lucky3
Mum to 3 girls
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- Jun 6, 2010
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I had hoped to have Isabel in a midwife led birthing unit but was told at Christmas they were understaffed so it was closing 
So as i didn't really want a hospital birth I decided on a homebirth...except of course if I went seriously overdue!!
I was overdue by 14 days when I went into hospital on Thursday 17.02.11. On the Tuesday night I had started to have contractions around teatime and really thought this could be it...Im getting my homebirth. I monitored it for a few hours then around 9 we thought we ought to let the team know as the contractions were regularly every 2 minutes but not so intense I couldn't talk. So hubby rang up and explained this, then a MW rang back and spoke to me. I explained again what they were like and that I thought I should just let them know but she was keen to come out and she said the other midwife was already on her way! So 40 minutes later I have 1 midwife checking me, I explain again what's going on...then another midwife and her student turn up! Suddenly it feels a little crowded and unnecessary in the lounge and the contractions are not getting any more intense unless I keep walking. At this time of night, 10/11 oclock, that means walking round the dining table as we are a bit too rural for venturing outside!
Eventually we are all agreed that labour doesn't look imminent so it would make more sense to try to get some sleep and see if it all gets going in the morning, by which time it would be my own midwife who would attend. I apologise again to the midwives for getting them out but they seemed quite pleased to be out of the hospital!! I do worry about the wasted time and petrol though
So the next day nothing much at all, I was really disappointed, spent the day on my feet cleaning the house and repacking my hospital bag but nothing got going. Was really hoping to have my baby by then.
So there we are - Thursday morning and I'm off to hospital for monitoring or an induction at 9. It was written in my notes that I wanted to defer induction but you know, that was never mentioned?? I seemed to spend the whole day being monitored - firstly hooked up to the heat rate machine, my baby is a wriggler and had an anterior placenta so trying to get a continuous trace was a nightmare...50 mins later we finally got there. Then she did an internal to see if my cervix had changed - no it was still highish, long and closed and she was SO painful. The sweep attempts were nothing like that...I did wonder why she said if I wanted her to stop at any point just say...*shudders*.
But, because she couldn't really feel baby's head she wanted to have a scan to check she wasn't breech. This involved the on-call doctor doing a 1 minute scan...unfortunately it took 3 hours for a slot to be available, 3 hours when I couldn't go for a walk or leave the bed, in case he appeared. As I said to my hubby...reason 32 why I hate hospitals!!
So when he did arrive, yep 1 minute scan, Baby was just where she should be, just high up. By this point (3 o'clock) I had really had enough so it was either get on with it or go home...so i just said yep lets get on with it so I had another 30 mins trace than had a dose of prostin. By this time it was a new, pleasant midwife, who gently examined me and administered the prostin. I lay down for 45 minutes then was able to wander around the hospital with hubby and at last feel more relaxed and in control. I felt tightenings after a couple of hours and just monitored them to see if I thought they were labour, by about 7 oclock I was pretty sure they were. I was due another examination around 9 to see how things were going and had been told I would get another prostin dose then if necessary before having to progress to ARM and the drip, which I absolutely did not want.
At 8 the midwives changed AGAIN but this time no one came to introduce themselves. At 8.45 i asked OH just to check that she knew I was here and expecting a check up soon. She came over and said no, she wasnt going to be doing that. (I took an instant dislike to her, not least because she couldnt even be bothered to introduce herself.) As this was my third I wouldnt be getting any more prostin and she didnt intend to examine me either. If my waters broke, or I was huffing and puffing she might do something, otherwise she suggested I had a bath, went for a walk or went to bed with a paracetemol. Now as OH was supposed to be kicked out at 9.30 this wasnt overly helpful. By this time the contractions were every couple of minutes, lasting 45 seconds and intense enough that I couldnt talk through them easily.
But I was happy to go for a walk so off we went, and I bumped into my community midwife who was on call that night. That was so lovely I told her about my contractions and she suggested going sideways up the stairs to help them along! She was all cheery and pleased to see me, made me feel much better ☺. So hubby and I went up and down the hospital stairs and corridors (not sideways!!) the contractions got more intense, about a minute and a half apart lasting about a minute and I definitely couldnt talk through them! I controlled them by breathing and visualising my cervix effacing etc etc I went to the loo on the way back and noticed there was quite a lot of blood could be a show but Id never had one so I really dont know
!!
