Here is the birth story of Daniel Kai, born Monday 31st March 2008, 7 pound 8 ounces.
Ok, I think that my story really begins about a week before labour. I had two very slight clear shows, but they were very slight. I then developed period type pains which came and went, but nothing regular. My 'bump' was feeling so heavy at this stage that it felt as if I would pop if I sneezed or coughed too hard. Walking became really difficult too, I was out of breath at even short distances and waddling big time.
Anyway last Friday afternoon I went round to my mums for the night and after I got there I just went straight upstairs for a lie down, I stayed like this more or less until Saturday morning. I just felt completely shattered.
Saturday afternoon I arrived home, I had started getting period type pains which although were still irregular, were becoming more noticeable. I think because I had an induction date for the following Tuesday, my mind was telling me that no way would I go into labour before.
Saturday night I stayed up quite late, I seemed to have a bit of energy again that came from nowhere. I was however feeling pains about one an hour by around 12 midnight. I managed to sleep, but woke up during one pain.
The next morning (Sunday) I woke up early and it felt just as if I was having a period, so I checked and yep, there was blood. I phoned the hospital and was told to head in to be checked out. The pains really weren't too bad still although they seemed to be happening every 45 mins now. I can remember thinking that if labour was just like period pains, I would be laughing...hehehe...right!
We went straight to the hospital and I was checked into the labour ward and monitored to keep a check on me and Daniel. I was then sent to the maternity ward as they decided to keep me in for 24 hours, this made me a little suspicious that they thought that something may properly start happening. I was sent to a ward with two other women.
Again I was monitored and I also realised that the 'period' pains were now around every half hour. I mentioned this to the midwife on duty and she said that I wasn't in labour, that it was just my body preparing itself! I began chatting to the other women and they noticed that I was getting pains every 15mins, one said that my pains were getting very close and that really my OH should be with me now (he had to leave at 9
0 as I wasn't in established labour) to give me support. The midwife came back after I called her as I had started being sick with every contraction. I was then sent to a room on my own, Nick was called and from then on it was all systems go! The midwife checked me and I was only 1 cm dilated, I thought I would be a lot more because of the increasing pain. She gave me a pethadine injection but to be honest it didn't touch the pain.
This next part I am going to be really honest on how I felt, please don't feel worried that you will experience what I felt etc as we all know that every pregnancy is different. I apparently popped out when I was born without much pain at all!
Anyway the contractions started to become a lot stronger, roughly every 5 minutes, but my waters still hadn't broke. I felt it difficult to talk through the pains at this stage, all I remember saying was...ow, ow, ow everytime one came. I sounded like a cat
During one particular contraction there was a huge whoosh and my waters broke all over the bed. The sound it made actually made me laugh, it was really quite surreal. Nick ran to get the midwife again, she checked and said that I was now 5 cm dilated, it was happening quick and the pain was increasing all the time. I was then transferred to the delivery room, ow, ow, owing all the way up there. When we reached there all I wanted to do was sit on all fours on the bed, being sick in one of those cardboard bowls. I tried to use the gas and air but it really didn't have much affect at this stage. The pethadine seemed to have no affect whatsoever either so I asked for an epidural. The anesthetist was in theatre though and no-one else could give it. I was so desperate at this time, I felt as though I was on another planet.
After a few more what felt like continuous contractions I felt baby really low and shouted that I wanted to push. I was checked again and was now 9 cm dilated, so they said yes. I tried pushing, I was howling and shouting for them to take the pain away. They then told me that Daniels heart rate was dropping so they wanted him out...now! It was to be a forceps delivery. This gave me the motivation I really needed as our baby was in danger!!! Something then overcame me. I gripped hold of the sides of the bed, the pain was awful and I just yelled as I pushed, I pushed a few times.
Finally I heard a squelch and realised that Daniel Kai was in the world. I was shocked, Nick was crying as Daniel was whisked away to be checked over etc.
When he was handed to me I was just overwhelmed with love, he was beautiful. All the sickness in pregnancy, the Gestational Diabetes, the painful heartburn etc had all been worth it.
I had a 2nd degree tear and I was cut, I lost a lot of blood and had to have a blood transfusion. The pain wasn't really what I expected, it was pretty harsh, but as I had dilated really quickly, think that this was the main cause. That and hardly any pain relief.
Saying all that though I WOULD happily go through it all again for Daniel and it hasn't put me off pregnancy or labour one little bit. You do forget all the negative aspects of pregnancy/labour when you finally hold your child in your arms.
