MSE Pregnancy Club Birth Stories

Twilightgirl

David 6-11-05

Went into hospital to so they could induce me, was 42 weeks. Went in on the 5th, got induced by inserting a pessary, nothing happened. Next day at 3pm got a other inserted pessary, Started having period like pains and went for a bath, got out bath and thats when the contractions hit me, didn't have any break in between, but was walking up and down and found this great this all started at 5.30pm, but got told to get back onto bed and lay down so they could put ctg on.
Started getting really distressed as they contractions were getting strong and laying down was really painful.
Kept ripping off CTG and got shouted at for doing that. Started jumping up and down on the bed (On my knees), and they went mad at this and started shouting at me, i think they thought i was mad.

As i was in a ward and there were other men there, i couldn't get too the loo as had no bottoms on, so had to do the loo in a sick tray, remember asking partner too phone my mum and a really big contraction came when he handed me the phone, so i whacked him with it, saying was he mad, did i look like i could sit and talk to someone lol. Felt i wasn't getting any rest from contraction, as one stopped a other one came on. And because they wouldn't let me walk up and down, felt like i was going mad!! I did try and stand and sway but i wanted to move or jump up and down but they wouldn't let me, and my partner kept telling me not to do this, as the midwife's said i shouldn't.

They VE me and i was 3cm and my waters broke at the same time, i remember they all started laughing saying she had magic fingers. Ask for some gas and air. They came back and and stuck a needle in me and told me they had given me diamorphine (Without my permission, it was given by a student midwife).Mum came and it was visting hours but she was allowed to be at the birth anyway. Midwife was very rude too her and said she didn't think it was right she was there.

By this point i was high from the diamorphine, was on all fours. just laying, felt like i was floating, my partner kept trying to cover me up, as kids keep running past the curtains but i kept ripping them off, i felt like punching him in the face for doing this, but felt like pushing, so started pushing ( I couldn't stop this, it was werid as i was just doing this) found this feeling the best.
I put my hand down inside me, don't know why i did this, and could feel the babys head. So asked for midwife. Midwife came and i told her i was pushing and i could feel the baby head, so could she check me please.

She started laughing, saying she checked me 45mins ago and i was 3cm, so there's no way she was checking me again, as nothing would have happened, and i was going to be there for a very very long time. And my mum and partner should leave right now and come back later.And i was to stop pushing because i was using up all my energy and my baby was prob back 2 back and thats why i felt like pushing. And she lefted, mum lefted but said my partner should stay.

Started feeling really panic and stressed and partner kept telling me too stop pushing which i screamed at him that i couldn't help it, felt very scared and alone. I kept thinking am going to have this baby really soon.
Couldn't take it no more, so pressed the button for midwife, they came in switched it off, and said shift were changing so i had to wait. waited 10 mins, midwife came in. I said too her, listen am going to have this baby now and opened my legs and davids head was crowning.

So they whipped me off to the deliverly suite. Pushing david out was the best part for me, this feeling was the best in the world. Was at first laying on my back but felt i couldn't do it that way, so asked if i could turn around and do it on all fours, which they said yes, As david was coming out midwife told me to get my hands ready and i catched him as well and pulled him towards me, but they cut his cord quickly and took him away as he was sleepy and purple, but was fine after a min or so. All in i was labour for 2 and half hours.

Matthew 16-01-07

Hadn't slept at all since the friday night, On the monday i started bleeding abit (it was about 5 mins after doing it ) Phoned midwife, she asked me too come into the hospital. Went to hospital at 10am, waited for scan, never got seen till 1pm, Matthew was really down. Then went and waited for a midwife too see me, then said i had to wait in the waiting room for the doctor, sat there and never got seen till 5pm, by this point i was so tried i was crying because all i wanted to do was go home. Everyone else was seeing the doctors even though i was there before them (They forgot about me). During this time i had a show.

Doctor came and check me, told her i had a show.... she VE me and i was 3cm, and said i had to stay in the hospital for the head consultant too see me (Never did see him). Got taken too a ward.

