MSE Pregnancy Club Birth Stories

Triangle

Joseph Arthur, born Saturday 16/06/12 weighing 7lb 8oz, 39+1 gestation

Hi all Little man asleep so thought I'd post my birth story in the hope that it may be useful/interesting

My pregnancy went fairly smoothly. I was diagnosed with SPD around 24 weeks and was off work for some time and eventually started maternity leave early but physio helped a great deal and I felt I managed as best I could.

On 24/05 I noticed I had excessive swelling of hands and feet and pesistant itching too. I went to the maternity assessment unit at the hospital and although all was fine, they noticed I had high blood pressure. The following week it was too high again and I was admitted to the ward for the night for tests and put on medication. Several day trips to the assessment unit followed before being admitted to the ward again on Tuesday 12th June. My blood pressure was continuing to rocket although I had no other signs of illness, other than protein in urine and ketones in blood. The next day the doctors and consultants did their rounds and went through my latest results. This wonderful older lady consultant was very no nonsense and said you have pre-eclampsia, we are inducing you today. This was a relief as I was fed up with the constant to-ing and fro-ing - the stress not helping my blood pressure!

I phoned DH at work who promply left, starting his paternity leave. At this point I was under the illusion that I would have the baby soon - no such luck! On Wednesay afternoon I had the first induction pessary inserted (I can't remember the name) and a further one that evening. I was awful with the internal examinations and needed gas and air just to get through them! The midwives were wonderful with me though. That night I started to get some pain and bounced on a birthing ball as well as having a bath. DH arrived back in the morning and I was feeling positive that something would happen. No joy though - the fake contractions stopped, I was barely 1cm dilated and cervix nowhere near ready. I was deveasted by this and had to have two more pessarys inserted (I have no idea whether this is normal for inductions but the other women on the ward who were being induced also had the same problem - there was some talk of a dodgy batch of pessarys? Unsure if this true). Another night followed of mild discomfort although a couple of warm baths helped.

DH came back again Friday morning and finally joy of joy they decided I could go the delivery suite to have my waters broken! However - we arrived in our room at 1.30pm and my waters weren't broken until 5.30pm! The midwife couldn't do it and luckily managed to catch the no nonsense lady consultant. I had to have gas and air for it - it was so painful. She said afterwards it was one of the hardest water breaking she had done - and she had years and years of experience! Little man just didn't want to leave his comfy home!

I opted and was encouraged to have an epidural and was also given the oxytocin drip to start contractions. However, both of these didn't happen until midnight :eek: I had a cannuler which also hurt like hell as the first attempt burst a vein. A catherater was also inserted - bang went all my hopes for an active waterbirth with gas and air! I was very upset about this but have made peace with it now - I had an unforseeable condition; best made plans and all that. Anyway, a most uncomfortable night followed. DH managed a couple of hours sleep in the chair but I had none. I had barely slept since I had entered the hospital on the Tuesday and was totally exhausted. The night dragged and dragged but by 7am and shift handover, I had progressed to 4cm (I think) which is when they said my labour offically started. The next midwife was even more lovely than the first, I feel so lucky to have had such care.

Around lunchtime things started to go a bit wrong. The epidural had been ok up until then (I had topped up when necessary) but then failed. It was just one patch on my back but it was pure and simple agony especially as it was so concentrated. I ws screaming and felt like my back was breaking. Another epidural was put in place but that also failed so the anaetheist put a spinal block in place. Throughout all this I was using gas and air. Then finally - some release! Spinal block worked and I had an hour or so of calm. Around this time I was examinjed and my labour hadn't progressed as they had hope. There was talk of a c-section which I was desperate for at this point. But a later exaimination showed things were moving - I had got to 6cm - and by 3.15pm I was dilated enough to start pushing. At first this was OK but then the pain shocked me - I had thought the spinal block would have helped but no such luck! I was pushing for two hours and was simply exhausted. The consultant came in and said forceps delivery would be necessary and all of a sudden the room filled up. Prior to labour I was against an assisted delivery but no longer cared at this point! The consultant said an episotomy was necessary and so I was cut. The following 10/15 minutes are a bit of a blur - other than the pain - but all of a sudden Joseph was placed on my chest at 5.50pm and I was being sewn up Little man was fine, had a low heart beat but only very slightly and only for a couple of minutes. I lost quite a bit of blood and am still on iron tablets as classed as anameic.

