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incuction and cesear

My pregnancy lasted for 42 weeks: first pregnancy at 36 years.

I was induced on the 24/01/06 at 12:30pm and the pains started at 20:00pm. by 22hrs i was 6cm dilated and i couldn't dilate further than that. I was in labor for the whole night and the following day at about 12:30 it was decided that i should have an epidural cesear.

My bundle of joy was born at 14:30 the 25/01/06. To cut the long story short, if only i knew that i would suffer from 2 different kinds of pains(induction & cesear), i would have opted for a cesarean right from the beginning.

phindile

Pain during C-section too

I was just reading Dena's post about feeling pain during the C-section like I had with my twins this past December. I, however, didn't have any sort of "test" of feeling beforehand.. I was just thrown into the surgery basically, and all the while I was screaming I could feel it, they kept telling me I was just feeling pressure. I know the difference! I could tell when they were separating the bladder, and it hurt so bad. They ended up knocking me out almost immediately after the babies came out, and like Dena, I didn't get to bond with either baby. I don't even remember seeing the last one at all. OH well.. too late now, but the pain thing does happen, and I remember thinking Oh my Gosh, how can I deal with this... I sort of told myself to just hang in there it will be over soon.

Lori

Painful Cesarean

I do not tell this story to frighten anyone, but to encourage women to speak up if ever in doubt.

I was in labor with my first child for 26 hours. During this time, I was given three epidurals. Three anesthesiologists. Three needles. The first was given early on, and only took on one side. Another epidural was administered after a few hours. This seemed to work better, though I still had pain.

Late in the evening, after 24 hours or so, and I had only gotten to 8cm, a decision was made to proceed with a cesarean at 3am. At this point, I had a great deal of sensation, so a third epidural was administered in preparation for the c-section. I immediately stated my concern that I could still feel a lot. I was assured that prior to the surgery, I would not feel anything more than tugging and pulling during the procedure. I was wheeled into the operating room, scared and exhausted. Prior to the c-section, the anesthesiologist dabbed my shoulder with a wet swab and then dabbed my abdomen. I should feel coolness on the shoulder, but merely a wet sensation on my abdomen. On one side of my abdomen, this was true. On the other, I immediately exlaimed that it felt cool. Several of the team exchanged glances and the anesthesiologist assured me that some temperature variation was normal.

My husband and the anesthesia nurse talked to me to distract me from the procedure, but as soon as the incision was started, I cried out that I could feel it! It was not just a dull sensation. It was horrible pain. I truly cannot describe the magnitude of the pain. As they were pulling my son from me, I literally felt as if a wild animal was pulling apart my torso. They did not put me under, as that could affect the baby.

As soon as he was extracted, I was pumped full of drugs and the pain was gone. I woke to my son and husband several hours later, feeling tramautized and robbed of the birth experience and immediate bonding with my son. Perhaps the worst part of all was the attitude of the hospital personnel, which seemed to be that nothing out of the ordinary had occured. I felt mostly dismissed. I was fine. My baby was fine. End of story.

In the larger picture, I do agree with this, but I am still shocked with the whole ordeal. I am now pregnant with my second child and trying to consider how to proceed with delivery. I would prefer to have a VBAC, but am terrified that I cannot be adequately anesthetized for another c-section, if one becomes necessary. Has anyone heard of anyone experiencing pain during c-section, as I did? For those of you about to undergo a c-section, if you have doubts about the effectiveness of your anesthesia, speak up and DEMAND to be recognized.

Dena

Young Mother and Big Baby

When I was 19 I became pregnant. I had just come home from the military and had no job and was barely making rent on my apartment. I was not prepared for the news that I was going to be a mom.

The first half of my pregnancy went perfectly. Then at 27 weeks I experienced my first bout of preterm labor. Again at 33 and 35 weeks I had contractions. By the time I made my due date I was 3 cm dilated but there was no sign of the baby. I was scheduled to be induced four days later. The night I was to begin my induction I went in and the nurse hooked up a fetal monitor and found I was having contractions. I decided to go home and wait it out. The next day I wasn't feeling anything so I went in anyway. The nurse checked and I was 5 cm!!! I couldn't believe it.

After two hours of walking the halls I wasn't progressing so we started pitocin and when that didn't help the doctor broke my water. That did the trick and I was in hard labor for the next hour until I got my epidural. As soon as I could relax, things progressed rapidly. I went to 7 cm and then 9 cm and then fully dilated in an hour and a half. I did a few practice pushes for the nurse and she realized my daughter was coming fast. The doctor barely made it in time. She was born at 5:53 PM weighing 8lbs. 10 oz. and 20 inches long.

As soon as my epidural wore off I was up and moving around with no problems except for some pain from my episiotomy. We went home two days later and she is now a happy, healthy 11 month old. She's already walking, talking, and feeding herself and I'm going back to school to become an engineer.

sara

The Dramatic Birth

Barely a month after my 20th birthday, October 1999, l gave birth to our baby girl, Natalie, after being married for only three months.With her, it wasn't that stressful and complicated. My husband Ralph gave me all the necessary support i needed at that time.

In about 2 and half years later, then came the bounce little man, Markus. With Markus, the pregnancy wasn't that easy like Natalie. Aside from the periodical check up, this time round i received extra medication as i experienced some minor complications.

Due to my condition, i restrictly abided by the instructions of the doctor, i wasn't taking alcohol, went by the required diet and also took my drugs on time.

From 6 months onwards, things took a dramatic turn. Every thing became normal. Here i could eat well, felt well and became always cheerful. This the doctor felt happy for the tremendous improvement and Ralph and i were happy for the good job done.

Then the dee-day came, at the early hours on 21 February, 2002, i saw some slight bloodish substance in my pantie, although it was 2 weeks to my time. By then i had visited my parents so they quickly rushed me the hospital.


At the hospital, the doctor diagnosed me and studying my medical history, indicated that my time wasn't due. So we should to go back to the house. My parents insisted that i stay in the hospital for some days, for the doctor to monitor any new development, but the doctor insisted that there was no cause for alarm. So we went home.

The whole day i continued to see some blood. On the unforgetable day, 22nd February 2002 at about 2:23 am, my contradiction started, at a go it was so severe that, i was groaning and moaning. Not wasting time, my mum rushed me to the hospital in a car. Just 5 minutes after driving, my water broke and immediately, there lies handsome, bouncy little Markus. We continued to the hospital where the umbilical cord was cut, and the little baby was clean and wrapped nicely. Immediately, my husband was phoned, and he quickly rushed down to the hospital, and the whole family celebrated the new arrival. The new arrival, being a boy, magically brought an added joy to the family, since all along my husband was longing for a male child. So everybody was happy and welcomed little Markus to the family.

Although the marriage did not work out, Ralph, a German, is in Germany now, and i am an undergraduate, studying journalism, and staying with the 2 wonderful kids in Ghana.

Gifty Adjei