GeorgiaAnne
15-09-2008, 22:05
The birth of my first child was a c-section as I had an ante-partum haemmorage post dates and was induced with syntocinon. I had planned to birth in a birth centre but was transferred due to this complication. After 8 hrs I had reached 4 cm and was happy to keep going. After another 8 hours I was still 4 cm. I then resisted c-sect pressure from OB for 3 hrs but was still 4cm!! They weren’t happy for me to continue longer as I was still bleeding quite heavily so off for a c-sect. For a long time I had a lot of sadness about this experience and part of the healing was planning a VBAC. I booked into the birth centre again and had a wonderful pregnancy.
I was due on 4th September and unsurprisingly that date came and went. I lost my plug, had stretch and sweeps and acupuncture just to get things moving.
On the morning of the 9th September I started getting some contractions that were 10 mins apart or so and were quite bearable. I was excited about labour starting and that what I was feeling were “real” contractions, rather than chemically induced ones. I met my mum for lunch and they continued. As we were walking back to my house through the woollies car park, I felt a gush between my legs and thought my waters had broken as I still needed to do a wee! I let the BC know and I went in to have some anti bios due to GBS. I had a quick monitor and bubba was happy, contractions still regular but bearable.
From about 5pm things ramped up and they were about 6 mins apart and strong. I told my dh to get home from work and get Sophia ready to go to my parents house. I hopped in the shower and that helped a bit. I was a bit anxious about the car ride to the hospital as it is a 20 min drive on a good day and it was now peak hour and I was in active labour! DH was mucking around bathing Sophia, talking on the phone etc and I was now 4 mins apart and very “ow-ish” In between cx I was playing with Sophia and each time one would come I would run into the kitchen and hang over the sink, which seemed to help. I rang the BC and told them I was coming in and my dad came to pick up Sophia, which was very sad to say goodbye as I have never spent a night away from her. I can totally understand homebirthing as I had no desire to leave the house.
The drive to the hospital was awful and cx were now about 2 apart. All I could do was chant and bang my hand on the dash – it seemed to help. We got settled at the birth centre around 8:30pm and the MW checked me – 2 cm, just like yesterday -WTF!!!! I hopped in the shower but nothing seemed to help my backpain, it was excruciating and I really just wanted to go to sleep! After a while I got out of the shower as it wasn’t really helping and leaned over a beanbag and just banged it with my hands, using my Juju Sundin verbalising 1,2,1,2. A while later I requested some gas as things were getting a bit full on and the pain wasn’t going away between contractions. It did seem to help and also shut me up, i’m sure much to DH’s relief! Around 10pm I rolled off the beanbag to go for a wee and as I was moving, 3 or 4 massive blood clots came out, they were about the size of a toddlers fist and scared me witless. I rang the bell and the MW came and checked me, I also had blood running down my legs now. It was now about 10:30pm and I was 5 cm but I would have to be transferred to the labour ward and be more closely monitored. I said if they want to strap me to the bed I want a epi straight away as I knew how hard it was to lie down in strong labour. Somehow, I got into a wheelchair, had a huge vomit and went across the hall to the labour unit. I really liked the new midwife who was extremely respectful and explained everything to dh and I, as people often don’t.
I kept on with the gas but unfortunately, the pain in my lower abdomen was getting worse and didn’t go between contractions. There was concern for possible uterine rupture as apparently the location of the pain was consistent with this. A c-section was now inevitable and we went through all the pre-op stuff. We were then down off the hallway on the way to theatre at about 11 and I said to the MW between moans, it feels like the baby’s head is between my legs! She lifted up the sheets and checked but unfortunately, no head! It seemed to take an eternity to get anywhere and I was in absolute agony with no break between contractions. Once we got to theatre they checked me and I was fully dilated with an anterior lip. The OB pushed that in, which didn’t tickle, put my legs into stirrups (gawd above, I thought they would've been outlawed years ago!?) and told me I could push and we would try for a natural birth – yippee! I really liked the feeling of the pushing contractions, sounds odd but they were powerful in a wonderful way. The pain was still there though between contractions and my dh told me afterwards that the bubbas heart rate was dropping dramatically each time I pushed. Apparently, they could see quite a lot of head so it was suggested a ventouse be applied. I was given some local injections around my vagina (ouch) but I felt nothing of the ventouse. I was happy for this and it was tried for a few more contractions with not a budge. The heart rate was now an urgent concern as was my persistent pain as well as the bleeding because of my placenta abrubting. Then came the worst part when the OB said "I just have to push this baby back up" I screamed bloody murder and it was the worst thing I have ever felt i my life. As the anaesthetist had taken half an hour to get in, I didn’t get an epidural in time. I had to have a c-section straight away so I was given general anaesthetic and dh was ushered out. His breathing was a bit dodgey for a while but dh had a lovely time meeting him and had a few quiet hours with him while I was in recovery. Recovery room was awful and the pain was waaay worse after a general than after an epi and there was just not eough morphine. Just to add to this, the nurse kept on pushing on my fundus to force out more blood clots and gave me some syntocinon - gee thanks, just what I always wanted!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473300/
Of course I would have preferred not to have another c-section but under the circumstances it was the only option due to my pain, bleeding and bubs distress. It's obviously just not meant to be (vaginal birth), no matter what I do. Unlike my first birth I am totally at peace with everything and it was so lovely to meet him after all this time. I take lots of positives from it such as experiencing “real” contractions and also pushing as well as going from 5 to 10 cms in half an hour!