I stayed in the delivery suite until 1am, DH went home and I was taken to ward. Joseph was very sleeply at first and had forceps marks on head but these had pratically disappeared by Sunday evening I was discharged from hospital on the Monday and here we are - my little family! I am only very slightly still sore down below and generally feel a lot better, I was quite poorly for a couple of days.

Some of you may have read my thread on breast/bottle feedeing - I had immense diffculty - physcially and emotionally - but have now come to a decision on feeing which suits us both and that I am happy with. The first week was the hardest and I fully expect much of the same for the next few weeks; the tiredness is out of this world! But looking at my little man makes everything worthwhile :j

I did and do feel a little traumatised by my labour - mainly the prolongness of it and the lack of control the pre-eclampsia brought. However, the care I received was out of this world and I feel so lucky. DH was a star throughout and I have never felt closer to him. I plan to have a de-brief at the hospital in a few months, mainly to consider how any subsquent labours may be affected by the first, liklihood of needing consultant care etc.

However, in short, would I do it again? In a heartbeat!

aless02

I originally posted DS1's birth story back when Sami first started this thread, so here is DS2's from a week ago! He was a planned home birth .

At 40+10, I had been trying all the tricks in the book to help bring on labour. DS1 had been 2 days early, so I wasn't used to this overdue malarky! My waters broke at 10:40pm - I was lying in bed after DH and I had, erm, been 'encouraging' baby to come. Rushed to the bathroom and told DH what was going on. Even though I went into labour immediately after waters breaking with DS1, I knew there was a possibility things may not happen straight away.

He headed downstairs to put on a large pot of coffee and prep the birth pool, I soon followed with a towel wedged between my legs. At 23:05, started feeling some meaningful cramps, so I phoned the MWs. Silly me told them not to send someone straight away as things had only just started. We agreed that I would phone back in an hour with a status update. After a few more intense cramps, I told DH to go ahead and start filling the pool as I knew it would take a long time.

Started the contractions timer while also trying to help set up the pool and get a cup of tea, etc. Within minutes, cramps turned to moderate contractions of 3 in 10 minutes! By then, I was in the dining room to supervise the water temperature as the taps kept hot/cold/hot/cold. Phoned the MWs back about 30 minutes after the original phone call and said they better get someone out straight away. The on-call MW said she would be there in 20-30 minutes.

By about 00:15, the contractions were pretty damn painful and coming quicker. The pool was very close to ready and I was DYING to get in since the whole darn point of it was pain relief! I knew the MW would want to check me when she got there, so I was trying really hard to hold off getting in so I wouldn't have to get back out again, but I also knew the labour was going really quickly. I finally decided to say screw it and jumped in - ahhhh relief!!

MW arrived about 10 minutes after I got in. She spent what felt like ages just faffing with my notes and asking me naff questions. Eventually, she was 'ready' and asked me to get out so she could do BP, doppler, etc. By this point, I had a gut feeling that things were a lot closer than anyone thought and I really really did NOT want to get out of that pool. But I didn't want to seem uncooperative by refusing to get out and thought that I could sort of hold things off while she examined me really quickly and then jump back in.

I got out of the pool - big mistake. The shift of gravity definitely pushed the accelerator as she had only been trying to do the doppler for about 30 seconds when I knew things were coming. I shouted that the baby was coming RIGHT THEN and I think she must've seen the head because that's when she finally jumped into action! Cue some frantic ripping and grabbing instruments while telling me to hold on and breathe for just a minute - she also dialled the hospital and threw DH her phoned so he could shout for them to send the 2nd MW ASAP. Since it was all so sudden, I was on the hard floor with only 1 towel underneath, oops.

Micah Lucas was born at 01:01 10th August 2012 after a couple pushes, 7lbs 15oz. He was placed straight onto my chest, DH announced he was a boy and cut the cord. It was VERY quick and I was annoyed that I wound up given birth on a hard floor instead of my lovely pool!!

He was cleaned up and all fine. Placenta was a tiny bit slow, so I had to sit up and shift forward onto my knees so gravity could help. By this point, the floor was killing me anyway so I didn't mind.

We made our way to the lounge while DH made teas and the 2nd MW turned up. They cleaned up in the dining room while we rested on the sofa. They did all their paperwork, helped me upstairs into bed and were gone by just past 3am!!