Then the midwife asked me if she could ctg me for the rest of the night, which i refused, so she sat with me for about 45mins trying too get me to have a ctg, i said ok but only for 15 mins. I only had a hours sleep that night.

Next day, tuesday (I was 40 weeks) got told i was going to get ARM, (On my notes it was for APH). They were just waiting on a room to become free. Asked why i was getting ARM, got told the consultant would come round and talk to me why i was getting ARM and they couldn't tell me anything.

At 6pm got taken to the delivery suite, settled in etc, At 6.30pm they ARM, started getting contractions but they were only coming every 10 mins, kept zoneing out. Then they started coming strong every 3mins, was standing at this point, but all i felt like doing was laying my head down, which i did, but said i would do it on all fours. Asked for gas and air, but it made me feel really dizzy and sick, and i started getting really paranoid that the midwife and my partner were talking about me and stuff . I was talking a load of rubbish and i said too her that i had methodone the last time, but meant to say morphine, which i said afterwards. At 8.00 she VE me and i was only 5cm so said i should start having Syntocinon, asked her if she could give me a hour. The doctor came to the door at this point and i told her too tell the doctor to fuddle off, he wasn't getting anywhere near me. At 8.45 she VE me and said we need too start the jungle juice in me (Syntocinon) as i was still 5cm, then she used a doppler, and then took my bp etc and then asked for the doctor.

Doctor came in and put his whole hand up inside me, i started screaming for him too get it out!!! Then he ctg with a probe on the fetal scalp, and said the baby likes being tickled. Then everything went abit mad, Doctor started going mad shouting that matthew only had 15 mins too live. Got rushed in, Got told i couldn't have a regional anaesthesia, as baby would be dead by the time it would start working. So ended up with general.
Last thing i remember is some giving me something too drink and that was it. When i was under my aunty annie was there (She died 2 weeks before) and she was stoking my hand saying everything was going to be ok. When i was something happened (I really don't know what) Something about i went blue, and the machine broke down. My partner told me he heard Matthew crying and then all these alarms started going off, and all these doctors and midwife's came rushing in and about the place, and he got shoved into the room, not having a clue what was going on. Matthew scored 9 after 1 min and then 10 after 5 mins.

I think the worse was afterwards, came round and BF matthew then about 2 hours later got taken too a ward, it really hit me then what had happened and i just couldn't stop crying, Midwife (Still remember her name and what she looks like) Told me too shut up and didn't i care that other women were trying too sleep. She also said was i always this emotional at home, i cryed for 2 hours i really couldn't help it, and she kept coming in too tell me too bloody shut the hell up. Asked her if i could hold matthew as i was still attached too stuff and she said No as i was on morphine and that i would end up falling asleep and killing my baby. So i stopped taking the morphine so i could hold him and not fall asleep.
I kept sneaking matthew, as i pulled his cot over too the bed and got him out, She started going mad when she caught me with him, that she was going too bring me a book about cot death and make me read it, and me of all people should known what a cot death was like (My sister dead of a cot death) and then she took matthew from me and took him away from me. I think that was my lowest point. Then about 6am they allowed me to have a shower, i forgot my stuff like shampoo and stuff and asked mca if she could go back and get it, she told me it didn't matter and just to get into the shower. Went back to bed, i pressed the buzzer because i tryed getting out off bed too get too matthew but couldn't do it as i couldn't find the best way too get out off bed at the time, Midwife said i just had too do it myself and i wasn't allowed to buzz them again and she walked out. I kept asking what had happened that made me have a c-section etc but got told i would have too see the doctor about that and i never did see the doctor. One midwife told me i was very lucky too have a c-section as they would have used forceps and i would have been ripped opened. I phoned my mum begging her too come and get me and take me home.

