I've finally managed to get my birth story written down! There is a traumatic section so please don't read if you think it might not be a good idea! But it all turned out fine, so don't worry. And I really wanted to tell it like it was. It is very very long, so well done if you get through it all
Pusscat's Birth Story
20th September 2012, the day before induction was booked, 41 +4 weeks.
I woke up at 5am with back cramps. Think I knew this was the start of things. They were bearable but I couldnt sleep though them, also with the thought that this might be it! So I got up and had breakfast. DH went to work as we couldnt be sure if it was the real thing and if so how long it was going to take. I wasnt entirely happy with him going, but knew I could call him back at any time if I needed to. I watched the usual day time tv and started timing the contractions with an app on my phone. I became fairly convinced they were real. They were coming every 10 or 15 minutes or so. I was only really feeling it in my back, like very intense period pain. DH text later in the morning to see how I was and I told him I thought they were contractions. So he came home.
Throughout the afternoon and evening the contractions got stronger and more regular. I put my TENS machine on and it helped in the form of a distraction, but dont think it did anything for the pain. So as I got each contraction I had to press the boost button on the TENS machine and the start button on my contraction timer. At least it gave me something else to think about!
We had fish and chips for dinner but neither of us could eat much of it. DH was really nervous and I was in pain!
We watched some Father Ted the episode where birds steal Father Jacks glasses. This is the only TV I remember watching. It was on all afternoon and evening but I couldnt concentrate on it.
We decided to ring the hospital once contractions were about 5 mins apart, lasting for at least a minute. Got told that the Royal was closed as they were full, so had to phone the General. Got told to take some paracetamol and have a bath. The bath made the contractions 10 times worse it was awful having such a strong contraction in the bath. And then having to get out with them intensified. Phoned the Royal back to tell them the contractions had got stronger and thank goodness they had re-opened, so they said we could go in.
Left for hospital at about 10:30. Car journey was very uncomfortable, especially roundabouts! Once we were at hospital we had to wait an hour in the waiting room. Contractions were very strong at that point and it was hell having to wait in that room. Eventually we got called to an assessment room where we stayed for about 5 hours. The midwife examined me (the examinations felt worse than the contractions.) Also got put on the monitor, which I also found very uncomfortable and made Emilia squirm around and increased her heart rate, which meant I had to have it on for longer to check she calmed down!
I eventually got some gas and air which took a while to get used to, but became very useful. I got DH to take my TENS machine off, but instead of turning it off he turned it up to maximum!!! That made me yell!! I tried to stay active, but at some points I nearly fell asleep between contractions. Got annoyed with DH for eating crisps and rattling the packet loudly. Tried listening to music (Dizzy Rascal, because I felt like I was at a disco), but once a contraction came on it annoyed me too much. Going to the toilet was horrible having a contraction on the toilet was awful! Watched people walking past outside and felt annoyed with them because they werent in as much pain as me!
At about 5am I started to feel like I needed to push and with the next contraction I either peed or my waters started to break (think it was pee in all honesty!) We pressed the button for the midwife and she examined me. As she examined me my waters broke and the relief was immense!
This was when we got transferred to an actual delivery room. Tried lots of different positions and kept up with the gas and air, although at this point it was starting to lose its effect. Started to get very tired, I was using every single muscle in my body. For some unnatural reason I really felt the urge to straighten out my legs with each contraction, rather than open them out. To the point where DH and the midwife had to hold them down to stop me!
The proper pushing stage was the most exhausting and extreme hour or so of my life. I could tell the good pushes because they came in 2 waves, the first fairly strong, then Id take a breath, and then the next would be even stronger. The last pushing stage wasnt what Id call painful, just extreme effort. I didnt bother with the gas and air at that stage because it was too confusing having to think about when to breath it in, when to put it down, when to grab my legs, when to hold my breath, when to push. They could see her head when I did the good pushes, but I just couldnt get her any further.
Then things changed and it was decided I needed help. Emilias heart rate had been low for 20 minutes and they were worried she was getting distressed. I was only really made aware of this after the 20 minutes, so I didnt have any time to get worried and I was happy to get any help to get her out. The doctor came in and it was a doctor who I had seen before when we had come for an appointment to discuss my low platelets. He had said at that meeting that they wouldnt be able to do a ventouse delivery, but as my platelets were 122 at the time of delivery he said that was absolutely fine and they would go ahead with the ventouse. First I had to have an episiotomy, which having dreaded before labour, I didnt actually feel at all. And then they put the cap on. I certainly felt that. But the worst pain was to come. With my next push I had to push and the doctor pulled. I was the worst feeling of my life. It felt like my baby was being ripped from me. It felt violent. I screamed a lot. But it only lasted a minute or so. And it was necessary for the health of me and my baby. And then she was out and crying and on my chest. And the relief and love was instant.
Emilia was born at 8:39am on Friday 21st September 2012, weighing 7lb 8.5oz. She was perfect and the birth hadnt hurt her at all, apart from a bit of a bump on her head from the cap.
She was taken away to be cleaned up and I couldnt have immediate skin to skin contact as I had be stitched up. The stitches were fine, I was on such a high, sucking on the gas and air, staring over at DH crying as he had his first cuddle with his daughter. I was amazed at how alert she was straight away, looking around at her surroundings quite calmly.
After the stitches, and many apologies from the doctor (he really seemed concerned that hed hurt me!), I got my first cuddle and fed Emilia
I was very happy.
We spent the next day, night and following day in hospital. My stay wasnt the best. They were extremely busy and I wasnt in a room with other ladies who had just had their babies. The other ladies were being induced or monitored and I felt very conscious of my crying baby overnight. The night was horrible and I felt very alone. I pushed the button for help lots of times and the midwives always came. Wasnt the same as having DH there though (not that hed have known what to do!) I was counting down the minutes until he came back on Saturday morning. He got up really early and went to Morrisons and the pharmacy, buying lots of baby things now that he realised we actually had a baby! We didnt get discharged until 9 that evening, despite no one really coming to check on us all day. There was no point in us being there all day and we had thought wed be able to go once the doctors had done their rounds in the morning. But they were so busy we were bottom of the list of things to do I think (even though they were desperate for beds.)
So we eventually left on Saturday night, a new family of 3.
to you!
just enjoying spending time with the kiddo. No complaints!
that was annoying!
Maybe that means that it moved things along, but it wasn't pleasant! I was surprised, since I thought water would be the best pain relief I could imagine.
) and hope to post it here soon!
. And pusscat love the pic, she is gorgeous.