We are so proud of him, he really is our little star
Ok, I think that my story really begins about a week before labour. I had two very slight clear shows, but they were very slight. I then developed period type pains which came and went, but nothing regular. My 'bump' was feeling so heavy at this stage that it felt as if I would pop if I sneezed or coughed too hard. Walking became really difficult too, I was out of breath at even short distances and waddling big time.
Anyway last Friday afternoon I went round to my mums for the night and after I got there I just went straight upstairs for a lie down, I stayed like this more or less until Saturday morning. I just felt completely shattered.
Saturday afternoon I arrived home, I had started getting period type pains which although were still irregular, were becoming more noticeable. I think because I had an induction date for the following Tuesday, my mind was telling me that no way would I go into labour before.
Saturday night I stayed up quite late, I seemed to have a bit of energy again that came from nowhere. I was however feeling pains about one an hour by around 12 midnight. I managed to sleep, but woke up during one pain.
The next morning (Sunday) I woke up early and it felt just as if I was having a period, so I checked and yep, there was blood. I phoned the hospital and was told to head in to be checked out. The pains really weren't too bad still although they seemed to be happening every 45 mins now. I can remember thinking that if labour was just like period pains, I would be laughing...hehehe...right!
We went straight to the hospital and I was checked into the labour ward and monitored to keep a check on me and Daniel. I was then sent to the maternity ward as they decided to keep me in for 24 hours, this made me a little suspicious that they thought that something may properly start happening. I was sent to a ward with two other women.
Again I was monitored and I also realised that the 'period' pains were now around every half hour. I mentioned this to the midwife on duty and she said that I wasn't in labour, that it was just my body preparing itself! I began chatting to the other women and they noticed that I was getting pains every 15mins, one said that my pains were getting very close and that really my OH should be with me now (he had to leave at 9
0 as I wasn't in established labour) to give me support. The midwife came back after I called her as I had started being sick with every contraction. I was then sent to a room on my own, Nick was called and from then on it was all systems go! The midwife checked me and I was only 1 cm dilated, I thought I would be a lot more because of the increasing pain. She gave me a pethadine injection but to be honest it didn't touch the pain. This next part I am going to be really honest on how I felt, please don't feel worried that you will experience what I felt etc as we all know that every pregnancy is different. I apparently popped out when I was born without much pain at all!
Anyway the contractions started to become a lot stronger, roughly every 5 minutes, but my waters still hadn't broke. I felt it difficult to talk through the pains at this stage, all I remember saying was...ow, ow, ow everytime one came. I sounded like a cat
During one particular contraction there was a huge whoosh and my waters broke all over the bed. The sound it made actually made me laugh, it was really quite surreal. Nick ran to get the midwife again, she checked and said that I was now 5 cm dilated, it was happening quick and the pain was increasing all the time. I was then transferred to the delivery room, ow, ow, owing all the way up there. When we reached there all I wanted to do was sit on all fours on the bed, being sick in one of those cardboard bowls. I tried to use the gas and air but it really didn't have much affect at this stage. The pethadine seemed to have no affect whatsoever either so I asked for an epidural. The anesthetist was in theatre though and no-one else could give it. I was so desperate at this time, I felt as though I was on another planet.
After a few more what felt like continuous contractions I felt baby really low and shouted that I wanted to push. I was checked again and was now 9 cm dilated, so they said yes. I tried pushing, I was howling and shouting for them to take the pain away. They then told me that Daniels heart rate was dropping so they wanted him out...now! It was to be a forceps delivery. This gave me the motivation I really needed as our baby was in danger!!! Something then overcame me. I gripped hold of the sides of the bed, the pain was awful and I just yelled as I pushed, I pushed a few times.
Finally I heard a squelch and realised that Daniel Kai was in the world. I was shocked, Nick was crying as Daniel was whisked away to be checked over etc.
When he was handed to me I was just overwhelmed with love, he was beautiful. All the sickness in pregnancy, the Gestational Diabetes, the painful heartburn etc had all been worth it.
I had a 2nd degree tear and I was cut, I lost a lot of blood and had to have a blood transfusion. The pain wasn't really what I expected, it was pretty harsh, but as I had dilated really quickly, think that this was the main cause. That and hardly any pain relief.
Saying all that though I WOULD happily go through it all again for Daniel and it hasn't put me off pregnancy or labour one little bit. You do forget all the negative aspects of pregnancy/labour when you finally hold your child in your arms.
We are so proud of him, he really is our little star
