Has anyone else been pretty traumatized by their bad birth experience?? Long story!?

First of all, I'm sorry you had such a crappy birth experience. I'm still amazed, two years later, at how negatively I view the birth of my daughter. While I was lucky that she didn't have the extended hospital stay (how hard that must've been), it was a long, painful labor with one intervention leading to another, leading to a C-section. I cried and cried the whole time I was in the hospital recovering, had a lot of trouble with breastfeeding and some really bad nurses, and almost no support from my family and husband because, frankly, they didn't know how to deal with me. I didn't know how to deal with myself.

For me, I was really depressed for the first 3 or 4 weeks, but once we started to sort of find our groove as a family the sadness started to disappear. When I first met my new OB during this pregnancy and she asked if I experienced postpartum with my daughter experienced yes, because I thought that's what it was. But she said that that sort of reaction isn't really postpartum, but something I think she called adjustment disorder. It seemed to fit the situation better.

Because the birth of your children is something you'll remember pretty vividly for the rest of your life, my guess is that you will always feel a little jipped. Even my 74 year old grandmother still says she feels cheated that she never got to experience the birth of a child; I guess back then when you had a difficult labor, which she always did due to medical issues, they just knocked you out cold. But like any traumatic experience it gets easier as time passes.

There will be a day when you look back at his birth and know it was sad, but it won't overwhelm you. You will find perspective. I still look back and feel like i missed out on something that other women got to enjoy, but it doesn't have that same emotional impact. It took a while, a few months probably, but it got better. And if you need to talk about things and can't or don't want to talk to you husband/family, don't rule out some short term therapy. It was a traumatic experience for you, regardless of what other people might say, and it really may help you work through some of those lingering feelings.

So congratulations on the birth of your son and becoming a mommy, and enjoy this first year. And remember that tough times like this are like bad gas- painful, but eventually it will pass and you'll feel better. :)

Wow...yeah I can see why you wouldbe traumatized. After reading this it made my story look lame...but I'll tell you anyway. I was in labor...strong contractions 2 mins. apart lasting almost a minute. I couldn't get an epidural until 6 hours into it...I was progressing slowly. Then when I finally got the epidural...it helped a bit...but after 5 hours some how it didn't work anymore. They ended up putting a huge exercise ball in btwn my legs and finally I freaked out and told them that I didn't want that ball. About11 hrs. into my labor they gave me pitocin...like u I wasn't progressing...and after 2 hours I ended with a csection because I wasn't progressing at all even with the pitocin. I was exhausted...overwhelmed..and very anxious...I was freaking out crying on the table begging them to not do the csection. After my son was born...I didn't even get to see him right away. Then I got the birth shakes really bad I couldn't hold him. After that I was 100 percent sure that I never wanted to go through the birthing process again. But 9 months later I found out I was pregnant again.....and had a csection....which was totally different then the 1st. I can look back and laugh about it now but its also been 3 years since that happened. The memory of the pain and how you felt will fade. with any horrific expierience you just have to look at your little one and realize that it was worth it.

I am so sorry for your experience! Mines was not AS rough though. After being sent from my original hospital back home 4 times for "false labor".. the 5th time i opted to go to a diff hosp. This one finally said that i was in labor, checked me i was 3 cm. They then kept me. My labor was so long , painful and intense i asked for an epidural. The epidural slowed my whole process! i was in labor for 36 hours!! i thought i was gonna die literally. In the process i caught a very high fever 105 deg as well as an asthma attack. Finally when my son was born i didn't even get to hold him. They immediately took him away due to an infection. My son was a 9 ponder but had to be in the incubator for 3 days. I was devastated. But luckily the staff was amazing so i knew my baby was ok and we were both safe...

Its been 8 years now and i'm 31 weeks w my my second baby. It took me this long to have another one because i was so scared. Don't get it wrong i still am, but not as scared as i used to. You can't let the past hold you back and not move on to the future. I just pray that this one goes smoothly. Good luck!

You should feel like Superwoman you are now stronger because of this. Iwasnt going to get an epidural with my first until the pitocin started kicking by butt. I even complained while pushing out the placenta because I was so tired and in pain. You should give yourself a pat on the back. As far as the incompetence of the staff you probably should contact the hospital to file a complaint.

Hey, i had my son 3 months ago and i would totally say i am traumatized!! I had the same with him face up but i felt my contractions in the front. I was put on that drip thing too, i wanted to do it ''au-naturel'' too and not have an epidural but the pain got to much and i opted for it too and like you it did not work but i was told it was too late to have it again so i had to just bare it!

when it came to the pushing i pushed for 3 hours and he only went so far and that was it, no way i was getting him out, i begged the mid wife to help but she kept saying i could do it, if i ever saw her again i'd punch her lol

the doc finally came in and decided i needed to be cut, twice!! he tried to vacuum my son out but it didnt work so he tried the forceps and he had trouble clicking them together as they have to click together when they are inside you to grasp the babys head so after a while of that he decided he needed a new set and tried again with that, the baby was so big, he was at that for about a half hour pulling and tugging, his head eventually came and with the next push, his body.

It was the most horific experience iv ever been through, my baby was 10lb 9oz at birth, i should not have been allowed to have him vaginally, my son had scars on his head for weeks.

I agree that you cant just get over something like that, i personally will never have another baby unless it is a c section! My son is the best in the world though, i love him so much and love seeing him grow.

People tell me you will forget but i think that will take a long time! I wish you the best of luck in your mental recovery lol :0)

My first birth just pissed me off because I was not in control of what was happening.

I had the next two at home with a midwife and the third was face up. It was 16 hours of hell and I howled like an animal, but I did it my way. I had no drugs (to further mess things up) and I moved constantly. I ate, to keep my strength up. I pushed so hard (standing up) that my husband said my head was going to explode, but I delivered her on my terms. She had an Apgar of 8; she was great. She never left my side.

You will forget most of it eventually, but think about a home birth next time. Most of your problems were a product of hospital birth and drugs you didn't need. Imo you were cheated.

the epi story gives me the creeps lol

i didnt have one and will not with this baby in May.

My labor was bad to (natural ) and had to be induced which i didnt want. It went so long of hard labor i was sooo tired i almost felt outta myself in a way and thought she and i wouldnt make it ( she got stuck couldnt get her all that)

Weirdly I felt liek i wasnt as strong as I could been and still cry from it I mean 18 hrs of terrible pain and I still did it natural ( almost a ER ) and feel liek well maybe if i were stronger it would have been easier?

People think I am weird for saying that

Sound liek all is luck to have you and baby here !!

I haven't had my baby yet, but I'm so sorry for your horrible birth!! I would write a letter to someone at the hospital...the board of trustees probably, telling them about your experience. It sounds like the staff was very incompetent, and maybe needs to be looked into. Im sorry =(