Jayneypops
Mum to 2 Fairy Princesses
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2011
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Hi,
As some of you may know by now, I have always been scared of hospitals and as soon as I knew I was pregnant I was determined to have a home birth. I spent months researching, I bought Hypnobirthing books and CDs, and practised daily. It was my dream to have a water birth in the living room, with fairy lights, calm relaxing music, and deep breathing. I only wanted Gas and Air and hoped that the water would be the only other pain relief.
All was going well, and I felt really confident about having the birth I had planned for. My Midwife was all for it, and helped me write my birth plan and complete the home birth paperwork. It was all systems go!........
I had always thought my baby would come a little early but at 40 weeks + 2 days I was proved wrong, and was feeling very anxious at the thought of maybe being induced. My MW had booked me in for a sweep to try to get things going on 10th April. On 4th April I woke up and wondered whether my waters had gone. I had a slow trickle whenever I stood up but wasnt sure if it was just extra discharge or maybe my plug? (very confusing!)
By the afternoon I was having sharp period like pains which I guessed must be the early signs of latent labour. My worry was that by now, if my waters HAD gone, my baby may be at risk of infection.
We called the hospital who asked me to go down. Once there I was examined and they confirmed my waters had gone. I was told to go home, and that if labour had not became established within 24 hours to go back as I would need to be induced.
At that moment I can honestly say i felt scared and totally out of control of the situation. Everything I had planned for and been imagining for 9 months was suddenly gone.
I spent that evening desperately trying to help labour get established, but on the morning of the 5th April I noticed brown/green discharge on my maternity pad. Meconium. My baby had opened her bowels inside the womb. Now I was worried. I called the hospital who said they needed me to go down immediately and to take my bags etc.
We got there, I was examined and taken immediately to the delivery suite. By this time I was having contractions every 3 mins. As I listened to the MWs tell me I would need to be attached to a monitor for the babys sake my heart sank. My number 1 fear had been to be unable to move freely during labour and be stuck on my back on the bed. Everything I hadnt wanted to happen was now happening.
After 8 hours of contractions, and 3 VE I was still only 1cm and the consultant was keen to induce me. I had a drip out of one hand with antibiotics in for the baby (as I had PRM), and a drip in the other for induction. As they attached it I was in tears and couldnt look at my DH as he knew how badly I didnt want this to be happening. As soon as the drip was attached I soon began getting stronger contractions, and at one point they were coming every minutes with only a couple of seconds break in between. I was shaking and felt like I couldnt go on.
Thats when the 2nd thing I was sure I hadnt wanted, was suggested. An epidural. I had felt really strongly all through my pregnancy that I wanted to be able to feel my legs, to move around etc but as I was hooked up to so many different things anyway I thought what the hell, I may as well not be able to feel my legs!
I have to say that as unpleasant as the Epidural was to get in (they tried 3 attempts to get the right spot, and throughout I was getting strong contractions but had to stay bent over and completely still), once it started working, it was my best friend!! I was handed a little button to press if I felt I needed a top up of pain relief, which meant I was in control and I only used it when I really needed it meaning I did still have some sensation. I managed to rest in between contractions as they turned the drip down,
and within 4 hours I went from 1cm to 10cm 
I was so shocked when the MW told me I was fully dialated I said 'REALLY!!!???? No I cant be" It was wonderful to know Daisy was on her way at last.
The 2nd stage of labour was great. I could feel every contraction and knew exactly when to push (which I had thought I wouldnt be able to do with an epidural). Within 20 mins, Daisy was here, the MW was very surprised at how easy I made the pushing stage look. (Im sure drinking RLT from 34 weeks helped!)
So I went from a hypnobirthing home water birth to an Induced hospital birth with epidural. You would think I would be disappointed but far from it! Once in hospital I knew I was in the right place for me. The delivery team couldnt have been better, they really looked after me, and thanks to their expertise I didnt tear and Daisy was born healthy and content.
After the experience, next time (when we have baby number 2) I will opt for an epidural I think, as now I understand it better, Im not worried that I will have complete loss of sensation.
Everything for a reason!
