Emergency c-section or NICU?

Morag - posted on 11/23/2011

HI, I needed an emergancy c section when I was 30 weeks as my baby heartbeat was dangoursly low. Was only 60 beats a min when it should be anout 150 a min. I saw her come out, but did not see her for 48 hours after, as I could not move. She was taken to UCI straigt away. My husband went to see her a couple of hours later and took a photo. 4 weeks later she is still there, I can only get to see her every 2 days which hurts me so much as the hospital is so far away. I am hoping when she reaches 1300g she will be transferred to the hospital near us. She is only 1090g at the momment ( was 705g at birth) I had my 1st cuddle the other day there which I can only describe as `PURE MAGIC´ and only a mummy can know what I mean by that. And I need to look after my other little girl at the sametime to keep things as `normal as possible´for her as she is only 3years old. Its not a nice thing to go through and I really do not wish it appon anyone.

Tabitha - posted on 02/18/2011

My DD was an emergency c section and was in the NICU for 13 days. I had to go home without her. I was induced for 4 days and my body just wouldn't do anymore. He bowels got blocked and so she had to stay at the NICU. It was the hardest start for our life together and yes I do envy the mothers that everthing went smoothly. I got to hold my DD in recover before everyone else beside DH. I see that my DD is 19 months now and is amazing. We had a rough start, but it is smooth sailing minus the many bumps and bruises that come with a toddler.

Evita - posted on 02/14/2011

I had basically an emergaency c-sect. with both my kids. With my daughter she was in my room within hours but I was so tired and out of it that I didn't know it. My hubby was inthere and both sets of grandparents and 1 uncle and one aunt. They all held her before I did and it made me so Angry at them and my hubby. I never told any of them until I was about to have my son and I said that they could see him but I WAS TO BE THE FIRST TO HOLD HIM!! I didn't know until he was born that they were taking him to the NICU and I didnt even get to give him a kiss. Which was stupid because He didn't fail any of the tests they do when theyre born. But I do feel like you kind of like I "Missed out" on that joy of holding them after carrying them for so long. It gets easier. I don't know why they didn't let you get up though. I was up and moving the first time around 8hours after. But the second I was up and in a wheel chair in an hour to go see him. I was walking a few hours later. Hope this helps!

Michelle - posted on 02/11/2011

All these stories break my heart. I am recovering from PPD after having my 2nd daughter. I had a natural birth VBAC. All I can say is that the medical community MUST continue to improve the practices surrounding childbirth. Mothers need to be supported and educated. I blindly followed the advice of the hospital class. What an education I got from my doula prior to the 2nd birth! I could clearly see that my "emergency" c-section was most likely a result of all of the unnecessary interventions by the doctor (which were all vehicles for speeding up the process to make it all faster for him ultimately). After voicing my struggles tactfully to the doctor, I was "let go" from being his patient. It's unfortunate. I hope that you get the support that you need. Go ahead and grieve! My counselor calls all the women struggling with these issues the "walking wounded."

Sandy - posted on 02/05/2011

I went into labor with my youngest son for 13+ hours and after all that, his heartbeat kept dropping and we ended up a last minute/emergency c section. The heartbeat drop has happened with all 4 children, but my last was a planned c section even happened then.



I still get sad that with my 3 oldest children I wasn't the first to hold them or see them. My oldest had to go straight to an emergency team cause she was blue and I was so exhausted my mom held her first. I have had 12+ hour labor every time.



With my oldest son the same thing, straight to the special team then down to the nursery and me wooshed into recovery. My youngest son went to the nursery to get cleaned up and then my husband held him after they were done, then my mom in law, then me when I wasn't drugged anymore. My youngest daughter went to Daddy after the nurses then me.



I was paranoid they wouldn't bond with me and I had lost those moments that were so precious. Out of the 4 my youngest son is closest to me and I get plenty of snuggles now.



