cindye
15-05-2008, 13:47
A few weeks before I was due, my OB booked me in for induction for 5 days after my due date. My Mum was coming from interstate for a week around my due date and I wanted to make sure my little one had arrived before Mum had to leave. Also, with absolutely NO signs of prelabour, it was looking like the little one needed coaxing out.
My due date was the 2nd of May, and I had an appointment on the 1st, and was 2-3/5 engaged. My OB and I crossed our fingers, hoping the internal might get things moving, but made me another appointment for Wednesday the 7th, in case I hadn't gone into labour still. The weekend came and went, and still nothing was happening. Before I knew it, it was Wednesday and I was back at my OB's office. She did another internal, and a stretch and sweep. She ran through what to expect as far as the induction goes, and sen me on my merry way. I had a few little cramps, which soon passed. Then I got myself ready to be admitted that night.
DH and I went to the hospital on Wednesday 7th at 8pm. Gel inserted, went to sleep and then woke at 3am with period cramps. Had a bit more sleep, but then woke again at 6.30 to get ready for waters being broken.
8am, Thursday 8th, waters broken. Was pretty ouchie. Was 2cm dilated. Went for a walk around hospital grounds to get things moving and contractions started pretty quickly. Went back to birth suite and tried heat packs, then hot shower, then gym ball to try and get relief, but none really helped.
11am, dilation 2-3cm, started on the gas, was sucking it in like some kind of addict. Felt like a space cadet, but it helped heaps.
1pm, dilation STILL 2-3cm. Pain getting worse, gas turned up.
2pm, dilation finally at 4cm, not coping with pain anymore, so asked for epidural. Anaesthetist called. Epidural in on 2nd attempt at 2.40pm. Got uncontrollable shakes, and then threw up - nice! Started on syntocinin drip.
4pm - still 4cm dilated!!! But at least not in pain anymore. Was able to sleep a little with epidural in place.
7pm - finally some action - now 6-7cm dilated. Bub completely happy, steady heartbeat all day, so not distressed at all.
11pm - 9cm dilated. Realised bub wouldn't be born until the 9th when I was told they would come back in 2hrs to check on me. Completely over it.
Sometime between 11pm and 1am- epidural starting to wear off. Top-up given, but had to use gas as well until it kicked in.
Friday 9th - 1am, finally fully dilated! OB called and I started pushing.
2am - after an hour of pushing, and no progress, OB said she didn't think there was any way the little one was going to fit through me! She said she'd try one last thing before she gave me a caesar. There was no way forceps would fit in there too, so she got out the ventouse and attached it to bub's head. Because I'd been pushing so long, her head was already swollen heaps, and on the first contraction using the vacuum, the suction failed and the vacuum cap gave way, showering the room with my blood. Even the TV that was about 2metres away had a blood splatter pattern on it! Cap reattached and we continue on, and finally her head was born! Hooray!
Then it was realised that her shoulders were firmly wedged in me. Luckily, when they checked to see if the cord was around her neck, they discovered one of her hands up at her neck, so they pulled that arm out, and with the next contraction, my OB pulled on her arm, while the midwife pushed down on my tummy to get the other shoulder under my pubic bone. Finally we had success and she came out at 2.20am.
She was laid on my chest for just a moment while the cord was cut (unfortunately DH wasn't able to do it because they were in such a rush), and then she was whisked over for some oxygen. My little girl had arrived finally!
I'd lost about twice the normal amount of blood, so had a drip for the next 4 hours. We had a breastfeed at 4.30am and she attached beautifully and sucked well. DH and I both slept for a bit, and finally had something to eat. (I was starving!!!) I was also so glad when finally I was able to get out of bed and have a shower.
We stayed in the birth suite for a bit longer, my Mum and Dad came up at 11am for a visit, and then after midday we transferred to the ward - after more than 40 hours in the birth suite.
Because of the shoulder distocia, my little girl has some damage to the nerves on her left shoulder, so she isn't moving her left arm much. She's been looked at by a physio and a is now in the care of a specialist, who has told us that in 85% of cases it fixes itself. Only time will tell...
But besides that, we're finally home, she's feeding well, sleeping well, burping, farting and pooing like a trouper. And I'm feeling really good. So much so, that I am really looking forward to doing it all again!
