Trauma to mum after long/operative V.B

My first daughter was born via v.b with large episiotemy ventouse and forceps. I received quite a bit of trauma physically that has taken me years to recover from. Subsequent children have been born via c/s as result of the trauma from the vb.

Recently I have just met a friend whom has had an even worse trauma than me from this type of birth and just wondering how others have coped or what sort of medical assistance they have seeked.

Ive found many mums dont talk much about their problems post traumatic v/b and the problems that go with episiotemys and long labours, just wondered if others want to talk

I had Neville-Barnes Forceps (NBF) which are used for when baby is high/mid in the birth canal.

just searched google and found this

(Acronym = FORCEPS):

Fully dilated cervix.
Occipito-anterior position preferably - occipito-posterior position (OP) delivery is possible with Kielland's forceps and vacuum.
Ruptured membranes.
Cephalic presentation.
Engaged presenting part, i.e. the greater diameter of the baby's head has passed the pelvic brim.
Pain relief is adequate.
Vacuum extraction or low forceps - minimum of perineal nerve block.
Mid-forceps - epidural or pudendal nerve block, or general anaesthetic.
Sphincter (bladder) empty.

lol come on ladies or lurkers should I say, 33 views and no posts.

i know some people have said they have had no issues from forceps births, but others have had no end of problem.

There is a section for support for c/section birth, but not much on operative vb births.

It also worries me about the babies and what effect does ventouse or forceps or both deliveries have on their wee brains long term!!! I would never attempt another ventouse or forceps birth myself purely in worry for my baby, let alone how id cope again. I was talking to a tradesman recently and his son was born by forceps and has learning disability, it makes you wonder if there has been any research on the babies and how it does affect them.

Hi. I had PTSD following the birth of DD, coming up 5yrs ago.
The most effective thing that made the most significant impact on my recovery was having phsycotherapy with a phsycologist through community mental health. That was quite a long time down the track from the first time I sort professional help for the way I was feeling which was when DD was 8months old. It wasnt until I hit absoulte rock bottom when DD was 15months that I got the phycotheraphy that began my road to recovery, following hospital admission to the phsyciatric ward.

I also found regular accupuncture for relaxtion, and energy boosting helped a lot- I kept this going monthly while preg with #2. I also used a natiural progersterone cream to help balance hormone levels, and found magnesium powder before bed helped me have a more settled sleep.

12months later I was fully recovered from the PTSD/PND. I was able to return to work as a nurse, could sleep at night, and could be present and even particpate in discussions about babies and birth, without freaking out at all- a major thing for me. The phycotherapy had made it possible for me to seperate my past traumatic experience, rather than any mention of birth making me relive the experience.

When we were finally ready for #2, I did think about elective c-section as a way to avoid the trauma of the first birth, but instead decided that doing everything I possibly could to have a completely natural birth would be a more satisfying and healing experience for me, and was more in line with how I had wanted the first birth to go. But it was terrifying!
I truly believe that if I had done all the research into drug free natural birth for my first birth, like I did with the second, that the first would have gone a lot better than it did.

During pregnancy with #2 I read loads online, books, practiced hynobirthing techniques, had monthly accupuncture, read up on and taught my mum and dh labour accupressure techniques, and wrote lists for each person who would be at the birth- mum, DH, midwives- and had a meeting with all of them and told them all what I wanted and what I wanted from each of them.
The midwife was unsure how all the scarring would cope with another vaginal birth, but I didnt let that bother me. There were times when I had minor freakouts during pregnancy, and once during labour when I thought "what the hell am I doing thinking I can cope with another birth/ another baby, arghhh".
I did cope- with the support of DH and my parents. The birth was a wonderful experience that went how I wanted it to. We planned a homebirth,ecause the thought f being in hospital freaked me out, but would transfer to hospital if at any point it became safer for me or for baby to be there- so thats what we did- transfered to hospital due to muconium in the waters when I was almost fully dilated. DS was born an hr later, still completley naturally - vaginally with no drugs at all, and not even a scratch for me- complete contrast to the first birth!

