Survey about how you feel about your birth + if you used drugs- please help!!

[damprye]

Did you use any drugs in your birth? Yes, pethadine, that done nothing for the pain but made me rather unresponsive when they needed me to push, gas, which was awesome but made me vomit on several ocassions and the epidural because my body began to push at 6cm dilated. Oh yeah, I forgot, also syntocinin (?sp) to help me dilate and pills to drop my BP as it was so high we had both gone into distress.
Did you have complications during your birth? My cervix would not dilate properly, DS was posterior (which we did not know until his head came out), dry birth, I had high BP, we were both in distress, ended in episiotomy and vaccume extraction. Off the top of my head lol.
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? I feel as though I let my Son down. I now feel empowered as I know what can be done differently this time to have a more positive labour/birthing experience.

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

So from you I need:
Did you use any drugs in your birth? No, we joked that I would but both were drug free natural births.

Did you have complications during your birth?
DD1 was footling breech, born home alone on the bathroom floor. minor internal tearing.
DD2 no complications.

Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation?
I was a little disappointed after DD1s birth as DP missed it and the feelings of being alone with feet hanging out of you but otherwise all good.




Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!

[UntoldAngel]

Drugs - Gas and then epidural
Complications - contractions stopped after 23hrs labour and 9cm dilation, given drip to further dilation; fetal distress on pushing resulting in failed ventouse, successful forceps
Disappointment - not really. I had a private obstetrician in a public hospital and we had discussed my concerns throughout my ante-natal appointments. She was on call throughout my labour, and there to deliver bub. She checked on me every day I was in hospital (5days) and discussed with the midwives my care and release. I would have liked to have had a drug free water birth, but there were underlying factors that we had discussed and felt would be better managed (if required) in a delivery suite

[Eenee]

No,no, no - was a perfect homebirth

[Tegam]

No,no, no - was a perfect homebirth

Arent they all

[Ella]

Thank you all so much for replying. What a response!!!

Your stories are so varied and amazing and I can't wait to become a midwife so that I can be blessed with being able to provide the wonderful care some of you missed out on.

Kateo- just wanted to say good luck with going back to your hospital. Go in educated, prepared and determined to be looked after better. I will be thinking of you and sending all my prayers that this time you get an amazing team.

Thank you all again sooooo much.

Now off to write this essay!

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Did you use any drugs in your birth? Yes - bullied into gas and air, informed that I "needed" syncto drip and epidural, then had a spinal.
Did you have complications during your birth? Hell yes - due to hospital management, Liebling went from back-out to back-to-back during labour. The bullying stalled my labour and an obstetrician shoved his hand up my vagina then complained I was too tense. I was also given an episiotomy without being told this was going to happen - wasn't told about this until I was stitched up.
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? Again, yes. Several years of trauma. Not just because of the labour - the midwife on duty on the maternity ward went out of her way to let me know she didn't like me and was not interested in helping me with anything. (FWIW, because I never got to birth my son, any future child is being born at home, alone. Not even with DH around as he sided with the bullies.)

[Lisa B]

Drugs - yes, gas then the epidural.
Complications - well yes but my baby was presenting as posterior so I don't think they were due to the drugs. It was a long labour and had to have the drip to make the contractions more regular and they said it might also help turn the baby which it did. No other complications. i was worried I might not be able to push but the MW guided me through and didn't need any instruments to help deliver
Feelings - I was exhausted and probably in shock after the birth. I think this was due to the labour being 25 hours and not having had sleep, food and the pushing part took about 2 hours. I was disappointed that I didn't have the post-birth endorphins.

I don't regret my choice to have the epidural particularly as the labour was long and I had wondered if my baby would turn and if it didn't then I thought I might need a c-section as this happened to a friend of mine. I also ripped and had an episiotomy and I didn't feel it as they stitched me back up.

[Cricket]

Here are my births, briefly. For what it's worth, all my babies have laid with their backs on my right side, which makes them technically posterior, since they've all had to rotate around in labour. I was up and active throughout every labour for as long as possible, and all but one moved to ROA without any trouble. I've been blessed with great birth experiences over all, and I'm very thankful for good care, and good resources.

Baby #1:
Hospital birth, attended by GP.
Drugs: yes - nubain shot at 7 or 8 cm.
Complications: no. spontaneous vaginal delivery, no augmentation, no forceps, no tearing.
Feelings: Wow, that was really hard! Labour was 7 hours from start to finish, and it was pretty intense! I panicked through transition, couldn't breathe, couldn't focus, couldn't cope. That's why I ended up with the nubain shot. After I had it, I realized it didn't touch the pain, but I could relax anyways. I started pushing within minutes of receiving it. Overall, I was pleased with that birth. The nurses were excellent in coaching me through that delivery, and I think the pain relief was a good choice in that birth.

Baby #2:
Hospital birth attended by GP
Drugs: yes - demerol shot.
Complications: no.
Feelings: I could have done it without the shot. Wish I had, in hindsight. I remembered that terrible, panicky, overwhelmed feeling and was afraid it would happen again. They asked if I'd like my water broken at 5cm or so, and I agreed, but said I wanted the shot first. Again, baby was born very shortly after receiving the drugs, and I knew I would have been OK without them.

Baby #3:
Home water birth, attended by midwives.
Drugs: no.
Complications: no.
Feelings: That's the way to have a baby. Everyone should try that.

