Unscheduled C-Section

baul0010 · January 2010

I went into my delivery with the mindset that I was going to delivery this baby vaginally and without any medications, man was I wrong!! I had my first real contraction Saturday 12/19 at 1:00 PM, they started to pickup in strength and intensity around 6:00 PM. I labored at home keeping myself busy with chores and eventually took a bath around 10:00 and my husband decided it was time to go to the hospital around 11:00 PM. I was honestly unsure if I was having real contractions for a long time because my contractions felt like severe menstrual cramps, the kind that made me breath through them, but I didn't feel like tightening of the entire abdominal area like many women described and I never had braxton hicks contractions so I didn't know if those had just started. Either way, we were on to the hospital and my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart with barely a break in between. They admitted me right away and I was about 3 centimeters dilated and 60% effaced. I labored until about 3:00 AM and decided I couldn't take it anymore. They re-measured me and I was only 4 centimeters and completely exhausted. Against my original plan I decided to get an epidural. I hated it. I need to have control over my body and was completely frustrated with the lack of use in my legs. I did however fall asleep for a few hours and by noon on Sunday the doctor said I was ready to push. My parents came in and I told them they would have a grandchild in about an hour. We got set and I was able to have my epidural reduced giving me more function in my legs which was awesome. After 3 hours of pushing my general practitioner, who was my OB throughout the entire pregnancy, had to consult with a surgical OB who works with the hospital. He came in 30 minutes later and said the baby was still at 0 position. When I would push the baby would move down all the way to -2 but would go back to 0. So after all this time I literally had made no progress. He said I could continue to push because the baby was still doing fine or we could have a C-section. Surgery was the last thing I had wanted, I have an unrealistic fear of dying from surgery but while I was bawling my eyes out I told them to just get the baby out. I couldn't push anymore...I was past the point of exhaustion. I was completely mortified and worst of all the nurses couldn't find my parents to tell them I was going into surgery. So they upped my epi medication and began wheeling me away, on the way to surgery we passed my parents and I started bawling again. And whatever meds they had given me caused me to shake uncontrollably. Now everything was completely surreal, I was sprawled out on the surgery table with the blue blanket up below my neck, I can?t believe this was happening to me. I was able to finally calm down when they brought my husband in but then I felt this tugging sensation and out was a beautiful baby girl. We named her Stella Mae. Recovery from surgery would have been a breeze but I developed postnatal pre-eclampsia. Towards the end of my pregnancy my blood pressure was a bit high but otherwise I had never developed any other symptoms of pre-e. After delivery my BP skyrocketed to 160/100 and my liver enzyme labs went up as well. I should have gone home on Tuesday but they kept me Wednesday and wanted to keep me Thursday as well. (which was Christmas Eve). I begged to have my labs retaken and the doctor agreed to reevaluate me after the labs at 4PM. One lab was up but another was down so they agreed I could go home as long as I promised to immediately go to the hospital if I developed a headache, has visual disturbances, developed a fever, etc. I agreed and we were home. I definitely had baby blues for a few weeks after we got home. I was disappointed in myself for having to go through surgery and feel gypped of a natural delivery. I know my baby is my prize but I am all about the journey and experience so it was hard for me to swallow. But we are all ok-a now and trying to adapt to this new life together.

NFL_Wife · January 2010

Congrats on your little girl!!! I know how it feels to plan on going natural and ending up with a section- you can definitely unfairly beat yourself up about it, but try not to. Keep reminding yourself that she's here and you're both safe and that's all that matters

ShansBride · January 2010

First, congrats on your new addition! Second, I think it is totally normal to grieve the loss of the birth you wanted. You can be happy that you have a healthy baby and sad that you missed out on the birth you wanted. I know what that is like (I had planned a natural birth with my son and ended up with a c/s too--I also had a natural VBAC with my daughter). I know people often say all that matters is a healthy baby, but I don't agree with that. A healthy mama is important too. You might see if there is an ICAN group near you. They have been a fabulous help to me!

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