I felt like I had "failed" to have to have a c section with him, but after the hormones and exhaustion wore off I am reminded that while it would be awesome to have had the first few minutes, in the overall scheme of things they are all healthy and happy children and love me just the same. They had to be taken care of and we made the choices to protect them.



EDIT TO ADD:



My oldest is 16, second oldest 12, my "baby" boy will be 4 in April, my "baby" girl will be 2 in June.

Karen - posted on 02/03/2011

I had an emergancy c-section after 77 hours in labour and just was'nt dilating the doctor came in broke my waters then because my son poo'd in me (yuk) they tought that it might progress my labour which it did'nt then at 1-10am realised something was wrong they whisked me down needle in the back by 1-30am my little man was born haelthy and weighing 8LB 11OZ...

Yolanda E - posted on 02/03/2011

i had a scheduled c section, because i knew of all the complications my daughter had. i was told it was a possibility that she would only live a few hours or days. I was awake during the surgery and was able to see her, not hold her. She was in the NICU for 30 days. Praise God, she is now 3 and half years old. Although i didnt hold her or nurse her until after her surgery, 9 days after birth, I am thankful for her and enjoy every moment we have now. Even those moments when I want to pull my hair out. Not looking to the past just enjoying the present and what God has for us in our future.

April - posted on 02/03/2011

I had both and emergency c-section and my babies were taken immediately to the NICU. I was 32 weeeks along when I went into labor with my twin girls for the 4th time. 2 hours before they did the emergency c-section the doctor said that I would not be delivering but would have to stay the remainder of my pregnancy there. I knew there was something wrong and the doctor kind of got mad at me and made me feel embarrased for asking her to check me. Thankfully I let go of my pride after she scolded me and I said that I feel like something is really wrong. It's a good thing I did that because Lily's cord was in grave danger of prolapsing and I was 7 1/2 dialated. Once they took me in for the c-section both of the girls were out in a matter of minutes and were actually both born at 9:22pm. They had problems breathing and were taken immediately to NICU. I got to see and kiss them good bye and didn't get to see them again until the next night. They kept me on labor and delivery because I lost so much blood and the nurse that put my IV in didn't do it correctly. They thought I was going to need a blood transfusion but couldn't put the IV back in because everytime they tried my veins would collapse. They tried for 5 hours to put an IV in they even called in the anasthesiologist who did my spinal block. He determined that they would have to get the pic line team to do it when they came in the next morning. They told me to try to rest all I could do was cry because I just wanted to see my babies. It was very hard to deal with emotionally. The nurse finally did bring in a picture of one of my girls. The camera kept messing up so she could one get the one picture. When they finally took me to the NICU they wheeled me in the bed and could only take me to the door way I couldn't even see them. Then they told me that I could hold Lily that night but when I got down that evening she too had to be ventilated. I did nothing but cry the first couple of days. The NICU was really nice about letting me help out with the diaper changing and temperature taking of my girls and while I was in the hospital I was in the NICU around the clock. Being able to help take care of my babies made all of the difference. They were in the NICU for a month. It used to get to me really bad knowing that I did miss a lot of time with them and at first it was hard to look at them as if they were mine but the more care that I got to give them and the more time that I got to hold them (I highly recommend skin to skin care) it really helps with the bonding process. The girls are 5 months old and are doing great. They are little miracles. It was worth every tear that was shed.

Samantha - posted on 02/02/2011

I became pre-eclamptic and had to have an emergency C-section at 29 weeks. My daughter was 2#6.25oz, and 14.25 inches long, and in the NICU for 2 months. I couldnt see her for the first 2 days, I couldnt hold her for the first 2 weeks, and I couldnt breast feed at all. On top of it all, we lived an hour away from the hospital and were told she had less than a 20% chance to live. Oh, and I wanted an all natural birth, no medications, etc, and obviously that was all thrown out the window.