DS1's labour was only 5h30m, so I knew this would be quick, but I didn't anticipate THAT quick! It wasn't anyone's fault but I'm mega annoyed that I didn't get to give birth in the pool. Hindsight is 20/20 as I know I knew in my gut not to get out of the pool as things were very close, but I didn't stand up for it. Oh well, there's always next time!

Even if labour hadn't been so darn quick, I am SO happy I opted for a home birth. It was wonderful not having to go anywhere while in labour and then be straight in my own bed afterwards. I can't believe the rate is only 4%, it's actually the easy option, trust me!!!

Kitten_Pie

Naomi Lily Boyd, 28th August 2012, 15:54, 7lb 2oz

On Monday 20th August we had a scan which showed excess fluid (Polyhyramnious) and an enlarged bladder, due to these issues and the additional anxiety we were now feeling (our sons were stillborn due to excess fluid (Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome)) we went into hospital for observation on Thursday to be induced on Monday 27th August.

Monday evening I was checked over and given some gel to soften the cervix, 1/2 an hour later my contractions start and are ten minutes apart. This lasts 6 hours until they check me again and inform me that I have dialated exactly 0cms (aaaaah) It seems the gel was just giving me fake contractions (which it can) Early Tuesday morning I am checked again (no change) and taken through to the labour room to have a further insertion of the gel. Firstly my wonderful midwife and student midwife run me a lovely warm bath where me and OH stay for a couple of hours relaxing, I even fell asleep as the water helped with the back contractions.

On exiting the bath I have another check to have the gel inserted however it seems with the help of the bath I have now dialated 4cm and can get my epidural before having he drip to really start things going.

My epidural doesn't work!! not even a little, it is taken out and redone however it still doesn't work. My midwives want to break my waters and start me on the drip but being incredibly scared I wanted the pain relief to start first. I do finally agree to them breaking my waters (which managed to hit all in the room including my OH whose trousers were drenched). The consultant anaesthetist (sp?) comes to my rescue and takes out the epidural and does it again for the third time. He informs me that because it is back labour he can't take away the back pain but it should work everywhere else.

This time the epidural works but not on the back pain as i was told. They want to start the drip to increase my contractions which I am now told have stopped (doesn't bloody feel like it) She does a check and then calls to the student midwife to get everything ready for the baby, I am crowning and the baby will be here in less than 1/2 an hour.

1/2 an hour later I am holding Naomi Lily Boyd.

Because it was back labour, when I was pushing I was pushing her off my back and she turned as she excited. The whole ring of fire thing terrified me throughout the pregnancy but actually during it my pain eased so pushing her out although hard work wasn't anywhere near as painful as I had imagined. My OH watched as she came out and even cut the cord. He burst into tears kissing me telling me that we had a cub. It was lovely to see but the placenta was still to come and I was a little preoccupied.

I had skin to skin contact and lots of junior doctors running in to see the birth because there hadn't been time to update the board and it said I was 4cm not sitting there with a cub.

1st stage labour = 2hrs 40mins
2nd stage labour = 34mins
3rd stage labour = 12mins

Not too shabby.

I am currently trying to establish breastfeeding however she had quite bad jaundice (just below the blood transfusion line) so I wasn't able to breastfeed while she was there however I did express so hoping that together we can get back on top.

Gillyx

Kitten so pleased to read this. Congratulations again. Lots of love to your little family xxx

little_miss_moneysaver_3

Here's my attempt to write down my birth story......it's quite long!

I went for a growth scan which was all fine and they estimated bubs weight to be around 7lbs. He looked lovely and strong and all was well.
We then went the 36week consultant appointment. I thought we would be discussing options for the birth etc. I had the routine BP and urine check. My BP was 170/120, they did it a few more times and it was around the same. Also I had protein +++ in my urine. I had a dull frontal headache for the past few days, but it had been very warm and it isn't unusual for me to get headaches in general. So of course they sent me over to the main hospital. Wouldn't allow me to go home to collect my hospital bag (well heap of stuff I hadn't put into a bag) but to go straight there (did !quickly pop into the asda opposite for lunch and munchies though). Lovely midwife tells me that the next time I go home I may have my baby with me - that did nothing to help my BP!!

So by now its 5pm we turned up at the day assessment/triage place. They again checked the BP and urine and was same results as the clinic. They attached the CTG to me and baby is looking happy. The midwives tell me they're think pre eclampsia which I'd guessed myself by now. They take bloods too for markers of pre eclampsia and check iron levels etc.!

