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A little bit of background initially...
My 3rd baby was due on 22 April 2015. I was diagnosed with GD in my first pregnancy very late on and had a 38 week induction which wasn't much fun (forceps, several days of labour) In my second pregnancy I developed GD at 16 weeks but did well controlling it through diet but I followed hospital policy and was induced at 39+5 - the birth was better but I experienced an allergic reaction to prostin gel, my baby had a 3 minute bradycardic episode and I was hyperstimulated for 10hours with no dilation. My DD2 arrived after ARM quickly but I experienced a PPH.
In this pregnancy my GD arrived at 17 weeks but I was determined to do better with diet control and I worked really hard but also was blessed with an easier pregnancy. My consultant agreed to let me progress to 41 weeks before considering induction as it wasn't entirely clear how I would be best induced given my issue with prostin.
On the 28th of April I had a routine MW appointment at 40+6. Most of the appointment was spent discussing my concerns that there wasn't a 'plan' in place regarding balancing the safety of going to +14 and the limited research on prolonged GD pregnancies. Also I was anxious that despite 3 attempts a proper sweep hadn't been possible and the inner part of my cervix was completely closed - and should I need to be induced how this would be attempted given my prostin allergy. I was happy to attend hospital the next morning for the consultant on delivery suite to review my notes. The alternative was attending another hospital 25 mins from home every other day for the next week for monitoring and attempted sweeps. Despite being determined I wanted to avoid being induced I was finding driving to now be painful and juggling childcare for appointments quite hard - my main niggle was I needed to feel that baby was safe and increasingly I felt her movements were reducing a little.
My sister and her boyfriend arrived at our house at 6.50am. I had slept really well. DH had the day booked off work but we expected to be home by lunchtime and for him to go into the office. Both DD1 and DD2 were awake when we left but it didn't feel emotional as I didn't think I'd next be seeing them after the birth of their sister.
We got to the hospital late (it took an hour and a half) but were shown straight into a delivery room and introduced to 2 midwives - an experienced mw and a lady who had been a mw for 9 years but this was her first shift at this hospital - and she was returning to midwifery after 3 year break as a district nurse. I very much didn't want to make ourselves at home and didn't let DH bring the bags in from the car. The mws really listened to me and agreed we needed to get the consultant to review my notes and check me over. The consultant who appeared was actually my consultant from my DD2 pregnancy. She asked me outright if I felt that I had GD - and I replied that I definitely did but I knew without any doubt it had been controlled. She said she was happy to let me continue without any intervention until +12 but before we left she would like to palpate me and attempt a sweep.
On palpation she commented that it felt bizarre like the baby wasn't in my pelvis at all - like it was completely empty. She asked if I was OK with her doing an internal check which I agreed to. On checking me internally she agreed I was only 1cm, cervix mid but very very soft. With a bit of poking about she said despite how things felt on palpation that she could open the inner part of the cervix and she had her finger on the baby's head and the baby's head was 'fixed vaginally' so she was happy to sweep my membranes - she asked one of the mws to apply some pressure low down on my bump to make it easier. The process didn't really hurt but she apologised for causing some bleeding. She said my uterus being tilted forward and my short torso were likely making things feel a bit different to normal. I sat up and went to put my knickers back on and I felt a gush and a fair amount of waters ended up on the floor which seemed to surprise everyone! The consultant said it was best to monitor us for a while just to make sure baby was happy but she didn't see what had happened as a major intervention and we could go if we wanted and return when things kicked off.
Monitoring was fine but strangely I didn't want to go home. I was having mild contractions but mainly with my waters gushing, living so far from the hospital and feeling worried about childcare I realised that I felt happier just being allowed to potter around the room and I felt safer being at the hospital. They weren't busy so they were fine with me staying.
I bounced on a ball for a while just chatting to the mws and we put the radio on. I knew quite soon that it wasn't going to be like when DD2 was born and nothing would happen scarily fast. Around about 1pm the contractions began to pick up - they were regular but I felt they were short. Once I was having to think about them I wanted to be stood up bent over the bed. Everyone was very happy to not examine me and just to let me progress. Around 3pm I started to feel like my heart was racing during contractions - it was still very bearable and I hadn't asked for G&A yet. I mentioned that I felt odd and also I was getting some pressure but didn't feel 'pushy'.
