"Traumatic childbirth"

In 2019 I gave birth to my second child, I was scared to go through childbirth again as I had haemorrhaged the first time losing 1.5ltrs. I was to give birth at Box Hill hospital again and I was reassured that this time they were aware of the risks and I would have an IV line if I needed any medications to stop bleeding. 

When I arrived at the hospital in spontaneous labour, I was left to myself and not checked for hours. I have a high pain threshold and I did feel pretty good being left alone anyway. After a few hours, I finally asked for some Panadol and was checked to everyone's surprise I was 9cm's dilated already! My midwife quickly tried to get another nurse to put an IV in but it was too late, I was pushing and there was no way they could. It was a precipitate labour and my baby arrived very fast. As soon as my baby was born I was bleeding and code pink was called.  

Everyone came in, I was given all the types of drugs to stop haemorrhaging. I even said I was worried the medicine would not work because for my last labour I needed the balloon to stop bleeding. I was reassured that there was now a new more current drug that was not around when I last gave birth. My bleeding did slow down and everyone left the room thinking I had stopped bleeding. 

But as I lay there holding my baby, just my partner and parent-in-law with me, I could feel blood dripping out of me. I frantically told my partner to get the doctors back as I was still bleeding. My midwife came in with a look of worry and as they pushed my stomach, blood gushed out and they left to talk to the doctors. This was very scary to me because I feel if I had received an epidural, I would not have known that I was still bleeding. I would have not been able to alert anyone and things could have been much worse than they were. I also felt very alone and like I was being left to die because at this time the nurses and doctors were all outside of my room, I was just laying there bleeding thinking what are they doing! My midwife did end up coming in and telling me they were just outside of the room. 

It seemed to me that no one at this time knew what to do; the operating room was in use and the drugs were not working. They had to phone in the head obstetrician and I was waiting for him to come. When he did arrive, he was very efficient and came in the room in a rush and he said he would insert the balloon here in the birthing room. I was thankful he had a plan!

Even though I then had to have the balloon inserted with only the help of nitrous gas, I had to be held down and it was a very frightening time. My vision went black and I could hear myself moaning in pain and the obs going off. After this was done I was being linked up to some blood and I started to feel self-assured that I would be ok. The main obstetrician told me I would now be going to the operating room to be checked over and that he couldn't completely inflate the balloon, I'd most likely be put under general. He told me that because I was young, my body was staying stable very well but I had lost 3ltrs of blood as this point and I could wake up in ICU. 

I was then wheeled down to the operating theatre. All through this process so far I was very nauseous, I was anxious, I felt like life was leaving me, I felt cold but I felt reassured now that I was receiving blood. But then to my astonishment, as I met the theatre staff they asked the nurse who wheeled me in how long I had been receiving the blood? They answered that it was not yet going because they did not know how to put it through the warmer... I was just told by the main obstetrician I could go into cardiac arrest and I still wasn't receiving blood. 

Then, as I lay there being prepped to go under general, my oxygen started to drop and I felt myself losing it, everyone around me started going into feedback mode and asking what my gases were and I was just trying to stay conscious. Thankfully I was stabilized and then my anaesthetist told me that I could be aware during the procedure as they could not put me under deeply because of my blood loss. They said they would make sure I was ok and that they have a child and weren't going to let me pass away. 

Well at this point I really was not sure if I was going to wake up and I just kept my child's face in my mind as I drifted off. 

This was very traumatic for me and on reflection and only after a long time can I write about this. 

I think things could be improved so that this doesn't happen to another mother giving birth. 

Firstly, I believe IV should be given to a high-risk patient as soon as they arrive at hospital in case of fast labour. 

In my opinion, do not fully trust that medicine will stop the bleeding and keep a closer eye on the patient before leaving, I do thank the heavens that I had received no pain relieve that day as I was able to alert the medical staff as to my continued bleeding, but I dread to think what would have happened to someone who could not feel. 

I believe every nurse must know how to give blood, if not they must speak up in that moment. I now wonder, if I had started receiving the blood when I was supposed to would I have destabilized? It could have cost me my life and it has certainly reduced my trust now. 

I am very thankful for everyone who saved my life that day, and there were so many beautiful nice people. I just had to write these certain details that I feel need to be reviewed.