We then get told they're taking me to the delivery suite so they can monitor me more closely. So a lovely midwife comes down to take me there. By now I'm not allowed to eat or drink anything. They give me tablets for blood pressie. !They put a large needle in my arm to give my drugs for high BP (tablets didn't have an effect) and an infusion of magnesium. Because of those two medicines they put in a urinary catheter to measure my urine output each hour. Cue the moment of horror when I remember my lady garden had not had the trim I thought it would before the hospital! It was painless though, the midwife was very good. During this time I felt a twang in my tummy and turns out some waters had broken.!

During this time was a lot of BP taking and waiting. Also had the sexy hospital anti blood clot stocking put on. Doctor came in and explained I had pre eclampsia and the only cure was delivery the baby. He was happy that the baby was a good weight and the scan showed he was ok so they weren't worried about him. Only two days off full term. they said they would induce me as baby looked happy for the moment.!

Around 10pm dr examines me, breaks my remaining water and says I'm 2-3cm dilated. He gives me a sweep and I'm to be reexamined in two hours and depending on how my cervix is I could have pessaries or need the drip. I'm on a fluid restriction now, but because I'm awkward I persuaded them to let me drink the 70mls an hour orally so each hour I got my carefully measured water. And for two hours we waited.

Meanwhile I got moved t the high dependency bit of the delivery suite. Very nice room and air conditioned after two hours I get offered by my nighttime midwife that I could be examined by another midwife who has magic fingers and if I have a sweep by her I'll probably have the baby within an hour. So I agreed at this point we start discussing pain relief, the other midwife came and I was offered gas and air for it. It was very a thorough and uncomfortable sweep I'm not really sure how much of her arm was up there! !The G&A made me feel funny and not in a good way. Which scuppered my plans for surviving with the gas. But anyway she thinks I'm only 2cms dilated so I need the drip for induction. We chat and by what I've learnt here the drip is painful so I agree to the epidural rather tan try nd get one later. This must be around half !12 now on Wednesday morning. A littke whike later the anaesthetist comes and puts in the epidural line. Completely painless, I think I asked him when was he going to do it and said it was already in. No medicines in it yet though. They started setting up the drip etc. so I sit back and await things to start. Very scared that I'm about to have a baby etc.!

This is where things get interesting. I suddenly feel funny, like kind of dizzy even though I'm lying down. OH looks at me and asks if I'm ok, he says now I had no colour even in my lips. I thought I was telling them I felt unwell but apparently I was mumbling incoherently. The midwife shouts for help and the room is full of people. I remember they were asking the anaesthetist what drugs I'd had in my epidural and he said nothing yet. Then I just remember them saying I needed to go to theatre NOW! So they were running with my bed and all my drips down the corridor. Once in theatre they told me OH was changing into scrubs. I asked what was happening and they were vague saying just that baby wasn't happy so they had to get him out. OH appears looking terrified. But then the anaesthetist starts saying there's no time for the epidural to work and it's a category one section and I'm to be put under GA. now I am terrified. OH is led out. The anaesthetist makes my drink some antacid drink (disgusting) and they were talking whether I could consent or I was too unwell. I never signed so guess they just got on with it. I remember him saying he wanted me to keep my eyes open then he said he was putting the ga drug in so........

It's a couple of hours later I'm back in my high dependency room being woken by a few people including my midwife. I ask where the baby is and they point to OH sitting there with a big grin on his face holding our little boy Zachary James was born at 01:39am on 22nd August weighing 6lb 1oz. He had a good check over and was absolutely perfect! A bit later on when I was less groggy I had skin to skin with him. I attempted breastfeeding but as he was a bit little and I was a bit dazed it wasn't so successful.!

My BP had dropped to 60/30 and baby's heartbeat had dropped for over 6 minutes. !Probably because of the epidural but!they weren't going to wit any longer hence the urgency.!

I spent another 24 hours in high dependency. I still needed IV drugs for my blood pressure so had a drip in each hand, a 02 probe on my finger, BP cuff, urinary catheter then a monitor for my heartbeat/breathing. I asked to get and about to do things but was told by my lovely midwife that I was actually quite unwell. Until this point as daft as it sounds I hadn't really realised. I didn't feel unwell, obviously very sore after the section. It was lovely having the one-2-one care as she was able to help he feed Zachary and between us we were getting better at breastfeeding although we cup fed him some formula as well.!