#1 had a large cuput(swelling ) on the side of her head from the long hard labour, and then the horrible lump and scabs from the vountouuse. She was a horrendously unsettled baby, and Im sure it was from the birth, at least at the beginning anyway. She was later diagnosed with other health issues, but I will never forget how she screamed and screamed as a newborn and the way her poor head looked

I am similar to you Girls Rock. With DD1 I had a long labour (33hrs), 2 hrs of pushing, 2 failed ventouse attempts and then finally delivered by forceps. I too received some physical trauma which meant I had to have a c-sect with DD2.

I think this happens a lot more than you hear about as I have a couple of friends with terrible issues after V.B's (with forceps) too...

I think first time preggie ladies don't get told what the potential life changing effects of VB can be. Everyone wants to gloss it over but people should be more aware of warning signs of potential trouble and we don't get told it because of the stigma around c sections. I wish someone had been more honest with me about the risk factors in VB like small pelvis, big baby, the true impact of a posterior baby. Things like that doesn't get discussed and I wish they would and why not scan when you go in labour to see if there are cords and things involved that you should know about. Its not the dark ages.

lol just read your actual question and in regards to medical help afterwards, my mw was great to talk to and referred me to physios and people to talk to if I needed it. In the long run, my GP was/is amazing and because I see her pretty regularly these days she is always discussing how things are going.

Mentally I am ok, although had alot of anger initially that I had to let go and physically, it is getting there.

Girls Rock wrote: My first daughter was born via v.b with large episiotemy ventouse and forceps. I received quite a bit of trauma physically that has taken me years to recover from. Subsequent children have been born via c/s as result of the trauma from the vb. Recently I have just met a friend whom has had an even worse trauma than me from this type of birth and just wondering how others have coped or what sort of medical assistance they have seeked. Ive found many mums dont talk much about their problems post traumatic v/b and the problems that go with episiotemys and long labours, just wondered if others want to talk

hey

sounds quite similar to my birth. we had a botched forceps delivery, huge tear which tore an artery (didn't even know we had arteries in there!) so bled out pretty quick. what a bloody mess, literally!

Anyway it was horrible for everyone involved, physically and mentally. I never healed right- not surprising because of all the trauma, and eventually needed an operation to try and fix things up as both the tear and episiotomy didn't heal right. Even after the op, it still didn't heal right but opted against more surgery as it weakens the muscles each time.

Like you, any future babies will be delivered by C/S. it's been a hard idea to get used to as I really feel that *mentally* a V-birth would be the best way to heal, but physically it would be extremely risky. I was sad that I might not be able to have the big family I dreamed of (generally not advised to have more than 3 C/S) but at the same time I figured trying natural births might cause so much damage next time that we might never have another

how far post-partum are you? are you still getting pain or anything?

I was pleasantly surprised at how many options were out there to help. Definitely not in the age where we just have to suck it up and deal with it, anymore

So I had the surgery, which was a good start, but after that had lots of physiotherapy which really helped as well.

So good to hear from other women! I had a botched delivery with my first, she was in perfect position for weeks then right in labour decided to go sideways or something...had an awful 12 hours of labour with rolling contractions (ie. just one big long contraction with no breaks), then 3 hours of pushing before they had to whip out my baby as she was in distress - gave me an extensive epi and cut me three times. My mum in law had horrific births where she nearly died, and even she said she had no idea if they were going to be able to put me back together; she couldnt tell where my leg ended, they cut me so much.
anyway, they resus'd my baby and stitched me up.
It wasn't until afterwards when the pain didn't go away that I went for help - sex was agony and I had a constant, dragging sort of pain between my legs. I went to a gyny and she said I had such severe scar tissue on my perinium that she was only 50% sure that reconstruction would have any effect at all.....1 year and 3 months after my babe was born they did it, and it helped a hell of a lot. Even now, 3 years afterwards, it still gets sore sometimes, and I have had to train my brain into not expecting pain with sex.
I also got PND that didn't lift until the surgery, so I'm sure there were residual underlying traumatic feelings from the birth.
All future births have to be C/S, but I would never want to go through VB again anyway!! I'm glad I did though, in a weird kind of way.
I always wanted a big family, but I think I would like to adopt now to grow our family (we have 2 kids now).
Mind you, when talking to first time preggy mums, I always stress that it is unusual to have what I (and you guys!) had, and that you can never know how it is going to go.
Have any of you tried to talk to the hospital/drs etc to find out what went wrong? I had a sneak peek at my notes once, and they totally glossed over it all!!

