Remi Archer - positive quick induction at 33+5 due to preeclampsia - **long story**

[Betheney]

Remi Archer, born 21/11/12 at 3:46am 1.97kgs or 4 lbs 3 ounces and 45cm long! without any pain meds.

Background on my pregnancy.

At 29 weeks a regular GP check up showed high BP levels so after an admission to my local hospital for 2 nights they diagnosed me with pregnancy induced hypertension put me on 200mg of labetalol twice a day and it dropped to roughly the 130’s/85ish. I also had to attend once weekly doctors appts, twice weekly fetal monitoring appointments which included BP checks, CTG, ultrasound to check umbilical flow, placenta and fluid levels. I also had once fortnightly growth scans. Considering I’d never had blood pressure problems before and my previous pregnancy was completely complication free I was reasonably confident that it wouldn’t escalate much more.
At 32.5 weeks at one of my regular fetal monitoring appts my blood pressure was high again roughly 150/90’s-100’s. So I was admitted to hospital for another med review. I believe they changed it to 4 times daily instead of twice. The also found protein in my urine and I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia. I was suppose to stay for two nights for them to monitor the effects properly but on the Wednesday (second day) I’d had pretty stable BP’s all day and a good cry to the doctors and they let me go home on Wednesday evening.

At 33 weeks (2 days later) on the Friday at another fetal monitoring appt my BP was very high, I remember my diastolic number didn’t drop below 100 and got up to 112 quite a few times so needless to say I was admitted to hospital for another BP med review. This was really rough as it was my daughters 2nd birthday on the Saturday and so her party had to be spent in hospital. Medication wise I ended up on 400mg of labetalol four times daily and 30mg of nifedipine twice daily.

Labour and Delivery

33+4 – My BP was at a reasonable level at certain times of the day (e.g. 140/90) at other times of the day it was STILL spiking to levels like 165/112. The doctors said enough was enough and that we aren’t winning the war on my blood pressure at all and it’s not only that they don’t want to introduce even more medications which can make things quite messy it’s also that it is just too dangerous to the mumma to continually have the BP spiking so high, so the decision was made for an induction. It was a Tuesday and I was told I would have an internal that day to see how favourable I am for an induction and if I would need cervadil to soften the cervix first so I could then have my membranes ruptured and be put on the drip. I was told if my cervix was unfavourable I would have the cervadil on the Wednesday and the ARM and drip on the Thursday. All the midwives and doctors told me that I was at a high risk for a c-section and a failed induction because I was only 33 weeks but I did have a slight advantage that I’ve given birth previously and preeclamptic women generally labour well. I was nervous about the internal as I hadn’t shave my legs or bits in MONTHS! So I told my midwife how I wanted to see if the hospital newsagency sold womens shavers, she told me they don’t want me walking around because of my BP so she snuck me a portable surgical electric shaver haha. The internal showed my cervix was 2cm long and closed (so unfavourable). So I said to the doctor “okay so cervadil tomorrow at 5pm and induction the following day” and he replied “ahhhh no, the cervadil is going in tonight at 5pm” (it was currently 2pm).

3pm - I was moved to a room on my own. But given a tour of the special care nursery baby was to go into first. If you give birth before 34 weeks I was suppose to go to the high risk hospital and baby go into the NICU there but as I was only 33+5 they authorised I give birth at the medium risk hospital and baby go into their special care nursery.

5pm - The cervadil was inserted and I was monitored for 1 hour on a CTG, nothing was really happening, a few tightening’s (BH) and the baby was happy during them. They also informed me another woman was booked for an induction and they rang her and cancelled as I was more urgent. I felt terrible for that poor woman.

7pm - Hubby turned up to spend some time with me and so I could see our baby girl Eva bug who ran around the room like a little devil and made far too much noise. So they stayed an hour or two and went home.

9pm – New midwife started so came in to chat to me, we spent over an hour chatting about just about everything. She told me she was a hypnobirthing instructor so I preceeded to rant about how hypnobirthing is a bunch of anti-medical brain washing bullshit :-/ but that I did appreciate the relaxation techniques and told her I was disappointed I didn’t get to practice any and I’m probably having a baby the next day. So she proceeded to give me lots of hints and tips. She was so lovely and I’m so lucky to have had her there during my labour. She could feel my tightenings easily but said the most we’ve had at one point was 4 in 10 minutes so she wasn’t too concerned. I remembered the midwife saying 5 or more contractions in 10 mins shows uterine hyper stimulation and the cervadil would be removed.

