Ella_Hopeful
Mom to 5 inc. b/g twins. RPL sufferer.
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Thought it's about time I typed up the story of my DS Isaish who was born last Sunday 22nd June.
At 4am on Saturday morning I woke up with what felt like bad period cramps that got worse and then better. I started timing them, they were coming every 7 minutes or so but only lasting 20 seconds. I knew these were real contractions as they were nothing like braxton hicks, felt completely different.
I woke DH and called my friend who was acting as my doula and she came round right away. As she is a good friend she wanted to support me from the very beginning of labor.
I carried on the day as normal. The contractions were painful and I had to stop what I was doing with each one, but they still weren't lasting a long time, and sometimes I had gaps of 15 or 20 minutes between them. I wasn't sure what to do, and how long this would last for.
In the evening, I decided to shower, pack the hospital bag with the few last minute things, have a good meal and go for a walk. As I got in the shower, I saw my mucus plug fall out (sorry about the TMI!), followed by a gush of waters. It hit me that whether I like it or not, I'm having this baby soon!
I know the hospital say to go straight away if your waters break, but my contractions weren't painful and I didn't want to be there too early. My doula gave set my TENS machine up for me and it really helped deal with the pains. We carried on the plan, had something to eat and headed out for a long walk -DH, doula and I. Everything was relaxed and fun
After an hour's walk, constantly dripping fluid (thank goodness it was dark!) - I came home and we had to decide what to do. We said at 4am we would go to the hospital, 24 hours after my first contraction - but by 3am the pain was getting worse but contractions were still irregular. I threw up and my doula, knowing it was a sign of transition stage, worried that maybe I was further along than we thought, so we got a taxi to the hospital.
When we arrived they were in no rush to check me as I didn't look like I was in active labor. So I labored quietly in the waiting room with my TENS machine. After an hour or so, they checked me - I was 100% effaced, zero station, 4cm dilated. Not bad considering the contractions were bearable!
I had a long shower, about 45 mins, which was amazing for the contractions. Then at 6am they check me again, I was 7cm. They took me to a delivery room.
Shortly after, I asked for gas and air. I was determined not to use an epidural. Contractions were close together now and I was exhausted after more than 24 hours with no sleep. At some point, I went into a deep sleep and the contractions stopped. I don't remember what happened, but my doula said when I got to 9cm my body just stopped laboring due to exhaustion. They gave me pitocin to get it started again, and I had intense contractions for a few hours. I got a major urge to push but was still a 9. The pressure was so, so bad I just couldn't help but push even though I knew I shouldn't. Eventually, after a few hours, I got to be a ten and started pushing. It was now about 10am. I pushed for nearly 2 hours, and they could see the head about to crown - but then it wouldn't budge - the babys head measured in the 98th percentile from ultrasounds, so it was no wonder!!! I was afraid of needing a c-section, and in a lot of pain. I was pushing as hard as I could, they said I was pushing well but nothing was happening. I started bleeding a lot with every push and they don't know what was causing it. I was also tearing badly, and the midwife reluctantly had to do an episiotomy. The baby's head still didn't move. Luckily I didn't know this at the time, and the midwife was encouraging me to push and I was sure I would hold my baby soon. At 12:15pm she said the head wasn't a good fit, and if they used a vaccum he would be out in 5 minutes. I said yes! A few contractions later, the doctor arrived and started up the vacuum. At 1:30pm, after a few short vaccum assissted pushes, baby was out, placed on my stomach for skin to skin. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and I was truly in love!
Little Isaiah weighed 6lb 12oz (3kg),had an initial apgar of 9, was perfect in every way, a little bruised from the vacuum but nothing terrible. I had to have A LOT of stitches, and then got to spend quality time with DH and the baby.
All in all, the labor was hard, but I am happy with how it went. My doula and midwife were amazing.