Am ashamed too say that i didn't bond with matthew at all, and felt like i could just walk away and leave him

With my 3rd son Liam. I didn't want to go into hospital, as i knew i was end up prob with a other C-Section (They don't tell you ur at higher chance of a c-section than in the house, in holland they all have homebirths, u have to pay if u want a hospital birth unless your high risk), and wards are so understaffed, i went for a homebirth as i would have 2 midwifes with me at all time and great care. My son was 18 overdues, Again THERE is no need to be induced after 10 days, WHO states pregnancy last between 37 - 42 weeks and in France there due dates are 41 weeks, so you would only be 3 days over due in u where across the water. Of course u should get induce for medical reason. But since my baby was happy safe and kicking, and babys can die in all terms of pregnancy i refused to be induce, as i was a vbac this meant my chances of rupturing would 1-50, not sometimes i wanted too risk, and would be put on a CTG, which mean u can't move and Evidnce has shown it doesn't change the outcome for mother or baby any better, this was first used 30 years ago with any trials and it can make you at higher risk of having a c-section. also the induced guidelines are over 30 years old also. I was bullyed into trying to get induced to the point i got phone calls from my midwife saying i was going too kill my baby etc etc it was awful. If i ever get pregnant again i will never go with the NHS, Indie midwife for me all the way. The treatment i have had from the NHS has been nothing but awful and all those midwife's and doctors should be ashamed of themself. Here's Liams story anyhoo. And btw it was my best labour and birth, It was fun, Less painfull, more loving, and i had the freedom to listen what i wanted, have my own bath, me and OH had a fab time. Truely Amazing, As i did it all by myself, My VBAC

On monday the 18.05.09 i was 17 days over due and went in for a scan, they found that he had 2cm of fluid round him it should have been 6cm/7cm so they asked me what i wanted too do and could get my waters broken or get a c-section. If they couldn't break my waters then they would give me a c-section as any other way to induce me would be dangerous too my scar.

So went home head buzzing, quite upset that i hadn't went into labour normally, and then at 10.30 started getting contractions, i was so exitced and started timing them and phoned up my mum double checking that they really where contractions as i've never went into labour myself before lol.

It got too about 4ish and david was doing my head in too phone the midwife's and i started being sick so thought it was best too call them out.

So they came out and check me and i was 3cm diliated it was then i really believed i was in labour woohoo. I was walking and talking and when a contraction came i started too walk up and down too cope with.

David sister came and picked up the boys at about 6ish, about 8ish my contractions started coming stronger and where coming every 2/3 mins. So started on the gas and air mmmm..... fabby. My back was killing me though the midwife sat and rubbed my back i was in leaning on the couch alot or walking while swaying my hips. At about 9ish i went into a bath and it was so night and i was chatting away the midwife lefted me and david too it, it was really nice just the both of us. I started bearing down so they asked me too get out the bath

They found i was 6cm, baby was back 2 bac and they asked to break my waters which when they did there was light me mecconium there they werent worryed as babys that overdue tend too have that as long as its not thick etc This was now 10am ish, and i cont. to keep pushing a few times my contractions seemed too stop but i eat some bananna and some how that made them kick in big time again. I ran out of gas and air i all ready went through 4 bottles of the stuff, so the midwife had to go and get more lol


It was now 12.20 and i was exhusted too be truthfully, went into the bed saying i wanted too sleep they checked me and again i was 6cm swollen cervix baby was still back to back, they weren't happy with me not processing and thought it would be best too send me in, said they would give me a hour and asked me not to try and push. At 12.50 i asked them too take me in, i had this major pain like something was going on major inside of me i secretly though it was a rupture i actually roared like a lion david said lol, they phoned for a ambulance, They arrived with 3 mins got into the ambulance at 1am While in the ambulance the midwife noticed i was acting differently and i thought i was going too really poo, she checked me and asked if she could cut my knickers they had to pull over so there i was outside a bus stop in a ambulance pushing my baby out and he came into the world at 1.14pm. I cryed with joy cause i actually did it, i gave birth too my baby it was amazing feeling and i couldn't believe it. Thats what the major pain must have been going from 6cm to fully