The mw asked if they could quickly check my BP, pulse and monitor baby which I was fine with. They actually strapped a wireless monitor on which was tiny and I just had it under my dress. After a few contractions it was apparent my BP was spiking during contractions but also my pulse was 155+ Baby was fine, but my pulse was significantly faster than her HB! The mws encouraged me to drink a lot of water as they thought I might be dehydrated. My pulse stayed really high though and they asked how I would feel about having some IV fluids. I was initially reluctant but the experienced mw offered to place the canula on the inside of my wrist - rather than hand or elbow - so I'd have good movement. She did a great job (I have no bruise and it didn't hurt) and an hour of fluids and my BP and pulse were much better.
Baby was being exceptionally wriggly all this time and it felt like she was trying to climb into my ribs. The MW asked around this time if they could check to see if I was progressing because I was getting this odd pressure sensation. They did a quick check and I was only 2-3cm. That was about 4pm. Laying on my left hand side after the check the contractions got really strong and I could feel my body trying to push the baby down. I couldn't cope with that position for long though and I stood back up. Around 5pm the pain changed and I was clinging on to DH and I realised maybe this was a good time for some gas and air. I actually didn't find it did much for me at all the time but I persevered with it. At 6pm I was lent over the back of the bed and I realised I was pushing with the contractions. The mws very much told me to go with it but I had such a strong feeling it wasn't the right time (at 4cm with DD2 the same thing happened) I actually got really angry and said I wouldn't push and I'd fight it until they did an examination because I was scared of causing swelling to my cervix. It took 30minutes but they agreed and sure enough I was only 4cm - maybe stretchy enough to go to 5cm. They also commented the inside part of my cervix wasn't even that open and I heard mw 1 say 'and it feels like the baby is sideways'.
The pain at this point was the most intense pain I've ever experienced in labour. I curled into a ball on the bed and was crying. I couldn't tolerate the gas anymore and I started demanding an epidural because I couldn't do this for another 5cm. Mw1 really wanted to clarify with me that I truly wanted that and eventually she believed me and ran off to find an anesthetist. Mw2 stayed with me and I feel awful in retrospect - I was yelling so much but also quite calmly asking her why she wouldn't help me and please please just to make it stop because something wasn't right and it shouldn't feel like this.
MW1 came back and tried to explain both anaesthetists had been called into theatre and she tried to help me calm down. I was beyond hysterical. I curled up into a ball again on the bed and out of nowhere I got the overwhelming urge to kneel up. I was facing to the right of the bed and mw2 was in front of me - I think they thought I was going to 1. Hit her 2. Try and run away! I did let out an awful scream and pushed and I knew she was coming out. The mws didn't know what the hell was going on for a second and it was DH who was behind me who saw the baby's head fully emerged just dangling there! Mw2 put her hands on the head, I looked down and also put my hands onto the head. I was completely happy again at that point and all the pain was gone. I was smiling when I gave a small push and baby was out. They passed her properly through my legs to me and I lay down and we waited for the cord to stop pulsating before clamping it. I cut the cord and then I had the injection for the placenta. The placenta took 5minutes or so and I had to push more for that than the baby!
I lost 250mls of blood compared to 1litre with DD2.
The mws checked me over - no tears, no grazes. I can only put that down to the huge amount of EPO I was taking from 35 weeks.
MW2 thanked me for providing an exciting first shift back in midwifery but said it took her by surprise how fast it was at the end. They recorded my established labour as being 25minutes long.
Penelope Daisy weighed 7lb 1oz. She breastfed straight away and with no issues. I had my tea, toast (and jam!) and a lovely shower before we went up to the ward.