!The infusions were stopped and converted to tablets and was my BP was getting more controlled. I was transferred to the ward Thursday morning and spent two more nights there trying to establish breastfeeding and just monitoring my BP.!

Even though it was the furthest possible from what I had planned (go in, pop out a baby and go home within 6 hours), I don't feel negatively. Although I don't really feel I gave birth to him and although he's here I forget I'm not pregnant anymore. That has taken some getting used to. Buts he's so gorgeous and generally a laid back baby.!To be honest I'm just happy that both Zachary and I survived without harm. We are very lucky !

Now we are home, Zachary is two weeks old today and is doing well. Still tiny though is 5lb 11oz today and still needing a couple of formula top ups a day. But he's a joy to have.!

Sorry about my long post. It's the first time I've written it all down.!

Student_Mrs

I don’t know how to start but maybe at the end! Our little man arrived at 2:35 am on his due date Wednesday 22nd August. As he is our first we weren’t really expecting him to arrive and had not really had any clue he was coming, I still had my plug and had lost no waters.

So, back to the start. Tuesday morning, 2:30am I couldn’t sleep and went downstairs to see hubby who had stayed up. This was unusual in itself as I was normally trying to get some sleep as third trimester had been rough with sleep, especially the last couple of weeks. As we watched programmes, I started to get some stomach cramps, different to before; they were underneath my bump and in my groin – quite strong. I tried bouncing on my ball and then an hour later, we went to bed. I managed to get some sleep so thought nothing of it until I woke up at 7 and felt they were regular and close together. I also felt an urge to tidy up our floor; it was the only messy thing as my hubs had tidied everything else up! I didn’t know what to do so woke up hubby and we rang the hospital. They said to try and leave it an hour as they weren’t that regular and I could still talk through them. In this time, I downloaded a contraction timer and hub had a nap.

We first went into hospital at 10 o clock Tuesday morning and as soon as I got into an examination room, I started crying! I couldn’t explain it, I was in pain but it was more the realisation that something was happening. I was strapped up and examined internally and told I was just 1cm. It felt really painful, and I was upset. I was offered pethidine but felt I didn’t want that at 1cm and the midwife confirmed that I could have that but it would most likely lead to induction or a lot more pain as they wouldn’t be able to tell how long labour would be. Instead they recommended hot baths for pain relief and to get some co-codamol. So off home we went, my contractions tightening like Braxton hicks but all across my front and groin whereas id read that contractions were in the back so almost didn’t believe I was in early labour! We went home stopping at Boots and Cafe Nero to get some sustenance as I really fancied a pan au chocolat for some reason! I found it hard to eat the Panini I bought though, and didn’t eat much else that day. After this, we went home and tried to relax and ignore the pain. I watched some TV but for the life of me can’t remember what and the pain got steadily worse. They’d done the breathing through exercises at the hospital but I thought it would make the pain go away, it did not!! This meant later on as the pain got worse, I really worked myself up and my poor husband tried to help me breathe through them and just got shouted at. I’d been told by midwifes to go back in when I couldn’t talk through contractions, not a certain time.

