my wonderful labour and then trauma after birth * Very Long!*

[Persephone1]

What a wonderful birth story Dusty, congratulations on a drug-free positive birth for you and Freya. I felt like I was there with you that whole time (bet you didn't notice me there )

I'm sorry the post-natal circumstances were as they were. How awful for all of you.

I remember looking up as the hospital ceiling raced along and banging through doors along the way just like in the movies.

Ooh, I did the same thing as I was raced into theatre! It was the only time that I realised we were in a real emergency situation, cause I was quite convinced that everything was going to be okay with both me and DS.

I hope you continue to recover and can start to reconcile the post-natal events in your mind.

Congratulations again and welcome to little Freya! What a special little girl.

[beckoes]

what a great birth story!! Well done for doing such a great job!

I had a similar situation after my birth, though not as bad, and i remember thinking the same thing about my DH, going from such a high to such a low and not knowing what was going on for ages! Its great that you can separate the two things though! Im sorry you had such poor care after but your little girl looks so beautiful! hope your recovering well!

[kelebek]

Wow what an experience. Thanks so much for sharing and hope you are recovering well.

[Traveller]

Thank you so much for sharing your story

[feeb]

What an experience!!!!

You are awesome!! Thank you for sharing, I hope you have no complications from tear and can work thru the trauma.

xoxo

[dusty]

It was great to get it written up, helps me remember and to also debrief. I'm sorry Malyna and Ce that you had similar issues in the post natal ward . I'm going to be making a formal complaint.

Your comments and similar experiences makes me realise that we don't always hear the 'real' stories behind birth. In fact my IRL friends really hadn't shared too much beforehand but were able to after as it turns out they had some similar issues that I was clueless to at the time. Why do we keep these things secret or unspoken?

I thought labour was absolutely fantastic! The birth part happened kind of quick and I realise I didn't have much control by then and was in others' hands really. Communication broke down, and it was an intense time. The best thing though was DD was fine and she benefited from the experience, being as healthy as she could be. I am so grateful I could give her that.

No one has commented on DD firstly being declared a boy and then minutes later a girl It still cracks me up that I got that so wrong even when presented with the obvious evidence.

What I didn't add to my story is that my fear of syntocin was unfounded, as I'd given my body the best chance to be primed for labour and when it just never got going spontaneously, I had it all ready (fully engaged, dilated etc) to just be pushed along by the syntocin. Active labour was also a key to it progressing so well (for me at least) and I think it helped that my MW took it really gradually and monitored my response so closely. She hardly left me the whole time. In fact she stayed long into the night meaning she did a 15 hour shift to help us birth, long over her allowed time. I'm so grateful to her.

I didn't once think to ask for drugs, and as per my birth plan no one offered them to me. Labour for me was intense, hugely intense physically and emotionally but not painful. Releasing and going with it as I'd prepared myself to do, really really helped as did an awesome supportive birth team. From my experience I can recommend getting all the help you feel you can muster that will benefit and support you. Truly an incredible and special experience. Thanks for letting me share