This version of Skyia's birth story was written for the Empowered Childbirth email loop at Yahoo groups. Siria has another version posted on her own website.
This story does not have a happy ending. Please stay safe while reading.
My name is Siria, I live in Australia and I am currently just on 20 weeks pregnant with my second baby. My first little girl was born on 15 July 2001 into a medical system that failed us completely.
I was 41 weeks, very naive & blissfully innocent, and went into natural labour at home. When I got to the hospital, they didn't think I was "progressing" quickly enough since my waters had been leaking since the night before and they put me on the Pitocin drip. I began having excruciating contractions the next 7 hrs with still no progress & they put in an epidural to "relax me" which felt like I'd gone from hell to heaven in an instant.
I slowly began to dilate and a registrar Doctor who had stuck his head in about twice to check on my progress, came in and said although my baby was still high, they were going to attempt a vaginal birth. I was 8 cm & the midwife turned my epidural down & asked me to start pushing. I felt no urge to push but she insisted. Then this Doctor comes back in (he is Egyptian doing his training in Australia & his English is limited) and says "baby needs help coming out". He then proceeds to use a suction machine on my baby's head. He pulls so hard I keep getting pulled off the bed and mum & husband keep pulling me back up.
He keeps pulling for 40 minutes while my little girl is losing her fight for life, wedged in the birth canal with little oxygen and suffering severe head injuries from the suction on her head. She was finally pulled out with forceps by an OB, who was called in about 2 hrs too late, with no heartbeat. They couldn't revive her. The autopsy revealed she died from head-injuries and asphyxiation. The Drs. & midwives were suspended and we have a Coronial inquest starting in 4 weeks.
6 months after Skyia's death, we fell pregnant again and it is such a blessing. I am a very spiritual person & firm believer of Karma & that has helped me get through this nightmare and prepare for the birth of my next baby. We have been offered an elective C-section for this birth. Sometimes I think I won't be able to handle another vaginal birth, but I'm also very untrusting of Doctors now & loathe the thought of them having so much control over my next birth. Scared, confused but living on faith & hope.
Email
Siria's second birth story, an empowered cesarean
