k8y
08-10-2008, 13:08
Here it is! It was done as a story to Summer. It is the full uncensored version of which Summer may not likely see as I will edit it to remove some details. I don't want her to know too much of the details as I don't want it to affect her in anyway emotionally or later in life make her feel scared or apprehensive about the labour process. Wow I'm making her birth sound terrible, but while it was traumatic I know there are births that are a lot lot worse and that I'm lucky to have a beautiful healthy baby. It's a very long story so good luck to those who actually manage to read the whole thing!
For those who haven't yet posted their birth story, please feel free to do it here.
IST INSTALMENT:
My Birth Story
Summer, your arrival began on the 18th of June. Your Dad and I had an ultrasound appointment at 7.30am at the Wesley Foetal Medicine Unit. Our obstetrician, Dr Ross Turner, had us arrange the ultrasound after our appointment with him the day before, because you were a wee little bub and the need was there to make sure you were growing properly.
The ultrasound went well. You looked happy and healthy. We took the scan results up to show Ross. He decided that while you were growing, he felt that the sooner you were out the better you would grow. The reasons for you being on the smaller side remained a little unknown at this stage, perhaps my placenta had started to reduce its function which can be common apparently. The decision there and then was made for an induction. Ross immediately rang the maternity ward at the hospital and booked me in for 25 June at 8pm. I was at first excited. I knew the day I would get to meet you and I could also plan accordingly. I was also apprehensive as it’s common to have a difficult birth under an induction. I so wanted to the birth to go smoothly and naturally, to have you arrive into the world with a happy, complication free start to life.
I’d only started maternity leave on the 6th of June, so the next few days were spent planning and organising the last minute things for your room and our hospital stay together. We didn’t tell many people of the induction day as we wanted them to get a nice surprise at your arrival. We’d also kept your name a secret so everyone couldn’t wait to find out it was.
Well, the 25th of June finally came. I packed last minute things into my bags and your Dad finished up at work early. I’d spent the day on my own, feeling more and more anxious about how things would unfold in the night ahead. 7.30pm came and we packed the bags in the car and pulled out of the driveway. I remember feeling scared and excited as we drove down the street, knowing that my life from this point on would never be the same again, that my relationship with your Dad would undertake a deeper meaning and our puppies Rufus and Petie will be welcoming a little sister into the family fold.
We arrived at the hospital and parked the car. I remember getting out of the car thinking this will be the last time I get out of the car without a baby in my life. Silly thoughts, but they felt significant at the time. Then we got to the carpark lift with the bags only to realise the lift was out of order! So back in the car we had to go anyway to drive up to the top level where we could gain access.
They directed us straight into the birthing suite for the induction and said I would sleep in the ward overnight and be monitored and see how things are in the morning. They inserted a gel to begin the labour. For some unexplainable reason, the gel insertion felt severely painful and I was in tears of pain during the process. Eventually it was done and off to the ward I went to go to sleep (with sleeping pill provided). Your Dad stayed for a little while to see how things would go and eventually went home around 10.30pm to come back earlier in the morning. I was woken at 2am for a CTG to check how things were progressing. All good so far, mild contractions had started and felt like slight period pains. I was excited at the thought everything was starting well and went back to sleep. They woke me again at 6am and said they would be sending me over to the birthing suite at 7am where I would stay until you arrived. Today was the day!
I had a shower, rubbing my hands over my tummy, thinking soon you would be on the outside! Your Dad arrived and we went into the birthing suite. Ross came in and checked my cervix to see how far I was dilated. It felt, once again, severely painful and Ross seemed concerned at my pain. 9am came by and contractions were feeling stronger and you could see them on the CTG. Ross checked my cervix again, terrible pain, so he asked me if I wanted to get an epidural. I didn’t want one so soon, but it seemed best. I look back now and wonder if I should have tried the gas first, but was worried it would make me feel sick, so I didn’t. Anyway, half an hour later, in went the epidural, a fairly smooth procedure. There was a pocket on the lower right side of my abdomen where it just didn’t seem to work. The contractions were stronger now and more painful so they called the anaesthesiologist back to re-do the epidural. He did this, but still no luck so it was left as is.
Not too much progression by 12pm Ross broke my waters. Epidural working well I didn’t feel it at all (apparently this can be painful). At this stage the CTG was showing your heart rate would drop every time I was having a contraction. Not a good sign and it kept continuing. You were distressed and it wasn’t known why. With only 2cm dilated, Ross was under the impression I would labour into the night. We couldn’t leave you in such distress for long, so the decision for a caesarean was made. I was distraught. My longing for a natural labour was over, it was all now about just getting you out quickly and safely. Ross said it can usually be determined once the caesarean is completed, the reasons for your distress.
They came in around 1.45pm (I think) to put in my IV for the caesarean. They had trouble getting a vein and they kept sticking needles into both my arms all over the place. It was wearying and painful and I was in tears. Your Dad was having trouble watching the pain I was in and had to keep holding a bowl under my mouth during my distress as the epidural had now caused me to start vomiting.
After 45 – 50 mins it finally worked and they got the IV in. I was very thankful as by this time I was ready to yell at them to all get out and just leave me in peace. Your Dad had tears in his eyes. I remember it so clearly as your Dad never cries. He said he was concerned for his girls.
Wheeled into theatre, your Dad was standing beside me still holding the bowl as I kept vomiting. It seemed like 5 minutes had passed and they pulled you out at 2.59pm. You started crying the instant you were out. My first thought was such relief to hear your cry. Then they held you up over the screen so I could see you and instantly I felt choked with emotion and began to cry at the immediate love I felt for you. They took you over to a table where I couldn’t see, where your Dad cut the umbilical cord and they performed the apgar tests. It was taking them a while to put me all back together but I wasn’t concerned as never having had a caesarean before, I thought that was normal.
