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I've been staying in the mother and baby unit for 3-4 weeks due to severe perinatal depression and anxiety. Due to this, my consultant wanted me to be induced at 41 weeks. Induction was booked for 21st March, at 41 weeks exactly. I, of course, hoped I'd go into labour naturally before then!
I woke up at 7am ish on the morning of the 21st with backache which kept coming and going. I didn't think anything of it! (The beds in the unit are rock hard and have been giving me grief since I arrived on the ward). Eventually I realised that they were coming regularly, about 7 minutes apart. I ignored them, and went to get some breakfast since I was feeling quite weak and shakey. I then had a loose bowel movement. Still, I didn't think too much of it.
The nurse told me that there was no room available for inductions yet, and I'd have to wait until lunchtime. I was a bit annoyed, but carried on with my morning trying to read a book.
I soon realised that the pains weren't going away. I was struggling to focus on my book, so I used an app to time them. 7 minutes apart.
OH arrived at 9am, and I told him. He agreed not to tell the nurse on the ward in case it turned into nothing. By 10am, I was in too much pain, and pains were getting closer together. They were very irregular though, lasting anything from 30 seconds to a minute. We told the nurse, who phoned labour suite, who agreed to send a midwife at some point.
The pains became closer and closer together. By 11am, I was having 3 in 10 minutes, and the pain was getting worse. Labour suite said to go down at 11.30am.
I got taken down to labour suite, and shown to a room. A midwife examined me, and I was heartbroken to discover I was only 1cm dilated! They told me they were going to keep me though, rather then send me back to the unit. I struggled on, trying to find different positions to make the contractions more comfortable. At this point, I was still waiting for induction, but they were too busy. I settled on having OH rub my back.
Soon, I became very distressed and anxious. The midwives gave me some of my anti anxiety medication, along with some paracetomol and codeine. The paracetomol and codeine did nothing for the pain, so they sent me off for a bath. The bath did nothing, not even a bit which I was surprised at as I laboured in water with my son. After half an hour in the bath, I got out. Back in my room, I begged for pain relief, and to be examined as I was sure I was dilating. They refused to examine me, and said I couldn't have an epidural. Luckily, they gave me an injection of diamorphine and antisickness (I have a phobia of vomiting). That was heaven! For a few hours, I was sleepy, time went quickly, and the pain was bearable (with the help of OH's back rubs).
At about 7pm, I started feeling a pressure which I recognised as being nearly at the urge to push. I told the midwife, and begged her to examine me, which she finally agreed to after I decided I'd give pushing a try. She swore I would not be in established labour (contractions were still irregular). I was 8cm! Finally, they were listening to me! It was such a relief to know that I was going to have a baby soon and would no longer need to be induced.
The pressure/pushy feeling got stronger, so I tried pushing, and my waters broke. After that, I got a true urge to push. I could not control it any longer, it happened whether I wanted to or not. I got up against the bed and pushed. Very soon, I could feel the baby's head getting closer and closer. I felt a stingy sensation (nothing like the 'ring of fire' I'd heard of), and her head was out. OH was crying so hard and took a photo (a very treasured one
). With the next push, her body was out, and she was born, right into OH's arms (with the help of the midwife). OH held her whilst I cut the cord, then we had skin to skin and tried breastfeeding. I had a 2nd degree tear which I chose not to have stitched.
Saskia Elise Godden-Smith, 21st March 2015, 8.04pm, 8lb
https://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee416/Rhiannon_Godden/saskia_zpsctwv1htu.jpg
Soon after delivery, I was taken up to the ward. I wanted to go back to the unit, but my HB was low so I had to stay overnight for monitoring. I started bleeding quite heavily, and my heart rate was 140bpm, so I was given 2 litres of fluid and an ECG. Luckily, it was all fine.
The next day, after 2 hours broken sleep, I felt better but very tired. That night I slept from 7pm until 9am (waking occasionally for feeds). After that I felt amazing! Saskia was doing perfectly, it was just me who was unwell. That day, I went back to the mother and baby unit where we had a lovely welcome from staff and patients. Since then, I have been feeling better and better. I have energy, my anxiety is almost non existent and all suicidal feelings have disappeared. I have a long way to go, but things are getting there.
If anyone reading this needs any advice on perinatal depression, anxiety, etc, please feel free to PM me.
