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That was my husbands aunt. The doctor was a very highly experienced and very knowledgeable OBGYN doctor here in Arizona. She delivered at Banner Desert. She just started hemmoraging which is very common in a c-section, after all everything is laid open and cut open. It happens far more often than people realize, but is generally able to be controlled. She was revived, but her health has never been the same. She has high blood pressure, and heart issues. She has no ill will toward the doctor, but in order to save her, she had a complete hysterectomy (she alreeady had 5 kids though). No, she had no other issues, had perfect health, had no pregnancy complications. C-sections are just far more complicated and serious than doctors or other women let on. It is absolutley not even as remotely as safe as a traditional, v____al birth. That is why I am always amazed at those who would seriously consider an elective c-section for any reason. My baby is breech-again...this is the fourth breech baby I have had...bleieve me, I am doing everything I can to avoid a section. Including, doing an another ECV at 36 weeks and again at 38 weeks if I have too.

Ertel1978: Hemorrhage can occur in v____al deliveries too. I've had an emergency c-section and it was a wonderful experience. I am scheduled to have my 2nd c-section on Oct 8. Both v____al and c-sections come with risks, but the risks are very rare. Here's an article I have found maybe to help eases your fears: Postpartum hemorrhage is defined as a loss of blood in the postpartum period of more than 500 mL. The average, spontaneous v____al birth will typically have a 500 mL blood loss. In cesarean births the average blood loss rises to 800-1000 mL. There is a greater risk of hemorrhage in the first 24 hours after the birth, called primary postpartum hemorrhage. A secondary hemorrhage occurs after the first 24 hours of birth. There are certain risk factors that make a postpartum hemorrhage more likely to happen: Multiple Gestation Large baby Polyhydramnios Multipart_ty (particularly grand multiparity, more than 5 term pregnancies) Prolonged labor (uterine inertia) Labor augmented with Pitocin General Anesthesia Placenta Previa Abruptio Placentae Magnesium Sulfate infusion Knowing that there are greater risks for some may make certain precautions more necessary than for low risk women. In the majority of cases the cause of hemorrhage is uterine atony, meaning that the uterus is not contracting enough to control the bleeding at the placental site. Other reasons for a hemorrhage would include retained placental fragments (possibly including a placenta accreta), trauma of some form, like a cervical laceration, uterine inversion or even uterine rupture, and clotting disorders. If hemorrhage does occur there are several steps which can be taken to treat the bleeding, steps used depend on the reason for the bleeding: Uterine ma__sage Have the mother in the trendelenberg position (Feet above heart) Give oxygen Ensure two large IV sites are available Give Medications (Several types: Pitocin, methergine, hemabate) Consider surgery including ligation of Uterine and Hypogastric arteries and/or hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) All women will receive care to help prevent hemorrhage after the birth of their baby. Immediately following the birth of the baby, signs of placental separation will be watched for to know when the placenta is ready to be delivered. A placenta that does not deliver spontaneously is a risk factor for postpartum hemorrhage. Some hospitals and birth centers choose to give every woman a routine injection of pitocin to help prevent hemorrhage and to help ensure that the placenta comes quickly and easily. However, many choose a more natural route, which is to wait and see if there is a bleeding problem. Many also encourage the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation of b___stfeeding beginning as soon as possible after birth. This allows the mother to secrete her own oxytocin to help contract the uterus and expel the placenta. Ma__saging the uterus is also done to help expel clots of blood. It is also used to check the tone of the uterus and ensure that it is clamping down to prevent excessive bleeding. Poor tone of the uterus at this point is what causes 70% of the cases of postpartum hemorrhage. This can be uncomfortable to painful. Be sure to utilize any and all relaxation and breathing techniques and not tense your abdominal muscles. If it is too painful, medications can also be used. This will be done with decreasing frequency after the birth, as your bleeding slows. Ensuring your bladder is empty will also help you avoid hemorrhage. Simply emptying the bladder in any manner can do this. Women who have not used regional anesthesia can usually use the restroom themselves within the hour after birth. Those who had regional anesthesia can use the restroom or bedpan in varying time increments, but usually within an hour of the anesthesia wearing off, unless a cesarean was performed. Catheterization can also be of benefit here, including both the indwelling catheter (usually done for cesareans and those with major urethral trauma) or what is called an "in/out" or "straight cath" to drain the urine and allow the bladder to not impede the uterus. Talking to your pract_tioner to see which after birth protocol he or she uses and what might be best for your situation can go a long way in helping you to understand your personal risk factors and prevention strategy for postpartum hemorrhage.

angiedk77 - - Thank you for your response and for the article. I have had two c-sections, my first Oct. 17, 2005 and my second Oct. 31, 2006. I had no problems with the deliveries or the recoveries. I also had a v____al birth in Mar., 2004 and actually suffered more discomfort with the recovery following that birth than with my c-sections. I really would like to have more children, but am just terried of the surgery and something going wrong during the delivery or afterwards. I have a phobia of any type of surgery and just the idea of being cut open and laying there with my insides exposed is just overwhelming to me. I nearly had a nervous break down prior to my most recent c-section. My doctor has no concerns of doing multiple c-sections and has tried to reasure me over and over again of the low risk of complications, however, I just continue reading on line until I find someone who knows of a bad c-section experience and then I dwell on that. Maybe I should just forget about anymore biological children and adopt or a surrogate mother would work for me too if I could find the right person. Until then I'm torn about what to do...