Poor david couldn't come with us as only 1 person could come and the midwife had too (Thank god she did). So he got too the hospital before us, he was in abit of a shock as i came out and seen the baby. We got taken too the labour ward and both of us got checked over, it was quite surreal really. During that time i felt i was passing too much blood and asked them too check me just then i passed huge amount of clots, the poor student midwife went white. And cont. to pass about 3 more big clots, they we're about the size of my hands and abit more. They said cause my bladder was full, and i had a quick birth and placenta (It came out 3 mins after he was born n again was naturally) the uterus was just knackered and wouldn't contract down, so they gave me injection too clamp it down and catharized so get my bladder down. Everything was fine, so went for a bath, i felt abit sick and then a other amount of clot and blood came out the mca said omg it looks like a blood bath and got me out when i got out i passed a other amount of blood, i felt really dizzy and sick at this point and they took me back too labour ward, i had a sleep and they we're checking the clots etc they said i lost all in 1lt and half of blood- i think this is a other reason i asked too be taken in, my body just knew what was going on my uterus was getting knackered.
So they kept us in over night just too check on us, took me a while to be able to walk a long way as i felt abit shaky and stuff.


Have to say i had a fab time in labour, i coped great at home and coped alot better than i would have if i was in hospital, as the labour pains we're less painful and easyer too handle, it was a great experience. Also i know for a fact if i was in hospital i would have been attacted too monitor and won't have been able to eat and drink and move as i wanted too. Also they would have prob c-section me right away and not give me a chance too birth when i got stuck at 6cm at 12.20. I was so determined not too give birth in hospital i ended up doing it on the way lol.

Am so cuffed i got my VBAC and now the first time in 2 years i feel complete the whole labour and birth was mines and my choices and i felt so in control it was amazing and i feel on such a high on it. My body knew what too do and knew when something was going wrong.

lucasmum

I have read through everyones stories with interest but there seems to be a lot more awful births than simple ones so for one I feel very lucky and two I would like to balance it up with a couple of normal births... heres my story.

DS1 28.10.02

40 wks had been and gone and I was now 42 wks and had my appointment to be induced on the evening of 27th. Me and oh went in and got settled in. had a pessary thing put in and oh sent home and I went to sleep. In the morning got checked again and they decided they could break my waters (about 9ish in the morning). I bit scary having a nurse coming at you with a crochet needle but it wasn't that bad! We went off for breakfast and a walk around but I started having twinges straight away so I got sent to have a bath (11am) By the time I came out things were happening nicely so we got sent down to the delivery suite.

I was coping fine with the pain but got given gas and air. I found this most useful for having something to bite down on rather than inhaling! Also there was a rocking chair which I was practically glued to, everyone knew when I was having a contraction because the rocking would increase a lot! I tend to go into some kind of a trance in labour and don't want to be touched or messed with, I zone out between contractions and I must admit my memory of my labours isn't a clear as some peoples.

Before we knew it, it was time to push (3pm). Again I remember having a conversion with a midwife along the line of 'I need to push' 'no you dont' 'yes I do' etc,etc... And I did much to their surprise, do they really expect you to lie to them???

Lucas was born just after 3.30pm and a healthy 8lb 10oz. I did tear which again was probably the most traumatic part of the whole thing. They didn't numb me properly which i quickly let them know about by freaking out some what but after being stitched I was sent back up to the ward.

I went home after 2 nights, it would have been sooner but oh's family were staying at our house and there wasn't any room for us!! :mad:

All in all a straight forward birth but I can't say I enjoyed my stay in hospital at all.

DS2 23.11.06

I had decided on a home birth this time because I knew I would feel a lot more relaxed there. I was 40 wks +5 (22nd nov) and by mid afternoon I was feeling a bit odd. We got on with things, I made dinner and said to oh I thought something might be happening.We went to our friends house and she commented on how spaced out I was (normally I'm quite with it!!).;)

By 9pm I was getting definite twinges but I wasn't timing them or anything. By 11.30pm I thought I had better ring the hospital to let them know they would be needed at some point but instead they insisted on sending midwives out straight away. We live about 40 mins away from the hospital so not an easy journey if they need to rush!

Anyway they checked me at 1 ish and I was 2/3cm so got told to have a bath to either stall or get things going but of course things halted a bit. They decided that I should have those magic 2 paracetamol's and go to bed and they were going back to the hospital!!:rolleyes: This was about 3am.

