HollyHotLips
21-06-2007, 06:14 PM
My EDD was 1st June, which came and went... then a further 11 days passed until my obs suggested I go in at 5pm on the 12th to be induced. I must admit, I'd not ever imagined having to be induced and felt a bit robbed of an early morning dash to the hospy, but still, at least our baby would arrive soon.
Got to the hospy at 5pm and was monitored, BP checked etc. I was having a few contractions (I'd been having them for about a week) but they were still mild. Just before 8pm the obs arrived and checked me, he said my cervix had dilated slightly since the previous day which was a good sign, and then he used the prosta gel. Ideally he said I should sleep for a few hours, then around 3 or 4am labour would start, although I should prepare myself that nothing may happen and I'd have to have some more in the morning. My mum and DH were with me and stayed with me at the hopsy, even though the midwife said they may as well go home for the night.
Around midnight things started to happen. Started off with mild contractions again, which quickly became stronger and by 1.30am were getting unbearably painful. Then I felt a "pop" and my waters broke, so I knew something was happening. DH pressed the button for the midwife but no-one came, and in the end he had to go and find them (they were sat drinking coffee and chatting!) to come take a look at me. She was very surprised at how quickly the contractions were coming (now about 3 mins apart) and wheeled me down to the delivery suite where she ran a bath to help with the pain.
She checked my cervix - 5cm dilated, so the bath was out and I went straight on the gas and air. OMG what a bizarre experience, everyone sounded really strange, almost electronic, and if I spoke it sounded like a tape on slow play!!! After a few more contractions I started to get used to it and it certainly helped with the pain.
A couple of hours passed, she checked me again around 4am and decided to call the doctor - I was fully dilated and had the urge to push. I'd have my baby by 5 o'clock she said.
The doctor arrived but nothing was happening, I could see my mum's watch and the time ticked on, gone 5am and my baby wasnt here, which was frustrating. Obs checked me and said I wasnt quite fully dilated which was what the hold up was so stop pushing (yeah, right, easier said than done!) and just get through the next few contractions. Again time ticked on, it was extremely hard not to push and by the time he came back (I think around 7 but getting hazy by then!) and said start pushing I was exhausted.
So my baby got stuck, I was in pain and just so tired I couldnt manage to push all the way through the contractions, so he called another obs in to get some advice. He suggested vacuum and an epidural. The anesthetist came in and did his stuff, I remember that bit quite well as he pulled the drip tube out of my hand which was agony! The epidural didnt hurt but it made my legs shake which was frightening - I'd decided I didnt really want an epidural as I was terrified of something being injected into my spine and I felt sure this wasnt right, but he assured me it was fine. So then into the stirrups and the vacuum was put on.
After one contraction she had moved down a bit but still not quite there. One last push my obs said. So with the next contraction I pushed as hard as I could - but the vacuum came off!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So the forceps came out, luckily DH realised I would freak out if I saw them so made sure he was standing in the way so I couldnt see what was happening.
One last contraction and our beautiful baby daughter was born, at 8.58am :smiliedance:
I was so elated I didnt even notice the placenta being expelled, and even the stitching up wasnt so bad as I was holding her in my arms - just like everyone said you totally forget what you've just been through once you're holding your little bundle of joy.
All in all, as a person who has spent their life absolutely terrified of childbirth, it wasnt as bad as I expected, although I really wondered if I'd ever get to the end. Speaking to the other doctor that had assessed me I realised how close I'd come to a C-section (they literally had a doctor and theatre on standby!) and was so relieved it hadnt come to that.
:)
Got to the hospy at 5pm and was monitored, BP checked etc. I was having a few contractions (I'd been having them for about a week) but they were still mild. Just before 8pm the obs arrived and checked me, he said my cervix had dilated slightly since the previous day which was a good sign, and then he used the prosta gel. Ideally he said I should sleep for a few hours, then around 3 or 4am labour would start, although I should prepare myself that nothing may happen and I'd have to have some more in the morning. My mum and DH were with me and stayed with me at the hopsy, even though the midwife said they may as well go home for the night.
Around midnight things started to happen. Started off with mild contractions again, which quickly became stronger and by 1.30am were getting unbearably painful. Then I felt a "pop" and my waters broke, so I knew something was happening. DH pressed the button for the midwife but no-one came, and in the end he had to go and find them (they were sat drinking coffee and chatting!) to come take a look at me. She was very surprised at how quickly the contractions were coming (now about 3 mins apart) and wheeled me down to the delivery suite where she ran a bath to help with the pain.
She checked my cervix - 5cm dilated, so the bath was out and I went straight on the gas and air. OMG what a bizarre experience, everyone sounded really strange, almost electronic, and if I spoke it sounded like a tape on slow play!!! After a few more contractions I started to get used to it and it certainly helped with the pain.
A couple of hours passed, she checked me again around 4am and decided to call the doctor - I was fully dilated and had the urge to push. I'd have my baby by 5 o'clock she said.
The doctor arrived but nothing was happening, I could see my mum's watch and the time ticked on, gone 5am and my baby wasnt here, which was frustrating. Obs checked me and said I wasnt quite fully dilated which was what the hold up was so stop pushing (yeah, right, easier said than done!) and just get through the next few contractions. Again time ticked on, it was extremely hard not to push and by the time he came back (I think around 7 but getting hazy by then!) and said start pushing I was exhausted.
So my baby got stuck, I was in pain and just so tired I couldnt manage to push all the way through the contractions, so he called another obs in to get some advice. He suggested vacuum and an epidural. The anesthetist came in and did his stuff, I remember that bit quite well as he pulled the drip tube out of my hand which was agony! The epidural didnt hurt but it made my legs shake which was frightening - I'd decided I didnt really want an epidural as I was terrified of something being injected into my spine and I felt sure this wasnt right, but he assured me it was fine. So then into the stirrups and the vacuum was put on.
After one contraction she had moved down a bit but still not quite there. One last push my obs said. So with the next contraction I pushed as hard as I could - but the vacuum came off!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So the forceps came out, luckily DH realised I would freak out if I saw them so made sure he was standing in the way so I couldnt see what was happening.
One last contraction and our beautiful baby daughter was born, at 8.58am :smiliedance:
I was so elated I didnt even notice the placenta being expelled, and even the stitching up wasnt so bad as I was holding her in my arms - just like everyone said you totally forget what you've just been through once you're holding your little bundle of joy.
All in all, as a person who has spent their life absolutely terrified of childbirth, it wasnt as bad as I expected, although I really wondered if I'd ever get to the end. Speaking to the other doctor that had assessed me I realised how close I'd come to a C-section (they literally had a doctor and theatre on standby!) and was so relieved it hadnt come to that.
:)