Having a C-Section in Finland?

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Flossy1978
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Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Flossy1978 » Thu Mar 27, 2008 12:20 pm

I've already had one child here in Finland with my Husband.

My labour was horrific. Nothing that the nurses or midwives did wrong, so I am not blaming them :)

I had horrible sciatica during my pregnancy. When I went into labour I started getting a bad pain in my spine (no it wasn't back labour, even though I did have back labour). The pain in my spine got worse and the epi did nothing to get rid of it. It was constant pain, not coming and going like contractions. Towards the end of my labour I could barely move, the pain was so bad in my spine. I didn't complain once about the labour, but I did about the pain in my spine LOL, that's how bad it was. They made me lay on the bed and get my child out of me because I couldn't feel the urge to push and my son had been stuck for over 3 hours. Still the pain persisted all through this. Finally they got my son out of me and immediately gave me some kind of shot in my thigh which helped with my back.

The ladies were trying so hard to get rid of the pain in my spine. They said they had never seen such a thing before. And basically I was just left to labour with this pain.

So I continued to have problems with sciatica on and off for over 2 years after being pregnant until finally one day when I adjusted my sitting position and the worse pain in my life went shooting down my left leg. It then became numb and I was having constant pins and needles. I couldn't walk properly for almost three months and spent five months off work on sairasloma.

So I got an MRI done on my spine. It showed that I have an 'isompi välilevy' (large prolapsed disc). As soon as my doctor at work saw what I had I was sent to the top specialist for this medical company that my workplace uses.

It was determined that I have too wide a space between my vertabrae and that this would have happened whether I had a child or not, just not till I was much older. Apparently my son was pushing on my spine and caused the problem to start earlier than when it should have. The pain during labour was caused by my son's fat head (he has a huge head! LOL) pushing on the disc.

I've been told that I will always have this problem. The specialist told me that if I am to have another child that I need to request a c-section. The spine surgeon (can't remember the offical name) also advised me to do the same.

The prolapsed disc is very large. Half way out of my spine already and it will probably get worse if I get pregnant again. The risk of miscarrying is higher when you have this large a prolapsed disc the specialist told me.

Do you think that I'll be able to have a c-section if I do have another child? My husband and I want to have another one. I can't go through the labour again with this. I am in pain almost everyday because of it. Not so bad anymore and it's mostly only in my back, so it's ok. When the pain goes down into my leg, then it's alot worse and I worry.

I know here in Finland that it's very hard to get a c-section. I think it's the right attitude to have. Too many other countries do them too easily nowadays.

Sorry, it's a long winded story. I am just worried about this and I get long winded when I am worried about something LOL.



Having a C-Section in Finland?

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hackoff
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by hackoff » Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:03 pm

i really cant help you , but i just wanted to tell that i am feel sorry for you. again you should keep thumbs up :thumbsup: and all the time remember that many couples they cant get a child ....
again good luck for whatever plan

Terveisin

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raamv
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by raamv » Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:56 pm

Have you talked to the nurse in you neuvola?
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ScubaGirl
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by ScubaGirl » Thu Mar 27, 2008 4:37 pm

I had a c-section here in Finland, but it was a last minute emergency decision made by the doctors due to some complications I had during labor. My ex-husband's sister however is Finnish and I know she had a c-section by choice and decided to have the baby that way from the moment she found out she was pregnant. This was less than 3 years ago. She gave birth in Espoo, so I know it's possible here, but definitely frowned upon from what I've heard. I think you have a special case and will probably be a good candidate for a planned c-section, but of course you need to get advice from your doc, etc...

Best of luck!
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Kupcake
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Kupcake » Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:27 pm

This sounds like a very serious problem - you should go and see a gynaecologist / obstetrician to ask this question and give your history. I do know that they prefer not to do an unnecessary c-section, but as you say it's best that way. If you have already been advised to have a c-section, i'm sure you can make the necessary arrangements.

Maybe somebody can recommend a good gynaecologist / obstetrician so she can make the appointment?
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Sara
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Sara » Thu Mar 27, 2008 8:50 pm

Kupcake wrote:
Maybe somebody can recommend a good gynaecologist / obstetrician so she can make the appointment?
I dont think you work it like that here, everything goes through Neuvola they take care of you during pregnancy and pass on all your info to the hospital, arrange for you to see their doctor for the checks during pregnancy and refer you to hospital if there is any issue they need to be aware off.