Baby #4:
Hospital birth (GBS positive :eyeroll: ) attended by midwives.
Drugs: no.
Complications: no.
Feelings: Wish I could have been at home, but still a good birth experience.

Baby #5:
Home birth, attended by midwives.
Drugs: no.
Complications: poor position - baby was a posterior brow presentation.
Feelings: GREAT labour, right up until pushing. Things got a little scary when he wouldn't come out, but my midwife handled it well, and baby was born without any trauma to me or him. I came away feeling bruised and sore, but very pleased that he was born at home without any unnecessary interference, and we were both healthy and well.

Hope that helps! All the best with your studies!

[YoYo]

DS:

Did you use any drugs in your birth? Yes....was a full induction, with Gels, Synto drip and then on to use epidural
Did you have complications during your birth? Not really IMO....DS was facing the wrong way, but I managed to turn him, and birth him (even though they said I had a d!cki pelvis) with his hand up against his head. Had stitches.
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? Nope not once. I was 9 days overdue so all I wanted to do was see my baby, and I was going to do it if it was the last thing I did!

DD:

Did you use any drugs in your birth? Yes, Induced with Gels because of GD.... and then epidural. Although I think they gave it to me when I was in transition...as I birthed her not long after it went in.
Did you have complications during your birth? Nope. I 'supposedly' had Gestational Diabetes but I didn't see that as a complication in my pregnancy at all.
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? NOpe not one bit! I thought I was ACE!!! Lol

[Purple Penguin]

DD1
Did you use any drugs in your birth? Induced with gels, synto, the gas stuff then an epidural (that didn't work properly), magnesium for PE, spinal for EM-CS and then antibiotics for afterwards.
Did you have complications during your birth? Yes
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? All 3.

DD2
Did you use any drugs in your birth? Spinal for EL-CS
Did you have complications during your birth? No
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? No

[Beautiful Disaster]

Hey Ella, Not sure if you still need this but thought I put in my 2c worth

Did you use any drugs in your birth? Nope
Did you have complications during your birth? After pushing for hour they did internal and found baby head was sideways. They vaccumed him out and he was in fetal distress for 2min
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? I found the need to push drugs on you was terrible. From the moment I arrived they wanted to give me sinto. Not happening. They did however get me with anti-biotics as DS was 'early' (35 + 4 but even the OB delivering said this wasnt right) within the last hour they wanted to give me an epi to do the vaccum and even said that they were preparing theatre incase he didnt come out with that. My disappointment was that i wasnt allowed off the dang bed. Its all i wanted to do was get in the shower but NO they kept wanting to monitor me even though we told them the dips were from me moving. The midwife I had was HORRIBLE. I didnt like her at all and if it wasnt for my gorgeous student midwife SARA I prob would ave given in and took it all. From having a room with 4 people in it to I think nearly 12 was over whelming especially when I wasnt told how they were or why there were there.

I think next time i will spend the money and go PRIVATE and see what difference that makes seeing the same person all the time.

[deletedit]

Did you use any drugs in your birth?
#1 yes (gas/peth), #2 yes (gas), #3 no.
Did you have complications during your birth?
No.
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation?
Disempowerment for #1 because I didn't know any better. Didn't do research on my own other than a book someone gave me and they sure don't tell you anything if you don't research. My main issue was I had no idea I could discharge myself, and I didn't know that peth makes babies sleep for several days so they don't breastfeed and then they don't let you out of the hospital unless you are breastfeeding. I found all this out later.

[kellsbells]

DS1:
Did you use any drugs in your birth? No
Did you have complications during your birth? 2nd degree tear (very easy recovery)
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? Not at all! I was on a serious emotion high from how empowered and successful I felt.

DD:
Did you use any drugs in your birth? No
Did you have complications during your birth? None
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? No

DS2:
Did you use any drugs in your birth? Panadeine Forte at the very beginning of contractions.
Did you have complications during your birth? Bubs seemed to be a bit stuck and was holding on to my pelvis, which was almost unbearable pain.
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? I felt some disempowerment from not being able to push bubs out like the other 2 but had it been my first birth, I probably would've been quite happy with it.

[Crystalwings]

I know you have done your essay now but anyway.
DD1
Did you use any drugs in your birth? Yes AB for prolonged SROM. Then after about 36hrs of labour they started the synto then another 13hrs after that they made me have an epidural to do a forceps delivery.
Did you have complications during your birth? Aside from the forceps bub was totally fine the whole time. I sustained a 3rd degree episitomy and a 2000ml PPH.
Did you experience any feelings of dissapointment, disempowerment and traumatisation? Felt like absolute c*#p for weeks from the PPH and they wouldn't give me a blood transfusion which my doctor was horrified about. Because of the birth bubs got jaundice. I couldn't birth in my local hospital because of the synto.

DD2 -
ended up being induced after going 10days over. They tried the gel and it wouldn't work so by the time they broke my waters i was 12 days over. I had synto. I also tried gas which i hated but totally couldn't cope this time so had a morphine shot which relaxed me heaps even though i could still feel it all. I was in the same delivery suite as DD1. Bubs ended up being 10lb7oz and had shoulder dystocia. I sustained a third degree tear. She got TTN - fluid on her lungs from being stuck for so long and ended up in SCN.
Felt empowered but am still dealing with the physical implications of having such a large baby