He is he sweetest and most content baby I have ever met. :cloud9:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473300/
Welcome to the world Charlie! :smiliedance:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473300/
DOB: 9TH September 2008
Time: 11:51pm
Weight: 3.995 kg
Length : 53 cm
Head circ : 36.5 cm
I was due on 4th September and unsurprisingly that date came and went. I lost my plug, had stretch and sweeps and acupuncture just to get things moving.
On the morning of the 9th September I started getting some contractions that were 10 mins apart or so and were quite bearable. I was excited about labour starting and that what I was feeling were “real” contractions, rather than chemically induced ones. I met my mum for lunch and they continued. As we were walking back to my house through the woollies car park, I felt a gush between my legs and thought my waters had broken as I still needed to do a wee! I let the BC know and I went in to have some anti bios due to GBS. I had a quick monitor and bubba was happy, contractions still regular but bearable.
From about 5pm things ramped up and they were about 6 mins apart and strong. I told my dh to get home from work and get Sophia ready to go to my parents house. I hopped in the shower and that helped a bit. I was a bit anxious about the car ride to the hospital as it is a 20 min drive on a good day and it was now peak hour and I was in active labour! DH was mucking around bathing Sophia, talking on the phone etc and I was now 4 mins apart and very “ow-ish” In between cx I was playing with Sophia and each time one would come I would run into the kitchen and hang over the sink, which seemed to help. I rang the BC and told them I was coming in and my dad came to pick up Sophia, which was very sad to say goodbye as I have never spent a night away from her. I can totally understand homebirthing as I had no desire to leave the house.
The drive to the hospital was awful and cx were now about 2 apart. All I could do was chant and bang my hand on the dash – it seemed to help. We got settled at the birth centre around 8:30pm and the MW checked me – 2 cm, just like yesterday -WTF!!!! I hopped in the shower but nothing seemed to help my backpain, it was excruciating and I really just wanted to go to sleep! After a while I got out of the shower as it wasn’t really helping and leaned over a beanbag and just banged it with my hands, using my Juju Sundin verbalising 1,2,1,2. A while later I requested some gas as things were getting a bit full on and the pain wasn’t going away between contractions. It did seem to help and also shut me up, i’m sure much to DH’s relief! Around 10pm I rolled off the beanbag to go for a wee and as I was moving, 3 or 4 massive blood clots came out, they were about the size of a toddlers fist and scared me witless. I rang the bell and the MW came and checked me, I also had blood running down my legs now. It was now about 10:30pm and I was 5 cm but I would have to be transferred to the labour ward and be more closely monitored. I said if they want to strap me to the bed I want a epi straight away as I knew how hard it was to lie down in strong labour. Somehow, I got into a wheelchair, had a huge vomit and went across the hall to the labour unit. I really liked the new midwife who was extremely respectful and explained everything to dh and I, as people often don’t.
I kept on with the gas but unfortunately, the pain in my lower abdomen was getting worse and didn’t go between contractions. There was concern for possible uterine rupture as apparently the location of the pain was consistent with this. A c-section was now inevitable and we went through all the pre-op stuff. We were then down off the hallway on the way to theatre at about 11 and I said to the MW between moans, it feels like the baby’s head is between my legs! She lifted up the sheets and checked but unfortunately, no head! It seemed to take an eternity to get anywhere and I was in absolute agony with no break between contractions. Once we got to theatre they checked me and I was fully dilated with an anterior lip. The OB pushed that in, which didn’t tickle, put my legs into stirrups (gawd above, I thought they would've been outlawed years ago!?) and told me I could push and we would try for a natural birth – yippee! I really liked the feeling of the pushing contractions, sounds odd but they were powerful in a wonderful way. The pain was still there though between contractions and my dh told me afterwards that the bubbas heart rate was dropping dramatically each time I pushed. Apparently, they could see quite a lot of head so it was suggested a ventouse be applied. I was given some local injections around my vagina (ouch) but I felt nothing of the ventouse. I was happy for this and it was tried for a few more contractions with not a budge. The heart rate was now an urgent concern as was my persistent pain as well as the bleeding because of my placenta abrubting. Then came the worst part when the OB said "I just have to push this baby back up" I screamed bloody murder and it was the worst thing I have ever felt i my life. As the anaesthetist had taken half an hour to get in, I didn’t get an epidural in time. I had to have a c-section straight away so I was given general anaesthetic and dh was ushered out. His breathing was a bit dodgey for a while but dh had a lovely time meeting him and had a few quiet hours with him while I was in recovery. Recovery room was awful and the pain was waaay worse after a general than after an epi and there was just not eough morphine. Just to add to this, the nurse kept on pushing on my fundus to force out more blood clots and gave me some syntocinon - gee thanks, just what I always wanted!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473306/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473300/
Of course I would have preferred not to have another c-section but under the circumstances it was the only option due to my pain, bleeding and bubs distress. It's obviously just not meant to be (vaginal birth), no matter what I do. Unlike my first birth I am totally at peace with everything and it was so lovely to meet him after all this time. I take lots of positives from it such as experiencing “real” contractions and also pushing as well as going from 5 to 10 cms in half an hour!
He is he sweetest and most content baby I have ever met. :cloud9:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473300/
Welcome to the world Charlie! :smiliedance:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/48205281@N00/2861473300/
DOB: 9TH September 2008
Time: 11:51pm
Weight: 3.995 kg
Length : 53 cm
Head circ : 36.5 cm