10:30pm until midnight – I chatted on the phone to a friend, during this time I noticed some braxtion hicks but not others, I would of called them moderate Braxton hicks. They didn’t influence how well I could talk on the phone so can’t have been that bad.

00:00 – 1:15am I tried to sleep and kind of managed it. I was pretty much half asleep for the whole hour and so was still noticing the tightenings but I would of still only called them strong Braxton hicks. All the midwives and doctors that day had told me that I’m far too early and unfavourable to have the cervadil put me into labour, it doesn’t even do it that often for overdue women, the best that we can hope to achieve is softening the cervix. So I decided at 1:15 that I would time my contractions for an hour and then see what was happening, I didn’t want the cervadil to be taken out because I needed it there to soften my cervix, I wanted the best chance possible at the induction. But I told myself if I timed my contractions until 2:15 and the doctor decides it’s giving me too many contractions and takes it out, then it was in for 9 hours and 9/12 (it’s only left in for 12) is better than nothing.

1:15 – 2:15am They were reasonably painful during this period and i felt like I didn’t HAVE to use coping techniques but I wanted to start them early so I could stay focused throughout labour. So I started breathing in while counting to 4 and breathing out long and slow and counting to 7 and really concentrating on the counting and keeping my breathing slow. Also during a contraction I had to remember that everytime my body tensed up from the discomfort or pain that I had to tell myself firmly to relax, everytime I tensed up I didn’t want to be working against the contractions and so I would make my body relax and let go of any tension I was holding in any of my muscles. I kept thinking that if i worked against the contraction it would render it useless and the pain was for nothing, i wanted my contractions to work! The contractions I was shocked were only about 2-3mins apart. But I convinced myself that it’s just the cervadil annoying my cervix trying to make it soft. In my head I thought that it was obvious they couldn’t be real 2-3 min apart contractions because that would mean I’m close to delivery and that would surely be impossible considering I was still coping well and they had probably only just started to get painful. Not to mention they were only 35-55 seconds long. At 2:15 I went to the toilet and had blood on the paper, there was no plug or goo or anything, just a tiny smear of blood. So I thought I better call my midwife.

2:15-2:30 – My midwife was on a break so another one came, she had me lie down so she could monitor my contractions. She told me she can’t feel me having them at all and the monitor also isn’t registering them. I told her, they hurt! And that they’re definitely there, maybe she can’t feel them because I’m too fat or something. I was rather irritated and annoyed she was accusing me of not really having any.

Active labour

2:30-3:30- My midwife came in as she had finished her break and decided to monitor me for an hour. I was struggling with the pain during this hour, I had to concentrate hard on my breathing and forcing my muscles to relax, I was also using a lot of positive thinking. I found this was a major part of my labour and I think that’s what kept me sane for the entire way, I consistently told myself when I felt the pain of a contraction “that’s not pain at all, that’s just discomfort, you are 100% and can cope with that easily” then when there was no denying it was pain I found myself telling myself mentally “yes that is pain, but that doesn’t mean it’s bad, you’re strong enough to handle that pain, that is completely within your control”. Toward the end of the hour I was finding my back was really hurting during the contractions so my sweet heart of a midwife went and got me a really hot HOT pack and it was wonderful on my back. Towards the end of the hour she too couldn’t really physically feel my contractions. I told her to trust me they’re there and they HURT A LOT! She was really wonderful though and everytime I started to feel like the pain was getting on top of me and I started whimpering or getting upset she would get me to refocus on my breathing and I would calm straight back down. At 3:30 she said she finally saw 4 contractions in 10mins and being as I look like I’m in pain she’ll call the doctor. I asked if I should call my husband and she said “no” but I called him anyway at exactly 3:30.