We went to bed but I could sleep because of the pains now so got up and paced a bit, watched some telly while oh slept. By 6am I was bent over my cooker in the kitchen with contractions so I woke up oh to ring the hospital again. Simultaneously of him ringing the hospital I suddenly felt a lot of pressure and that uncontrlable urge to bear down! Panic stations!!!! Oh got off the phone and said...... midwife is too tired to drive out again tonight and to ring an ambulance. We made the split decision that it would be faster to drive in than get a ambulance that might take 30min to arrive and then another to get back to hospital.

We put ds1 in the car and threw him through our friends door on route and oh drove like a rally driver through the country lanes with me in the passenger seat making noises like a wild animal because this was the only way I could stop myself from pushing!:o

We got to the hospital about 7am and we were met by the same midwife who came to our house earlier that night. I got up on the bed and obviously I was ready to push, she broke my waters, gave me the gas and air and that was it. Dylan was born at 7.30am weighing 8lb 10oz exactly the same as his big brother. They all said that if my waters had broken sooner I would have had him in the car!:eek:

I tore slightly but luckily didn't need stitches and we were discharged by 12 noon. It would have been earlier but in our panic we forgot the baby car seat so oh had to go back home and get it.

I feel happy with both of my births, even though they may have not gone quite to plan I feel very lucky with my experiences. Not doing it again though I sent oh for the snip a few months ago!!:D

Sami_Bee

From the preg thread

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

Hi again ... let's see if I can condense the last two weeks into one post!

You probably all remember that I had an u/s scan that showed placental bloodflow problems, and I received steroid injections to prepare Beanie's lungs for an early delivery. A week after this, I was due for another u/s scan, but went to hospital earlier that day as I had reduced foetal movement. They scanned me on arrival and advised us that baby should be delivered as soon as possible - that day - for best chance of survival. He'd be 29+1 weeks.

Andrew was delivered by caesarian section at 19:43 that evening, weighing just 1lb 6oz. Marley was with me throughout, and got to see him briefly before he was taken away to the Special Care unit. I got to see him early the next morning, when he'd been stabilised.

I've spent almost two weeks in the hospital and fought for discharge today, although my section wound hasn't completely healed and will be monitored daily by community midwives.

Andrew is doing stonkingly well for such a preemie, which is being put down to those steroid injections. He will be two weeks old tomorrow, now weighs 1lb 9oz, and has already progressed from the ventilator onto cPap and today spent 4 hrs breathing on his own, which will be repeated and increased. He is being tube-fed EBM, and producing nice little parcels at the other end, so that system works fine! He does however show evidence (on scan) of a bleed in his head next to his brain, and we have yet to find out what this could mean, it will only become apparent with time.

I think that's probably the story so far, and I will move over to the Parenting thread shortly. I just wanted to catch up with all of you, and apologise for barging my way to the head of the EDD list!

Glamazon

Jack Dylan - born 03.09.09 6lbs 3oz born at 37 weeks

I had spent the day getting stuff ready for baby, went to ASDA to do a shop and then did some batch cooking. Nothing too strenous or out of the ordinary.
I went to bed at around 11.45am on the 2nd - at around 12.30am I felt a trickle of 'something' down there so went to investigate. Nothing more so put a pad in and went back to bed - I couldn't sleep so got up and lost more! I went to the loo and my plug came away.
I got in the shower at 12.45am as I was already feeling contractions - very soon the contractions were 7mins apart and I was being sick so I rang the ward & they said to go in due to my GD. OH and I got to the hospital at around 3am and I was monitored - althou I was having contractions they weren't regular and I wasn't dilated at all so I went down to the ward and OH was sent home - this was about 4.15am.

I had a bath and the MW's put my TENS machine on - by 6.30am I was in agony thinking 'i can't put up with this' so called the MW. She came and i said i was contracting every 4 mins. She checked and I was 6cm dilated :eek: that check was really painful!!
she was gobsmacked - I rang OH who had just gone back to bed!

Cue - MW running wheelchair in and getting me up to delivery suite. I got on the gas & air straightaway!!

Gas & air was fab along with the TENS and got me thru the contractions.
OH turned up at 7.15am and by then I was contracting every 2 mins. The MWs were worried about baby's heart rate so called for the doctor.