Well contrary to popular debate, I felt empowered to have a c/section. im glad I didnt get bullied into another vaginal birth just to save theatre costs or keep up with the "natural Jones"

With 8-9weeks to go before my next baby arrives I still get the old "Oh so you have to have another c/s" Im over it. Why would I want to risk another body damaging vaginal episiotemy 70 odd stitches that had to be done again under GA a year later. Let alone risk brain damage to my baby. My OB/MW/GP all told me I wont push a baby out over 6lb and that Im not made for giving birth. Why should I believe my mother that I should "try" and that Im sick off hearing her dumb stories about how easy her birth were. HOw she had 3 stitches oh yeah she understands what a zillion stithes feels like from ar*ehole to breakfast and back again.

I look on the bright side, it took me 1 month to conceive all 3 babys so im consider myself very lucky. I breastfeed. I might not be the vagina birthing type but it shouldnt mean people should judge me to be unlucky to have a c/s. I consider myself lucky to be in this day and age when its a everyday possibility.

My pelvis got twisted and the sacrial muscle between the tailbone and pelvis were so damaged I couldnt walk/sleep/.sit without pain for 9months. I didnt drive for 4weeks after VB. (only 2 after cs)

Medical insurance and ACC dont cover damage/repairs/physio/chiro/gyno visits to mums from childbirth. I think this needs to change.

Ive just had a new friend tell me her very traumatic private experiences from an operative vaginal birth. Its her story to tell but Im so worried for her. Lucky she says her baby is well and thats the man thing.

Medical insurance and ACC dont cover damage/repairs/physio/chiro/gyno visits to mums from childbirth. I think this needs to change.

Girls Rock wrote: Well contrary to popular debate, I felt empowered to have a c/section. im glad I didnt get bullied into another vaginal birth just to save theatre costs or keep up with the "natural Jones" ............. Medical insurance and ACC dont cover damage/repairs/physio/chiro/gyno visits to mums from childbirth. I think this needs to change. Ive just had a new friend tell me her very traumatic private experiences from an operative vaginal birth. Its her story to tell but Im so worried for her. Lucky she says her baby is well and thats the man thing. Medical insurance and ACC dont cover damage/repairs/physio/chiro/gyno visits to mums from childbirth. I think this needs to change.

It's nice to hear someone so positive about future CS births

I was really upset about having to have a C/S for awhile, mainly because of all the negative things that you hear about them and that attitude of it being a lesser birth (kinda similar to the bottle feeding thing), but realised that there's no way I'd ever go through birth again. So more kids = a C/S!

I'm looking forward to experiencing how different it will be Sure it will be sore, as one of my friends say "you feel like you're insides are gonna fall out for the first day" but I can't even imagine how amazing it will be to be concious when my baby is born (even if I'm on the table) and to actually see her for the first time, and be one of the first people to hold her...oh and being better at by around 6 weeks sounds like a dream! I still couldn't get out of bed 3 weeks post-partum

And like you said, why risk all those stitches again? Plus the recovery that may very well not go to plan, AGAIN, and the muscles 'down there' can only be torn and repaired so many times before they would start to get very weak


Thankgoodness for C-sections