When we got back to the ward I told the grumpy midwife about the contractions and the blood, showing her what was on my panty liner. She said well I suppose we had better do an exam then, sighing. She was obviously not keen.
So she examined me, which was very uncomfortable as I didnt want to be lying down through contractions, and I certainly didnt want someone poking around up there at the same time! She managed to squeeze her finger in and she popped my waters not sure if she meant to or not OH asked if there had been any change and she said not, my cervix was still long and she could only just get a finger in. She didnt think these were really labour pains but she said I could have some gas and air by the bed as she wanted to monitor babys heart rate. This was horrible, being stuck on the bed through contractions. Luckily she only left us on there for about 10 mins then I could wander around again.
By this point the other women in the ward were going to bed and there was me breathing through contractions but getting to the point where I wanted to say arghhh at the end and they were trying to go to sleep. So I decided to have a shower. I didnt want a bath as I had found they made the contractions more painful in my previous labours, and made me throw up!! But I thought a shower might be soothing without being so intense. So off I went no, showers had pretty much the same effect as a bath and accelerated the contractions! At least I could lock the door though because by now I couldnt just breath through them, by the end of each contraction I was moaning too. After a while I wanted to go back and put my nightie on but hadnt brought a sanitary towel etc etc with me so the logistics of getting back to the ward were flummoxing me. Especially as I could only move between contractions!! At one point the grumpy midwife asked if I was alright, yep Im fine I reply as you always do!! But by then I could hear her saying, I dont like the sounds from in there, Im worried shes going to have the baby! Hold on I thought I wasnt in labour?!!!
Turns out whilst I was in the shower she had said to Oh, she thinks shes in labour but shes not! She had even asked how long my other labours were (4 hours) so you think she might have thought, oh it could be quick, never mind, oh this woman might know her own body!!
By this point (about 11.15??) I was getting the urge to push so I tried the toilet, in case I just was getting ready for labour that really panicked the midwife and they unlocked the door from outside! She had by this time told delivery suite I was on my way and OH had packed my stuff up! When I finished on the loo I was put on a wheelchair and she rushed me down the corridor! Having contractions on a wheel chair wasnt much fun!
So now I am delivery suite with a new midwife .yes a lovely one, phew!! I put on my nightshirt and try to get in a good position. I was encouraged to have gas and air but really struggled to be able to use it the contractions were so intense I had to go arghhhhhhhhhh through them!! The midwife said to go with what my body wanted and didnt mind the racket I was making!! Like a tennis player grunting I found making the noise helped me to push etc.
After a while I decided my nightshirt was too flappy so changed into a vest top whod have thought I would have so many outfits for one little labour!! I was on all 4s but holding onto the back of the bed which seemed to work. All this time I was getting the urge to push but when the midwives looked I still had about 5cm of cervix in the way. So they asked me not to push?!!! Like I felt I had any control over it?! I tried, and I tried to have the gas and air but I just couldnt. Then suddenly I could feel babys head coming, the 5 cm of cervix disappeared in about 5 mins and I felt the ring of fire. Now I gave slow pushes but it seemed to take loads about 8 or 10 pushes! My last one only needed 2, though prob there wasnt 5 cm of cervix in the way then
then her head was out
more pushing, harder than I remember last time, and the rest was born. it was 12.22.
It was very quiet. I remember saying, why isnt she crying a few times. And them replying, not all babies do but they had cut the cord straight away and whipped her away to the resuscitaire. I had wanted the cord to stop pulsating and me to cut it ☹ But we later found out her APGAR score was only 2 when she came out she had come so quickly her body hadnt got geared up for breathing etc so she was pale, floppy and gasping. Luckily her score was up to 9 at 3 minutes and at 5 so I soon had a beautiful crying baby on my chest.
I had no tears, no episiotomy and no stitches, I feel very lucky.
I was so much more aware of what was going on this time as I had had no pethidine or other drugs. I saw my placenta and had it shown to me in detail it really was fascinating ☺
And most importantly of all I had a perfect, beautiful little girl ☺she weighed 8lb 2 oz, biggest so far
I do believe that things happen for a reason, and its not worth dwelling on what could have been. Ill never know what would have happened if Id delivered at home, perhaps it wouldnt have been so quick? It wasnt my planned homebirth but given the speed of the delivery Im so glad I was where I was.
It turns out that the midwife (Pip) was a community midwife in another area she had seen my midwife that evening who had said she hoped I got her. It was a good delivery, in a calm atmosphere with lovely people - I wouldnt change it at all.