I soon started pushing and after about 8 pushes felt like giving up (I didn't know they took the gas & air off u when it got to the painful bit). It took 35 mins of pushing but he finally made his way out - I thought I had torn but thankfully no tears.

Jack was born at 8.17am - almost 8 hours for whole labour. :cool:
OH cut the cord and my placenta was delivered by injection and was complete.

Oh and the doctor turned up as I was delivering him! Good job I didn't need him - very busy ward that night. All 12 rooms full and he had just done 3 c sections!!!!

It really is all worth it in the end :j

xmaslolly76

Hi Ladies here is the birth story for Joseph Kenneth Wilson 07/09/09 :j

Well as most of you are aware I was having a lot of tummy cramps that kept coming and going from the 05/09 labour finally seemed to establish itself from around 7pm 06/09 so we called the midwives out to attend my home birth. Everything was progressing well I was 3cm dilated although bubs had moved up instead of down and contractions were coming 2 in 10mins. We filled the birth pool up ready and put my little light up rubber ducks in it looked lovely. At around 1:30am my waters started leaking then bubs made a massive kick at 2am and they went with a gush this is when the problems started. The waters weren’t clear and had maconium in them. It appeared to be old maconium but that coupled with the fact that Joey wasn’t moving down the birth canal properly they decided I would be better off in hospital as there was a risk that the cord would come down before the baby did. So bang went my relaxing home birth in the pool. At this point I got really upset as I did not want to go hospital at all. OH managed to calm me down (He was fantastic the whole time and never once panicked) and we went via ambulance. They took me straight to a delivery suite and hooked me up to the gas and air as after my waters broke the contractions got stronger very quickly. I spent the next few hrs wondering around my room hooked up to a monitor to make sure Joeys heart rate didn’t drop so I wasn’t even allowed to go in the bath to help with the pain. Midwife was lovely though and kept telling me how well I was coping even when I was singing through the pain. I ‘m sure she thought I was mad as I kept singing the rainbow theme tune over and over it was strangely very affective and I would recommend singing to everyone. We got to around 4am and midwife decided she needed to check on my progress by this time I was 8cm dilated and Joey was well engaged and on his way. She told me my fore waters hadn’t yet broken and she would break them manually now, this was excruciating I’ve never felt pain like it as not only did she break the waters but she swept the sack out of the way. This is when I started to get upset again I just didn’t think I was going to be able to cope at all knowing he was going to be a biggish baby as well. Again my wonderful OH stepped in and never once left my side he nearly crippled himself kneeling on the hard floor for hrs so that I could break his fingers with every contraction (now that’s true love lol). Eventually I had the urge to push but Joey was having non of it at first and refused to budge by this time I was exhausted and decided I needed some further help so was given a dose of Pethadine. Everything just kind of kicked off then. I managed to get his head out but then one of his shoulders got stuck and his heart rate started dropping I was completely out of it by this time and OH and Midwife had to physically lift me on to my side holding my leg up so they could turn baby to allow his shoulder to come out. We then heard the first cry of the baby being born next door and that very much helped to focus me and gave me strength to get my Joey out and after a couple more pushes he finally entered the world at 6:59am a very healthy 8lb 11oz and with a great set of lungs. The OH instantly burst into tears quickly followed by me we had a little cuddle then he was whisked off for cleaning and checking and finally brought back for a breast feed. I was given the injection for the placenta which delivered in a record ½ hr for me and I had no retainment this time YAY!! We then slept most of the morning away and I sent OH home to get some rest and we were discharged from the hospital at 7pm I would have been home earlier but due to the moconium Joey had to check by a paediatrician before he was allowed to leave.


