Anyone had a birth debrief after a c-section ?

[Hobnob]

I'd not realised how much I've been affected my c-section until I went to visit a friend and her newborn the other night. As soon as I entered the ward I felt shaky, sick and all the horrible memories of feeling so ill and in pain came flooding back to me. It ruined what should have been a lovely occasion I've always said I'd never have another child partly because of how I reacted to the surgery ( I was being sick for hours after DD was born and then I ended up with a nasty infection which took nearly 2 mths to get over.

I think I might need to discuss my birth with someone , I know you can have debrief after a natural birth but can you after a c-section ?

 

[1948LC]

I would go and speak to your GP!

As for the section - I think I would have felt similar to you. I had two natural births before my c section, but as I was having twins and had shoulder dystocia with my youngest daughter I opted for a section. Boy It knocked me for six. The section itself was fine but the recovery was horrible. I was in so much pain I couldn't believe it. Thank goodness it's feeling more like a distant memory now.

Take care. x

 

[Cupcake19]

I had a traumatic 87 hour labour and ended up with emergency section and have met with midwives and consultant on 4 occasions to debrief. I too have been left with anxiety issues.

My GP wrote to my consultant at my 6 week check and asked for a debrief. The other meetings were follow up meetings to check my progress.

I hope you get one sorted and that it is of a help to you

 

[chuck]

Absolutely, bear in mind that birth afterthoughts or a debreig mainly exist to help you understand you notes and why decisions were made...i.e giving you a drip, trying ventouse , going to theatre etc.

Debriefs are limited in scope but super useful

They are great to get the timeline and facts straight. But don't go much further than that, That may be all you need to consider what happened when and why but you may feel it more useful to have a debrief get the story straight THEN go and question your feelings towards that story with a counsellor.

 

[laylasmummy]

I had a de-brief which really helped me. I had a traumatic emcs and got peritonitis from it and they almost lost me when my baby was 9 days old. It took a long time for me to recover and i got post traumatic stress disorder which left me with flashbacks, nightmares etc. The de-brief really helped and im due my next csection in just over 2 weeks! xx

 

[BoBo14]

I got a debrief about 3 months after my section with the lead midwife. As a pp said she only went through the notes e.g what blood pressure was, how acidosic my baby was an what they did for my son in nicu. She sad if I wanted to discuss my anxiety she could refer me for counselling as staff don't do that. Maybe counselling would be better for you?
I had a traumatic birth etc but I'm 18 weeks pregnant again so it does get easier x

 

[SabrinaKat]

I did and didn't, if that makes sense -- we had opted for a regular c-section, so when I developed pre-eclampsia and the decision was made that day for an emergency c-section, I was relieved. My issues were with my pre-eclampsia and recovery, and some problems with the high dependency unit where I sent post-c-section (needed a drip, etc.); fortunately, my ob/gyn was/is fantastic and went through things afterwards and at my six week check-up.

I know alot of women were/are disappointed with their emergency c-sections as it probably happened so fast and/or after lengthy tiring labour -- I would speak to your GP, if possible and as, another poster suggested, perhaps look at counselling -- it can be tramatic and difficult. I had issues with my LO in NICU, but some of the ladies down in premature babies/baby forums were really helpful....

best wishes

 

[fifi-folle]

I did when I got pregnant with this LO. My midwife had my notes from labour last time and talked me through it all. It's well worth doing. I'd had an induction which ended in emcs and it did affect me (still does, hence why I am planning a hbac this time!)