Birth trauma

Anyone else have a traumatic birth that they are struggling to get over?

My little dude is 4 weeks old today and I still feel like I’m struggling to process his birth. I was induced at 38 weeks due to late complications in pregnancy. I had the propess and hormone drip. My labour was 56 hrs in total, 25 hrs active, 3 hrs pushing, 2 failed epidurals and then emergency c section. I also had a nasty infection during my labour but they still kept it going for another 7 hrs before deciding to do the section. By the time it got to pushing I just had no energy, felt like I failed my boy. I ended up in recovery for 4 hours after because I wasn’t responding well after the surgery and couldn’t even hold my son, I was so unwell. Then I was taken to the ward and just… had a newborn to look after since.

The lack of processing time, sleep deprivation and baby blues are just a perfect storm aren’t they. Guess I’m just reaching out to anyone who might understand. Last few weeks have been hard.

Read more on Peanut

The views expressed in community are solely the opinions of participants, and do not reflect those of Peanut.

Learn more about our guidelines.
Add a comment
Avatar

Something similar happened to me, due to too much swelling etc they induced me at 39 weeks, I went in on May 2nd at 12pm, started the pills they put in ur bottom lip at 3pm. Did all the doses and no progress. Around 11am on the third they did the epidural and pit. first it worked but woke up 2am on the fourth to excruciating pain. Actual pushing contractions but little prog. Epidural failed around 2:30am they topped me up. I pressed the button but at 3:15 am it failed again no pain meds but a full bag. Okay fine doctor came in I had to get my water broken. They send me into a nice pain medicated nap. Woke up 7am I was in excruciating and I mean bad pain again. Nice epidural shot nap. Wake up I feel like my insides are being ripped apart around 3pm. ATP I’m 7cm dilated and they ripped out my epidural because I was numb chest up. (Shifted) by that point I’m begging just for a c section I couldn’t do it. I was so exhausted atp. And the midwife I hated and asked not to be on shift for me

Avatar

She decides to try to see if my cervix has any give and try to push at it/stretch it excuse me that shit hurt, Around 5 PM I’m literally begging for a C-section because I’m so tired and exhausted 530 they have me start practice pushing like actually pushing 9 1/2 cm dilated. They decide I need another epidural anesthesiologist comes in misplaces twice put it in right the third time or so I thought about 6:30 Doctor comes in the actual Doctor convinces me to start pushing at this point cause I’m begging for a C-section. I go OK 7:09 baby girl was born. With assistance from the vacuum come to find out why it was so hard for her to properly come down and everything was because she had shoulder dysplasia. I don’t remember from them saying she’s about to crown until she was placed on my chest, they ask if my fiancé wants to cut the cord and I go no I want white and pulsing. They tell me she’s been out for at least five or six minutes. I came to as my placenta was coming out to my mom on

Avatar

If it would help you can request a debrief with the hospital where they can discuss your birth with you, might help you to be able to talk through it and ask them questions. It's very normal to still be struggling, it is definitely worth reaching out to your health visitor or midwives for help if needed as you're still under their care currently.
I had a traumatic birth too (neglected to check me after inducing, propess worked too well, over contracted and nearly gave birth on the induction ward. Then went on to have an almost 2l postpartum hemorrhage which I think was due to them leaving to propess in until I was 10cm dilated) and although I have better days now at 6 weeks PP I definitely have moments or triggers that set me off. You're not alone 🖤

Avatar

I had a c section after attempts to be induced with the balloon and went all the way up to level 18 on pitocin. I also had to fast on ice chips once a shift then I was told I’d have a c section. My son was put into the NICU and I couldn’t see him the first few days. The traumatic part was the trial and error and all of a sudden having a c section

Avatar

Hi, so sorry to hear you had a difficult birth. What helped me was reading the birth report again. I know what happened because I was there and I could never forget it, but just reading it, felt different.
I don’t what it’s called, but you can do a rebirthing bath.
Set up your bedroom how you would have like your birthing room to be.
Let your partner/midwife/ mom/ friend bath the baby and put them on your bare chest while wet and just soak up that feeling. I had candles and the playlist I never got to play in hospital 😊and it was beautiful

Read more on Peanut

Trending

in our community

Holiday disappointment

Just a vent ! Looking to see if anyone can relate or make me feel better as feeling alone with it .. currently last day being abroad on holiday with the family (7 of us) and my 1 year old daughter! Feeling so overwhelmed and disheartened.. she did so well with the travelling and the first day then it just went down hill.. she has been grizzly from the time she wakes up every day till bed time, with constant entertainment she can be ok but not for very long, I’ve taken her to the room, changed things up, done naps different each time and she’s just not happy. I think she picked up something as she’s losing her voice, had a slight temperature at one point but went down, her fingers have been in her mouth constantly so also may be teething, but no medication has worked. It’s been so hard to watch her miserable, not eating much, not wanting to be in the high chair so we had to split dinners with some people going to dinner and others watching her as it’s been too much for her. My family have been great, helped out and been supportive. As I’ve looked around the resort, yes babies were crying but parents just seemed like they could soothe their babies, some families looked like they were having the best time, I just felt like we were the only couple really struggling. My family said she hasn’t been too bad and are considering a holiday next year.. I just don’t feel validated at all.

Avatar

9

Lip tie

Is this a lip tie?

Avatar

1

11

Cleaning after meal

I know a lot of you probably already do this, but if not, here’s my mom hack I discovered today 😂
My baby is a messy eater, so I always bathe him after meals but today instead I put his Bumbo seat in the sink. While he splashes, I rinse him off, wash the dishes, and load the dishwasher at the same time.
In 10 minutes, the baby was clean, the dishes were done, and all I had left was to wipe the floor. He had a blast, and of course I made sure there was nothing sharp in the sink and stayed with him the whole time.

Best mom hack I’ve discovered so far lmao

Avatar

5

3

Is this what it’s supposed to be like?

I don’t like motherhood. I don’t like how it feels. My birth was traumatic and I get flashbacks of it everyday. Every single day. I felt like I was punished for wanting a baby. I feel so much shame I will never have one again. I also have a lot of anxiety. If I stay in anxious. Get outside anxious. Child friendly activity anxious. Grocery store anxious. I feel like I can’t escape except when I smoke. My question is, is this what it’s supposed to feel like and moms pretend they’re happy or did I unfortunate get the short end of the stick? Pls respond I’ve been suffering like this for over a year.

Avatar

3

13

Baths

How often should my newborn get a sponge bath (still has her umbilical cord)? I’m a first time mom. I’ve heard people say everyday and other people say once a week. How often does she need a bath? She’s a week and two days old

Avatar

1

9

Sex after episiotomy

I had to have an episiotomy done when giving birth. I'm currently 12 weeks pp and tried to be intimate with my husband and it hurt so much. Are there any other women that have had similar experiences with their episiotomy scar? What can I do to make it better and less painful?

Avatar

1

11

Read more on Peanut