Jessica Pinder’s joyous anticipation of her son Jax’s birth turned into a nightmare when she faced a series of complications during labor. Despite a planned water birth, high blood pressure led to an epidural and an extended labor marked by excruciating pain.
As Jessica reached full dilation, she pushed for hours with no progress. A team of midwives and consultants assisted in an unsuccessful vacuum cup delivery attempt. An episiotomy was performed, followed by a forceps delivery that resulted in a shoulder dystocia, a rare complication where the baby’s shoulders become stuck in the birth canal.
The room filled with tension as doctors frantically pulled on the forceps while a midwife attempted to dislodge Jax’s shoulder internally and another applied pressure on Jessica’s abdomen. Six agonizing minutes later, Jax’s head emerged, but his body remained trapped.
Born pale and floppy, Jax was rushed to the theater where he received CPR for 20 minutes. Jessica, traumatized and fearing the worst, held her lifeless son for a brief moment before he was taken to intensive care. Jax suffered seizures and was transferred to a specialist hospital, leaving Jessica in a state of shock and despair.
The aftermath of Jax’s birth was marked by physical and emotional scars. Jax was diagnosed with Erb’s Palsy and required physiotherapy. Jessica grappled with PTSD, flashbacks, and hypervigilance, convinced that Jax was in imminent danger.
When Jessica became pregnant with her daughter Jacie, she considered termination due to the trauma she had endured. However, with support from an IAPT service, she opted for a planned C-section at a different hospital. The experience was vastly different, calm and positive.
Now a passionate advocate for others, Jessica supports women through the Birth Trauma Association. She highlights the stigma surrounding birth trauma and advocates for accessible mental health support for distressed parents. Despite the physical and emotional scars she bears, Jessica remains eternally grateful for the gift of motherhood.