They then placed you in my arms. Oh look at you, I thought, my daughter, my angel. I have never at that moment felt so happy in all my life.
For those who haven't yet posted their birth story, please feel free to do it here.
IST INSTALMENT:
My Birth Story
Summer, your arrival began on the 18th of June. Your Dad and I had an ultrasound appointment at 7.30am at the Wesley Foetal Medicine Unit. Our obstetrician, Dr Ross Turner, had us arrange the ultrasound after our appointment with him the day before, because you were a wee little bub and the need was there to make sure you were growing properly.
The ultrasound went well. You looked happy and healthy. We took the scan results up to show Ross. He decided that while you were growing, he felt that the sooner you were out the better you would grow. The reasons for you being on the smaller side remained a little unknown at this stage, perhaps my placenta had started to reduce its function which can be common apparently. The decision there and then was made for an induction. Ross immediately rang the maternity ward at the hospital and booked me in for 25 June at 8pm. I was at first excited. I knew the day I would get to meet you and I could also plan accordingly. I was also apprehensive as it’s common to have a difficult birth under an induction. I so wanted to the birth to go smoothly and naturally, to have you arrive into the world with a happy, complication free start to life.
I’d only started maternity leave on the 6th of June, so the next few days were spent planning and organising the last minute things for your room and our hospital stay together. We didn’t tell many people of the induction day as we wanted them to get a nice surprise at your arrival. We’d also kept your name a secret so everyone couldn’t wait to find out it was.
Well, the 25th of June finally came. I packed last minute things into my bags and your Dad finished up at work early. I’d spent the day on my own, feeling more and more anxious about how things would unfold in the night ahead. 7.30pm came and we packed the bags in the car and pulled out of the driveway. I remember feeling scared and excited as we drove down the street, knowing that my life from this point on would never be the same again, that my relationship with your Dad would undertake a deeper meaning and our puppies Rufus and Petie will be welcoming a little sister into the family fold.
We arrived at the hospital and parked the car. I remember getting out of the car thinking this will be the last time I get out of the car without a baby in my life. Silly thoughts, but they felt significant at the time. Then we got to the carpark lift with the bags only to realise the lift was out of order! So back in the car we had to go anyway to drive up to the top level where we could gain access.
They directed us straight into the birthing suite for the induction and said I would sleep in the ward overnight and be monitored and see how things are in the morning. They inserted a gel to begin the labour. For some unexplainable reason, the gel insertion felt severely painful and I was in tears of pain during the process. Eventually it was done and off to the ward I went to go to sleep (with sleeping pill provided). Your Dad stayed for a little while to see how things would go and eventually went home around 10.30pm to come back earlier in the morning. I was woken at 2am for a CTG to check how things were progressing. All good so far, mild contractions had started and felt like slight period pains. I was excited at the thought everything was starting well and went back to sleep. They woke me again at 6am and said they would be sending me over to the birthing suite at 7am where I would stay until you arrived. Today was the day!
I had a shower, rubbing my hands over my tummy, thinking soon you would be on the outside! Your Dad arrived and we went into the birthing suite. Ross came in and checked my cervix to see how far I was dilated. It felt, once again, severely painful and Ross seemed concerned at my pain. 9am came by and contractions were feeling stronger and you could see them on the CTG. Ross checked my cervix again, terrible pain, so he asked me if I wanted to get an epidural. I didn’t want one so soon, but it seemed best. I look back now and wonder if I should have tried the gas first, but was worried it would make me feel sick, so I didn’t. Anyway, half an hour later, in went the epidural, a fairly smooth procedure. There was a pocket on the lower right side of my abdomen where it just didn’t seem to work. The contractions were stronger now and more painful so they called the anaesthesiologist back to re-do the epidural. He did this, but still no luck so it was left as is.
Not too much progression by 12pm Ross broke my waters. Epidural working well I didn’t feel it at all (apparently this can be painful). At this stage the CTG was showing your heart rate would drop every time I was having a contraction. Not a good sign and it kept continuing. You were distressed and it wasn’t known why. With only 2cm dilated, Ross was under the impression I would labour into the night. We couldn’t leave you in such distress for long, so the decision for a caesarean was made. I was distraught. My longing for a natural labour was over, it was all now about just getting you out quickly and safely. Ross said it can usually be determined once the caesarean is completed, the reasons for your distress.
They came in around 1.45pm (I think) to put in my IV for the caesarean. They had trouble getting a vein and they kept sticking needles into both my arms all over the place. It was wearying and painful and I was in tears. Your Dad was having trouble watching the pain I was in and had to keep holding a bowl under my mouth during my distress as the epidural had now caused me to start vomiting.
After 45 – 50 mins it finally worked and they got the IV in. I was very thankful as by this time I was ready to yell at them to all get out and just leave me in peace. Your Dad had tears in his eyes. I remember it so clearly as your Dad never cries. He said he was concerned for his girls.
Wheeled into theatre, your Dad was standing beside me still holding the bowl as I kept vomiting. It seemed like 5 minutes had passed and they pulled you out at 2.59pm. You started crying the instant you were out. My first thought was such relief to hear your cry. Then they held you up over the screen so I could see you and instantly I felt choked with emotion and began to cry at the immediate love I felt for you. They took you over to a table where I couldn’t see, where your Dad cut the umbilical cord and they performed the apgar tests. It was taking them a while to put me all back together but I wasn’t concerned as never having had a caesarean before, I thought that was normal.
They then placed you in my arms. Oh look at you, I thought, my daughter, my angel. I have never at that moment felt so happy in all my life.