u/91234S

I'm 4month PP at the moment.

I don't even know what I'm looking for with this post. Maybe support. Maybe to know I'm not alone. Maybe just to get it off my chest.

I gave birth and it was actually a successful vaginal birth. I had stitches and recovery wasn't easy, fainting and blood loss, but there were beautiful moments. The trauma came afterwards with howI was treated by some of the medical professionals, no support or pain relief.

From the beginning, something didn't feel right. At my 2-week check-up I told them I wasn't feeling well. My stitches looked okay, I asked about the amount of fluid I was losing, I had lower back pain and bits of tissue coming out. I was told everything looked normal. I was given antibiotics "just in case" but reassured I probably didn't need them. The pain? "Just from giving birth." The bleeding? "Normal postpartum." The mood swings? "Motherhood."

I went from appointment to appointment (GPs, physio, continence nurse, psychologist, 6-week check, vaccinations) and I kept saying I wasn't okay. I was still bleeding heavily, vomiting occasionally and felt so unwell. Every time it was brushed off as postpartum recovery.

Finally, around 8 weeks postpartum, my continence nurse listened. She simply said, "Get an ultrasound."

I rang around nine places trying to find an emergency appointment. The scan showed a 5 cm piece of retained placenta. I ended up back in hospital urgently! My body passed the 5cm piece with manual movement.

I finally thought, "This must be it."

I felt a little better... then the next day I was incredibly sick again. More medication to help shed the remaining uterine lining. Cramping, sweats, mood swings... but at least my back pain disappeared.

Then at 9 weeks postpartum I was still vomiting after eating.

One night I ended up curled on the floor in agony and had to call an ambulance. The hospital diagnosed gallstones (without even doing a scan) and wanted me to organise imaging through my GP later. Even though the next morning I already had an ultrasound booked at another hospital because of the retained placenta. I begged them to write on the referral to scan my gallbladder too. Both hospitals were reluctant but eventually agreed. 🙌🙌

Thank goodness they did. Results: No more retained placenta... but yes, gallstones, multiple!

I immediately started an extremely low-fat diet while waiting five weeks for private surgery. During that time I lost 17 kg because I could barely eat. Eventually I had my gallbladder removed. Right now I'm one week from this surgery.

As if that wasn't enough, I also developed severe tooth pain and found out I needed multiple root canal appointments throughout this time period.

Then one day, completely randomly, I walked into an optometrist and said "do you have some time today?" they had a cancellation for right then. It was almost spiritual. He looked at my eyes and asked, "Have you lost a lot of weight recently?"

He told me the swelling behind my eyes that he'd seen back in 2022 had disappeared (ah, what swelling?? I thought). I mentioned that my pulsatile tinnitus had also gone away.

He said it sounded very much like intracranial hypertension (IIH) that had possibly resolved with the weight loss, but wanted me investigated because there can still be signs left behind. My GP initially didn't think a scan was necessary and said my blood pressure is always good, but after everything I'd already been through I pushed for it.

The CT came back showing a partial empty sella with correlation for IIH.

My GP actually rang me afterwards and apologised.

I'm now waiting for an MRI.

All of this happened during the first four months of my baby's life.

I couldn't breastfeed because I was so sick. I was weak, recovering from surgeries, constantly in pain, vomiting or mentally overwhelmed. There were days I couldn't even pick him up. I feel like I missed so many moments (his newborn stage, vaccinations, cuddles, bonding).

We also spent weeks trying to get someone to release his severe tongue tie. Doctor after doctor refused. Once it was finally done, he feeds so much better now!!

I keep looking back thinking, "What if someone had just listened the first time?"

Instead, I spent months wondering if I was just a dramatic first-time mum, when in reality I had retained placenta, gallstones requiring surgery, and now possible IIH.

I'm so hurt, angry and tired of the gaslighting. I'm grieving the first four months I didn't get with my baby because I was constantly fighting to be believed.

Has anyone else had postpartum complications that were repeatedly dismissed? Does this feeling of grief ever get easier? Because I love my little boy more than anything, but I can't stop mourning everything illness took from those precious early months. ❤️❤️

I don't even know what I'm looking for with this post. Maybe support. Maybe to know I'm not alone. Maybe just to get it off my chest. It's long I'm sorry...