3:30 – everything got incredibly painful and I found myself unable to really cope anymore

3:36 – The doctor came in and I begged him to remove the cervadil, I said I’m pretty sure my cervix is soft and it can come out now please. Just take it on out. If he didn’t take it out I will take it out. He asked the midwife if I’d had any pain relief and she said “no” so he said maybe I’d like some paracetomol. I looked at him rather unimpressed and told him paracetomol isn’t going to do shit. I then remember saying “I can’t do this anymore” and remember pausing for a moment and thinking “no I can’t be in transtition….” He did an internal and announced to the room that I was 9cm dilated. To say me and the midwife were shocked was a complete understatement. He told me to walk to the birthing suite as I can’t give birth on the maternity ward, I informed him he can push my bed and I’m not walking. He said that I can walk I’ll be fine. So I stood up and felt the baby drop, it felt like the baby was at the very top of the birth canal. I felt like if I walked the baby would fall out. So I informed the midwife and doctor that I can’t walk and the baby was coming and I was also screaming in pain.

3:40 – I rang hubby and told him to get to the hospital immediately! I then lied back on the bed only to have the doctor try and give me a wheelchair to which I said I can’t move the baby is coming.

The room then turned into complete pandemonium. I had completely forgotten that giving birth to a baby at 33 weeks meant my delivery was supposed to be very controlled, there was suppose to be a room full of people including paediatricians and obstetricians and midwives. As well as extra medical equipment for a prem baby to help with breathing and any other emergencies that might arrive. So naturally the ward was going nuts with people flying in and out and midwives trying to get gloves on and doctors trying to get equipment set up. They then discovered there was no oxygen tap in my room, as I was just on the ward. So they said they’d end up having to run into a birthing suite across the hall when the baby is born as there was one there.
The contractions at this point were mind blowingly painful, I don’t remember my daughters contractions ever being like this. There was such excruciating pain not only in my lower abdomen, but the contraction also felt like it was in my back, my thighs and my butt. The pain in that whole section of my body was 100000X more than anything I could cope with. Everytime one of these horrific contractions hit I got so upset and panicky, my legs would start shaking and I would start pretty much crying, I just remember screaming “Oh fuck” about 100 times everytime one of these contractions would hit and they were pretty much on top of one another.

The midwife asked if I’m getting the urge to push and I told her that I’m not pushing at all but the baby is pushing itself out. Lol. I later realised that was the urge women talk about. A doctor said if I felt like I needed to push then go for it. So when I was contracting I pushed as hard as possible. I remember feeling my waters go and I wasn’t expecting the ring of fire as much because baby was prem but boy I still felt it!! My poor midwife didn’t have her gloves on properly and I remember her yelling to the room “the heads out!!!! Then a few seconds later BODY IS OUT!!!”

3:46am – My yellow bump turned blue and my baby boy was born crying and breathing like a trooper. I got a little emotional and just remember being so grateful that it was over. He was plonked onto me for less than 30 seconds and as he was stomach down I couldn’t see the gender at all. As they whisked him away I yelled “no one tell me the gender I want to know when my hubby gets here!”

The midwives couldn’t get the placenta out at all but the doctor who just pressed incredibly hard on my stomach and started yanking on the cord got it out and it was 10 mins past delivery.

I was unable to hold baby as all the equipment that was used to warm baby didn’t have time to warm up so they had to get him to the nursery where it is warm as soon as possible.

Rest of the morning

I rang hubby and told him he’d missed it, he was really disappointed and I can honestly say the guilt is going to get to me forever. I just never had any idea it would be so quick. I never thought when I pressed the button for my midwife to come at 2:15 that I would be giving birth 1.5 hours later. I never anticipated that I was so close to delivery. I kept thinking that while the contractions were painful I didn’t have anywhere near enough of them to even warrant a delivery.

When he arrived I told him I still didn’t know the sex and all the doctors and midwives were trying so hard to not tell me what it was.

I got cleaned up and had a quick shower and strict instructions not to drip any blood on the carpet because I was still on the ward not in a birthing room.

We were walked over to the special care nursery. Where as we walked through the door a nurse said “oh he’s over here” to which I looked at hubby and said “so it’s a HE!!” the nurse was mortified she’d let it slip and felt terrible and told us we should still “double check” but it wasn’t that we needed to see it for ourselves, it was just that I wanted us to find out together and that was all that really mattered.

We were able to take him out of his isolet crib (humidity crib) and take him into the parents room for a cuddle. When I picked him up and saw his little face I just melted I totally forgot that this was our first real moment together and it took me by surprise at the emotions that ran through me when I held him there in front of me.