So after all that I was saying never again but after spending the night with my gorgeous new baby and OH I may be back on the pregnancy thread next year

workinmummy

Alex, born Friday 4th Sept by Urgent section 5.10am, 6lb 3oz.- 37wks + 5 days

Elective section was booked for 14th September

On Thursday 3rd, i went to the local Sure Start centre for pregnancy pamper session, had a back and shoulder massage and hand massage. Arrived home at 9pm, extremely chilled and relaxed. Had a shower and washed my hair. Just before i went to bed at 10.30pm, i went to the loo and had a show. Went to bed, but needed to wee quite a bit and noticed more bloody discharge. Started to get pains, at about midnight they moved into my back and realised they were not BH's. So started to time them, at 2.30am woke OH, contractions were every 8 mins. OH asked if they were real contractions and i remained calm and did not rip his head off. I rang labour ward as i had a section booked, they told me to come in. Rang my mum to come and look after DS.

Got to hsopital at about 3.30am. Was checked over and was contracting every 5mins and 3 cm dialated. Registra and consultant and anesthatist came to see me to check i still wanted a section. I said i did. Found out that the midwife, and the anesthatist had both been with me when i had DS. I was then gowned up, shaved, put my lovely pressure stockings on and walked to the theatre.

Abba was playing on the CD player, the operating staff were all happy and lovely. The anesthatist did my spinal. And OH was allowed into theatre. The surgeons did their stuff and Alex was brought into the world at 5.10am to Abbas "The winner takes it all". Alex was given to OH to hold and we both gazed at him for 5 mins. OH cried, and i was just gob smacked he was here and was fine.

Alex and OH went off with the midwife for his checks. I was stiched and then taken into recovery to hold my beautiful son. After half an hour taken through to the maternity ward. OH sorted my stuff out, then went home to tell DS about his little brother.

The midwives and theatre staff were fantastic at the hospital. I was discharged on Sunday, and little Alex is being adored by his big brother and has twisted both mummy and daddy round his little tiny fingers.

The elective / Urgent section, was so much better than the emergency. Very relaxed and happy. I seem to be recovering better and quicker. Until yesterday when the after pains kicked in and my boobs went solid as a rock. But every minute is so worth it for the little bundle of joy that is Alex.

fitzilian19

Alfie Sidney born 29th August 10.15am, 8lb 8oz

Waters broke at about 10.50pm on Thursday 27th, called midwife unit and they said to come in for monitoring. No contractions.

Came home and attempted sleep, managed 2 hours before the excited got too much and came on here to post at stupid o'clock in the morning.

Back to the midwife unit Friday afternoon for more monitoring. was told the induction at the hospital was booked for Sunday morning as nothing had happened, so became determined to get the labour moving when we got home.

Mum suggested i walk up and down the stairs a few time... it worked!!
Contractions started about 6pm and was bouncing on the birthing ball in front of the telly. By the end of Big Brother they were 5 mins apart and getting quite intense. Called the midwife unit and the MW suggested a bath and call back in an hour.

Bath got things moving at an even faster pace - 2mins apart and MW says to come in. She did an internal and was told his head was right down and had pushed my cervix behind, she managed to find out i was 3cm. not enough to get in the pool so had another bath.

couple of hours later i wanted to go to sleep, felt sooo tired and the contractions were getting stronger and longer. tried gas and air but didnt like it. tens machine had been doing a brilliant job up til now but was irritating so damanded it be removed!

re-examined and found to be 5cm so allowed in the pool. 2 more hours and i got the urge to push, fully dilated!!

the contractions stopped. the lack of sleep and being unable to keep food down in the last few weeks due to severe heartburn, my body was just too worn out...

MW shift change and my new MW came in, had seen her for an appointment before so was good to see a familiar face. was given a glucose drink and later a litre of fluid to try to get things going again. second MW came in as other lady at the unit who was in labour had been given pethedine and her labour had slowed down.

Spent 4 hours pushing... doing a circuit of different positions / equipment etc... MW put a mirror down there to show me what was happening and i bit her head off when she asked me what i could see, i told her 'if you are pushing with all your might you close your eyes!!'

Ended up needing a cut as they said my skin was so tight, swollen from pushing for so long... they had to break my hamen - leading to jokes about this being a virgin birth!

ambulance was called to take me to the hospital but the MWs were determined I wasnt going to need it. ended up with the crew sat outside the room!

he was finally delivered at 10.15am, 8hours of established labour... needed stitches (one long running stitch was the answer to my question about how many) Not bad though considering i only had the paracetamol the night before and 2 wiffs of g&a... nothing else...

