Shauna’s Abdominal Hysterectomy

I found out when I went to have my anatomy ultrasound that I had some complications. Placenta previa, placenta membranacea and circumvallate placenta were all these terms that were being throw at me from a very technical specialist, who came straight into my ultrasound after the technician went to get him and started looking around before he introduced himself.
After this, the Dr. I had been seeing was still pretty new and felt she didn’t have the proper experience to oversee my pregnancy any longer and took me to a different area of the clinic to where I would be going from now on. The new Dr. was nice enough, had many years of experience and maybe me feel a little at ease during all my confusion. On my induction date she introduced me to the surgeon and other experienced male Dr for the first time. At some point during the day, she left the hospital to go check on a different patient. That’s when everything finally started happening… She wasn’t there to deliver my son, like she promised she would. She showed up as I was on the operating table and I saw her through tear filled eyes-then I was under. I had a two week check up after and that was the last I ever heard from that Dr.

My surgery happened Immediately following the birth of my second son. I don’t recall how long they tried to manually removed the placenta that attached to the uterine wall-I just remember it wasn’t very long.
My son and I both stayed in the hospital for 5 days- he was in the NICU his first few nights but was able to join me our last night.

Not being able to pick up my son much was one of my biggest hurdles. Recovering from having a natural delivery on top of trying to heal feeling like I was cut in half. I lost my father exactly two months after. I had plans to see him and my family Friday for our Thanksgiving get together, but instead we were gathering to say an unexpected goodbye. The last time I got to see my dad alone was in the hospital room I gave birth in and had everything else happen in..
I initially thought it wasn’t the biggest deal I wouldn’t be able to get pregnant again, because I have two happy healthy boys who I am so very thankful for. I feel like I pushed a lot of these feelings to the back of my mind and never dealt with them much, and didn’t think it would come up as much of an issue. Social media is a wonderful tool, but it also seems to be a great reminder when you don’t always want it to. Seeing many women post pregnant belly pics in a group I enjoy being part of has got me feeling the emotions lately.

My health wasn’t much of an issue prior to having my hysterectomy.
I can’t exactly say I’m glad I had my hysterectomy, which is part of the reason I don’t talk about it often. If I had a dollar for every time someone said I was “lucky” I don’t have to deal with women issues anymore… lucky isn’t exactly the word I would use to describe it. I know I’m lucky to be alive, as is my son, but it doesn’t mean it still doesn’t hurt.

It’s hard to know what to say because every situation is so different. Some women can’t wait to have it because they suffer daily, others like me would give anything to take it back…
I used to be ignorant in my younger years about the questions I would ask other mothers… This life experience has taught me how very important your words you use are, and how they can affect someone without you even realizing.