate turn in my health not the baby). I only remember pieces and parts of the 24 hours after the birth. DH was not in the room so there was not cutting of the cord. I did not get immediate skin to skin and immediate breastfeeding was not an option because I was too drugged up. I had issues with DD latching. I was sick for almost two weeks after the birth. I was emotionally disappointment and felt that I deprived my daughter of bonding. I cried for a few weeks every time I thought of DD birth and how unplanned it was for me. DH was very supportive and I realized that my DD loves me no matter what and she does not feel deprived. DD is 9.5 months, I still EBF and (not to toot my own horn) DD lights up every time she sees me. I think a lot of what I felt was also exaggerated by hormones too. I was greatly disappointment because c-section was not in my plan especially being under general anesthesia and I also did not have any labor so have no idea what that is like. Sorry for the long post. I think a lot of women do not think of c-section when making their birth plan and it is utter shock and disappointment when it happens because it is not planned.