Sharmika’s story
I was 17 when I found out I was pregnant. I was very shocked at first but always dreamed of having a beautiful baby and family so I decided to keep my blessing.
My pregnancy went quite well health-wise and I continued to go on with my sixth form but ended up having my son just a few months before I finished.
During the nine months, I went to college and had to leave due to discomfort but ended up doing my course from home in health and social level 3 extended diploma and left with D*D*D*.
Birth story
I had an emergency C-section as I wasn’t dilating. I remember waking up the next day, and seeing this beautiful baby boy. I don’t remember even holding Riley when he was born, as I was so unwell.
Riley’s dad told me about two years after that him and my mum were holding Riley on my breast that night to feed him. I missed the best first moments. That makes me the saddest.
Whilst in hospital, I saw all the other mums and of course they were all older, they looked fine and were just getting on with things, and I just thought, ‘Well if they can do it, then I’m sure I can’, plus I didn’t want to look incapable because one of my biggest fears was having Riley taken away, so I didn’t mention how much agony I was in.
My blood pressure had also gone up straight after the birth and I was put on blood pressure tablets.
Early post-birth
Midwives came out every day when I got home to check my blood pressure. I remember reading on a correspondence note to the midwives from my GP, ‘I know this patient and I’m not too sure about her mothering skills’. This obviously shocked me and I felt even more under pressure.
I could hardly move and was waking up during the night in puddles of sweat having to change my bed sheets and clothes. I didn’t mention it at first as I had seen that note and didn’t want to seem like I couldn’t handle it.
I physically couldn’t even bend down to get him, I was in agony. I eventually mentioned my symptoms of changing my sheets and clothes at least three or four times a night to the midwife; they said it was due to me breastfeeding.
Eleven days after, a midwife came out and said my blood pressure and temperature was really high and that I had to go back in to hospital. I was given antibiotics as I had an infection in my blood.
I went home and then had to be rushed back in to hospital within a few hours…
I was then told I had a womb infection. The consultant came and did an ultrasound scan and then I just remember the consultant saying, ‘she needs to stay close to me’ and rushed off.
I was so confused as he didn’t explain what he saw, so I went on to ask another doctor who said it was placenta… Within the next day, I was due to have surgery to remove the placenta but they said I couldn’t have the surgery anymore.
They said it wasn’t an emergency, which is fair enough, but just made me feel more and more like a young mum that was exaggerating.
A nurse came to me and said ‘something wasn’t right here’ and within 10 minutes she had brought a surgeon up and I was being organised to go to theatre. They removed the placenta and blood clots and then within 24 hours, I went home.
I started to feel better but still noticed an unusual pain that I’d never had before. I carried on for about a month and a half and then I saw my GP who said that it was down to the C-section.
I tried to get on with it but kept ending up on the floor in pain and in A&E pretty much every week for nine months. I couldn’t eat or leave the house hardly, I was constantly bent over in pain, I could hardly put any pressure on my left leg and was constantly throwing up and loosing myself.
Nine months and I was finally slightly heard
After nine months, I was finally referred to a pain clinic for a laparoscopy. After having a nerve injection that sent shocks up my back and down my leg, the doctor abandoned the procedure. The pain clinic then refused to give me any further treatments.
This was the worst feeling because my life had completely flipped around; I could hardly even look after my son properly.
I have nerve entrapment, and had to have my scar reopened as two nerve branches were completely tangled around my scar. They have also said I have severe nerve damage across my scar and down both my legs. I am now on a waiting list as I have pelvic congestion syndrome.
I also now have a sprain in my hip and my spine is slanted to the right, which causes discomfort.
This is due to the pain being so bad on the left side that I put more weight on the right side, which has twisted the spine.
I am not sure if they really understand what’s happened or going on, which is very frustrating and I still feel like I’m battling at times… but things are getting there.