I gave birth and it was actually a successful vaginal birth. I had stitches and recovery wasn't easy, fainting and blood loss, but there were beautiful moments. The trauma came afterwards with howI was treated by some of the medical professionals, no support or pain relief.

From the beginning, something didn't feel right. At my 2-week check-up I told them I wasn't feeling well. My stitches looked okay, I asked about the amount of fluid I was losing, I had lower back pain and bits of tissue coming out. I was told everything looked normal. I was given antibiotics "just in case" but reassured I probably didn't need them. The pain? "Just from giving birth." The bleeding? "Normal postpartum." The mood swings? "Motherhood."

I went from appointment to appointment (GPs, physio, continence nurse, psychologist, 6-week check, vaccinations) and I kept saying I wasn't okay. I was still bleeding heavily, vomiting occasionally and felt so unwell. Every time it was brushed off as postpartum recovery.

Finally, around 8 weeks postpartum, my continence nurse listened. She simply said, "Get an ultrasound."

I rang around nine places trying to find an emergency appointment. The scan showed a 5 cm piece of retained placenta. I ended up back in hospital urgently! My body passed the 5cm piece with manual movement.

I finally thought, "This must be it."

I felt a little better... then the next day I was incredibly sick again. More medication to help shed the remaining uterine lining. Cramping, sweats, mood swings... but at least my back pain disappeared.

Then at 9 weeks postpartum I was still vomiting after eating.

One night I ended up curled on the floor in agony and had to call an ambulance. The hospital diagnosed gallstones (without even doing a scan) and wanted me to organise imaging through my GP later. Even though the next morning I already had an ultrasound booked at another hospital because of the retained placenta. I begged them to write on the referral to scan my gallbladder too. Both hospitals were reluctant but eventually agreed. 🙌🙌

Thank goodness they did. Results: No more retained placenta... but yes, gallstones, multiple!

I immediately started an extremely low-fat diet while waiting five weeks for private surgery. During that time I lost 17 kg because I could barely eat. Eventually I had my gallbladder removed. Right now I'm one week from this surgery.

As if that wasn't enough, I also developed severe tooth pain and found out I needed multiple root canal appointments throughout this time period.

Then one day, completely randomly, I walked into an optometrist and said "do you have some time today?" they had a cancellation for right then. It was almost spiritual. He looked at my eyes and asked, "Have you lost a lot of weight recently?"

He told me the swelling behind my eyes that he'd seen back in 2022 had disappeared (ah, what swelling?? I thought). I mentioned that my pulsatile tinnitus had also gone away.

He said it sounded very much like intracranial hypertension (IIH) that had possibly resolved with the weight loss, but wanted me investigated because there can still be signs left behind. My GP initially didn't think a scan was necessary and said my blood pressure is always good, but after everything I'd already been through I pushed for it.

The CT came back showing a partial empty sella with correlation for IIH.

My GP actually rang me afterwards and apologised.

I'm now waiting for an MRI.

All of this happened during the first four months of my baby's life.

I couldn't breastfeed because I was so sick. I was weak, recovering from surgeries, constantly in pain, vomiting or mentally overwhelmed. There were days I couldn't even pick him up. I feel like I missed so many moments (his newborn stage, vaccinations, cuddles, bonding).

We also spent weeks trying to get someone to release his severe tongue tie. Doctor after doctor refused. Once it was finally done, he feeds so much better now!!

I keep looking back thinking, "What if someone had just listened the first time?"

Instead, I spent months wondering if I was just a dramatic first-time mum, when in reality I had retained placenta, gallstones requiring surgery, and now possible IIH.

I'm so hurt, angry and tired of the gaslighting. I'm grieving the first four months I didn't get with my baby because I was constantly fighting to be believed.

Has anyone else had postpartum complications that were repeatedly dismissed? Does this feeling of grief ever get easier? Because I love my little boy more than anything, but I can't stop mourning everything illness took from those precious early months. ❤️❤️

I don't even know what I'm looking for with this post. Maybe support. Maybe to know I'm not alone. Maybe just to get it off my chest.