Corin - posted on 02/01/2011

When I had my 20mo. old son I was in labor for 53hrs total when it came to 1:00am and they told me that the labor was starting to stress my son so they had to give me an emergency c-section. They took me in the surgery room and while my husband dressed to be in there with me they were trying to monitor my son's heart beat. I heard the nurse say that she couldn't find it and in response the doctor said she was going in right then. This whole time I was having a bad reaction to all the meds and couldn't stop throwing up. They finally brought in my husband and almost immediately after they pulled my son out. He was instant wooshed to an adjacent room because he too had swallowed the maconium and had to be suctioned down to his lungs. They brought him back into the room to show him to me but I only got a glimpse as I was still constantly vomiting. Then they took him to the NICU. I was still having a very bad reaction to the medications and was almost going into shock from the stress that was put on my body from throwing up all the way thru the surgery. I fell asleep and woke up two hours later asking where my son was. I was moved to recovery and 8 hours or more later I still hadn't seen my son and was growing severely impatient and told them to take me off the IVs and the things off my legs or i was just gonna get up and take them all with me(with that my doctor gave instant approval). I was finally able to get up and go see my son around 12hrs after he was born. And yes it still bothers me that I didn't get to see him right away but I have the most wonderful little man now and that gives me comfort, cause he wouldn't be so great if he weren't so hard to make.

I am now on to my second pregnancy (31wks) and in lue of having another such disaster I am having a sceduled c-section.

Kirsty - posted on 02/01/2011

Hi, my son was born at 30 weeks by emergency c section for reduced heartbeats. He was taken straight to scbu which was very hard not to be able to touch him or even see him before he was taken away. The first time I saw him he was covered in wires and drips and connected to a ventilator so we were unable to hold him for 5 days, it seemed all we could do was touch him through the incubator but he looked so fragile and the staff said he didn't like being touched so it was very difficult in the first weeks. We spent 8 weeks in scbu with a further 10 days on the childrens ward all the staff were so good and really looked after us.
My son is now 20 months old he has many problems and endless trips to hospital but in himself he is brill and we wouldn't be without him. These times pass they are very hard to deal with at the time but as they grow and get bigger it is well worth it. Even with my sons ongoing problems the hospital staff and paed dr are excellent and they know what you are going through

Jessica - posted on 01/31/2011

I had the same issue. My daughter was 3 days late and had swallowed maconium. She spent 3 days in the NICU. It was the hardest thing to leave the hospital without my new baby. We didn't allow any visitors while she was in the hospital. It was hard enough for us to see her with the tubes and such we didn't want anyone else to see that.

Tiffany - posted on 01/29/2011

My first child was born at 32 weeks. I went in for my normal Dr. appt and had gained 30 lbs in 1 month!! They ran tests and diagnosed me with pre-eclampsia and HELLP (which is when your liver starts to shut down). I was admitted to the hospital and they tried to induce but the liver levels were at the point I was going to have a stroke so she was born by an emergency c-section. When she was born all I got to do was look at her for a sec before they rushed her to the NICU. Since they placed me on magnesium sulfate to control the stroke I was not allowed out of bed for 48 hours. All I had was pictures and videos my husband made for me to help my milk production while using the pump. She was in the NICU for 7 days and I was by her side everyday!!



Now child #2, since my prior history with pre-eclampsia and HELLP the Dr. was keeping a close eye on me. I was put on modified bed rest at 3 months and had Dr visits every 2 weeks and blood work before each appt. I did my blood work for my 29 week appt and was called about 2 hours after leaving the lab and told to head to L&D to be put on permanant bed rest. Unfortunately the HELLP progressed and I was rolled in to the delivery room for another c-section. I never got to see him before he was rushed out of the room, all i heard was a VERY pissed off baby!! I was not able to see him for the first 24 hours again due to the magnesium sulfate. But I got to hold him on my first visit. All I had was pictures and videos my husband made for me to help my milk production while using the pump.He was in the NICU for 5 1/2 weeks and I was by his side everyday!!!