As the pain got worse, I paced up and down the house and finally rang the hospital back up and we went back in at 10pm – 12 hours later but I was still 1cm! This was so frustrating; I was in pain but again, was told to come back when I couldn’t breathe/talk through contractions. During the examination, I was told my cervix had effaced so at least the pain was doing something – that did not help! I think I was given a sweep though wasn’t told as I was told I was ripe and also given a maternity pad as I lost my plug, there was loads of pink mucus...! This was the first time anything had happened. Going back home, we subjected the neighbours to my screaming and bad handling of pain – cue banging on walls and crawling on all 4s as well as my gym ball. It felt like nothing was helping and then 2 hours later, half past midnight, my waters broke (I remember the time cus I was thinking that I would have to be induced 12 hours later!) I really thought I was going to be 1cm forever but we rang hospital and was told to come in when I really couldn’t handle it. After my waters broke – by the way, there were loads and I just kept trickling during contractions, I always wondered how I would know that my waters broke but they really smelt different, like straw! I also had a bloody show which I didn’t think would happen as id lost my mucus plug. An hour later, still in massive pain I felt an urge to push and in so much more pain. We rang up the hospital and I was so mean to the midwife when she asked me how far apart the contractions were and what I wanted to do. I just kept saying I don’t know, I’m so tired! I kept saying to my husband, I can’t do this, what do I do, what do I do? And I’m sorry, I should be calm and breathe but I can’t do it! My husband was lovely and put up with all my waters breaking, me shouting and telling him I needed a poo! The hospital asked if I wanted an epidural and at that point, I was so tired I wanted something to help me sleep so I told them I was coming in. This was now half 1 on Weds morning. As we got into the hospital, I felt like I was going to poo myself and a huge pushing down feeling – I had to stop as we got to the car park and again, was on all 4s in the corridor. Getting to the examination room (which had always been the same one!) I went to the toilet and hubs was telling the midwife I needed to push and we were told that it might just be the baby in a different position. I was strapped up to the ctg in agony and could tell the midwife who examined me thought I was going to be 1cm or a lil more again! That’s what me and my husband thought, and I just wanted some pain relief. It had been nearly 24 hours with only co-codamol to help! Instead, I was told, lovely, you’re 10cm; you’re going to have to push! I remember the shock even now, and the photo my husband posted on facebook shows the pure naivety I felt, I just felt like a child and kept saying but I don’t understand. I’d basically done a full labour at home, causing lots of mess and noise – it was not the water birth I’d hoped for but it was incredible. They have my first stage as 0:00 because it didn’t happen in hospital and my pushing time at 40 mins but I remember looking at the clock after Id been examined and it was 20 past 2, as my little man came at 2:35, it was 20 mins max! I had been taking raspberry leaf capsules so perhaps that helped.

The pushing was awkward, I was so confused and was still having no pain relief! The only thing I had was a really painful injection and that was just when little man was crowning. I remember the midwifes letting me feel the head and me saying it was gross, and seeing the head. All I kept asking was, is he alright?! There were only 2 midwives and my husband in the room and you could tell they were worried about baby’s heartbeat but then they kept us calm and we just kept going. Once he came out, and that is so amazing, my husband cut the cord and he was put on my chest while I had the injection and the placenta was delivered. I always thought I’d deliver the placenta naturally but was so tired at that point and so amazed we had our baby boy! I remember how heavy he felt and how odd the feeling was, and said to my hubs, I don’t have a bump anymore J. It was cool that every stranger I met told me I had a small bump but here was an 8lb 10 boy! We’ve had a struggle with the feeding and so we stayed in the hospital for 3 days after the birth. What’s been amazing is that my husband doesn’t have to go back to uni yet and so we’ve been able to help each other. I had some things to say to nervous first timers like I was but I can’t remember now and its only 3 weeks on! I’m still reading but feel like imp no use to you all now! Labour is incredible and when I look at my little man, I can’t believe he was inside of me and the way he came out of me – 24 hours, no pain relief and bonding with him in the hospital afterwards for his Group B strep observations. Being so pale, I was asked constantly about iron levels and we had one scary moment where they told us he had jaundice and that’s why he was so sleepy for feeds. They told us he may have to be rushed up to lights and hubs would no longer be able to stay in family room with us but fortunately he was below treatable levels. I was hand expressed by many many different nurses and am used to being handled like a cow now! We didn’t expect to stay more than 24 hours and were amazed by how quickly he went through the few newborn clothes we had. Oh yes, after some skin to skin and painful stitching up of a 2nd degree tear, I had an amazing shower and the lovely hospital gave me liquid witch hazel for my maternity pads to help with the healing. I don’t know if all hospitals give you this so I’d recommend packing this in your hospital bag. I’m not sure if it’s because I was quite active and breastfeeding and also being young at 23 but I was amazed at how quickly my body recovered. I was amazed by pregnancy, fascinated by labour and now in awe of my little man.

|Good luck to all and I will keep lurking J[FONT=&quot]

sorry it is so long!
[/FONT]

martafdz

Thank you so much for sharing, it is a great story and it gives me hope! I want a natural birth and I have asked for a water one, so I cannot have anything but gas and air. I do hope I do not tear, though, I do not know why but that is the bit that scares me the most! I have heard water births have less chance of tearing because of the warm water... but well, you never know!

Thanks again!

emweaver

I went for my weekly mw appointment on 5th September and my blood pressure had dangerously shot up and babys heartbeat was fast so was sent to hospital.

After being monitored and several tests confirmed it wasn't pre eclampsia I was sent home at 9pm to be induced the next day.

Arrived @ 9am and was monitored for babys hb, bp and tightenings all morning before having the pessary inserted @ 1.30pm. I had to lie on my side for an hour after.

