The scheduled arrival of Aricyn Michael 10/01/07

Ok, so its taken me quite a few months as a member to actually write my birth story. From the beginning.
From the moment we decided to try to fall pregnant, it happened instantly. First month - pregnant. My pregnancy was pretty uneventful, always thought I was having a boy, which was confirmed at my 20 week scan. I told my OB that I wanted to have an elective c-section, for a couple of (uneducated on my behalf) reasons. 1, I was told once that my pelvis was "a weird shape", 2, I suffer from IBS and read on the net that IBS sufferers shouldn't attempt natural birth, 3, my sister has elective c-sections because mum nearly died during labour so I was scared beyond belief to try it any other way. However, now I am educated, and will be going for my VBAC. Sorry, off track.
So along came the 10th January 2007 and I turned up at the hospy at around 11am. I was the second elective c-section in the afternoon, so about 2 I would be seen to. I had the midwife come around, put me in a lovely gown (i needed two to cover my big butt) and give me a little tidy shave. And also the lovely socks!! Gorgeous. I went up to the operating room (was wheeled through the reception area to the lifts with everyone looking at me and I was soooo embarrassed - wasn't a good look). OF course I was so nervous I started to cry and that was before anything had started. The anaethetist (sp?) came and tried to put an epidural in. Unfortunately I have a screwy back, and after many attempts, he kept hitting nerves shooting pain all down my legs. I was crying and mouthing to DH "F*** this hurts". The anaethetist said after 50 minutes of this, that he would try once more with a spinal block and then he would knock me out. I told him to go ahead. SO finally I was numbed. Surgery was pretty uneventful, bit of pulling and then Dr W announced that I had a boy. He was checked over and then put onto my chest (which I couldn't hold him up cos my arms were numb) and then pics were taken. Stitched up, wheeled into recovery and my boobs were uncovered, nipple "plucked" which really hurt (not to mention a little uncomfortable with a strange woman doing it!) forced into DS's mouth and attempted to breastfeed. (End of story is that I formula fed from 2.5 days). Went into my room and all was fine (oh and I was also wheeled again through the reception area past all the people with half my boob uncovered and feeling like utter crap - I am quite a shy, modest person by nature). So that was how A.M. arrived. Not going to mention I was allergic to the morphine so I spent the night vomiting and then had a seizure because I was running a temp as well - thats an after birth story.
Vital details:
Birth weight: 8 pounds, 2.5 oz
Length: 53 cm
Head circumference: 35.5 cm
Time of birth: 15.03pm (yes it took over an hour for my c-section)

It sounds like you had a difficult experience :( How are you feeling about it now? Even though your birth experience wasn't ideal, the end result is the most important thing <333

I'm feeling like I never want another c-section in my life!!!! Or an epidural. I'm feeling like I was a total idiot for not researching natural birth before automatically choosing to go for a c-section. But live and learn as they say.....:D

The end result - happy baby AND happy mummy is the most important thing. Mummies feelings count too and I think we should always be careful what language we use, so they feel safe and supported to talk about disappointing or upsetting births, rather than needing to feel grateful and not discuss or acknowledge the bad...

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I'm feeling like I never want another c-section in my life!!!! Or an epidural. I'm feeling like I was a total idiot for not researching natural birth before automatically choosing to go for a c-section. But live and learn as they say.....:D

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*hugs* I know what you mean. Have you posted in the dissapointing/traumatic births forum?
Hopefully you won't need to have another c-section! If you don't have any health problems and such I'm sure your next one can be a natural birth :D Perhaps you could see a private midwife and have a doula to advocate for you and support you next time you give birth?

BS - no I didn't post in the disappointing/traumatic birth thread. I actually didn't think that it was right for me to do that, since I chose that birth path, it wasn't something that was out of my control. I mean, it was an awful experience, but I take that responsibility myself and I own that. I have planned for a VBAC, so I have healed, and my SIL is a student doula, so she will be in the labour room with me. She has had two VBAC's herself, so I am very confident that she will be all the motivation I need to get myself across the line.

Oh ARICYN'S MUM ... Your story reminded me of my own bit of booby expose story in a hosp.

... (I kno it's a bit different BUT bare with me maybe we can av a lauf 2gtha:cryinglaugh:)

Bn avin my regular mamogram & ultrasound ea yr since avin breast cancer at 34. Anyway, usual routine ea yr, ... yeh, same hosp, taken in2 same rm 4 mamo then taken LEFT 2 usual ultrasound rm.

Well, my last visit there ws where my boobie story begins & ends.

This last time there ... yeh, same hosp, taken in2 same rm 4 mamo ONLY this time instead of a female nurse comin back 4 me 2 take me LEFT 2 the ultrasound rm the door flung open & there stood a man wt a doc's coat (& rude manner) tellin me 2 com wt him BUT instead of goin LEFT he ws goin RIGHT ... YES, u guessed it right past all the people (& I might add a lot of men) in the waitin area I originally cam from. So, here I am walkin past them all with my bottomhalf clothes on & nothing on top except my daggy op hosp gown on opened at the front. I ws clutchin on2 the front of gown, wishin I had brought my bigger hand bag as my top & massive bra cldn't fit in2 it. So, my bra strap ws danglin 4 every1 2 c.

Wen we entered the ultrasound room this Doc refused 2 close the slide door 2 the room entirely. So, every man from THAT waitin room got a good look at me as they walkd past wt their Doc cn me layin back down, boobies out 4 all 2 c facing the door they walkin past.

... HE was the rudest Doc on the planet. AND b4 u ask why I put up wt it, I think it ws purely cause I ws in shock & I knew I cldn't take anothr day off wrk 2 go again.

So, there u go that's my hosp exposed boob story :rolleyes:

Oh, did I mention that the Doc's breath ws so bad I nearly past out. And he had me wait 50mins 4 my negatives which he happened 2 4get about & went hm. So, I had 2 take time off wrk 2 go back & get em (only cause the time b4 they lost in the transit frm hosp 2 specialist AUGH :doh:

Thank you for sharing your story - I did have a giggle.
Idiots... no respect for women!!!! I was embarrassed enough when I had a mammogram last year (they found a lump and after a biopsy still couldn't distinguish what it was!!!) and even though it was a lady doing it, I just felt so uncomfortable that every time she left the room to check out the pics, i would just burst into tears and cover myself up. So I'm not really feeling the love in breastfeeding the next one at the moment.

Not that that has anything to do with my birth story of course ;)

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BS - no I didn't post in the disappointing/traumatic birth thread. I actually didn't think that it was right for me to do that, since I chose that birth path, it wasn't something that was out of my control. I mean, it was an awful experience, but I take that responsibility myself and I own that. I have planned for a VBAC, so I have healed, and my SIL is a student doula, so she will be in the labour room with me. She has had two VBAC's herself, so I am very confident that she will be all the motivation I need to get myself across the line.

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Just because you chose to have a c/section doesn't mean you can't post in 'disappointing/traumatic births.' You made the best decision you could at the time with the information you had, and who can blame you for being disappointed that it didn't have to be that way, now that you're more informed? It's up to you of course, but if you need it, it's there. :)

Thanks BS for your support and kind words :D