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My Birth Story
Well, I've finally got a sleeping baby and daddy so thought I'd try and write this up while I remember!!
Let's see...
Baby Tronski decided it was going to be a rascal and I was 10 days overdue before anything happened. I'd been for two sweeps but the midwives hadn't been very hopeful, and so had been booked in for an induction of labour at 11 days overdue. I'd resigned myself to the fact that this was going to happen and just started counting down the days.
Tuesday 29th: I had a lovely day at home, a waddle round the town and an afternoon spent with OH in the sunshine. Perfect! We decided to treat ourselves to a Pizza Hut trip. After consuming a couple of slices of Pepperoni Passion, I began to feel a little unwell (normally I can eat the whole thing if given the chance!). I remember thinking that I just wanted to get out of there and head home. I started having some tummy ache that evening but didn't think anything of it so went to sleep.
Wednesday 30th: I woke up about 1am with pains which I recognised instantly as being contractions although I didn't have any BH's throughout the whole pregnancy. I'd been worried that I wouldn't know when labour started but once I felt these tightening, I just knew. I lay in bed for a while just thinking -I think this is it!!'. Had a couple of toilet trips before waking OH and telling him what was occurring. We started to time them and once they got to about 6 mins apart, phoned labour ward for some advice. Was given the usual advice of to have a bath and take some paracetamol. By 6am, the contractions were a lot stronger and about 5 mins apart. I phoned labour ward again and they said I could come in to be checked out. I remember thinking that I wanted to go asap as I knew that if we left it any later, we'd be stuck in all the morning traffic and I just wanted to know what was going on. I put on my TENS machine and off we headed!!!
I was put on a monitor which showed that I was having regular contractions every 4-5 mins. They weren't too painful so I was just breathing through them. After an hour of monitoring, the midwife checked me over and I was only 2-3cm dilated. She gave me a big stretch and sweep and advised that I went back home for some rest but head back at 6pm for more monitoring, although she expected to see me in established labour by the afternoon.
So off we headed. By time we got home, the contractions had more or less faded completely. I couldn't believe it!! We went back to the hospital at 6pm who confirmed that they had stopped and were sent home again without baby. I was so sad and crying, feeling like a complete failure and that my body wasn't working. We were due back at the hospital the next day for induction so in my mind, that was it.
Thurday 1st: Just after midnight, I woke with really strong contractions, stronger than anything from the day before. They were still only 5 mins apart but I was finding it hard to get through them as they were lasting much longer. I went and had a bath and took the paracetamol. At 1am, I phoned labour ward and explained. They said to wait an hour and then head on in. I waited a couple of hours in the end, then we took the early morning drive over. I was put back on the monitor which showed that things had started again. I explained that I was due for induction that morning, so they said I could just stay there for now. OH and I went for a walk around the hospital grounds where I spewed everywhere!!
Once back on the ward, we were introduced to our midwife who would be looking after us for the day shift. She was lovely and really put my mind at rest. She answered all my silly questions about everything and checked in on me all the time. My consultant came along at about 9am and it was decided that they would break my waters as I was 4cm dilated. It was the strangest sensation ever - this gush of warm liquid that I had no control over. I thought the breaking would hurt but I didn't feel a thing. I was given one of those lovely elephant sized pads to wear and had another bath.
OH went off to get some food and see his dad (who was working at the hospital), so I just pottered around my room. I was still just breathing through the contractions and had given up on the TENS which just annoyed me more than anything. The contractions were getting a lot stronger and I remember thinking that I needed some pain relief soon. I started off on the gas and air which helped for a couple of hours. At first, I loved the stuff but I began to feel really light headed and was just sitting there feeling completely off my face. I hated that feeling as I felt like I had begun to lose control over myself.
My midwife came back in at about 1pm with my blood results. My platelets had been monitored throughout my pregnancy, and I knew it would affect what pain relief I was allowed. Luckily, they were above the magical 80 and I asked if I could have an epidural (which I never thought I'd want). OH reminded me of this so the midwife went through all the options. I was thinking would I rather by in control of my mind and feelings, or my legs. I decided I'd rather be able to concentrate clearly so said that I definitely wanted the epidural.
The anaesthetist was summoned and I signed my life away whilst completely high on the gas and air. I was prepped up for the injection and in it went. I've never been so relieved in my life. It was an instant calming sensation for me although it didn't give me complete loss of feeling. I was still on the monitor so the midwife said they'd check back on me at 5pm to see how I was progressing. The next few hours were completely blissful. I sat there completely calm just chatting to OH. I didn't read anything or sleep, just sat there thinking about everything.
5pm came and the midwife checked me over. She had a good rummage around and was saying that she just needed to double check things. She then looked at me in disbelief saying that I was now fully dilated and would soon be ready for pushing. OH and I were completely shell shocked! She gave us an hour before pushing to see if baby would move down some more as I'd been laying for most of the afternoon. She came back at about 6.30pm and the pushing began. It was hard to time the pushes right as I wasn't really feeling the contractions, but I was assured that I was doing fine. I've never been so focused or put so much energy into anything. I really gave it some welly. I didn't want to be touched or stroked by OH, I just wanted to get on with it.
So I kept going and going and going...My midiwfe had to leave as it was the end of her shift. I was really sorry to see her go and felt bad that she wouldn't be able to see baby. Another midwife and student took over. I hadn't topped up my epidural during the pushing to was now starting to regain more feeling. I was giving it everything but started to feel completely exhausted after about 90 mins. I also projectile vomited all over OH and myself so ended up naked on the bed, with my legs spead out on stirrups. Attractive.
I began to lose all hope that I would get baby out. I was begging to be cut open at one point but was told I couldn't have an assisted delivery because of my blood. OH then said he could see the head and hair. This gave me the incentive I needed so I went for it. I didn't make a lot of noise at all - all my energy was going into getting baby out. OH has since informed me that I didn't ever swear during the whole labour. The midwifes informed me of when I needed to start panting and before I knew it, I felt this thing sliding out from between me.
Thurs 1st 9.21pm: OH was saying -It's a girl, it's a girl'. I was stunned having thought I was having a boy the whole time. She was put on my chest and I had to check it out for myself. I couldn't quite believe what had just happened and that the baby was here. I didn't cry, I didn't do a lot. I was just amazed. It was the most incredible feeling ever. The midwife informed me that I had a 2nd degree tear to they began to stitch me up while I had some skin to skin with my little girl. Once they finished, OH and I were left to bond together as a family. He had his first cuddles and looked incredibly proud. The midwife came back in to weigh her and we all had a guess - midwife guessed under 8lbs, so we shocked when the scales registered in at 8lbs 11.5ozs. All that extra cooking had paid off!!
So that's it really - the story of the birth of Martha Emily. My little girl - completely perfect in every way.
*ps - I did a number 2 as well but didn't care at all, for those that worry about it
*
[Modified by: Tronski on 05 July 2010 18:48:21 ]
[Modified by: Tronski on 05 July 2010 19:05:48 ]
