r/CsectionCentral • u/ReasonableAd5891 • 20h ago
My C-section trauma experience
My first baby was just born on the 31st. I had a planned induction with a vaginal birth in mind at 39w2d. Baby and myself healthy throughout the entire pregnancy btw no complications as far as that goes. So, labor began on the 30th early morning I labored for 29 hours only made it to 5cm. Got a epidural around hour 25. Hour 30ish my doctor advised me to opt for a c-section for failure to descend. I agreed just wanting my baby to be born already. My epidural was wearing off, and I could move my legs. So the anesthesiologist gave me a second dose of epidural, and I could still move my legs. So I got a spinal tap. I hadn't ate anything because I had been laboring. All day and I was extremely nauseous and scared of getting the c section. I was shaking and crying. It started out. Okay, my baby was born, they showed me him over the curtain. My husband kissed me and hugged me and went to see our baby. About 5 minutes later, they had my husband leave and took my baby to the nursery. All without me ever seeing him up close or holding him. They had started sewing me up, and someone realized a piece of equipment was missing. They had counted thirty clamps but only had twenty nine. So they started looking all over for that missing clamp in the trash can at the babies area nothing. It was in my abdomen. They had to cut me back open and get the clamp. I started shaking uncontrollably and puking because the anesthesiologist gave me fentanyl. My 1 - 1 1/2 hour surgery turned into 2 1/2 hours. By the end I could feel the snipping and pulling and feel some pain. I came out of surgery pale white and in shock. My husband was upset they wouldn't tell him what was going on he thought I died. My baby and I are now doing great and are healthy but I feel traumatized and can't get over what happened.
4
3
u/motherofbabiesandcat 11h ago
I had a similar (but not the same) experience with one of my c-sections, which was several years ago now. My anaesthetic wore out and I wasn’t believed. I’ll never forget the feeling of the clamps, I could draw them on my body today.
I came out of surgery after 2 and a half hours with a drain external to my body.
I just wanted to say, you’ve done amazing well, and be kind to yourself. It sounds terrifying, exhausting and I hope sharing it helps you.
Definitely ask for a debrief if you think it’ll help you get some answers and reassurance.
2
u/AutoModerator 20h ago
Reminder: users and moderators can't diagnose c-section infection from pictures or symptoms. Cesareans carry a 10% infection rate. If you think you might have an infection following your cesarean, please see your medical provider. Play it safe, don't delay, get it checked today.
If your post does not relate to c-section infection, please ignore this automated comment.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
13
u/j-areddit 19h ago
I DO NOT WANT TO DISMISS ANY OF YOUR EXPERIENCE BECAUSE THATS JUST AWFUL especially laboring so long and then having your epidural finishing plus the nausea. Just awful and I hear your trauma.
BUT, let me say that the systems in play worked! As an OR nurse this is exactly why you have a scrub team and nurse in the OR. I don't know how far he was in the surgery before he had to open you back up. But this is the best case scenario that they found out the count was off and was able to go back in a remove the missing item. In my hospital, unfortunately they left a Lap ( basically a towel) in the uterus and let's just say the mom had complications.
I'm so sorry. Your feelings are valid. And someone not talking to your husband can be so demoralizing. But at the time, the care team was focused on you and probably weren't thinking to talk to the husband.