Little Zay-Zay is an adorable little boy, doesn't like to sleep much at night but it's all 100x worth it. I couldn't have asked for more
Here he is:
At 4am on Saturday morning I woke up with what felt like bad period cramps that got worse and then better. I started timing them, they were coming every 7 minutes or so but only lasting 20 seconds. I knew these were real contractions as they were nothing like braxton hicks, felt completely different.
I woke DH and called my friend who was acting as my doula and she came round right away. As she is a good friend she wanted to support me from the very beginning of labor.
I carried on the day as normal. The contractions were painful and I had to stop what I was doing with each one, but they still weren't lasting a long time, and sometimes I had gaps of 15 or 20 minutes between them. I wasn't sure what to do, and how long this would last for.
In the evening, I decided to shower, pack the hospital bag with the few last minute things, have a good meal and go for a walk. As I got in the shower, I saw my mucus plug fall out (sorry about the TMI!), followed by a gush of waters. It hit me that whether I like it or not, I'm having this baby soon!
I know the hospital say to go straight away if your waters break, but my contractions weren't painful and I didn't want to be there too early. My doula gave set my TENS machine up for me and it really helped deal with the pains. We carried on the plan, had something to eat and headed out for a long walk -DH, doula and I. Everything was relaxed and fun
After an hour's walk, constantly dripping fluid (thank goodness it was dark!) - I came home and we had to decide what to do. We said at 4am we would go to the hospital, 24 hours after my first contraction - but by 3am the pain was getting worse but contractions were still irregular. I threw up and my doula, knowing it was a sign of transition stage, worried that maybe I was further along than we thought, so we got a taxi to the hospital.
When we arrived they were in no rush to check me as I didn't look like I was in active labor. So I labored quietly in the waiting room with my TENS machine. After an hour or so, they checked me - I was 100% effaced, zero station, 4cm dilated. Not bad considering the contractions were bearable!
I had a long shower, about 45 mins, which was amazing for the contractions. Then at 6am they check me again, I was 7cm. They took me to a delivery room.
Shortly after, I asked for gas and air. I was determined not to use an epidural. Contractions were close together now and I was exhausted after more than 24 hours with no sleep. At some point, I went into a deep sleep and the contractions stopped. I don't remember what happened, but my doula said when I got to 9cm my body just stopped laboring due to exhaustion. They gave me pitocin to get it started again, and I had intense contractions for a few hours. I got a major urge to push but was still a 9. The pressure was so, so bad I just couldn't help but push even though I knew I shouldn't. Eventually, after a few hours, I got to be a ten and started pushing. It was now about 10am. I pushed for nearly 2 hours, and they could see the head about to crown - but then it wouldn't budge - the babys head measured in the 98th percentile from ultrasounds, so it was no wonder!!! I was afraid of needing a c-section, and in a lot of pain. I was pushing as hard as I could, they said I was pushing well but nothing was happening. I started bleeding a lot with every push and they don't know what was causing it. I was also tearing badly, and the midwife reluctantly had to do an episiotomy. The baby's head still didn't move. Luckily I didn't know this at the time, and the midwife was encouraging me to push and I was sure I would hold my baby soon. At 12:15pm she said the head wasn't a good fit, and if they used a vaccum he would be out in 5 minutes. I said yes! A few contractions later, the doctor arrived and started up the vacuum. At 1:30pm, after a few short vaccum assissted pushes, baby was out, placed on my stomach for skin to skin. He was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen, and I was truly in love!
Little Isaiah weighed 6lb 12oz (3kg),had an initial apgar of 9, was perfect in every way, a little bruised from the vacuum but nothing terrible. I had to have A LOT of stitches, and then got to spend quality time with DH and the baby.
All in all, the labor was hard, but I am happy with how it went. My doula and midwife were amazing.
Little Zay-Zay is an adorable little boy, doesn't like to sleep much at night but it's all 100x worth it. I couldn't have asked for more
Here he is:
well done u did amazing x
