The lasting impact of a traumatic birth experience

mind.org.uk:

There were no relaxing playlists, none of the fairy lights and candles I had promised myself. No positive affirmations in sight and a husband who felt helpless.Fast forward a few hours and I was now on the delivery suite, accepting an epidural I always said I didn’t want and having to lay in bed for my baby to be monitored.

There were no relaxing playlists, none of the fairy lights and candles I had promised myself. No positive affirmations in sight and a husband who felt helpless.After 56 hours of labour, I had racked up sepsis thanks to my waters being broken, had multiple arguments with registrars about interventions and had cried many tears about how my body was failing me, how at the beginning of motherhood I couldn’t even get it right.My new and wonderful midwife Jenna came on shift and became my advocate, took control, and put me first.

We were off to theatre for an emergency c-section within what felt like minutes.Although this wasn’t what I envisaged, I finally felt like I had a plan, I knew what the next half an hour would have in store and that I’d finally meet my baby.