My Birth Story.
This is going to be a long one, so either skip to photos or grab yourself a cuppa.
I guess it all started when I had my 40 week AN check up with my GP on Wednesday 3 September. I was already 3 days overdue and pretty miserable. I had mentioned to my GP that I wasnt feeling her move as much as I used to and haven't got my 10 a day for 2 days now. I thought it was quite normal to have less movements and thought it meant birth was imminent but my GP was worried and suggested icy cold water and then if it didnt work to ring the Day Assessment Unit at hospital. So, we went home and it didnt work, H begged me to call the DAU who asked me to come straight in. The hooked me up to the monitor for 2 hours and got 5 movements out of her with some prodding and poking and of course more icy water. Still not completely happy, they asked me to go back the next day for more monitoring.
Thursday 4 September came and I had more monitoring. She was moving but the MW still wasn't happy as she'd suddenly got quiet and was acting out of character. The Doctor asked if she could scan me and check she was okay. The scan showed a drastic reduction in water around her (so what I thought was sweating over the past couple of weeks was actually loosing my waters) and she said the placenta didnt look "at its best" and she wanted baby out. We were shocked, I was worried more about induction than I had been and she said she was admitting me straight away as priority. The nurse told us to go have lunch (it was 1pm) and come back with my bags etc and she'd get a room ready for me on the ward.
We went home, had lunch, packed camera, got my bags etc, sorted cats out and headed back 2 hours later. I had a nice private room and was told a MW would be giving me gel to get labour started. If that didnt work, Id have more gel Friday morning, then a Doctor would have to exam me if I needed a third lot. If that didnt work, they'd have to break my waters and put me on the drip to get things started. I didnt think Id get to that point, little did I know...!
First lot of gel didnt hurt, but wasn't a nice experience, just a bit uncomfortable. Nothing happened though so they sent H home at 8pm and I got some sleep. Second gel was at 6am on Friday, still nothing and the MW said my cervix was still long and closed but she felt it was softening up a little. Friday night I had my third and final lot of gel. By this stage I was quite tearful, emotional and felt my body was totally failing me. I began thinking it was my own fault, for being overweight, for having a good pregnancy, for moaning about her being
late and all that kind of stuff was going around in my head. My closest friends and some lovely hitchers were texting so much comfort and support, I was overwhelmed at their friendship towards me. 11pm came and I had a show. I was so excited, the MW examined me again and said I was 1cm and things were starting to work at last. I was so happy, I couldnt stop crying! Contractions were coming every 3 minutes, lasting a minute. I was so excited, H put my TENS on (couldnt have lived without it, it was a life saver) but H still had to leave at 8pm. Friday through the night was probably the worst night as I wasn't coping with them on my own and crying for H. They gave me sleeping pills to help but all this did was slow contractions down and then they stopped.
This went on for all of Saturday too. Every check they told me I was still only 1cm and would speak to a Doctor about getting my waters broke but Delivery Suite were busy and they were short staffed. I was gutted. Id be in 3 days and wanted my baby.
Sunday 7th September came and I was monitored for an hour to check her hb and my contractions. When I had a big one, we noticed that her heart rate was dropping to 80bpm and the MW was beginning to worry. I kept telling them to break my waters or I would! In the end, it got to 2pm and my favourite mw was on shift. I went to see her and demanded to see a Doctor. I explained what had been happening in the morning with baby's heart rate and she agreed to check my trace and show a doctor. An hour later she came back in and said "pack your bags, you're off to have your baby girl". I burst into tears, at last they were going to help me get this baby out. I started saying to H that I didnt think I could do it now, I was so tired, having been having contractions on and off since Friday night and emotionally, I was a wreck. Still, I now could see a light at the end of the tunnel.
I was introduced to Vanessa, a lovely midwife who was on shift. She said she didnt think our baby would be here today (Sunday) but probably in the early hours of Monday morning. Still, I didnt care, she was coming and that was the main thing. I had a thingy put in my arm but they couldnt find a big enough vein, so said that the chances of me being able to have an epidural
were limited. In fact, my H told me they said that as they didnt want to worry me, they told me there was no way they'd get one in my arm big enough to cope with it. So glad they didnt tell me that, Id have walked out! Anyway, Vanessa broke my waters and they just trickled out. I felt the contractions change instantly and H put my ipod on with Natal Hypnotherapy playing. This
had really helped me get through the past few days and make the pain more bearable. I kept breathing through them but were told they were not regular or long enough (I beg to differ, they were to me!) so they hooked me up on to the drip. I said I didnt want much of it, as I had heard it makes the pain worse, so she agreed "little and often". I got up on the bed (even though I wanted to be mobile at first) but my legs were aching and was shown how to use Gas and Air. H said I told him I felt like a balloon floating up in the air, very relaxing and distracted me from the pain of the contractions. The rest is a little blurry, but I had pethedine at 7pm when I felt the need to push, even though I was told I was only 6cm. It wasn't long after that I was telling Vanessa and H that "she's telling me to push her out, please let me!" and Vanessa was shocked, saying I was 9.5cm and could push. H went down the business end whilst still holding my hand and said he could see her head a little. 1 push later, her head was out, 1 more push her body was out.
They all stood there shocked, Vanessa had just told H that it would take me 3 hours to push her out and I did it in just TWO MINUTES! I couldnt believe it, although did say "I told you I needed to push!" Amelia was put staright onto my chest with me crying "oh my god,shes really here!" and H crying and thanking me for giving him a beautiful daughter. We had a cuddle, a feed and then H had a cuddle whilst I was stitched up from my second degree tear. Ouch. This was far worse than labour! Afterwards we were given tea and toast and left alone for a cuddle and family time. MW ran me a bath, H dressed her and we were on the ward at 1am.
Monday lunchtime I was told I could go home and how lucky that Amelia had slept 1am till 7am solid without so much as a grumble. Im sure it will all change soon. Feeding is going okay, we're on day 3 waiting for my milk to come in, so I guess that's when the challenge will really begin.
I dont think I have ever felt so much love in all my life. She has made me feel so totally complete and I thank my lucky stars for her each and every day. She is perfect.
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