"I spent eight months in agony after my c-section scar became infected"
- 6 months ago
A new mum spent eight MONTHS in agony after her C-section wound became infected.
Dawn Schamely, 40, had to bite down a flannel daily to manage the pain caused by the wound.
She is better now, physically - but says the mental scars remain.
However, Dawn, from Ware, Herts., says it was "all worth it" - after being told she would never have children.
The former restaurant chef suffers from endometriosis, which doctors said would prevent her from getting pregnant.
Despite stopping trying for a baby, she and husband Dan Schamely, 43, are now proud parents to little George.
A debate was held in Parliament last month to discuss birth trauma and announced a national NHS plan to tackle birth injuries.
And Dawn said: “Part of me had always been adamant I'd be able to have a baby one day even when the doctors said I couldn't.
"When George was born it was so surreal holding him for the first time - I couldn't believe I was a mum.
"But I didn't expect for months after my C-section to be biting down on a flannel every day because I was in so much pain.
"Even now, the mental scars are still there.
"Both Dan and I have been having therapy - the after effects of birth trauma are constant.
"But as awful as it was, I'd do it all again to have my little miracle."
Dawn met now-husband Dan in 2017 and they began trying for a baby as Dawn had always dreamed of being a mum.
Two years in they were warned her endometriosis was so advanced that there was "no possible way" she'd get pregnant.
They agreed to discuss adoption later down the line and began planning their wedding – but three weeks before the wedding Dawn experienced stomach pains.
She put it down to endometriosis but, to her horror, doctors revealed she was actually having a miscarriage.
Dawn said: “When the nurse told me I was pregnant and had miscarried, my legs just gave way.
"I thought 'miracles don't happen twice' and that had been our only shot at being parents."
But a scan showed both 'a sack of blood' and a 'viable baby' - meaning she had been pregnant with twins, and one was still alive.
Dan revealed their pregnancy to their loved ones in his speech on their wedding day.
Little George was then born via emergency C-section on March 13 2022 weighing 6lbs 4oz.
His doting parents brought him home for the first time two days later.
Dawn said: "Bringing him home - if I could bottle that feeling and sell it, we’d probably be millionaires."
But her C-section scar following the birth showed no signs of healing - as well as causing Dawn to be in agony.
When the wound began "oozing and bubbling" she ended up back in hospital, as it turned out that she had developed an infection.
On March 31 she had debridement surgery, to remove infected tissue from the wound, measuring 6cm-deep, 10cm-wide and 15cm-long.
It had to be left open to heal and needed the dressing changed daily by Dan, who quit his job to become her full-time carer.
She said: "We had to pack the wound every day which was agonising.
"I made Dan take George out the house when my dressings needed changing because I didn't want him to hear my screams."
Finally, after eight months of "horrific pain" the wound healed, but the mental impact has remained - and will "never go away".
She is now raising awareness of birth trauma, via the Birth Trauma Association.
She says this has become her "newfound passion".
Dawn said: "Birth trauma is such a taboo subject, but it needs raising in conversation because it happens - I am living proof.
"Even though the wound healed it had a massive impact on our relationship, Dan was scared to even hug me for seven months in case it hurt me.
"The after-effects of birth trauma are constant and quite lonely because it's difficult to understand unless you've been through it.
"But we have our little miracle George, and as awful as it was, I'd do it all again for him."
www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk
Dawn Schamely, 40, had to bite down a flannel daily to manage the pain caused by the wound.
She is better now, physically - but says the mental scars remain.
However, Dawn, from Ware, Herts., says it was "all worth it" - after being told she would never have children.
The former restaurant chef suffers from endometriosis, which doctors said would prevent her from getting pregnant.
Despite stopping trying for a baby, she and husband Dan Schamely, 43, are now proud parents to little George.
A debate was held in Parliament last month to discuss birth trauma and announced a national NHS plan to tackle birth injuries.
And Dawn said: “Part of me had always been adamant I'd be able to have a baby one day even when the doctors said I couldn't.
"When George was born it was so surreal holding him for the first time - I couldn't believe I was a mum.
"But I didn't expect for months after my C-section to be biting down on a flannel every day because I was in so much pain.
"Even now, the mental scars are still there.
"Both Dan and I have been having therapy - the after effects of birth trauma are constant.
"But as awful as it was, I'd do it all again to have my little miracle."
Dawn met now-husband Dan in 2017 and they began trying for a baby as Dawn had always dreamed of being a mum.
Two years in they were warned her endometriosis was so advanced that there was "no possible way" she'd get pregnant.
They agreed to discuss adoption later down the line and began planning their wedding – but three weeks before the wedding Dawn experienced stomach pains.
She put it down to endometriosis but, to her horror, doctors revealed she was actually having a miscarriage.
Dawn said: “When the nurse told me I was pregnant and had miscarried, my legs just gave way.
"I thought 'miracles don't happen twice' and that had been our only shot at being parents."
But a scan showed both 'a sack of blood' and a 'viable baby' - meaning she had been pregnant with twins, and one was still alive.
Dan revealed their pregnancy to their loved ones in his speech on their wedding day.
Little George was then born via emergency C-section on March 13 2022 weighing 6lbs 4oz.
His doting parents brought him home for the first time two days later.
Dawn said: "Bringing him home - if I could bottle that feeling and sell it, we’d probably be millionaires."
But her C-section scar following the birth showed no signs of healing - as well as causing Dawn to be in agony.
When the wound began "oozing and bubbling" she ended up back in hospital, as it turned out that she had developed an infection.
On March 31 she had debridement surgery, to remove infected tissue from the wound, measuring 6cm-deep, 10cm-wide and 15cm-long.
It had to be left open to heal and needed the dressing changed daily by Dan, who quit his job to become her full-time carer.
She said: "We had to pack the wound every day which was agonising.
"I made Dan take George out the house when my dressings needed changing because I didn't want him to hear my screams."
Finally, after eight months of "horrific pain" the wound healed, but the mental impact has remained - and will "never go away".
She is now raising awareness of birth trauma, via the Birth Trauma Association.
She says this has become her "newfound passion".
Dawn said: "Birth trauma is such a taboo subject, but it needs raising in conversation because it happens - I am living proof.
"Even though the wound healed it had a massive impact on our relationship, Dan was scared to even hug me for seven months in case it hurt me.
"The after-effects of birth trauma are constant and quite lonely because it's difficult to understand unless you've been through it.
"But we have our little miracle George, and as awful as it was, I'd do it all again for him."
www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk