MrsTLC
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So I didn't get my VBAC. Gutted.
On Thursday 39+1 I was admitted to the hospital by (at the time we thought "over cautious") community midwife for raised blood pressure. After several boring hours and blood tests later, I was ok for preeclampsia, but I was on the cusp of needing a blood transfusion for anaemia and got repeatedly told off for forgetting to take my iron tablets. I would be telephoned the following morning for an urgent appointment with the consultant for an emergency contingency plan should preeclampsia develop.
The night passed without incident (unfortunately, I was praying for labour, bouncing, sweep had been done by on call reg to try and encourage things along- failed, cervix too high and closed) and I made it to my consultant appointment the following morning.
On the way back from my consultation, feeling very optimistic that everything was going to be ok, 400 yards from our front door, somebody rear ended my car (the car I had been loaned because of getting in and out easier than mine). In terms of vehicular accidents, it was a mild one, but when you tell your mum you've stubbed your toe at 9 months pregnant, she insists that you go and get things checked, so despite feeling fine, she nagged and nagged and in hindsight it was a good job she did. I went into hospital to keep her quiet and once I was there I was admitted with severe preeclampsia and a BP of 170/110. I was rushed to labour suite and was told I would be induced or c sectioned that night (it was already 7pm) but luckily after a few betablockers my blood pressure settled at 150/100 and induction could wait until the morning when there would be more staff available.
The morning came as did the induction process ( ARM, 1-2 cm dilated but thick, ctg (wasn't brave enough to decline given it was an induction). After 4 hours of syntocin I had made it to 4 cm (8 hours without drip). I request a clip so that I could move around and help baby in a better position. Baby was scanned to check presentation and clip placement. It was a facial presentation where his chin was pressing into something??? So he had no hope of turning??? And a few decels were being seen on the monitor. To cut a long story short it was decided (guilt tripped by husband), to change to an emergency c section (albeit cat 2). And baby was somewhat gently delivered through the abdomen, then at 3.58am, baby Joshua Elliot was born weighing 8lb12oz (we were shocked beyond belief at the big lump and that he was a "he"). We were also delighted that after the 20 week scan that picked up his cleft lip, gum and palate, our eyes told us of its inaccuracy, and only his lip is involved (purely a cosmetic issue and no long standing problems now and masses of surgeries).
Within an hour of gaining feeling back from my spinal block, I felt great and there was talk of going home later that day(!) as I had been able to walk down to Costa, Joshua was feeding well and I wasn't in a huge amount of pain. The only thing that stopped us being discharged is that the cleft team wanted to review Joshua for his surgical referral and there was nobody available. Reluctantly, after a little whinge, I agreed to stay for one night until his paperwork had gone through and we would make tracks the following morning. However, things started going a little wrong again. (Joshua has been fine throughout luckily). I started developing sudden pain, weakness and numbness in both thighs and a sharp radiating pain in my back and I was unable to walk (or move for that matter). The anaesthetist was called for fear that the spinal block had gone wrong. An urgent MRI was ordered (a huge fear of mine) and I was sent down to have it. Apparently, screaming like a big wuss stops them doing an MRI (bear this in mind, I know I'm not the only one afraid
). So another scan was arranged for a couple of hours of later, this time to take place under sedation (with further instruction for a GA if I still wouldn't cooperate), and luckily, sedation was enough to take the edge off and the scan was performed.
It is now the consensus that being on constant monitoring throughout the 12 hours of labour which forces you to lie on your back, has caused herniation of discs in my lower back. I am still in hospital 7 days later, baby is well. I am on so much morphine that the midwives have to sit with me when I feed at night and then they take him to stay with them until he wakes for another feed. Luckily, despite being warned at the 20 week scan that his cleft would affect feeding, and that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed from the tap, and my inability to feed baby 1, I am thrilled that we are currently day 5 pp and full milk flow in force and baby is only 150g below birthweight.
On Thursday 39+1 I was admitted to the hospital by (at the time we thought "over cautious") community midwife for raised blood pressure. After several boring hours and blood tests later, I was ok for preeclampsia, but I was on the cusp of needing a blood transfusion for anaemia and got repeatedly told off for forgetting to take my iron tablets. I would be telephoned the following morning for an urgent appointment with the consultant for an emergency contingency plan should preeclampsia develop.
The night passed without incident (unfortunately, I was praying for labour, bouncing, sweep had been done by on call reg to try and encourage things along- failed, cervix too high and closed) and I made it to my consultant appointment the following morning.
On the way back from my consultation, feeling very optimistic that everything was going to be ok, 400 yards from our front door, somebody rear ended my car (the car I had been loaned because of getting in and out easier than mine). In terms of vehicular accidents, it was a mild one, but when you tell your mum you've stubbed your toe at 9 months pregnant, she insists that you go and get things checked, so despite feeling fine, she nagged and nagged and in hindsight it was a good job she did. I went into hospital to keep her quiet and once I was there I was admitted with severe preeclampsia and a BP of 170/110. I was rushed to labour suite and was told I would be induced or c sectioned that night (it was already 7pm) but luckily after a few betablockers my blood pressure settled at 150/100 and induction could wait until the morning when there would be more staff available.
The morning came as did the induction process ( ARM, 1-2 cm dilated but thick, ctg (wasn't brave enough to decline given it was an induction). After 4 hours of syntocin I had made it to 4 cm (8 hours without drip). I request a clip so that I could move around and help baby in a better position. Baby was scanned to check presentation and clip placement. It was a facial presentation where his chin was pressing into something??? So he had no hope of turning??? And a few decels were being seen on the monitor. To cut a long story short it was decided (guilt tripped by husband), to change to an emergency c section (albeit cat 2). And baby was somewhat gently delivered through the abdomen, then at 3.58am, baby Joshua Elliot was born weighing 8lb12oz (we were shocked beyond belief at the big lump and that he was a "he"). We were also delighted that after the 20 week scan that picked up his cleft lip, gum and palate, our eyes told us of its inaccuracy, and only his lip is involved (purely a cosmetic issue and no long standing problems now and masses of surgeries).
Within an hour of gaining feeling back from my spinal block, I felt great and there was talk of going home later that day(!) as I had been able to walk down to Costa, Joshua was feeding well and I wasn't in a huge amount of pain. The only thing that stopped us being discharged is that the cleft team wanted to review Joshua for his surgical referral and there was nobody available. Reluctantly, after a little whinge, I agreed to stay for one night until his paperwork had gone through and we would make tracks the following morning. However, things started going a little wrong again. (Joshua has been fine throughout luckily). I started developing sudden pain, weakness and numbness in both thighs and a sharp radiating pain in my back and I was unable to walk (or move for that matter). The anaesthetist was called for fear that the spinal block had gone wrong. An urgent MRI was ordered (a huge fear of mine) and I was sent down to have it. Apparently, screaming like a big wuss stops them doing an MRI (bear this in mind, I know I'm not the only one afraid
). So another scan was arranged for a couple of hours of later, this time to take place under sedation (with further instruction for a GA if I still wouldn't cooperate), and luckily, sedation was enough to take the edge off and the scan was performed. It is now the consensus that being on constant monitoring throughout the 12 hours of labour which forces you to lie on your back, has caused herniation of discs in my lower back. I am still in hospital 7 days later, baby is well. I am on so much morphine that the midwives have to sit with me when I feed at night and then they take him to stay with them until he wakes for another feed. Luckily, despite being warned at the 20 week scan that his cleft would affect feeding, and that I wouldn't be able to breastfeed from the tap, and my inability to feed baby 1, I am thrilled that we are currently day 5 pp and full milk flow in force and baby is only 150g below birthweight.