I gave birth and it was actually a successful vaginal birth. I had stitches and recovery wasn't easy, fainting and blood loss, but there were beautiful moments. The trauma came afterwards with howI was treated by some of the medical professionals, no support or pain relief.

From the beginning, something didn't feel right. At my 2-week check-up I told them I wasn't feeling well. My stitches looked okay, I asked about the amount of fluid I was losing, I had lower back pain and bits of tissue coming out. I was told everything looked normal. I was given antibiotics "just in case" but reassured I probably didn't need them. The pain? "Just from giving birth." The bleeding? "Normal postpartum." The mood swings? "Motherhood."

I went from appointment to appointment (GPs, physio, continence nurse, psychologist, 6-week check, vaccinations) and I kept saying I wasn't okay. I was still bleeding heavily, vomiting occasionally and felt so unwell. Every time it was brushed off as postpartum recovery.

Finally, around 8 weeks postpartum, my continence nurse listened. She simply said, "Get an ultrasound."

I rang around nine places trying to find an emergency appointment. The scan showed a 5 cm piece of retained placenta. I ended up back in hospital urgently! My body passed the 5cm piece with manual movement.

I finally thought, "This must be it."

I felt a little better... then the next day I was incredibly sick again. More medication to help shed the remaining uterine lining. Cramping, sweats, mood swings... but at least my back pain disappeared.

Then at 9 weeks postpartum I was still vomiting after eating.

One night I ended up curled on the floor in agony and had to call an ambulance. The hospital diagnosed gallstones (without even doing a scan) and wanted me to organise imaging through my GP later. Even though the next morning I already had an ultrasound booked at another hospital because of the retained placenta. I begged them to write on the referral to scan my gallbladder too. Both hospitals were reluctant but eventually agreed. 🙌🙌

Thank goodness they did. Results: No more retained placenta... but yes, gallstones, multiple!

I immediately started an extremely low-fat diet while waiting five weeks for private surgery. During that time I lost 17 kg because I could barely eat. Eventually I had my gallbladder removed. Right now I'm one week from this surgery.

As if that wasn't enough, I also developed severe tooth pain and found out I needed multiple root canal appointments throughout this time period.

Then one day, completely randomly, I walked into an optometrist and said "do you have some time today?" they had a cancellation for right then. It was almost spiritual. He looked at my eyes and asked, "Have you lost a lot of weight recently?"

He told me the swelling behind my eyes that he'd seen back in 2022 had disappeared (ah, what swelling?? I thought). I mentioned that my pulsatile tinnitus had also gone away.

He said it sounded very much like intracranial hypertension (IIH) that had possibly resolved with the weight loss, but wanted me investigated because there can still be signs left behind. My GP initially didn't think a scan was necessary and said my blood pressure is always good, but after everything I'd already been through I pushed for it.

The CT came back showing a partial empty sella with correlation for IIH.

My GP actually rang me afterwards and apologised.

I'm now waiting for an MRI.

All of this happened during the first four months of my baby's life.

I couldn't breastfeed because I was so sick. I was weak, recovering from surgeries, constantly in pain, vomiting or mentally overwhelmed. There were days I couldn't even pick him up. I feel like I missed so many moments (his newborn stage, vaccinations, cuddles, bonding).

We also spent weeks trying to get someone to release his severe tongue tie. Doctor after doctor refused. Once it was finally done, he feeds so much better now!!

I keep looking back thinking, "What if someone had just listened the first time?"

Instead, I spent months wondering if I was just a dramatic first-time mum, when in reality I had retained placenta, gallstones requiring surgery, and now possible IIH.

I'm so hurt, angry and tired of the gaslighting. I'm grieving the first four months I didn't get with my baby because I was constantly fighting to be believed.

Has anyone else had postpartum complications that were repeatedly dismissed? Does this feeling of grief ever get easier? Because I love my little boy more than anything, but I can't stop mourning everything illness took from those precious early months. ❤️❤️