Lady H
Mum to a miracle
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- Jan 7, 2012
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Hannah's birth story
The results of our 12 week blood test showed a low PAPP-A of 0.24 momm which put us at 1/65 risk of Downs. However the amnio at 16 weeks showed everything was fine. However this low level combined with Hannah being my first baby and me at 40 years old meant they were concerned about placenta function and her growth. I had four extra scans to track her growth which was low but ok. My consultant decided to induce me at 40 weeks exactly as it was safer for her to be here than wait.
We arrived at Stoke Mandeville just before 8am and were shown to a bay on the maternity ward. They did a quick monitor of baby who was quite sleepy then popped the first pessary in at 11am. I was 2cm when they did this. I was expecting a long wait so at 1.30 I sent DH home for a sleep. I didn't see the point in him sitting around waiting and he was very tired. After he went I realised that I was having some regular pain in my lower back. I bounced in the birth ball but found when I felt them that leaning over onto the bed and rocking my hips side to side seemed to help. Around 4.30 I decided I needed some Paracetamol as I was getting quite uncomfortable. The midwife offered to check and I was 3cm stretch to 4cm. She gave me the paracetamol and popped me on the monitor. I was feeling like I had little break between the pains and they were quite regular. Around 20 past 6 I texted DH to come back. I'd been trying to hold off to allow him some rest but I needed him now. I wasn't sure if my text went as the signal was minimal in the bay, so I decided to walk down to the entrance doors to get a better signal. As I returned from that walk I became really really hot, sweating and felt really sick. I signalled to the student midwife I needed a bowl. The senior midwife came over and I think realised that I has moved into active labour, perhaps the little walk triggered it! They got me on the bed which was hard work as I was so uncomfortable by now. The student midwife asked where my husband was. I said I'd texted him and she suggested I called him. I couldn't really speak by this point and was just about able to help her dial him on my phone. She suggested to him he got there soon. They then used a hand held Doppler to check on Hannah and I'm not sure what happened but they found her heart rate had really dropped. It's a bit of a blur but they moved me on the bed down to labour ward really quickly.
When I arrived in the labour room there were so many people in there. I was asked to lie on my left side as they were worried about Hannah. By this time the pain was really intense and they handed me gas and air. They kept asking where my husband was? He arrived about 7.20 with me in full blown labour and at 7cm. He was great as I was so hot so he kept putting a cool towel on my fore head and neck which was lovely. By this point I caved and asked for an Epidural. They said they would call them. I carried on with the gas and air but it was seriously painful! The Anaesthetist arrived and said that she did not think that I would be able to have it. She said it would take 20 minutes to administer and I would have to sit still and then it takes 20 minutes to take effect. She said she felt I would not be that long before having her. I remember laying there with the gas in my hand thinking oh no, I've got to do this without an epidural!
The midwife said she would check me and I was 10cm. The pain at this point changed and I could feel my body pushing. Unfortunately with the first four big ones I pooped! 
I also led a hot gush as my waters broke. Unfortunately there was meconium in it. The midwife said that solved their dilemma of if they should break my waters or not! I started to push but it was difficult to work out the best way to push and breathe right at first. They told me Hannah was struggling and that I needed to get her out. Unfortunately it was slow going and they popped the stirrups in and advised me they'd probably need to to an episiotomy. Suddenly she was plopped on my tummy and she made a little cry. They whisked her off to support her breathing, so sadly Gordon didn't get to cut the cord. It was 20.50 when she arrived. After a few minutes she was fine and they placed her skin to skin with me. I couldn't believe she was mine and that she had come out of me! It was weird as i expected when i touched her to feel it. I was used to rubbing my tummy to placate her and feeling that. The placenta took a while to deliver but that was fine. However the Dr stitching me back up was excruciating and I needed gas again despite the anaesthetic.
After a long while resting with her and DH they popped back and helped me shower and DH to clean her and put a nappy on as she had pooped on me. He watched them weigh her and she was 6lb 12.5oz which surprised me. They took me down to the ward and DH had to leave as it was 1.30am. It was a long night with no sleep as I just held her skin to skin all night in wonder. Total active labour was 3 hours. It was a bit of a shock as it was so fast and intense. I'm proud I did it just on gas and air and Hannah is so sweet and wonderful. Our little miracle baby.
We've had a bumpy start with feeding. Hannah had Jaundice and then an eye infection. I'm still struggling with getting her to latch, so am expressing and feeding in a bottle. I'm honestly reaching the end of that as its so tiring and demanding.
