Go read the Disclaimer again. I am not a doctor. This is not medical advice. Seriously.
Despite midwives, despite a birth posse, despite a supportive husband, despite an amazing amount of research (as you can see), I had a C section. I was fortunate in that I was allowed as much time as I wanted to labor and try to deliver vaginally, despite a swollen cervical lip that refused to dilate the last centimeter until we transferred to the hospital and I got an epidural. The swelling went down, I dilated and they agreed to turn the epidural off. I got enough feeling back to know when to push (although nothing like the feeling before getting the epidural, which I do mourn) and I got a lot of time to try pushing. I was unable to get Teddy past the pubic arch. We tried every position everyone could think of. We did not (and I now regret this) try pushing Teddy back up. He was probably asynclitic. At the time, he had enough of a caput (conehead) we were uncertain which direction he was pointed and the ob called in to assess thought he might be OT (pointed towards my leg instead of forward or back). I had refused to be tested for gestational diabetes and since I was so big, the ob was concerned Teddy might be too big to get out on a single pull with a vacuum extractor (which I didn't want anyway) so her only offer was a C-section. But no one insisted, and I pushed for another hour or so to no particular avail. While we were both tired, neither of us were in any danger when I decided to go for the C-section. I greatly appreciate the support of the people around me, and the fact that this was my decision. If I had to do it all over again, I'd be a lot more adamant about refusing an amniotomy with bulging forewaters that were making me need to push before I was dilated. The amniotomy did not fix the problem, and may have contributed to the asynclitism.
Because I was in labor so long with Teddy fully engaged, and because he was pushing on it so hard before it was dilated, my cervix bled a fair amount before transferring. I lost more blood in the C-section, the incision of which extended into the now very fragile cervix. The ob knew I did not want a transfusion, and so did not do a hematocrit (I consider this awesome care), checking only to make sure I looked okay the next day. When my blood pressure went up again (160/100) after the birth, the midwives did another blood test to screen for pre-eclampsia (it can happen after birth; the diagnosis involves monitoring liver enzymes). That came back fine, except for the very low hematocrit; I was anemic. I supplemented liquid iron (Floradix) and started choosing foods higher in iron (red meat, iron fortified cereals, dark leafy greens and turkey). I also tried tincture of yellow dock root. I had decided on my own that my blood pressure was high due to calcium deficiency. I have had a lifelong allergy to milk products; I can tell when I'm low on calcium and I knew I was. I supplemented liquid calcium (Floradix again), calcium fortified orange juice, and dark leafy greens. I separated the supplements, calcium in the morning and iron in the evening. This was all a lot of work at a time when I was already overburdened, but it did work. The blood pressure went down and I recovered from the anemia about as quickly as one can. It takes about two months no matter what you do.
My husband had a fairly good idea what to expect during the postpartum period, from having seen friends go through it, having friends warn him, and hearing about it from me. Nevertheless, experience that much sleep deprivation is not a pretty thing for anyone. I did my share of screaming and threatening. He was a saint.
In addition to everything else, I got my period back at 7 weeks postpartum, after clearly ovulating and going through a round of PMS (my husband noticed those happening and kept his mouth shut. I don't call people saints lightly). I had to do a fair amount of research to convince myself that he was right; my midwives and most of the books I looked at did not seem to allow this as possible when exclusively breastfeeding, on demand.
I had planned for a C-section, and got a recommendation for a post-partum doula from my midwives. She was very helpful. The cook we had hired spaced out on us, which was unfortunate, but our doula covered the need. My husband's mother came for a week during the second week postpartum. Despite my concerns, she was wonderfully helpful. I'm having her come for a month next time, if at all possible. I had not planned for anemia, even though I had met women who had it from C-sections and from vaginal birth. I really hadn't planned on getting PMS in the first couple months. PMS, a new baby, a husband who went back to work, recovering from anemia -- list the explanations or excuses all you like, but at 3 a.m. some mornings, I just got so mad I slipped loose from my ability to be compassionate or polite or even sane. I am so glad my husband was understanding and able to take the baby. Make sure you don't get stuck alone with a newborn. It's damn hard.
Copyright 2006 by Rebecca Allen.
Created February 6, 2006 Updated February 6, 2006