Forth Degree Tear

Not quite in your league, but had a third degree tear and thought it would never go back to normal. It felt quite sore and lumpy until about the 8 week mark then gradually went back to normal over the next month-6 weeks. Kept on complaining to my midwife until she referred me back to the obstetrician who delivered my boy, and it was followed up about 6-7 weeks after I gave birth. If your midwife is useless I would just go to your gp and tell them the story and get them to do the referral to your ob/gyn ASAP

Sounds like we both had pretty crappy births. Like you i was 11 days overdue, my waters broke 13 hours before contractions started. my midwife and my backup were both away. When contractions started they were 4 mins apart. i went straight to birthing unit, after questioning midwife on phone if we would still go there or to Chch womens.

i didn't get iv antibiotics like you should when your water break after 18 hours as birthing units dont have any. The midwife i had let me push for two hours at the birthing unit (20 hours since waters), while doing VE about every 3 contracts(despite my protests), before getting another midwife to do an exam who confirmed what i already knew that the baby was stuck. transfer to women's took an hour by ambulance which should have taken 20mins.

the OB couldn't work out what postion the baby was lying and was doing a VE after every contaction, i eventually screamed at her there was to be no more VE, by now i had been pushing for 3.5 hours, so she scans me and said we all good to do ventouse but it was "not her policy to do an episomity, unless I think the woman may tear really badly" well hello?

Baby went into fetal distress as soon as the ventouse went on his head, I got hold for a few seconds before he was put on oxygen for 30mins and then taken to NICU.

Everyone then left the room and i was left alone for about 10-15 mins, before the midwife came back and had the nerve to ask me if i was ok. She was expressing my colostrum when i felt a whole lot of blood gushing, she said she would check after she was finished getting colostrum. Few minutes later she checks me and then i was rushed to theatre after losing 1.1 liters.

Was told in theatre my sons head was deflexed which is why i tore. Had a lovely Surgeon who came in especially for me, said he only got a handful of 4th degree tears a year. (My midwife told me when my son was two weeks old the same OB did another 4th degree via ventouse since me). Never saw the OB again after the birth.

Separated from my baby for 3hours before he was brought to recovery.

Midwife who was at birth never offered a debrief or opportunity to ask questions, I didn't see her from time i went to theatre until 2 days after birth. My midwife came back from holiday when my son was four days old, we were still in the hospital as he had an infection, either from the lack of antibiotics or from the repeated VE. She was the one who tells me I wont be allowed anymore natural births, as like you would never recover from another tear. I agree its really heart breaking to hear that, especially when its your first, and my hubby and I want a big family.

At my five week check off the midwife called the gyn/ob clinic to find out when my check would be and they said some time in april and would not give an earlier appointment. thats the extent of help she gave me. She did check it serval times to check it was healing.

I am pretty disgusted with the care i got, especially from the midwife who was covering for my midwife. Got given the feedback from the college of midwives but it doesn't ask any of the right questions.

Will probably make a complaint against the midwife and the OB.

So you weren't given any exercises to do, another than pelvic floor? So at 12 weeks were your pain free?

Gosh what a bad experience you had!

The physio gave me an information sheet more-so about what 'no to do' and stressed importance of pelvic exercises and also making sure i stuck with the lactulose that i had been prescribed to make my loo visits for number two's more pleasant. she also stressed need to make sure that if I needed to go that I didn't try hold on cos that could cause some damage? Other than that, that was all I was told. Although have to say I was in pretty good shape after the week long stay in hospital, everyone was very surprised about my recovery given my ordeal.

I did have a sore backside for a lil while (not long) but it was manageable.

My midwife gave me a full debrief when she came to do her first home visit. She also gave me my notes and told me to read them and then if I had anymore concerns that we could discuss at her next home visit.

My baby will be 12weeks old this Tuesday and I can say that I am pain free and practically been this way for quite some time.

did you have 6week check with gynaecologist?

Interestingly i was told repeatedly by the house surgeon at chch women's that i would be seen at 6 weeks and if i was in any on going pain to ask for a referral from my midwife, which she did and got no response. At my five week check she rang and was told by the GYN admin staff that they dont make appointments for women until after 12 weeks. So clearly this is a communication issue between admin and the doctors, as my midwife did stress in the phone call that I was in pain.

Today I am feeling heaps better, I hope I start having a lot more good days.

Go to your GP monday for urgent referral to OB. Keep nagging until you get listrned to.

Been there done that same type of birth as skyla for my first. been all fixed up too. Have now had 2 babies via c/s and best ever way to give birth.

c/s for me was easier physically and emotionally to get over than the traumatic operative vaginal birth.

Good luck with that referral, can alway go private ob if they arnt listening

Eassa
virtual hugs
howd you go with gp?
good idea to get counselling!
You be all good in no time and one day hopefully like me you will have more beautiful babies via an amazing exciting, calm and relaxing c/s.

hey Eassa
Just hoping you feel better after your apt with GP yesterday and also with counsellor - fingers crossed you got some of the answers you were after

By the sounds of things it seems as though you have got somewhere which is pleasing. I bet it is almost like a relief as well for you too :)