Then we went to get some food and took a long walk to get things going. Ended up shopping lol

Around 5.30pm i started to feel a sharp, irregular stabbing pain in my cervix so headed back to the hospital.

At 6.30pm I was put back onto the monitor , contractions were every 3 minutes and lasting 45 seconds. At just after 9pm I was examined and was only 3cm dilated. I had my tens machine on.

I was getting anxious as I hate hospitals and was worried it would be long and painful like my first. I was also very tired and convinced I wouldn't cope with the contractions so asked for some pethodine @ 9.30pm. I was told I would feel drunk and it takes 20 mins to work.

By 10pm I thought when is it going to work and turned my tens machine up. Around 10.30pm the contractions suddenly got very strong, long and fast , with one I felt a pop but nothing happened. 10.50pm my waters went so mum got the midwife.

At 10.55pm I got the urge to push but mw said not to as I needed to be on delivery ward first. I tried not to push but I couldn't stop myself, she kept saying breathe don't push but I ignored her the urge was too strong.

They ran pushing my bed from the ward, down the lift and into delivery suite. I pushed 3-4 times on the way , was panicking and clinging onto dh for life as he was running being dragged behind the bed. As we entered the delivery suite corridor I pushed and felt a stinging. I cried shes crowning isn't she but mw said no and didn't look. Then pushed he hand inside me to hold the baby in so I didn't tear.

As they wheeled my bed into the delivery room I gave 2 pushes then she was placed on my tummy and dh cut the cord.

I was transferred onto a clean bed then bf baby for the first time.

It progressed so quickly, its a bit of a blur and a shock.

Im so glad mum was there or I probably would of ended up delivering on my own in my side room as dh didn't react when I said I needed to push. He didn't think it was possible to go so quick.

jjbargaingal

Hi Student Mrs - lovely to read your story and glad it went well in the end. I need to feed Charlotte but will post my birth story soon. I beat you 14th August !! Take care and good luck with your little man. Hugs jjxx

ikkle87

I had a lot of previous health problems as well as a few episodes of reduced fetal movement throughout this pregnancy and had originally been told I would be induced early however it seems one doctor didn't read my full notes as it was then marked down that the decision had been made to not induce me until Term + 14 unless there was a problem with the baby. Had they read notes about my existing history then early induction would have still gone ahead.

On Tuesday 9th October at 40 + 6 I went for my appointment at the hospital as usual, there they did the Stretch and Sweep and told me I was 0.5cm dilated. They asked the usual questions but despite me mentioning that I had reduced movements which felt more like flutters than kicks they didn't listen to the babies heartbeat or anything. They then told me to ring the delivery ward on the 18th to book in for induction which would commence the next day. Not happy with this I rang my GP and got an appointment for Wednesday with my local midwife as I still had some questions regarding induction, my birth plan and a few things the doctors hadn't gone over with me.

Wednesday lunch time I go to my midwifes appointment, she chats to me about what's been going on explains she can't do a second sweep as the other was only yesterday but will listen to baby, I mention the reduced movements and she says I have to go straight to the day clinic at the hospital so I ring OH to pick me up and off we go. At the hospital I'm hooked up to a CTG and babies heartbeat is fine but he doesn't move much/any it's like he is sleeping. The midwife refers me to see a consultant as this is our 3rd period of reduced movements (including one period of monitoring which included a scan which shows he doesn't respond to being poked and prodded) and I've to come back tomorrow.

Thursday 11th we go back to the hospital to see the doctor, they ask about my medical history again and what has been happening and tell me I am being booked in for induction and I have to go upstairs to the ward and off we trot. Get to the ward and am put on a CTG which again shows baby to be ok but not moving much. They explain how induction works and I am examined - still only 0.5cm dilated and have a pessary put inside my cervix. Advised to walk around to try and encourage things so we wander for a few hours. I start to get back pains and period pains and think it must be working.

Friday 12th - pessary removed and I'm back on a CTG machine which shows baby is happy in there, but still a lazy little sausage. I have an internal examination - I cry when they tell me I am still only 0.5cm dilated as I was convinced that the pessary had worked. A 2nd pessary was inserted and again me and OH spent the majority of the next 24 hours walking around and he was allowed to stay overnight in the chair by my bed. I didn't get much sleep again as I was uncomfy and just so desperate for my baby to be here.

