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Elizabeth's story
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First pregnancy and birth
During her first pregnancy she had severe back pain and morning sickness. She attended two antenatal classes, which she did not find very helpful, though having covered what might go wrong during labour reassured her later when she experienced problems. She was disappointed to have four different midwife which meant there was little continuity in her antenatal care. She had hoped to have a water birth.
When she had gone one week past her due date, she was asked into hospital for a check-up. It was found that the baby had stopped moving. She had a caesarean scheduled for the next day. Her baby was delivered healthily, but she experienced some sort of rupture during the procedure and had to stay in recovery for eight hours. She was extremely tired afterwards and too exhausted to breastfeed her baby. She was kept in hospital and four days later received a blood transfusion, which made her feel a lot better. Looking back, she feels slightly cheated to have missed out on labour and vaginal birth.
Current pregnancy
In her current pregnancy, she has felt a lot better than in the previous one. She had hoped that she could have a water birth this time round, but her consultant advised her at the 22 week appointment that this was not an option for someone with her medical history. She was also told that she would be likely to have another caesarean. Her partner would like her to have a vaginal birth as he sees planned caesarean as 'the easy option'. However, she decided to have a planned caesarean as she would prefer to be awake when the baby is born. During the procedure, she will be put on a drip to prevent a recurrence of the rupture, though she still remains unclear as to what exactly happened during her first caesarean and how it may affect her second delivery. She hopes that she can breastfeed the baby, as she regrets to have missed out on that experience with her first child.
She is unsure whether she will have further children, but thinks it is likely that her decision will be influenced by how smoothly she is able to deliver this time round. |
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She was keen to keep things natural and have a water birth.
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Did you make a birth plan the first time?
Yes.
Can you remember what was in it?
I wanted a water birth.
Can you remember why you wanted to have a water birth?
I think it's sort of because the water's sort of more of a pain relief and I want, sort of wanted it more natural. |
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She didn't rate her antenatal classes very highly, but the fact that they had covered complications meant she did not feel too worried when she herself experienced complications.
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And what information did you get when you were pregnant the first time, if you can remember where you got information from and what they told you?
From the midwife like leaflets, like about labour and went to a few antenatal classes.
What were they like?
Well, I think I went to two, I don't think they were really… didn't think they were any good to be honest with you really.
Do you remember the kind of things they covered in them?
One of… one class was alright, it was… they covered labour and all the things that could go wrong. And it sort of went… so when it happens at hospital, when something ruptured I wasn't worried at all, because it was sort of- they'd covered it.
Did it talk about having sections at all?
Very slightly in there they did.
And did they say anything about having an instrumental delivery, when you have Ventouse or forceps?
Yeah. |
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She was advised to have a planned caesarean and had the operation the next day. The experience left her feeling cheated.
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Was it like you thought it would be, the first birth?
No.
Could you say why it was so different?
Just having it sort of over and done with in… literally you're in and out really.
And how do you feel now about the way that your son was born?
Feel cheated a bit really.
Could you say what you mean by that?
Well, it's like everyone says oh you didn't do like the labour and all this, and… |
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Her partner wanted her to have a water birth with their second child. He thinks having a caesarean is 'cheating'.
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You've booked an elective section this time, when did you make that decision in this pregnancy?
The last time I'd seen the consultant.
How many weeks were you then?
[Hesitation] I think about twenty-two.
And before that had you thought at all about having a natural delivery?
Yeah.
And can you say why you wanted to have a delivery that was natural to start with?
Just… just natural way really, it's sort of easier for recovery because of being in hospital for so long after. Don't really want to be away from little one. But apart from that…
So when did you start thinking about the fact that you thought you might want a section, did you think about that before you saw the consultant at all?
Yeah, I did think about it. My partner wanted me to have a natural birth. He asked the midwife about a water birth and they said no because I'd had a caesarean before couldn't have a water birth. But… so we weren't really sure, just wanted to see how it went really.
And why do you think your partner was keen for you to have a natural one this time?
He thinks it's cheating having a caesarean [laughs].
Why does he think it's cheating?
Because I haven't got to do anything.
That's a bit harsh isn't it?
Yeah [laughs].
So when you came… when did you come round to the idea of having a section then?
Well, since just seeing the consultant about twenty-two weeks, from about then really sort of…
You hadn't thought of it before then really?
Well, weren't really sure what… we'd not really thought about it because we weren't that far… weren't that far gone, didn't really... |