Alfie needed to stay in for observation for 24hours, so got to stay in the couples room with my mum... all fine, not bothered about being born in the slightest.

Took a few mins to become aware enough of him having actually being born, but had 10 fingers and 10 toes... he's also tongue-tied so needs to have that snipped soon, and a slight click in his right hip that needs a scan in about 4 weeks...

he's absolutely gorgeous though... feels like he's been here forever and i couldnt live without him now.


cant recommend water enough... excellent pain reliever... and tens for the early stages

Glamazon

I def agree with the TENS for the earlier stages it was a great distraction and the booster button really hit the spot - I hadn't read the instructions on mine (with Jack coming early) so never even got it onto the second phase just kept it on the first stage.

I also kept it on afterwards for the afterpains and it helped for that as well.

lil_miss_06

Taija born 09,09,09 at 6.13pm weight 7lb 3 oz

I was due on the 21st of sept, I woke on morning of the 9th with a mild period pain feeling at about 3 am and felt wide awake so sat on the pc with a hot drink typing to myself on the preg thread,,, I then went back to bed about 4.30am and got back to sleep,, feeling fine,
I woke up about 8 am Oh going to work, then at 8.20 ish I needed the loo so got up and felt trickling down my legs,, I was like omg ,,,, have I wet myself or is that my waters,, I grabbed a towel to help me get down to the bathroom as we just had new carpet the day before in the hallway lol, I got to the bathroom and felt the waters more when I looked down I realised the colour greeny brown was a sign of the baby had opened her bowels,, so I got back up to my room to get my phone and rang OH who came straight back and I rang the hosp they told me to come straight in,, by 9am we was at the hosp and I was put in triage for assessment,, I sat in a little room with strangers whilst my pains were starting to get stronger and coming about every 5 mins,, the mw in the room was not very bothered and even went missing for about 15 minutes,, when she finally came back she assessed me and said “ oh yes you need to go to the delivery room” ( oh really,, could have told you that half hr ago).
Once I got in the delivery room I was put on the monitor to keep an eye on baby because of the meconium, contractions coming stronger and still about every 4-5 minutes, I was examined and not dilated at about 10am.
By 11 am contractions became irregular but stronger so I began to use gas and air to help, This went on for 2-3 hours,, I was examined at 1pm and was 3 cm, pain was becoming unbearable so had some pethadine, which I didn’t feel helped the pain much really, by 2pm I was getting the urge to push,, still pushing at 5pm the reg was called to assist I was becoming really tired and telling them im not doing it any more and I want to go home, Oh was great all the way through encouraging me every step of the way,, then about 5.30 they were telling me it will be very soon,, and called the paediatrician for when baby arrives due to the meconium,,, well after all the hard work Taija arrived at 6.13 pm, I was in total shock I never thought she was gonna come out.
She was checked over and doing fine she cried pretty much straight away.

I was then given the injection to help deliver placenta,, it was not coming and I started to lose a lot of blood I could actually feel it gushing out of me literally,, the mw and reg was trying to get it out but it wasn’t going any where,10 mins later I was given another inj,, still losing blood and still not budging the reg then said she cant leave it any longer I had lost over a litre of blood already and I needed to go to theatre to have a manual removal of placenta and would have to have an epidural (which I hadn’t wanted and if I had known I would end up needing it I would have had it earlier) .
I was taken straight to theatre and given the manual removal I didn’t feel a thing and all of the staff was so nice apart from the one that went AWOL in triage,
What a strange feeling when you cant feel your own body,,, I was then taken to recovery, Oh was with baby all the time I was in theatre and they was waiting for me in recovery, I then had the shakes for about 2 hours so still hadn’t held the baby.
The lovely mw made me the best cup of tea ever lol, I then started to calm down
And had a cuddle with Taija.
We were kept in for 24 hours and got home Thursday evening around 8pm,,,,,

Sorry it is so long or if I have missed anything ……….. Lil miss 06

System

I'll admit i'm not planning on having kids yet, but reading this thread has been an eye opener. So many of you have been through so much as well :eek: