Fish&Chips
Mum of two
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- Nov 11, 2009
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I really wanted to write a little something about my two labour experiences in the hope that it helps others come to terms with their C Sections and choice of pain relief.
In September 2009 I ended up having a C Section and despite knowing deep down that it couldn't have been avoided, I still felt I was to blame. It has taken me until now, after the birth of my second son, to understand and appreciate what I went through.
My waters ruptured spontaneously with my first born and it didn't take long before my contractions were unbearable. I never felt they were 'painful' but from the off I had this unbearable urge to empty my bowels / push and was unable to resist.
At only 2cms dilated I realised I wasn't going to cope and after an hour when I was 4cms, I asked for an epidural.
Pushing was a relief as I was finally allowed to do what my body had been telling me to do all along, however my son never descended. It was discovered he was transverse (so his ear was facing the exit as opposed to the crown of his head). I was taken to theatre where they tried turning him but after a couple of attempts they decided that a c section was the only option.
I felt that I failed at coping with the pain, that I failed to push and that I didn't experience a 'proper labour'.
When I fell pregnant again, I did everything possible to allow me to have a vbac (vaginal birth after c section). I joined a pregnancy yoga class, bounced religiously on my ball, attended vbac classes and battled with the hospital to not be continuously monitored etc.
At 12 days overdue I was scheduled to be induced. At that point I finally agreed that I would be monitored and have a canula as the risks of rupture / other complications would increase. Thankfully, although I was livid at the time, there was no room on the labour ward so after waiting all day I ended staying overnight. At 4am I started contracting and soon after was confirmed to be in labour thereby beating the induction.
The contractions were like period pains and not dissimilar to what I felt last time but this time there was no urge to go to the loo making them so much more bearable. I breathed through them and just concentrated on relaxing instead of tensing up.
Even when I accepted Gas and Air, I don't think I particularly needed it. In fact, when it came to pushing the gas and air just got in the way and messed up my breathing so I stopped using it.
My waters burst right at the end this time and I immediately got the urge to push - it was exactly the same sensation I had from 2cms with my last labour but this time I must have been 10cms as soon after my 2nd son was born vaginally.
I now know that what they say is true, every labour is different. I couldn't have coped without an epidural last time but this time I didn't even need Gas and Air. I also know my body can birth vaginally and due to factors outside of my control, I had to have a c section last time.
My body didn't fail me and I'm not a wimp. I got unlucky last time and for 2 years I punished myself for no reason.
If people can labour without drugs - good for them. If they can labour vaginally - good for them. But at the end of the day, you do what you have to do to get that baby out safely.
xx
In September 2009 I ended up having a C Section and despite knowing deep down that it couldn't have been avoided, I still felt I was to blame. It has taken me until now, after the birth of my second son, to understand and appreciate what I went through.
My waters ruptured spontaneously with my first born and it didn't take long before my contractions were unbearable. I never felt they were 'painful' but from the off I had this unbearable urge to empty my bowels / push and was unable to resist.
At only 2cms dilated I realised I wasn't going to cope and after an hour when I was 4cms, I asked for an epidural.
Pushing was a relief as I was finally allowed to do what my body had been telling me to do all along, however my son never descended. It was discovered he was transverse (so his ear was facing the exit as opposed to the crown of his head). I was taken to theatre where they tried turning him but after a couple of attempts they decided that a c section was the only option.
I felt that I failed at coping with the pain, that I failed to push and that I didn't experience a 'proper labour'.
When I fell pregnant again, I did everything possible to allow me to have a vbac (vaginal birth after c section). I joined a pregnancy yoga class, bounced religiously on my ball, attended vbac classes and battled with the hospital to not be continuously monitored etc.
At 12 days overdue I was scheduled to be induced. At that point I finally agreed that I would be monitored and have a canula as the risks of rupture / other complications would increase. Thankfully, although I was livid at the time, there was no room on the labour ward so after waiting all day I ended staying overnight. At 4am I started contracting and soon after was confirmed to be in labour thereby beating the induction.
The contractions were like period pains and not dissimilar to what I felt last time but this time there was no urge to go to the loo making them so much more bearable. I breathed through them and just concentrated on relaxing instead of tensing up.
Even when I accepted Gas and Air, I don't think I particularly needed it. In fact, when it came to pushing the gas and air just got in the way and messed up my breathing so I stopped using it.
My waters burst right at the end this time and I immediately got the urge to push - it was exactly the same sensation I had from 2cms with my last labour but this time I must have been 10cms as soon after my 2nd son was born vaginally.
I now know that what they say is true, every labour is different. I couldn't have coped without an epidural last time but this time I didn't even need Gas and Air. I also know my body can birth vaginally and due to factors outside of my control, I had to have a c section last time.
My body didn't fail me and I'm not a wimp. I got unlucky last time and for 2 years I punished myself for no reason.
If people can labour without drugs - good for them. If they can labour vaginally - good for them. But at the end of the day, you do what you have to do to get that baby out safely.
xx
can I ask how you have found recovery compared with the section? X