So as i didn't really want a hospital birth I decided on a homebirth...except of course if I went seriously overdue!!
I was overdue by 14 days when I went into hospital on Thursday 17.02.11. On the Tuesday night I had started to have contractions around teatime and really thought this could be it...Im getting my homebirth. I monitored it for a few hours then around 9 we thought we ought to let the team know as the contractions were regularly every 2 minutes but not so intense I couldn't talk. So hubby rang up and explained this, then a MW rang back and spoke to me. I explained again what they were like and that I thought I should just let them know but she was keen to come out and she said the other midwife was already on her way! So 40 minutes later I have 1 midwife checking me, I explain again what's going on...then another midwife and her student turn up! Suddenly it feels a little crowded and unnecessary in the lounge and the contractions are not getting any more intense unless I keep walking. At this time of night, 10/11 oclock, that means walking round the dining table as we are a bit too rural for venturing outside!
Eventually we are all agreed that labour doesn't look imminent so it would make more sense to try to get some sleep and see if it all gets going in the morning, by which time it would be my own midwife who would attend. I apologise again to the midwives for getting them out but they seemed quite pleased to be out of the hospital!! I do worry about the wasted time and petrol though
So the next day nothing much at all, I was really disappointed, spent the day on my feet cleaning the house and repacking my hospital bag but nothing got going. Was really hoping to have my baby by then.
So there we are - Thursday morning and I'm off to hospital for monitoring or an induction at 9. It was written in my notes that I wanted to defer induction but you know, that was never mentioned?? I seemed to spend the whole day being monitored - firstly hooked up to the heat rate machine, my baby is a wriggler and had an anterior placenta so trying to get a continuous trace was a nightmare...50 mins later we finally got there. Then she did an internal to see if my cervix had changed - no it was still highish, long and closed
and she was SO painful. The sweep attempts were nothing like that...I did wonder why she said if I wanted her to stop at any point just say...*shudders*. But, because she couldn't really feel baby's head she wanted to have a scan to check she wasn't breech. This involved the on-call doctor doing a 1 minute scan...unfortunately it took 3 hours for a slot to be available, 3 hours when I couldn't go for a walk or leave the bed, in case he appeared. As I said to my hubby...reason 32 why I hate hospitals!!
So when he did arrive, yep 1 minute scan, Baby was just where she should be, just high up. By this point (3 o'clock) I had really had enough so it was either get on with it or go home...so i just said yep lets get on with it so I had another 30 mins trace than had a dose of prostin. By this time it was a new, pleasant midwife, who gently examined me and administered the prostin. I lay down for 45 minutes then was able to wander around the hospital with hubby and at last feel more relaxed and in control. I felt tightenings after a couple of hours and just monitored them to see if I thought they were labour, by about 7 oclock I was pretty sure they were. I was due another examination around 9 to see how things were going and had been told I would get another prostin dose then if necessary before having to progress to ARM and the drip, which I absolutely did not want.
At 8 the midwives changed AGAIN but this time no one came to introduce themselves. At 8.45 i asked OH just to check that she knew I was here and expecting a check up soon. She came over and said no, she wasnt going to be doing that. (I took an instant dislike to her, not least because she couldnt even be bothered to introduce herself.) As this was my third I wouldnt be getting any more prostin and she didnt intend to examine me either. If my waters broke, or I was huffing and puffing she might do something, otherwise she suggested I had a bath, went for a walk or went to bed with a paracetemol. Now as OH was supposed to be kicked out at 9.30 this wasnt overly helpful. By this time the contractions were every couple of minutes, lasting 45 seconds and intense enough that I couldnt talk through them easily.
But I was happy to go for a walk so off we went, and I bumped into my community midwife who was on call that night. That was so lovely I told her about my contractions and she suggested going sideways up the stairs to help them along! She was all cheery and pleased to see me, made me feel much better ☺. So hubby and I went up and down the hospital stairs and corridors (not sideways!!) the contractions got more intense, about a minute and a half apart lasting about a minute and I definitely couldnt talk through them! I controlled them by breathing and visualising my cervix effacing etc etc I went to the loo on the way back and noticed there was quite a lot of blood could be a show but Id never had one so I really dont know
!!When we got back to the ward I told the grumpy midwife about the contractions and the blood, showing her what was on my panty liner. She said well I suppose we had better do an exam then, sighing. She was obviously not keen.