From the moment both of my children were born I wanted to be there mother and be the only one taking care of them. But I know that after the surgery I was not able to do that and they needed the special care that only the Drs. can provide. They knew that I was there mother and that I loved them more than anything in the world!!!

Sheena - posted on 01/29/2011

my 1st daughter was born in 2003 and i had an emergancy c-section and she was in the nicu for 2 mths. she was born with gastroschisis. thats where her intestants were outside her body. 2wks before i had her a small piece of her stomach was coming out and then 4 days before i had her over 1/2 was coming out. well, the day i had her i went to the hospital to have an ultra sound at 10. i waited in the waiting area and then went to have the ultrasound done and i ended up having her at 11:37! i was 19 yrs old and didnt know what was going on! i started crying and shaking. it was over before i knew it and i didnt get to see her till the next day. she was 3lbs and 3ozs. she was sooo small :) she will be 8 in april and now has graves diease.

CANDICE - posted on 01/29/2011

My son was in the nicu for a month and I couldnt hold him right away. Unfortuately he is 4 and I still think about it all the time. You just have to bond with the baby as much as possible and try to resent all those other mothers that get to do it, or it will really drive you crazy. Good luck

Sara - posted on 01/29/2011

After being on bed rest and in the hospital for 3 months due to my so called preeclampsia I was induced at 37 weeks. I was given a cervical ripener at night and the next day was given pitocien. It was taking me awhile to fully dilate cause I was having horrible back labor and wasn't able to relax. So I finally broke down and got an epidural around 3am my second day of labor and by 8 am I was fully dilated and ready to go, my blood pressure was great the whole time so I refused the magnesium drip they wanted me to have.(FYI u are in charge of ur labor and can refuse anything u don't want as long as you're doing ok and not in danger they will agree with it.) So the morning of June 18 I start pushing and with my second push my son is crowning and things look great, then all of a sudden his heart drops and is almost flat lining so no more pushing, next thing I know I'm being told I am going into an emergency c-section. At first we're told the father can go in but then they said no at the OR door. I'm being told to count backwards and but completely under, had to be intubated. A few minutes later I'm waking up in a recovery room all alone, no baby just a nurse and my sons father. I'm told my son wasn't breathing and they couldn't get him to cry and was rushed into the NICU. Once I was finally in my room I was told as soon as I could get out of bed I could go see my son, which turned out to be 12hrs later. I started pumping as soon as I was given a pump cause my son wasn't allowed to nurse yet. We were blessed that in the end nothing was wrong with him, there was no explanation for the dropped heart rate and the no crying, his cord wasn't wrapped around his neck so that wasn't it. He stayed in the NICU for 4 days. I know that was the best place for him and his health is and was the most important thing but I fell like something was taken away from me, I wanted a vaginal delivery and I wanted to hold my baby seconds after coming out, its still hard but I'm just so happy he is alive and very healthy.

Sherelle - posted on 01/28/2011

I'm diabetic so my sons both had to go to the NICU right after being born. My first was emergency c-section due to dropping heart rate. My second was elective but the cord was wrapped around his neck twice. What I regret is they wouldn't let me nurse either one so they got nipple confused. Even tho I begged them to let me try I had to wait 24 hrs due to recovery morphine etc. So neither one wanted to latch on. I pumped and bottle fed, but I still wish I could've nursed them right from the start. But they got the breast milk just not directly. But before they got whisked off I was allowed one kiss. My fiance got a beautiful picture of that kiss with my youngest. To this day I still well up looking at it.

Becky - posted on 01/28/2011

I had to have an emergency c-section due to my baby's heart rate dropping once I was given Petocin. She was never placed in the NICU, however I was not able to hold her for 3 hours after she was born because of the c-section and recovery. It makes me sad when I think back and remember that I couldn't hold her for so long after she was born, but I'm glad she was able to bond with her Daddy!

France - posted on 01/27/2011

You were medically unstable to get up to see your baby. It was for your health and safety.

