Birth Story {Part Three}

Click here to read Part One and Part Two of the Second Boy's Birth Story

 I had arrived at the hospital for a routine CTG, but due to high blood pressure and protein found in my urine, I was told I was being admitted overnight for monitoring.  A consultant then informed me that I would be induced that very evening.  Once in the Labour Suite my induction was started early Saturday evening, and, as nothing seemed to be happening, G went home at midnight to get some rest . . .
 

 

At 4am I was woken by some mild tummy pains, and realised that this could be it, the start of labour. The pains got steadily stronger over the next hour, and at 5am I called Emma in to let her know that I thought things were starting.  She examined me a short while later; I could hardly keep still on the bed as it was incredibly painful.  Emma became a little impatient with me squirming about, but I just couldn't help it.  She discovered I was 3cm dilated. Things really were starting.

 

At about 6.15am I rang G to let him know that it was time to come to the hospital, and that I thought he should be there before 7.30am, but not to rush.  As soon as I'd made the call, my pains started to ramp up to the point where I needed some gas and air to help me cope.  Having previously expressed a preference for an epidural, a doctor arrived to insert a cannula and take some blood which, due to my high blood pressure, they needed to test before an anaesthetist would administer an epidural.  By this point I was really having to concentrate on getting through each contraction by pulling heavily on the gas and air.  I was surprised that, in contrast to my labour with the First Boy, this time I did feel some benefit from the Entonox.

 

Soon I was wheeled through to a delivery room which I was told was more suitable for epidural births.  But there was still no sign of the epidural, nor of G.  The contractions now began to merge into one continuous pain with no respite between them, and I started to demand and then beg for my epidural.  It couldn't be given, the midwives explained, as the blood test results were not ready yet.  I realised that I was going to have to give birth with just gas and air.

 

G arrived at 7.15am, as I was puffing furiously on the gas and air.  He looked shocked to see me obviously so far advanced in labour.

 

Then things started to go wrong.  My baby's heartrate plummeted suddenly. I could hear the reassuring rapid thud of his heart slow to one beat every couple of seconds. I was yelled at to get on my left side.  I struggled to do so but it made no difference to the heartrate.  The atmosphere in the room changed to panic.  G was ordered to remove my jewellery, but couldn't get my watch to unclasp.  I screwed my eyes tightly shut and didn't open them again throughout the whole thing.  Medical staff rushed into the room and spoke in urgent voices about an emergency Caesarean section, when suddenly, I felt a gush as someone broke my waters and I heard the words 'fully dilated'.

 

I felt my legs being pulled back and I was yelled at by several different voices to 'Push!'  I bore down with all my strength, so terrified that we were going to lose our baby son.   After only a couple of minutes I felt an intense whole body pressure and I pushed out our second precious son into the world at 7.50am, swiftly followed by his placenta.

 

He didn't cry and was whisked over to the resuscitaire.  Thankfully, all he needed was a brisk rub-down before he took his first breath and was delivered onto my stomach.  He was weighed at 5lb 11oz. So tiny.  At this point I opened my eyes and saw our little boy for the very first time.  Love at first sight.  And such incredible relief.

 

Just born

Birth story {Part Two}

Please click here to read Part One of the Second Boy's Birth Story

 

 I had arrived at the hospital for a routine CTG, but due to high blood pressure and protein found in my urine, I was told I was being admitted overnight for monitoring.  A consultant then informed me that I would be induced that very evening . . .

 

I arrived in the Labour Suite in the early evening.  I must have looked stunned as the midwives waiting to greet me asked me why I looked so shocked.  We explained that I had only come to the hospital for a CTG and that I was only 37 weeks pregnant.

 

I was taken into a small but cosy room by a brisk but kind midwife called Jackie and waited for my mum to arrive to stay with me while G went home to collect my hospital bag.  I had a relaxing bath and tried to gather myself for imminent labour.  It felt very strange, knowing that my son was shortly to be born yet I was not feeling any signs of labour.

 

Jackie gave me a steroid injection in my thigh to ensure that the baby's lungs were mature enough, which was quite stingy.  Another midwife called Emma then arrived to administer the Prostin gel for my induction.  I have to say that this was one of the worst parts of the whole experience. It was so painful, and I'm not sure why.  I think they thought I was making a bit of a fuss, but I actually have quite a high pain threshold.  My first midwife, Jackie, then said goodbye as her shift was finishing, and left me with Emma.

 

Mum and I then read some magazines, chatted and, having obtained a TV, watched a bit of the X Factor.  G then came back and Mum left us to it, although she looked reluctant to leave!  As nothing was happening by about midnight, we decided that G should go back home and get some sleep in preparation for what was to come.  We said an emotional good night. 

 

At 1.15am I was given another, stronger dose of the Prostin gel, which was even more excruciating than the first.  It made me cry.  After that was done, I asked for something to help me sleep and took some Temezepam.  I wanted some energy for the labour ahead of me.  Emma said that she'd leave me to sleep and come back around 5am to check on me.  I think I fell asleep around 2am.

 

 

 



Birth story {Part One}

On Tuesday 7th October, at 36+3 weeks pregnant, I went for my last routine growth scan. I'd had three of these scans in the preceding weeks, standard procedure when you're classed as having a high risk pregnancy.  The sonographer seemed happy, but when we spoke to the doctor afterwards she was a little concerned that the baby's growth had slowed down a little and crossed a centile line on the growth chart.

It was nothing to panic over, she assured us, but we were advised to come back in several times over the next week to monitor the baby's movements and heartrate. I asked to be hooked up to the CTG machine there and then for reassurance. I was connected to the machine and had to press a button whenever the baby moved.  All appeared to be fine. 

I went back in for another CTG on Thursday, and, again, there seemed to be no problem with the baby.  But I was becoming increasingly concerned with the level of swelling I was experiencing in my legs and feet, and which was now starting to also affect my face.   I asked the midwives to test my urine and they found some protein in there. Just a small amount but more than a trace. My blood pressure was also higher than it had previously been.

Week 36: Resting my poor swollen feet and legs

Cue lots of Googling about pre-eclampsia from me.  I know Google can be your worst enemy in self-diagnosis but I am not able to resist checking!

On Saturday morning, at 37 weeks pregnant, I trekked off to the hospital for the third CTG. As I lay on the bed, my bump hooked up to the machine, I felt very tearful and vulnerable. Something felt wrong and I felt scared for my baby. I just wanted him here, safe in my arms.  My face was looking so puffy by this point, and more protein was found in my urine. My blood pressure had crept up to 145/95 and the midwife called a doctor to examine me. 

37 weeks pregnant: at the hospital, ballooning up and feeling scared

  

The decision was taken to admit me to the antenatal ward overnight for observation.  G arrived a few hours later with some overnight things and we waited for the consultant to come and see me.

 

After a couple of hours, the consultant arrived on the ward.  'Well, you have pre-eclampsia,' he said in a very matter of fact way.  'And the only way to cure pre-eclampsia is to deliver the baby'.  I'd been informed by the junior doctor from earlier that they would probably try to bring down my high blood pressure by medication over the next few days before considering any other course of action. 

 

'So, we're going to try some medication before thinking about induction, are we?' I asked.  'No.  This situation is only going to get worse, and, you're full term, so we're going to induce you.  Now.'

 

I think I must have audibly gasped.  'Now, as in tonight?' 'Yes. We will be taking you down to the Labour Suite soon'.

 

I was so shocked that things were happening so fast.

Click here to read Part Two of the Second Boy's Birth Story