Eliza Faith's dramtic arrival!

[Pixie]

Thursday 6th of April 13, 2006
I was admitted to hospital to begin induction 7 days after my due date, I was already 2cm dilated and told this would help to get things going. I was happy and excited thinking that by Friday I would have Eliza in my arms.
They checked me at 9pm that night and said I had only progressed to 3-4cm despite having fairly regular contractions things were still slow. So I had a sleep and at 6am the next day they put the 2nd lot of gel in, at 1pm they checked me and said I had made zero progress by now the contractions were hurting I found it hard to believe I was getting no where. Soon after the internal a DR. Showed up and said look it’s bad news your baby is brow presentation, there is no way you can deliver vaginally and this is why you have made little progress. You will need a c/section that is the only way the baby will come out.

I was devastated I begged to try and turn her I wanted to find out some kinda way to get her to move, but they said look this is so rare the baby won’t turn. So while they organised my c/section I cried my eyes out feeling like I had been too impatient and should of let labour come naturally.

At 6pm they took me to theatre and gave me the local anaesthetic and then the epidural which hurt like hell and as they took me into theatre I was struggling to breath, the spinal block was to much and had gone to my neck they gave me oxygen and did another internal, and announced “this baby is not brow presentation, she can deliver vaginally” they asked me what did I want to do, but I was find it hard to breath so talking was out of the question I pointed to the door to get my partner he came in and said “yes she wants a vaginal birth” and with that they stopped everything and took me to the labour ward. Where I laboured for another 10 hours after 10 hours they said yep your fully dilated start pushing, so I did but had to be told when to push by my partner and the midwife as the epi/spinal block was so heavy, I could hardly feel a thing only my tummy going tight. After 2 hours of pushing, she went to get a doctor who said look you are getting no where you need a c/section…I begged again please no, I can do this, if they would reduce the epidural I would be able to feel more and push more efficiently, I asked about venthouse, forceps etc they said no, nothing will work I must have the c/section and with that was taken back to theatres soon after.

They administered the epidural very slowly after what had happened earlier. The operation started I hated the tugging and pulling but kept the thought my baby would soon be here and I would soon be with her. My partner was at my head talking to me, they pulled Eliza out rushed her around to me for a kiss and took her off to be cleaned and weighed. She was born 10.41am 8/4/06 weighing 8lb 12oz and 52cms. Apgar of 9 and then 10

I started to feel very sick, then I heard them saying she is bleeding, I spoke out and said I am going to vomit by now my partner was at my head again with Eliza but I couldn’t concentrate on them I called out I was going to vomit and at that point they made my partner leave, I was vomiting and bleeding profusely I had 3 surgeons working on me and they were pumping fluid into me to stop the vomiting. I ended up with a blood transfusion of 2 units and lost close to half of my total blood amount. The surgeon came to me head stroked my face and said you are very lucky to still be here young lady well done.

In recovery I was feeling like I had run a marathon I couldn’t breath properly and told them I was struggling to breath, the doctor came and listened to my chest and heard her saying she has fluid on her lungs and needs a diuretic very soon and minutes later they were sorting my lungs out with an iv in my hand, it felt good to breath again, and I was put onto oxygen.

At that point my partner came running into recovery with the baby demanding to know what was going on no one had told him tanything the last he had heard was 2 hours prior I was getting a blood transfusion and not to worry they had left him alone with the newborn baby and no updates on me. His eyes were red raw from crying, he thought I was going to die he said the last time I saw you the doctors were screaming at one another to hurry up and stop the bleeding and you were vomiting everywhere.

The poor guy I can’t imagine what he must have gone through with thinking he was going to be a single father. He was told off by recovery for coming to see me and I was in no state to be seen I demanded he stayed and said “look he thought I was going to die give the bloody guy a break let him be with me and his daughter” and they did and I got to breastfeed Eliza for the first time too.

I was then taken to acute care for 24 hours to be observed every 30 minutes to make sure my breathing was stable and the bleeding didn’t happen again.

The next day I was taken to postnatal and allowed visitors and could shower on my own and was able to walk around.

So that is my birth story so not what I had visioned I had my natural water birth planned and no intervention.

But the most important thing is I am here healthy alive and recovering I have a very healthy and happy baby and a partner who loves me more than I ever realised and I can not even begin to describe what he means to me I am just happy to be home and a family.

Whoo I managed to type all that with her asleep on me lol

Thanks for reading!

[Oscar's mum]

OMG what an experience you had. That would have been very scary for you. I am glad to hear that you are recovering though and that your little baby is good too!

[the_queen]

oh Nat sounds so traumatic, glad you got through it. Your poor hubby, stupid hospital staff treating him like ****! Let alone how they treated you!! I bet you're glad to be home and in your own familiar environment now.
And how talented you are, typing with her asleep on you LOL!! Now I hope you've remembered to call all those people who kept texting you "have you had the baby yet"....... LOL

WELCOME ELIZA!!!!!

[Rainbowbrite]

I'm speechless. But soo happy your all safe now Congrats

[cosmic]

Nat, I'm still mortified by what you had to go through! I spoke to someone today about your situation (my birth support person) and she said that sometimes babies in brow presentation do change positions or the epidural can relax you enough so they have room to tuck their chin under, so maybe that's what happened. But that whole 2 hours to push thing makes me so mad!

Thank goodness you and Eliza are both fine. I was thinking that if you want to talk to other mums who have had similar experiences or women who are having very successful VBACs, you should check out the Joyous Birth website (Janet's website). It sounds very helpful and supportive.

Anyway.. enough rambling from me. Hopefully I will see you both soon!

[Taddy]

WOW you made me cry. God I am a sook. Well atleast you and Eliza are both doing well. Congratulations on being a family. Feel sorry for your husband.

[BabyJoy]

OMG! What an amazing story! I'm so glad you and Eliza are fine. It makes my birth experience seem like a walk in the park!

Glad to have you back on bubhub Nat!

[moonblossom]

Oh boy what an ordeal :S So glad you are both home safe and well. Your poor hubby, hospital staff can be so insensitive sometimes Wishing you and Eliza and hubby all the best .

[Crazy Monkey]

Wow... I'm speechless.. What an experience for you all..
Glad you are home and safe...
Now the fun begins... Enjoy

Welcome Eliza

[*Chels*]

hi!
u poor thing!!u sound like you were very brave!look after yourself and little eliza!!hope ur partners ok too!!
take care