Happy to still be here!!

Peita - posted on 11/17/2009 ( 2 moms have responded )

Where do I start, everything is still so vivid, I have only given birth to my little girl Alice 3 weeks ago and am a little traumatised about the whole event, writing about it helps, but crying is about the only thing I can do when I talk about it!



My first pregnancy was great, no sickness, only a long labour resulting in a forceps delivery and a healthy baby boy weighing 9lb 6oz!



My second pregnancy was slightly different, with morning nausea for 12 weeks and high blood pressure for the last 2 weeks! I went into labour a few days early and delivered a healthy baby girl at 8lb 3oz! After her birth, I was rushed to surgery because my placenta was stuck and they couldn't stop the bleeding! As soon as I was under, the placenta fell away on its own and I had 2 units of blood tranfused! Breastfeeding was a challenge as my milk supply never really kept up with my bub! Nothing was ever thought of this retained placenta as I had not had any previous abdominal surgery and the doctors thought it was a one off thing!



My third pregnancy was different again! I had all day nausea for the first 18 weeks and then the nausea returned at about 28 weeks! At 30 weeks, my blood pressure started to rise and at 32 weeks pregnant was told by my doctor to give up work and he started me on blood pressure meds. By the time I was 36 weeks pregnant, i could hardly stand for 1/2hr and was exhausted all the time, I was hospitalized for 2 nights, sent for more ultrasounds (ultrasounds all came back with positive results) and told everything was fine and that I was just doing too much! At this time, my urine protein levels had started to rise and since my doctor was going away for 2 weeks, he referred me on to the larger public hospital for a second opinion! The new hospital sent me for more bloods and a 24hr urine test! The urine test came back with an overload of protein and that day I was induced for the fear of pre-eclampsia! I was just past 37 weeks pregnant!



The induction went well, I was 1cm dialated, so they broke my waters and very mild contractions started. After 2hrs, the midwives started me on the drip and 2hrs and 15mins later I had a beautiful little girl weighing in at 7lb 9oz! I had my new girl Alice in my arms for 1/2 hour before everything went bad, I knew my placenta was stuck again, but just thought that like last time it would come away in surgery, how wrong I was!



The next thing I remember was waking up in intensive care with my husband, mum and dad and the surgeon standing around my bed ! I had tubes and lines everywhere and was so very puffy I could hardly bend my fingers! I spent 4 days in intensive care, not knowing what had really happened ( my husband asked them not to tell me until I was well enough to understand, and I thank him for that).



Day 5, I asked one of the doctors what had happened!! I was told that I had a condition called pacenta accreta/ increta. My placenta had grown so tightly into my uterus that when the tried to manually remove it, it just kept breaking and I kept bleeding! They ended up needing to do a hystorectomy and then I was sent to intensive care to recover! This is when another bleed began and I was rushed back to surgery where they did a scan to find where the bleeding was coming from! I ended up needing dissolvable clamps on my arteries and my tummy packed, by the end of the ops, I had had 9 units of blood transfused! This is really hard for me to even write about, the tears a rolling down my cheeks as I type! My husband told them to do whatever you have to to keep her alive and thank god he said that or I might not be here to enjoy my family and life today! The surgeons also told my husband that they weren't sure if I was going to survive or not! My husband then had the task of calling our immediate family and give them the news! I cannot immagine what everyone was going through, I do know that they all sat in the waiting room at the hospital until they knew I was alright! After they removed my uterus, the packed my tummy and clamped all my arteries to stop the bleeding, I was then sent back to intesive care and woke again with tubes in my mouth, and 4 lines in my arms and neck! I was told that I would have to go back for surgery again in the morning to remove the packing from my tummy! That was the last op and I have come through ok!



I don't remember a great deal, but do get flash backs on occasion and have a cry every now and then! I don't know anyone that would be happy that they went through this and just keep telling myself that I am alive and have 3 beautiful children, a great husband, a very supportive family and some really great friends!



We had decided not to have anymore children before I gave birth to Alice, but having a hystorectomy has made it so final! I am only 29yrs old and can't believe there has been a definate end put to my child bearing years!



I have been told by midwives, doctors, surgeons and registras that this condition is very rare and usually happens in women who have had abdominal surgery (eg. multiple c/s) of which I have never had! A midwife from my region told me that in her 20 yrs of doing this job, I am only the 2nd case she has come across!



I cannot thank all the staff at the Canberra Hospital enough for their quick action and care and support! Everyone from the ICU nurses, surgeons, registrars, wardsman and midwives were so supportive and very possitive in the care they gave me! Thank You!!!