lI have finally found the time and energy to write my birth story!!! May be a long sorry!!
On Tuesday 13th October the midwife came to my house for my routine check up. I was exactly 38 weeks. She checked my urine and I had 3+++ of protein, my blood pressure was high and my bump was measuring 35 weeks. She decided to send me to the hospital to be monitored and advised me to take my bag in with me in case I was admitted. I was really scared because I didn’t feel ready but I convinced myself that my blood pressure would drop and that I would be sent home within a few hours.
My mum took me to the hospital about 12pm and I was put on the monitor for a few hours. Hubby turned up and they continued to monitor the baby and my blood pressure. Baby seemed to be happy but my blood pressure was staying up. I went down for a scan at 5pm and baby looked lovely and healthy but was only measuring 35/36 weeks. When I got back to the ward they moved me to a private room and started me on beta blockers as my blood pressure was continuing to rise.
The next day (weds 14th) was spent being monitored and told to rest. Luckily Hubby was there with me and we had a TV to watch so went fairly quickly. Hubby went home at 9pm and I was just about to go to sleep when a midwife came in to tell me that I was going to be induced. I packed up my things and was moved to a 4 bed induction room. At 11pm I had the pessary inserted and was put on the monitor again. I stayed on the monitor until 1am at which point I tried to get to sleep. I was woken up throughout the night with mild contractions but nothing too bad.
By the morning (thurs 15th) the pains were getting stronger so I stared to use my hypnobirthing techniques of breathing through the pain. I was examined and was 1cm dilated. I was examined again a few hours later and was 3cms dilated so was getting somewhere. I was still being monitored and baby’s heartbeat started to slow down so they said they were going to break my waters. However, the labour ward was full and baby’s heartbeat returned to normal so they decided to leave it. By the time 11pm came around and the pessary had been in for 24hours I was re-examined. They decided to try me with another pessary so I had another one inserted!! Within 2 hours the contractions were coming every 5mins and lasting about 40 seconds. By this point I was in a lot of pain so had some paracetemol and went for a bath. The contractions started coming closer and closer now coming every 3 minutes and lasting about 50 seconds. I was re-examined and was told I was 1cm dilated even though I had been told earlier that I was 3cms dilated!! At this point I was tired, in agony and as it was the middle of the night so Hubby was at home-I felt like crying!! I was put back on the monitor and was on it for about 3 hours. Baby’s heartbeat was bad again so at 5am Friday morning they decided to break my waters. I rang Hubby and he was at the hospital in 15 minutes and we were taken over to the labour ward.
My waters were broken at 6am and I started using gas and air-my new best friend!! To be honest the rest is a blur. I was totally out of it on the gas and air. Could not feel any pain and it was as if I wasn’t there!! My eyes were closed so I had no idea what was going on around me-it was heaven!! Brianne Haf was born at 8.01am Friday morning 16 October weighing only 5lbs 3oz. She was put straight onto me-I hadn’t even felt her coming out so it was all so surreal! I felt the afterbirth come out about 5 minutes later and hubby and I were left to bond with Bri. The induction was awful but the labour itself was much easier than I thought it would be!!
I was taken back to the post-natal ward and was monitored closely. My blood pressure was fairly stable at this point. They were also keeping a close eye on Bri because she was so small. She passed all of her tests and was given the all clear. On Sunday Bri was well enough to go home but my blood pressure went through the roof-it went up to 180/110. I was still on bed rest and my medication was increased. Brianne and I were kept in until Tuesday. By this point I had been in for a week and begged to go home! I was allowed home at 8pm that night and I was so exhausted but just glad to be home. After setting up the moses basket I went straight to bed.
The midwife came out at 12 on Wednesday to check my blood pressure and it was really high again so I was sent back to the hospital. I was re-admitted along with Bri and kept in overnight. I was monitored all night and my blood pressure stabilised so the next day I was allowed home. I was monitored by the midwife at home for the next week and my blood pressure slowly came down. I am still on medication but it has been reduced and hopefully shouldn’t be on it for too much longer.
I was so disappointed to have spent our 1st week as a family in hospital but Hubby was so amazing and he had 2 weeks off work so we had a week at home together before he went back to work so that was fab. I was very lucky not to need any stitches so my recovery from the actual labour was really quick it was just my blood pressure that held me back. It’s only now that I’m starting to feel human again but am so glad to have my beautiful little girl and would do it all again for her-she is amazing.
So there it is. Not quite what I was expecting but I managed on just gas and air which was part of my birth plan so glad about that. If you got this far then thanks for reading!!
Luc and Brianne-3 weeks and 5 days
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