Emergency C/S...Anyone Else Feel This Way?

OhioBobcat · February 2010

So now nearly 2 months PP and I still find myself asking DH questions about things that went on during my 36-hour labour that I just can't remember because of whatever drugs they gave me.

Before the c/s when they were putting in a drip, I had a moment even where I felt like I was seizing because I was biting down repeatedly on the gas & air pipe and the next thing I knew DH and the midwife were standing over me and saying my name over and over...but it's all just such a haze now.

I'm a bit let down that although I was awake through the c/s...I don't remember a lot of DS's first moments because I was so loopy and out of it. In fact, I don't feel like I fully was myself until 2 weeks after I was home from hospital.

I read somewhere that some women who have emergency sections can find a bit of closure to the events by requesting a copy of their birth notes from the hospital so they can see the full reason why things led to an emergency c/s...kind of like a play-by-play.

Anyone else feeling good otherwise, but still a bit blue about the experience because you can't remember much?

evhamm · February 2010

I have a copy of my birth notes. It was very helpful to me for closure and acceptance.

LurkieLoo · February 2010

I feel the same way. I was even put under for my c/s because even though I was stuck 9 times, the epidural didn't work. When I replay the events in my head, I realize now that things were bad almost from the beginning based on the doc coming so fast, and then she asked the anestheologist to stay because the baby's heart rate was dropping. My doc knew I REALLY wanted a vaginal birth so she let me push for a while but I had to push with her fingers inside me tickling his head so that it kept his heart rate up "a little." Since I had to be completely put under and have a tube in my throat, hubby wasn't even there for the birth.

I woke up about an hour after he was born and it really bothers me now that I don't know what my baby sounded like coming out or just the other day I cried because I don't know what he looked like with all the blood and stuff of him (I know its a silly thing to want but you know you have dreams of your perfect birth and them putting this little baby on your chest right after birth). My big thing is that I wanted hubby to tell me if it was a boy or girl (we didnt' know yet) so they sent for him immediately after I woke up and he said "It's Nolan" and I still cry when I think about that moment. We weren't even set on Nolan for a name but I LOVE that hubs named him that (it was my first choice name). Since he wasn't with me the first hour of his birth I think thats part of the reason I find it so hard to leave him now. I've only left him twice and both have been with my hubby and for less than a 1/2 hour each time. The first time I sat in my car and cried.

In the end though I want to thank my doc next time I see her. I truly believe that she saved Nolan's life. I didn't look at the machine while I was in labor because I think that I was in an altered state or something because of the pain (because really I didn't feel like it hurt that bad but when I think back to the labor I feel it felt like what I imagine being on drugs feels like even though I've never done drugs) but hubby said that every time I had a contraction his heart rate would drop really low and with every contraction it would get lower and lower. Eventually it just got too low and she had to cut. She said that his cord was COMPLETELY wrapped around him from his stomach all the way down his leg and it would have been impossible to birth him naturally.

I still get really depressed because it wasn't anything like I imagined for his entrance to the world but then I have to remember I'm a mommy now and its not about me... its all about Nolan now and this was his way to come into the world. It couldnt have happened any other way and I'd rather have a baby than a dream birth!

PS- My hubs went to Ohio University too!

cowgirl-mommy-to-be · February 2010

I went through fifteen hours of drug free labor, pushed for ten minutes and was carted off to the OR for an emergency C. the dr didn't actually know what was wrong with DS, all he knew was every time I got a contraction DSs heart rate would drop to the 80s. then when I stared pushing it dropped to the 30s and wouldn't come back up. turned out that his cord was wrapped around his right arm twice, then his neck, then again around his left arm. for a couple of weeks after that I didn't really fell like I had actually given birth to him. it took me two weeks to start to really bond with him. to me, the C section made it all seem less real.

Anna&Matt · February 2010

My c/s was planned but I had a bad reaction to the spinal and kept passing out during it so I don't really remember it too clearly. I'm a little bummed that I have little recollection of his first few days and I'm just now starting to feel normal again.

Mrs. Erin · February 2010

I only labored for 5 hours, non medicated, before I was rushed in for an emergency c-section.... so I can remember everthing pretty clearly. My spinal was the first medication I got, so I'm kind of lucky to remember everything so clearly, even during the c-section itself.

If I would have been loopy and not remember much I would def request the notes from the hospital. Like others said, I think it would give me some closure.

LovinTim912 · February 2010

I don't feel like I missed out on anything but I honestly still don;t know exactly why they gave me a c/s. I remember being in excrutiating pain, getting my epidural, getting violently sick and vomitting, my bp dropped very low and then they stuck an oxygen mask on my face. Our families came in, my mom cried, they left and I fell asleep. I woke up to seeing DH staring at me with a scared look, and like 15 doctors in the room- then being told they wanted to do a c/s since with every contraction my bp went up and DS' heart rate went down. I said ok and they wheeled me off.

I was totally aware of what was going on in the OR. I mean, I didn't feel anything (asie from the usual pressure) but people were talking to me (esp my OB- who was cracking jokes the whole time.) I remember the terrified look on DH's face, hearing DS cry but being upset about not seeing him (I too wanted him put on my chest lol), and then they cleaned him up, put him in my face, then handed him to DH. After that they took him away to test his sugar (I am diabetic) and that was that.

Crazy day but I don't feel like I missed out on much. The pain before the epi was horrible!!!

RJBWife · February 2010

Our whole delivery process was only 5 hours long and every time I tell the story to someone I remember a little more. We had an emergency c/s due to a prolapsed cord and the whole situation is still surreal. Luckily DH was with me almost the entire time and was able to answer questions I had. I'm more blue because I had my heart set on my midwife delivering me (she felt the same way) and now that will never happen. On the flip side DS is amazing and I feel so lucky that he's healthy and safe.

Jersigrl · February 2010

I do feel like i missed out on something. I labored for 7 hours with no drugs, but DS heartrate dropped with every contraction, so after all that they decieded to give me a c section. The cord was around his neck twice.I saw him for a few minutes after he was born while they cleaned himm up, but he was breathing really hard so they took him to the nursery, DH was with him. I ended up not being able to see him or hold him for 12 hours, until 1:30 the next day, I had him at 1:41 am. They wheeled me down to the nursery and i could barely look at him, i just bawled. It was so surreal. I had wanted a natural birth and to labor in the birthing tub, but DS had other plans. I just thank god that they took him out and he is just fine. But it is a traumatic expreience!

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