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Submitted by Kara

Submitted by Kara

Kara's Story - William Osler Health System, Brampton

April 26, 2018 in Featured Stories

2010 - My first birth was quite rough. I was 20 years old and 41 weeks 5 days when I got induced at William Osler Hospital in Brampton, Ontario on October 10th. 

I did warn the doctors I may need a C-section because of my small frame and my mother had to have three C-sections, also.

The 38+ hours in labour I only dilated 4cm. Epidural wore off multiple times having a total of three bags full consumed into my body. My body started to go in distress and started a fever of 103F causing baby to go in distress from not able to fit down the birth canal. I was given antibiotics and bags of ice to cool my body down.

I was told I needed an emergency C-section when I was so out of my mind... I remember laying on the table as they tried to freeze me since the epidural wore off so many times... Freezing never took after 20 mins of waiting and they had to knock me out so they could deliver him quickly before he got more in distress.

Once I woke up in recovery I remember the pain I was in and my husband had to remind me what happened... I was so sick, in pain, hungry and exhausted because of the long labour they made me stay in... I never got to see my son till 7+ hours after the surgery and he was put into the NICU because he was in so much distress from the long labour causing him to have a fever and get sick.

We both recovered and went home three days later. We recover well but that dramatic labour still stresses me out.

2013 - My second birth was pretty smooth, I was 24 years old. I had a scheduled C-section, got to hold her right after and feed her. She got to stay in my room and we went home on the second day.

Submitted by Kara

Submitted by Kara

2015 - My 3rd pregnancy was the worst nightmare of my life! 

At 26 weeks, I started having preterm labour on and off. I went on bed rest and had many appointments to make sure babe was ok. At 30 weeks I started labour again and had to have the shot to stop contractions... At 34 weeks I did not feel right and went right to delivery... Find out I'm in full active labour and I was dilated 6 cm!!! I had a previous hernia surgery just a year before so I was unable to push and had another emergency C-section... Once she was born I was not able to see her and she was rushed to the NICU for treatment as she was blue and not breathing, my husband told me.

A few hours after delivery I went to see her and she was on 6 different machines to keep her breathing... The first 24 hours they where not sure if she would make it.

Submitted by Kara

Submitted by Kara

No doctors came to check on me while I was recovering after surgery, I was in lots of pain that did not feel normal. I told nurses but they ignored me. I asked for pain meds and 8 hours later they brought me Tylenol! They also discharged me at 8pm with out being checked over or seen! I went and stayed as long as I could with her in the NICU after being discharged and I even started to pump and bring her milk. They had to syringe feed her through a tube.

After about a week, my bleeding became unbearable and went to emergency hemorrhaging vaginally. They gave me a wheelchair and made me sit there waiting for eight hours... My pants where blood soaked, pad and everything, I could not walk and was so much in pain passing huge clots the size of my hand. The doctor checked me and said there is no signs of clots but they would wait and see... So I ended up passing more clots and was admitted to have a D&C from the same doctor that did the C-section.

He was very confused and strongly stated before he stitched me up he made sure nothing was left in my uterus. So he said he will take out what ever is in there and make sure no blood or tissue was behind...

When I woke up after surgery, the surgeon came to see me and told me everything was gone and no clots to be seen. That next day (Valentine's day) I started getting small clots and told the nurse but she brushed it off as normal. So I was sent home and clots started again! So I had to re-register in emergency and was forced to wait an excruciating eight hours again to be seen while bleeding through my pants... this time it was worse. 

They did not know what to do so they admitted me and tried giving me meds to thicken my blood but nothing worked. Three days went by and I could barely move. I just remember being so cold and just wanted to close my eyes for one last time... I fought to stay awake!

By the third day of doctors trying to figure out what to do they where debating on a hysterectomy or Uterine Embolization. My hemoglobin was down to 68 g/l!

The nurse told me I would need a blood transfusion ASAP and I was rushed into surgery. They had to call three specialists to come in just to save me... I had to be awake the whole surgery. Uterine Embolization is what they chose to do. After surgery I was told to keep my leg still for six hours or the clot they made could go to my heart or lungs. I just remember being so scared and alone.

Submitted by Kara

Submitted by Kara

When I started to finally feel better a few days later a nurse came in and explained what they did and how my blood levels where deathly low. She told me I was very lucky to make it through surgery and have a good recovery so far.

I was finally released the day before my daughter was from the NICU. We both made it through but I am scared for life from my near death experience...

I am now afraid of freezing and bleeding to death (every month I get scared) They said the Uterine Embolization only lasts 5 years or so... It has now been over three years... I am afraid of what might happen.

I now have many health problems and see counsellors and therapist regularly but I am still a long way from getting over my past trauma.

If the nurses listened to me and took me serious, if the doctor came and checked me before discharge after the C-section, and if they kept me to be monitored it may not have gotten this bad.

Mothers need to speak up and make it known if something does not feel right! I brought my experience to the attention of the ombudsman two years ago but haven't heard any reply... 



Submitted by Kara

Tags: Brampton Civic Hospital, Brampton, William Osler Health System, C-section, Birth Trauma, NICU
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