Saturday - I get up in the morning to go to the toilet and as I stand up the pessary falls out. I manage to catch it and wrap it in a piece of tissue and tell the midwife who says she will come check me over soon. I go back to my bed to tell my OH and we are both convinced the pessaries must have done something now for the pessary to fall out! Another CTG and I am then re-examined still only 0.5cm dilated so another is put back in until it's been the full time the 2nd should have been in. By this point I'm so cross and annoyed with myself, I feel a bit like I'm a failure and I'm also starting to feel a bit like Rachel in friends where she's in hospital as I've had about 6 'room mates' so far who have all gone into labour. The 3rd pessary comes out at planned time, another examination still only 0.5cm and they decide to put the gel in this time. Gel goes in and am put on a CTG for half hour. I start getting back pains and CTG shows tightenings start - although mild and irregular.

Sunday morning I am examined by a doctor this time who says I am now 1.5cm dilate (hallelujah!!!) and that if she can she will break my waters and induce me that way. She can't quite reach bubs head so asks two midwife staff to put fundal pressure on which basically consisted of two full grown women pushing their entire body weight on my stomach and trying to push baby down. I am having a laugh and a joke with them which weirds them out but I think they got that I had a high pain threshold as by now I'd had one hours sleep since Thursday and no pain relief. The doctor couldn't break waters and tells me that in this case they would normally leave me 24 hours to have a break from the hormones, however seen as I seem to be coping well they will give me a second dosage so I say yes please and that's popped in and I'm back on a CTG. 7 hours later doctor comes back to examine me I'm still only 1.5cm dilated, she has fundal pressure put on me as baby not low enough so more pressure and then pop my waters go. I'm taken to a delivery suite and put on a CTG machine and hooked up to syntocinon drip, which gradually increases to 24 (the dose goes up by 2 every 30 minutes and maximum is 34 I believe) contractions are kicking in and I've still had no pain relief. When it gets to 24 I start to get a bit uncomfy and the fact I've had no sleep starts to show as my heartbeat and bp kept dropping. I was checked and still hadn't progressed any from 1.5cm so it was decided as I was supposed to have an early epidural anyway due to my back I should have the epidural now so I can get some sleep. It takes 7 attempts to get the epidural in and a few times i felt them hit bone but it was in and my body went numb enough to let me get some sleep. I was re-examined 9hours later when the drip was at it's maximum and despite regular contractions had not progressed from 1.5cm - my bp kept going up and there was worries it would affect Jakey, my fluid was low too - despite so many bags of fluid I still only had 300ml output! So it was decided I would go for a section - at this point it wasn't being done as an emergency however after getting the epidural topped up as it started to wear off on one side and then a spinal block in it became an emergency as my BP dropped and I haemorraged. I remember hearing baby cry and them say congratulations its a boy born 1:29pm on Monday 15th October and then me telling Ant to go see the baby and him not wanting to leave me as they were putting me on oxygen and applying cold flannels to my face to try relieve some temperature but I kept almost convulsing on the table but personally I think that was just the adrenaline of knowing my boy was here. Ant got to cut the cord

They stitched me up, moved me onto a diff bed, sat me up handed my baby and wheeled me off to the ward. Everyone commented how much better I looked already and within an hour of getting back to the ward I had managed to breast feed Jakey. Turned out the catheter had a blockage once they changed it it filled up very quickly! I had 2 paracetemol as pain relief when the spinal ran out and was showering by 9pm. (he was born at 1:29pm)

Tuesday we got to come home and try to settle in to family life. By Wednesday I started to feel unwell, my stomach a few inches from my scar had started to turn red and purple and felt hard to the touch. I thought the redness was just bruising and I had my little boy to concentrate on but when the midwife rang on Friday to remind me about an appointment for my stitches out I asked her if it sounded normal and she sent me straight to the doctors, he took one look and sent me to the hospital and so on Friday night I was readmitted. Turns out I had developed cellulitis and a hematoma and needed IV antibiotics. Me and Jakey were sent to a ward where I spent most of my time crying because I wanted to be at home with my OH being a family and not realising the seriousness of the situation. On Monday tea time I was allowed to come back home and am now on 23 tablets a day.

I had visions of how I wanted my labour to go, I knew it was doubtful I would ever have a natural delivery but I wanted to try and i did. The one thing I wasn't prepared for was just how much more the experience would make me love my OH, my mum was my second birthing partner and even she has said she saw a side to him that she had never seen before and how amazingly proud of him she was.