They have my official labour at 1.5 hours and my pushing stage at 1 minute. Lol. But when they told me that last 16 minutes was only 16 minutes I was shocked that pain was so brutal it felt like a LIFETIME!

Now –
Remi is now 1 week and 5 days old and still in the nursery, we hope he’ll be home soon, he gains weight well and feeds like a trooper and graduated from the isolet crib at 1 week old and stopped all external monitoring at 1 week 2 days old. So now it’s a matter of him feeding and waking up for feeds. I’m so exhausted pumping every 3 hours and doing so many trips to the hospital and I really struggle with him being in there and not being able to have him whenever I want. It makes me so sad. But I’m so in love with him. I just want to snuggle him all day. I don’t know why I was ever concerned it might be hard to love 2 kids. Loving two babies is the easiest part so far. His big sister was very reluctant the first time she met him is now very in love with him and loves to hold and cuddle him whenever given a chance.
After labour and delivery with my daughter I was so traumatised and not because anything went wrong but because the pain was more than anything I thought I was capable of handling. It was just awful. I had spent this whole pregnancy terrified of labour. But I’ve not realised that with my daughters labour I just gave into the pain way too quickly and let it get the best of me until mentally I was hysterical. This labour I refused to let it get the best of me and I stayed focused and positive. Even though I’m sure those last 16mins were more horrific pain wise than any part of my daughters labour being able to cope for all but 16mins is good enough for me. I loved this labour and delivery and am so proud of myself for staying so in control for so long and having no idea I was so far along. I didn’t know what I was going to do about pain relief I knew after my daughters labour it’s too easy to say “I wont have anything” but then when you’re in labour so much changes. But I was scared of epidural complications and tbh I didn’t really want to have to take any pain relief and would have been happy if I didn’t but I just didn’t think I was ever going to be strong enough to not use any. Well I surprised even myself and went through an entire labour and delivery without any pain relief, not even gas and air, I know it was a quick labour and delivery but doing it med free makes me really proud. I just kept thinking that I wasn’t that far along and the pains going to get worse so I have to be able to cope with the current pain and then before I knew it I was 9cm, not to mention I didn’t really think I was in actual labour for a good chunk of it. I’m no longer even slightly concerned about labour and delivery and know I can do it again.

Blood pressure
My blood pressure for the rest of that day was horrible, worse it’s ever been!! My DIA ranged from 105-112 pretty much the whole day without a drop at all. But then the following day it dropped to safe levels and has remained there ever since.

our first cuddle in the nursery
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[La Mere]

My goodness. I am so happy for you, Betheney! I love all the pictures of Remi, but especially love the one of Eva holding him. Absolutely precious! Congratulations again on you little blue jellybean, hun!

 

[cat_reversing]

well done for getting through it and good luck wth everything.

 

[angelandbump]

Congratulations x

 

[lizlemon]

Well done Bethany!!!! Remy's pictures are very cute and I'm glad he's doing so well. 2 weeks left for me, I hope my induction is as positive xxxxx

 

[lauzie84]

what an amazing birth story. huge congratulations - your little man is totally beautiful xxx

 

[ttc_lolly]

Wow well done hun, what a fab story! He is just lovely too, he looks so much like his big sis

 

[Bevziibubble]

Congratulations and well done! Gorgeous photos!

 

[isil]

congratulations, he's beautiful!

 

[Mummy2B21]

Congratulations

 

[Spunky]

Congratulations! I laughed out loud at the getting the nurse to bring you a trimmer, I've been thinking i should tidy up again soon, this is probably the kick in the pants i need to make sure I'm not worrying about it at a worse time. What a great surprise to be so far along into labor and not realize it. Love how you said you worried over loving two babies but how easy it's been, gives me more confidence on welcoming my own second child. Loved all the pics, the bath ones were my favorite!

Hope he's home soon!

 

[Spunky]

Double Post! Sorry

 

[RKW]

Massive congratulations! Xxx

 

[Kaiecee]

Love ur story and the pics are just great

 

[AJThomas]

Awww, love the pics, they made me a little teary-eyed.

 

[Kaiecee]

Made me tear up thanks for sharing ur story he's so precious

 

[missmayhem]

massive congrats hun, such wonderful news he's health and well.

 

[xdxxtx]

Aww, look how little he is!! And how perfect!!!!! I'm so glad he's safe, and I hope your BP stays normal now!!!