France - posted on 01/27/2011

unless you were medically unstable, they could've brought you to see your baby on your way from recovery room. And you should've been getting up quicker than that. The sooner you get up after a surgery the better. By day 2 you should've been able to walk there by yourself.

Kortni - posted on 01/27/2011

I had my son by emergenct c section at 37 weeks. He had a neucal knot in his cord and was showing signs of distress. When he was born he was blue and put on life support. He was taken by ambulance to another hospital with a better nicu. I didn't see him for 5 days. He was in the nicu for a month before he could breathe on his own. He also had pneumonia. It made me sad until I had my daughter. I was scared the same thing would happen (there are 6 years between them). When I had my daughter by c section, they brought her to me and I kissed her. After surgery I got to hold her before they even did all the tests. It was very special, knowing that you don't always get to do that! What a blessing the small things are!

Jennifer - posted on 01/27/2011

My daughter was born at 26 weeks. She spent 93 days in the NICU. When she was born, I was so happy to hear her cry. They explained to me that I would not get to hold her and that they would have to take her away immediatly. One of the nurses held her up in the air and let me see her right before they took her to the NICU. It was a couple of hours before I was able to go see her. My husband saw her first and my pushy mother-in-law managed to sneak her way down there and see her before I did. Let's just say I yelled a little! I went through a lot of emotions when I wasn't able to hold her when she was born. It was two weeks before I was able to hold her for the first time. It makes me a little sad that I couldn't hold her as soon as she was born, but I know that she couldn't breathe on her own.

Aiyana - posted on 01/26/2011

With my second baby(she is 8yrs old now) she was a week over due and I had gone into labour and my water broke and I didn't know it! She eneded up swallowing some maconium and had to go to the NICU. Yeah, it was horriable because for 4 days I could not hold her!

With my 5th baby I was at home waiting for my husband to get off of work. We live about 15min out from town. I had called and told him he better start home now, something isn't right! I had been in labour for a few days, nothing big, Then around 2am the baby and the labour started moving really hard! The baby was turning and kicking like crazy and then he broke his own water! When the water broke I had a prolapsed cord(where the cord comes out first) This is really scary and dangerous for both baby and mother! I told my 8yr old son who had been sleeping on the couch with me(he is 10 now) to call my cousin who lived a few miles up the road...instead he called 911! He was so calm talking to the dispatcher...By the time they got me to the hospital the baby had no heart beat and he was breech! They did an emergancy C-section and delivered him with no problems, strong, healthy, and all 10lbs. 13oz. of him! The doctors said that if my son had not reacted the way he did and had not called 911 when he did, we could have not only lost the baby, but perhaps my life as well. My son was on the news and in the paper! Everyone keeps saying that he is a hero because saved his baby brothers life!

CHERYL - posted on 01/25/2011

my twins came at 32wks as soon as they were born i heard them both cry but they were whisked off to nicu. i felt i missed out on the 1st touch and didnt get to se them for a few hours and wasnt allowed to hold them for a while either.but i was allowed to touch them in there incubaters and tube feed them. i found the 4wks hard and as they were in nicu i was upstairs in the hospital i felt very alone and cried lots. im ok now but when i look at photos of my babies it brings it back

Joannetimms - posted on 01/25/2011

i had my 3yr old by emergancy section, i had a prolapse cord,i had to theatre with a doctor on the bed holdin the cord up so it didnt stop the oxygen to the baby, they was cuttin me as i was goin under a general anth

Kathy - posted on 01/24/2011

When I had our son it I had an emergency csection because my blood pressure was borderline stroke. I had pre eclampsia and had to have a magnesium sulfate drip for the first 24hrs. The only way I was allowed to have my son in my room was if there was another adult with me. It made me feel like they were trying to keep him away from me. I couldnt walk or anything because of the drip and the cathater. I felt like a bad mom for a while but I realized that they were trying to take care of my son and me as best they could. He's 19 months old now and I have a 6 week old daughter so I have had time to gain prospective.