I don't feel I missed out on anything by experiencing the entire process in hospital. I felt respected and safe. I feel so lucky that my last birth experience turned out to be the best
My 3rd baby was due on 22 April 2015. I was diagnosed with GD in my first pregnancy very late on and had a 38 week induction which wasn't much fun (forceps, several days of labour) In my second pregnancy I developed GD at 16 weeks but did well controlling it through diet but I followed hospital policy and was induced at 39+5 - the birth was better but I experienced an allergic reaction to prostin gel, my baby had a 3 minute bradycardic episode and I was hyperstimulated for 10hours with no dilation. My DD2 arrived after ARM quickly but I experienced a PPH.
In this pregnancy my GD arrived at 17 weeks but I was determined to do better with diet control and I worked really hard but also was blessed with an easier pregnancy. My consultant agreed to let me progress to 41 weeks before considering induction as it wasn't entirely clear how I would be best induced given my issue with prostin.
On the 28th of April I had a routine MW appointment at 40+6. Most of the appointment was spent discussing my concerns that there wasn't a 'plan' in place regarding balancing the safety of going to +14 and the limited research on prolonged GD pregnancies. Also I was anxious that despite 3 attempts a proper sweep hadn't been possible and the inner part of my cervix was completely closed - and should I need to be induced how this would be attempted given my prostin allergy. I was happy to attend hospital the next morning for the consultant on delivery suite to review my notes. The alternative was attending another hospital 25 mins from home every other day for the next week for monitoring and attempted sweeps. Despite being determined I wanted to avoid being induced I was finding driving to now be painful and juggling childcare for appointments quite hard - my main niggle was I needed to feel that baby was safe and increasingly I felt her movements were reducing a little.
My sister and her boyfriend arrived at our house at 6.50am. I had slept really well. DH had the day booked off work but we expected to be home by lunchtime and for him to go into the office. Both DD1 and DD2 were awake when we left but it didn't feel emotional as I didn't think I'd next be seeing them after the birth of their sister.
We got to the hospital late (it took an hour and a half) but were shown straight into a delivery room and introduced to 2 midwives - an experienced mw and a lady who had been a mw for 9 years but this was her first shift at this hospital - and she was returning to midwifery after 3 year break as a district nurse. I very much didn't want to make ourselves at home and didn't let DH bring the bags in from the car. The mws really listened to me and agreed we needed to get the consultant to review my notes and check me over. The consultant who appeared was actually my consultant from my DD2 pregnancy. She asked me outright if I felt that I had GD - and I replied that I definitely did but I knew without any doubt it had been controlled. She said she was happy to let me continue without any intervention until +12 but before we left she would like to palpate me and attempt a sweep.
On palpation she commented that it felt bizarre like the baby wasn't in my pelvis at all - like it was completely empty. She asked if I was OK with her doing an internal check which I agreed to. On checking me internally she agreed I was only 1cm, cervix mid but very very soft. With a bit of poking about she said despite how things felt on palpation that she could open the inner part of the cervix and she had her finger on the baby's head and the baby's head was 'fixed vaginally' so she was happy to sweep my membranes - she asked one of the mws to apply some pressure low down on my bump to make it easier. The process didn't really hurt but she apologised for causing some bleeding. She said my uterus being tilted forward and my short torso were likely making things feel a bit different to normal. I sat up and went to put my knickers back on and I felt a gush and a fair amount of waters ended up on the floor which seemed to surprise everyone! The consultant said it was best to monitor us for a while just to make sure baby was happy but she didn't see what had happened as a major intervention and we could go if we wanted and return when things kicked off.
Monitoring was fine but strangely I didn't want to go home. I was having mild contractions but mainly with my waters gushing, living so far from the hospital and feeling worried about childcare I realised that I felt happier just being allowed to potter around the room and I felt safer being at the hospital. They weren't busy so they were fine with me staying.
I bounced on a ball for a while just chatting to the mws and we put the radio on. I knew quite soon that it wasn't going to be like when DD2 was born and nothing would happen scarily fast. Around about 1pm the contractions began to pick up - they were regular but I felt they were short. Once I was having to think about them I wanted to be stood up bent over the bed. Everyone was very happy to not examine me and just to let me progress. Around 3pm I started to feel like my heart was racing during contractions - it was still very bearable and I hadn't asked for G&A yet. I mentioned that I felt odd and also I was getting some pressure but didn't feel 'pushy'.