Saskia 1 day old
https://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee416/Rhiannon_Godden/saskia%202_zpsqugrnjtv.jpg
Proud big brother
https://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee416/Rhiannon_Godden/saskia%20and%20connor_zpsbme3qxzg.jpg
I woke up at 7am ish on the morning of the 21st with backache which kept coming and going. I didn't think anything of it! (The beds in the unit are rock hard and have been giving me grief since I arrived on the ward). Eventually I realised that they were coming regularly, about 7 minutes apart. I ignored them, and went to get some breakfast since I was feeling quite weak and shakey. I then had a loose bowel movement. Still, I didn't think too much of it.
The nurse told me that there was no room available for inductions yet, and I'd have to wait until lunchtime. I was a bit annoyed, but carried on with my morning trying to read a book.
I soon realised that the pains weren't going away. I was struggling to focus on my book, so I used an app to time them. 7 minutes apart.
OH arrived at 9am, and I told him. He agreed not to tell the nurse on the ward in case it turned into nothing. By 10am, I was in too much pain, and pains were getting closer together. They were very irregular though, lasting anything from 30 seconds to a minute. We told the nurse, who phoned labour suite, who agreed to send a midwife at some point.
The pains became closer and closer together. By 11am, I was having 3 in 10 minutes, and the pain was getting worse. Labour suite said to go down at 11.30am.
I got taken down to labour suite, and shown to a room. A midwife examined me, and I was heartbroken to discover I was only 1cm dilated! They told me they were going to keep me though, rather then send me back to the unit. I struggled on, trying to find different positions to make the contractions more comfortable. At this point, I was still waiting for induction, but they were too busy. I settled on having OH rub my back.
Soon, I became very distressed and anxious. The midwives gave me some of my anti anxiety medication, along with some paracetomol and codeine. The paracetomol and codeine did nothing for the pain, so they sent me off for a bath. The bath did nothing, not even a bit which I was surprised at as I laboured in water with my son. After half an hour in the bath, I got out. Back in my room, I begged for pain relief, and to be examined as I was sure I was dilating. They refused to examine me, and said I couldn't have an epidural. Luckily, they gave me an injection of diamorphine and antisickness (I have a phobia of vomiting). That was heaven! For a few hours, I was sleepy, time went quickly, and the pain was bearable (with the help of OH's back rubs).
At about 7pm, I started feeling a pressure which I recognised as being nearly at the urge to push. I told the midwife, and begged her to examine me, which she finally agreed to after I decided I'd give pushing a try. She swore I would not be in established labour (contractions were still irregular). I was 8cm! Finally, they were listening to me! It was such a relief to know that I was going to have a baby soon and would no longer need to be induced.
The pressure/pushy feeling got stronger, so I tried pushing, and my waters broke. After that, I got a true urge to push. I could not control it any longer, it happened whether I wanted to or not. I got up against the bed and pushed. Very soon, I could feel the baby's head getting closer and closer. I felt a stingy sensation (nothing like the 'ring of fire' I'd heard of), and her head was out. OH was crying so hard and took a photo (a very treasured one
). With the next push, her body was out, and she was born, right into OH's arms (with the help of the midwife). OH held her whilst I cut the cord, then we had skin to skin and tried breastfeeding. I had a 2nd degree tear which I chose not to have stitched. Saskia Elise Godden-Smith, 21st March 2015, 8.04pm, 8lb
https://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee416/Rhiannon_Godden/saskia_zpsctwv1htu.jpg
Soon after delivery, I was taken up to the ward. I wanted to go back to the unit, but my HB was low so I had to stay overnight for monitoring. I started bleeding quite heavily, and my heart rate was 140bpm, so I was given 2 litres of fluid and an ECG. Luckily, it was all fine.
The next day, after 2 hours broken sleep, I felt better but very tired. That night I slept from 7pm until 9am (waking occasionally for feeds). After that I felt amazing! Saskia was doing perfectly, it was just me who was unwell. That day, I went back to the mother and baby unit where we had a lovely welcome from staff and patients. Since then, I have been feeling better and better. I have energy, my anxiety is almost non existent and all suicidal feelings have disappeared. I have a long way to go, but things are getting there.
If anyone reading this needs any advice on perinatal depression, anxiety, etc, please feel free to PM me.
Saskia 1 day old
https://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee416/Rhiannon_Godden/saskia%202_zpsqugrnjtv.jpg
Proud big brother
https://i1226.photobucket.com/albums/ee416/Rhiannon_Godden/saskia%20and%20connor_zpsbme3qxzg.jpg
But massive congratulations on the birth of your lovely baby girl, she is beautiful! 
xx
xxxxx