The results of our 12 week blood test showed a low PAPP-A of 0.24 momm which put us at 1/65 risk of Downs. However the amnio at 16 weeks showed everything was fine. However this low level combined with Hannah being my first baby and me at 40 years old meant they were concerned about placenta function and her growth. I had four extra scans to track her growth which was low but ok. My consultant decided to induce me at 40 weeks exactly as it was safer for her to be here than wait.
We arrived at Stoke Mandeville just before 8am and were shown to a bay on the maternity ward. They did a quick monitor of baby who was quite sleepy then popped the first pessary in at 11am. I was 2cm when they did this. I was expecting a long wait so at 1.30 I sent DH home for a sleep. I didn't see the point in him sitting around waiting and he was very tired. After he went I realised that I was having some regular pain in my lower back. I bounced in the birth ball but found when I felt them that leaning over onto the bed and rocking my hips side to side seemed to help. Around 4.30 I decided I needed some Paracetamol as I was getting quite uncomfortable. The midwife offered to check and I was 3cm stretch to 4cm. She gave me the paracetamol and popped me on the monitor. I was feeling like I had little break between the pains and they were quite regular. Around 20 past 6 I texted DH to come back. I'd been trying to hold off to allow him some rest but I needed him now. I wasn't sure if my text went as the signal was minimal in the bay, so I decided to walk down to the entrance doors to get a better signal. As I returned from that walk I became really really hot, sweating and felt really sick. I signalled to the student midwife I needed a bowl. The senior midwife came over and I think realised that I has moved into active labour, perhaps the little walk triggered it! They got me on the bed which was hard work as I was so uncomfortable by now. The student midwife asked where my husband was. I said I'd texted him and she suggested I called him. I couldn't really speak by this point and was just about able to help her dial him on my phone. She suggested to him he got there soon. They then used a hand held Doppler to check on Hannah and I'm not sure what happened but they found her heart rate had really dropped. It's a bit of a blur but they moved me on the bed down to labour ward really quickly.
When I arrived in the labour room there were so many people in there. I was asked to lie on my left side as they were worried about Hannah. By this time the pain was really intense and they handed me gas and air. They kept asking where my husband was? He arrived about 7.20 with me in full blown labour and at 7cm. He was great as I was so hot so he kept putting a cool towel on my fore head and neck which was lovely. By this point I caved and asked for an Epidural. They said they would call them. I carried on with the gas and air but it was seriously painful! The Anaesthetist arrived and said that she did not think that I would be able to have it. She said it would take 20 minutes to administer and I would have to sit still and then it takes 20 minutes to take effect. She said she felt I would not be that long before having her. I remember laying there with the gas in my hand thinking oh no, I've got to do this without an epidural!
The midwife said she would check me and I was 10cm. The pain at this point changed and I could feel my body pushing. Unfortunately with the first four big ones I pooped! I also led a hot gush as my waters broke. Unfortunately there was meconium in it. The midwife said that solved their dilemma of if they should break my waters or not! I started to push but it was difficult to work out the best way to push and breathe right at first. They told me Hannah was struggling and that I needed to get her out. Unfortunately it was slow going and they popped the stirrups in and advised me they'd probably need to to an episiotomy. Suddenly she was plopped on my tummy and she made a little cry. They whisked her off to support her breathing, so sadly Gordon didn't get to cut the cord. It was 20.50 when she arrived. After a few minutes she was fine and they placed her skin to skin with me. I couldn't believe she was mine and that she had come out of me! It was weird as i expected when i touched her to feel it. I was used to rubbing my tummy to placate her and feeling that. The placenta took a while to deliver but that was fine. However the Dr stitching me back up was excruciating and I needed gas again despite the anaesthetic. After a long while resting with her and DH they popped back and helped me shower and DH to clean her and put a nappy on as she had pooped on me. He watched them weigh her and she was 6lb 12.5oz which surprised me. They took me down to the ward and DH had to leave as it was 1.30am. It was a long night with no sleep as I just held her skin to skin all night in wonder. Total active labour was 3 hours. It was a bit of a shock as it was so fast and intense. I'm proud I did it just on gas and air and Hannah is so sweet and wonderful. Our little miracle baby.
We've had a bumpy start with feeding. Hannah had Jaundice and then an eye infection. I'm still struggling with getting her to latch, so am expressing and feeding in a bottle. I'm honestly reaching the end of that as its so tiring and demanding.
xx