So she examined me, which was very uncomfortable as I didnt want to be lying down through contractions, and I certainly didnt want someone poking around up there at the same time! She managed to squeeze her finger in and she popped my waters not sure if she meant to or not
OH asked if there had been any change and she said not, my cervix was still long and she could only just get a finger in. She didnt think these were really labour pains but she said I could have some gas and air by the bed as she wanted to monitor babys heart rate. This was horrible, being stuck on the bed through contractions. Luckily she only left us on there for about 10 mins then I could wander around again. By this point the other women in the ward were going to bed and there was me breathing through contractions but getting to the point where I wanted to say arghhh at the end and they were trying to go to sleep. So I decided to have a shower. I didnt want a bath as I had found they made the contractions more painful in my previous labours, and made me throw up!! But I thought a shower might be soothing without being so intense. So off I went no, showers had pretty much the same effect as a bath and accelerated the contractions! At least I could lock the door though because by now I couldnt just breath through them, by the end of each contraction I was moaning too. After a while I wanted to go back and put my nightie on but hadnt brought a sanitary towel etc etc with me so the logistics of getting back to the ward were flummoxing me. Especially as I could only move between contractions!! At one point the grumpy midwife asked if I was alright, yep Im fine I reply as you always do!! But by then I could hear her saying, I dont like the sounds from in there, Im worried shes going to have the baby! Hold on I thought I wasnt in labour?!!!
Turns out whilst I was in the shower she had said to Oh, she thinks shes in labour but shes not! She had even asked how long my other labours were (4 hours) so you think she might have thought, oh it could be quick, never mind, oh this woman might know her own body!!
By this point (about 11.15??) I was getting the urge to push so I tried the toilet, in case I just was getting ready for labour that really panicked the midwife and they unlocked the door from outside! She had by this time told delivery suite I was on my way and OH had packed my stuff up! When I finished on the loo I was put on a wheelchair and she rushed me down the corridor! Having contractions on a wheel chair wasnt much fun!
So now I am delivery suite with a new midwife .yes a lovely one, phew!! I put on my nightshirt and try to get in a good position. I was encouraged to have gas and air but really struggled to be able to use it the contractions were so intense I had to go arghhhhhhhhhh through them!! The midwife said to go with what my body wanted and didnt mind the racket I was making!! Like a tennis player grunting I found making the noise helped me to push etc.
After a while I decided my nightshirt was too flappy so changed into a vest top whod have thought I would have so many outfits for one little labour!! I was on all 4s but holding onto the back of the bed which seemed to work. All this time I was getting the urge to push but when the midwives looked I still had about 5cm of cervix in the way. So they asked me not to push?!!! Like I felt I had any control over it?! I tried, and I tried to have the gas and air but I just couldnt. Then suddenly I could feel babys head coming, the 5 cm of cervix disappeared in about 5 mins and I felt the ring of fire. Now I gave slow pushes but it seemed to take loads about 8 or 10 pushes! My last one only needed 2, though prob there wasnt 5 cm of cervix in the way then
then her head was out
more pushing, harder than I remember last time, and the rest was born. it was 12.22.It was very quiet. I remember saying, why isnt she crying a few times. And them replying, not all babies do but they had cut the cord straight away and whipped her away to the resuscitaire. I had wanted the cord to stop pulsating and me to cut it ☹ But we later found out her APGAR score was only 2 when she came out she had come so quickly her body hadnt got geared up for breathing etc so she was pale, floppy and gasping. Luckily her score was up to 9 at 3 minutes and at 5 so I soon had a beautiful crying baby on my chest.
I had no tears, no episiotomy and no stitches, I feel very lucky.
I was so much more aware of what was going on this time as I had had no pethidine or other drugs. I saw my placenta and had it shown to me in detail it really was fascinating ☺
And most importantly of all I had a perfect, beautiful little girl ☺she weighed 8lb 2 oz, biggest so far
I do believe that things happen for a reason, and its not worth dwelling on what could have been. Ill never know what would have happened if Id delivered at home, perhaps it wouldnt have been so quick? It wasnt my planned homebirth but given the speed of the delivery Im so glad I was where I was.
It turns out that the midwife (Pip) was a community midwife in another area she had seen my midwife that evening who had said she hoped I got her. It was a good delivery, in a calm atmosphere with lovely people - I wouldnt change it at all.
xxxxx
x