Flossy, you really need to call your Nevola nurse and talk to her. I think under your circumstances they will refer you to see a consultant at the hospital during pregnancy. I very much doubt you would get an answer from the hospital until you are pregnant but I dont think you should have any problems getting a c-section under those circumstances.

Some doctors will try and put you off, going on about risk of infection, major surgery etc. But stand your ground and dont be afraid to fight for what you want.

Kupcake
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Kupcake » Thu Mar 27, 2008 10:19 pm

So, is it correct that you can't have a private gyno here? I went through the public system for a gynaecological "problem", but when the doc insisted on major surgery, i asked if i could have another opinion from a private gynaecologist. I ended up only having minor surgery, and i got the surgery much quicker than if i had to go public.

Is it different for obstetrics?
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raamv
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by raamv » Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:27 pm

you can always have a private OB/GYN!!
But then when the mom request a C section, then the Doctor is obliged to perform it.
Before you go to the labor hospital ( If you know which one) then you can contact the Dr. or Drs. ( OB/GYN) with the help of your Neuvola( or directly) and ask them to go through the procedure with you Since your specialist already have indicated that a C section is the only and best solution for you.
Your Neuvola will be able to direct you better on this. Just mention to them what you wrote here.
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isaluba
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by isaluba » Fri Mar 28, 2008 9:36 am

I was in a similar situation. I was seeing a private. OB/GYN and found out that there was something wrong with the baby. My OB who also works at the public hospital ( as most do) saw me the next day at the the public hospital and there after he was my PUBLIC OB/GYN. I don't know how it was done but I was never in the private system again. Because of certain problems the baby was having, when it was time for the baby to be born, the OB asked me if I wanted a c-section. He left it totally up to us. We decided to have one. And it was only during this time that we were considered Private patients again. Amazingly when the bill came from the c-section it was 150euros for the OB/GYN and 125euros for the anesthesiologist! WOW as an American I think that is amazing. So I think with your medical history, there is no way they will not allow you to have a planned c-section. I have found the MD's here to be excellent. Especially when it comes to serious medical conditions. And worse case scenario you can go private and pay around 300 euros for a c-section

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RA
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by RA » Sun Mar 30, 2008 12:56 pm

I had terrible sciatica during my pregnancy and it didn't go away after birth either and just got worse. Incidentally, I also had a c-section, but it wasn't to do with the sciatica- our little girl was in breech position for most of my pregnancy and though she turned around at the last moment, her heart rate dropped during the labour and later we found out that the umbulical cord was unusually short, only 20 cm. Anyway, after a long course of treatment and change of doctors etc. I finally got an MRI and they found the prolapsed disc. They offered me surgery but after consults with 3 doctors I decided to try more conservative methods and only go for surgery as a last resort.This was last year in March.

The meds were awful and treatment not easy but by the end of last summer I was feeling much better and the pain and numbness from my leg gone and I was even off the meds for all of the fall. On christmas eve, however, I carried something heavy and something happened and undid all the good. I've been in horrible pain since then and back on the meds. I work about 65 km away from home and driving is sometimes difficult because I cannot take meds on days I drive (at least we do work from home as well and don't have to go in every day). I'll be starting acupuncture and if that doesn't help I guess they'll be referring me back to the surgeon :(

I did talk to my doc about how this affects future pregnancy and he said that sometimes the problem eases out during pregnancy :o Also he didn't think that it necessarily means a c-section. That would be determined by the course the pregnancy takes. In any case having had a prior c-section means that they'll have to evaluate the mode of birth early on. Whatever the case, I think when the time comes you need to talk to your nurse at the neuvola and your doctor too and they'll definetly take your medical condition under consideration. Have they offered you surgery btw? Good luck with everything...I know the pain you're going through.
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Flossy1978
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Flossy1978 » Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:44 pm

Thank you everyone!

Sorry I have replied so late. Busy and forgetfulness. A nice thing since having a child LOL.

Anyway, I am in the same situation as RA.