Our little Girl:
Isabella Violet
Born 9th May, 2008 at 2.20am
Weight: 4070gm
Length: 51cm
Head: 36cm
My due date was the 2nd of May, and I had an appointment on the 1st, and was 2-3/5 engaged. My OB and I crossed our fingers, hoping the internal might get things moving, but made me another appointment for Wednesday the 7th, in case I hadn't gone into labour still. The weekend came and went, and still nothing was happening. Before I knew it, it was Wednesday and I was back at my OB's office. She did another internal, and a stretch and sweep. She ran through what to expect as far as the induction goes, and sen me on my merry way. I had a few little cramps, which soon passed. Then I got myself ready to be admitted that night.
DH and I went to the hospital on Wednesday 7th at 8pm. Gel inserted, went to sleep and then woke at 3am with period cramps. Had a bit more sleep, but then woke again at 6.30 to get ready for waters being broken.
8am, Thursday 8th, waters broken. Was pretty ouchie. Was 2cm dilated. Went for a walk around hospital grounds to get things moving and contractions started pretty quickly. Went back to birth suite and tried heat packs, then hot shower, then gym ball to try and get relief, but none really helped.
11am, dilation 2-3cm, started on the gas, was sucking it in like some kind of addict. Felt like a space cadet, but it helped heaps.
1pm, dilation STILL 2-3cm. Pain getting worse, gas turned up.
2pm, dilation finally at 4cm, not coping with pain anymore, so asked for epidural. Anaesthetist called. Epidural in on 2nd attempt at 2.40pm. Got uncontrollable shakes, and then threw up - nice! Started on syntocinin drip.
4pm - still 4cm dilated!!! But at least not in pain anymore. Was able to sleep a little with epidural in place.
7pm - finally some action - now 6-7cm dilated. Bub completely happy, steady heartbeat all day, so not distressed at all.
11pm - 9cm dilated. Realised bub wouldn't be born until the 9th when I was told they would come back in 2hrs to check on me. Completely over it.
Sometime between 11pm and 1am- epidural starting to wear off. Top-up given, but had to use gas as well until it kicked in.
Friday 9th - 1am, finally fully dilated! OB called and I started pushing.
2am - after an hour of pushing, and no progress, OB said she didn't think there was any way the little one was going to fit through me! She said she'd try one last thing before she gave me a caesar. There was no way forceps would fit in there too, so she got out the ventouse and attached it to bub's head. Because I'd been pushing so long, her head was already swollen heaps, and on the first contraction using the vacuum, the suction failed and the vacuum cap gave way, showering the room with my blood. Even the TV that was about 2metres away had a blood splatter pattern on it! Cap reattached and we continue on, and finally her head was born! Hooray!
Then it was realised that her shoulders were firmly wedged in me. Luckily, when they checked to see if the cord was around her neck, they discovered one of her hands up at her neck, so they pulled that arm out, and with the next contraction, my OB pulled on her arm, while the midwife pushed down on my tummy to get the other shoulder under my pubic bone. Finally we had success and she came out at 2.20am.
She was laid on my chest for just a moment while the cord was cut (unfortunately DH wasn't able to do it because they were in such a rush), and then she was whisked over for some oxygen. My little girl had arrived finally!
I'd lost about twice the normal amount of blood, so had a drip for the next 4 hours. We had a breastfeed at 4.30am and she attached beautifully and sucked well. DH and I both slept for a bit, and finally had something to eat. (I was starving!!!) I was also so glad when finally I was able to get out of bed and have a shower.
We stayed in the birth suite for a bit longer, my Mum and Dad came up at 11am for a visit, and then after midday we transferred to the ward - after more than 40 hours in the birth suite.
Because of the shoulder distocia, my little girl has some damage to the nerves on her left shoulder, so she isn't moving her left arm much. She's been looked at by a physio and a is now in the care of a specialist, who has told us that in 85% of cases it fixes itself. Only time will tell...
But besides that, we're finally home, she's feeding well, sleeping well, burping, farting and pooing like a trouper. And I'm feeling really good. So much so, that I am really looking forward to doing it all again!
Our little Girl:
Isabella Violet
Born 9th May, 2008 at 2.20am
Weight: 4070gm
Length: 51cm
Head: 36cm