If you made it this far....thanks for reading my story.
xxxx
As some of you may know by now, I have always been scared of hospitals and as soon as I knew I was pregnant I was determined to have a home birth. I spent months researching, I bought Hypnobirthing books and CDs, and practised daily. It was my dream to have a water birth in the living room, with fairy lights, calm relaxing music, and deep breathing. I only wanted Gas and Air and hoped that the water would be the only other pain relief.
All was going well, and I felt really confident about having the birth I had planned for. My Midwife was all for it, and helped me write my birth plan and complete the home birth paperwork. It was all systems go!........
I had always thought my baby would come a little early but at 40 weeks + 2 days I was proved wrong, and was feeling very anxious at the thought of maybe being induced. My MW had booked me in for a sweep to try to get things going on 10th April. On 4th April I woke up and wondered whether my waters had gone. I had a slow trickle whenever I stood up but wasnt sure if it was just extra discharge or maybe my plug? (very confusing!)
By the afternoon I was having sharp period like pains which I guessed must be the early signs of latent labour. My worry was that by now, if my waters HAD gone, my baby may be at risk of infection.
We called the hospital who asked me to go down. Once there I was examined and they confirmed my waters had gone. I was told to go home, and that if labour had not became established within 24 hours to go back as I would need to be induced.
At that moment I can honestly say i felt scared and totally out of control of the situation. Everything I had planned for and been imagining for 9 months was suddenly gone.
I spent that evening desperately trying to help labour get established, but on the morning of the 5th April I noticed brown/green discharge on my maternity pad. Meconium. My baby had opened her bowels inside the womb. Now I was worried. I called the hospital who said they needed me to go down immediately and to take my bags etc.
We got there, I was examined and taken immediately to the delivery suite. By this time I was having contractions every 3 mins. As I listened to the MWs tell me I would need to be attached to a monitor for the babys sake my heart sank. My number 1 fear had been to be unable to move freely during labour and be stuck on my back on the bed. Everything I hadnt wanted to happen was now happening.
After 8 hours of contractions, and 3 VE I was still only 1cm and the consultant was keen to induce me. I had a drip out of one hand with antibiotics in for the baby (as I had PRM), and a drip in the other for induction. As they attached it I was in tears and couldnt look at my DH as he knew how badly I didnt want this to be happening. As soon as the drip was attached I soon began getting stronger contractions, and at one point they were coming every minutes with only a couple of seconds break in between. I was shaking and felt like I couldnt go on.
Thats when the 2nd thing I was sure I hadnt wanted, was suggested. An epidural. I had felt really strongly all through my pregnancy that I wanted to be able to feel my legs, to move around etc but as I was hooked up to so many different things anyway I thought what the hell, I may as well not be able to feel my legs!
I have to say that as unpleasant as the Epidural was to get in (they tried 3 attempts to get the right spot, and throughout I was getting strong contractions but had to stay bent over and completely still), once it started working, it was my best friend!! I was handed a little button to press if I felt I needed a top up of pain relief, which meant I was in control and I only used it when I really needed it meaning I did still have some sensation. I managed to rest in between contractions as they turned the drip down,
and within 4 hours I went from 1cm to 10cm I was so shocked when the MW told me I was fully dialated I said 'REALLY!!!???? No I cant be" It was wonderful to know Daisy was on her way at last.
The 2nd stage of labour was great. I could feel every contraction and knew exactly when to push (which I had thought I wouldnt be able to do with an epidural). Within 20 mins, Daisy was here, the MW was very surprised at how easy I made the pushing stage look. (Im sure drinking RLT from 34 weeks helped!)
So I went from a hypnobirthing home water birth to an Induced hospital birth with epidural. You would think I would be disappointed but far from it! Once in hospital I knew I was in the right place for me. The delivery team couldnt have been better, they really looked after me, and thanks to their expertise I didnt tear and Daisy was born healthy and content.
After the experience, next time (when we have baby number 2) I will opt for an epidural I think, as now I understand it better, Im not worried that I will have complete loss of sensation.
Everything for a reason!
If you made it this far....thanks for reading my story.
xxxx
But my little (or not so little at 9lb12oz) baby was safe and that's all that matters 