The painkillers I took when it was very bad did nothing. I had to take more than I was suppose to to just take the edge off the pain. I have been to seen the Orthopedic Surgeon at HUKS (Is that the name or is it HUS?). The doctor told me that they don't like to do surgery when you have a prolapsed disc here. They try not to do it because you can have worse complications from the surgery than what the disc had been causing orginally.

I am suppose to just live with this the rest of my life and if I get the very bad pain again I have to go back to the surgeon to get stronger painkillers. The doctor said if the pain goes bad again then it means the disc has move out of my spine even more. Nice, and they are just going to give stronger painkillers? I think it's great that Finland doesn't always jump in and do surgery etc, but sometimes I get scared too by the lack of seriousness taken with such a problem.

Anyway, the problem is solved now. We just bought a house out in Klaukkala, so we have no money to have another child for at least two years LOL. So no need to stress anymore LOL.

Thank you all for your help :) I will ask the Neuvola person when I do get pregnant again. I have tried to go to the gym to strengthen my stomach muscles, but then my back goes very bad. I was told to make my stomach muscles stronger. It's a catch 22 situation LOL.

Michelle

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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Kupcake » Mon Apr 07, 2008 9:26 pm

RA wrote:Anyway, the problem is solved now. We just bought a house out in Klaukkala, so we have no money to have another child for at least two years LOL. So no need to stress anymore LOL.
Congratulations on finding a solution!
RA wrote:I have tried to go to the gym to strengthen my stomach muscles, but then my back goes very bad. I was told to make my stomach muscles stronger. It's a catch 22 situation LOL.
You should get a physio to give you correct exercises that take your condition into consideration, because you really need to be careful. Take your films with you to the appointment and they may be able to offer you some treatment too. My husband had spinal surgery (laminectomy) about 5 or 6 years ago for a prolapsed disc because the pain stopped him from being able to walk. He saw all sorts of specialists (we lived in Australia at the time so had access to lots of different types of docs), but when it became so serious there was no other option apart from being confined to a wheelchair in terrible pain. There was a small problem post-surgery, but immediately after another quick procedure, he was literally up and walking around with no pain at all the day of the second procedure. He now runs, snowboards and scuba dives with no fear and no pain.

I wanted to give you a good spinal surgery story, in case you ever go down that path. But the doctors are correct to advise you that you shouldn't consider surgery unless it really is a desperate situation. It has its risks.
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Flossy1978
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Flossy1978 » Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:17 am

Thanks :)

Yes I've been shown what exercises I should do. Perhaps it's just a case of 'no pain, no gain' kind of thing :)

They have a nice modern gym here at work, I might start trying to go again. Slow and easy.

Thank you for your help :)

P.S I am an Australian too :)

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RA
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by RA » Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:34 pm

Hey Flossy,

How've you been doing? Better I hope.
The acupuncture didn't do much for me, unfortunately, and I ended up getting so bad that 4 weeks ago I wound up in the emergency room and straight into surgery. The pain is gone, recuperating is slow but steady. Can walk okay, but sitting is a no-no and also I can't drive so that restricts me a bit, but otherwise I'm so much better and definetly off the meds.
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Flossy1978
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Re: Having a C-Section in Finland?

Post by Flossy1978 » Mon Aug 11, 2008 6:51 pm

Aww, thanks for asking about me :)

I am ok. I have good and bad days.

We bought a house out in the sticks near Klaukkala before the summer and I've been working in the yard all summer. Everyday I have pain, sometime days worse than others. But you know what, I am just so happy to be out of a flat and into my own home with 5000 square metres of land to boot, that I just live with the pain. When it's bad in my left leg and my leg goes numb, then I try to stop doing so much because that's when it's really bad. There's no point taking any painkillers because they no longer do anything and I can't drive when I take them anyway. I finally had to get another car because the one I had, the driving seat chair was causing me horrific pain in my leg. How insane is that? LOL.

I think in a year or so we might have another child. I am going to have to fight with Neuvola or whoever I fight with to get help with my labour because I can't go through what I did the first time again. I have mri pictures to prove that I have a 'isompi välilevy' and so they have to do something so I don't have to go through hell again. I can never spell that isomppi word right, so sorry if it's wrong.

Thanks for asking about me :)

Michelle


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