The mw asked if they could quickly check my BP, pulse and monitor baby which I was fine with. They actually strapped a wireless monitor on which was tiny and I just had it under my dress. After a few contractions it was apparent my BP was spiking during contractions but also my pulse was 155+ Baby was fine, but my pulse was significantly faster than her HB! The mws encouraged me to drink a lot of water as they thought I might be dehydrated. My pulse stayed really high though and they asked how I would feel about having some IV fluids. I was initially reluctant but the experienced mw offered to place the canula on the inside of my wrist - rather than hand or elbow - so I'd have good movement. She did a great job (I have no bruise and it didn't hurt) and an hour of fluids and my BP and pulse were much better.
Baby was being exceptionally wriggly all this time and it felt like she was trying to climb into my ribs. The MW asked around this time if they could check to see if I was progressing because I was getting this odd pressure sensation. They did a quick check and I was only 2-3cm. That was about 4pm. Laying on my left hand side after the check the contractions got really strong and I could feel my body trying to push the baby down. I couldn't cope with that position for long though and I stood back up. Around 5pm the pain changed and I was clinging on to DH and I realised maybe this was a good time for some gas and air. I actually didn't find it did much for me at all the time but I persevered with it. At 6pm I was lent over the back of the bed and I realised I was pushing with the contractions. The mws very much told me to go with it but I had such a strong feeling it wasn't the right time (at 4cm with DD2 the same thing happened) I actually got really angry and said I wouldn't push and I'd fight it until they did an examination because I was scared of causing swelling to my cervix. It took 30minutes but they agreed and sure enough I was only 4cm - maybe stretchy enough to go to 5cm. They also commented the inside part of my cervix wasn't even that open and I heard mw 1 say 'and it feels like the baby is sideways'.
The pain at this point was the most intense pain I've ever experienced in labour. I curled into a ball on the bed and was crying. I couldn't tolerate the gas anymore and I started demanding an epidural because I couldn't do this for another 5cm. Mw1 really wanted to clarify with me that I truly wanted that and eventually she believed me and ran off to find an anesthetist. Mw2 stayed with me and I feel awful in retrospect - I was yelling so much but also quite calmly asking her why she wouldn't help me and please please just to make it stop because something wasn't right and it shouldn't feel like this.
MW1 came back and tried to explain both anaesthetists had been called into theatre and she tried to help me calm down. I was beyond hysterical. I curled up into a ball again on the bed and out of nowhere I got the overwhelming urge to kneel up. I was facing to the right of the bed and mw2 was in front of me - I think they thought I was going to 1. Hit her 2. Try and run away! I did let out an awful scream and pushed and I knew she was coming out. The mws didn't know what the hell was going on for a second and it was DH who was behind me who saw the baby's head fully emerged just dangling there! Mw2 put her hands on the head, I looked down and also put my hands onto the head. I was completely happy again at that point and all the pain was gone. I was smiling when I gave a small push and baby was out. They passed her properly through my legs to me and I lay down and we waited for the cord to stop pulsating before clamping it. I cut the cord and then I had the injection for the placenta. The placenta took 5minutes or so and I had to push more for that than the baby!
I lost 250mls of blood compared to 1litre with DD2.
The mws checked me over - no tears, no grazes. I can only put that down to the huge amount of EPO I was taking from 35 weeks.
MW2 thanked me for providing an exciting first shift back in midwifery but said it took her by surprise how fast it was at the end. They recorded my established labour as being 25minutes long.
Penelope Daisy weighed 7lb 1oz. She breastfed straight away and with no issues. I had my tea, toast (and jam!) and a lovely shower before we went up to the ward.
I don't feel I missed out on anything by experiencing the entire process in hospital. I felt respected and safe. I feel so lucky that my last birth experience turned out to be the best
