Sorry for the delay in posting this but trying to find the time has been a nightmare!
Oliver was born at 10.47 on the 12th February after an almost failed induction process and what can only be described as a comedy of errors!
I was booked in for an induction on Monday 10th Feb as baby was not showing any signs of wanting to come out on his own. Arrived at the hospital at 4pm, was put on the monitors and had all the usual checks done. Baby was happy on the monitor but not moving much. Managed to time the monitoring for when the evening meal was served so had to try and eat in a semi-reclined position - not that easy (but perfected it before the week was out!).
Had the pessery put in at 6pm, and didn't really expect anything amazing to happen too quickly. Sent hubby home to get some sleep and so that he could take DD to nursery on Tuesday morning.
The only sign I had that anything might be happening was a bit of back ache during the night and the next morning but nothing to get excited about.
By the time they had to take the pessery out at 6pm on the Tuesday nothing had progressd so in went a 6hr tablet. Again, nothing major to report, a few tightenings, but stopped if I walked around so started to feel this wasn't going to work. Had another tablet put in at midnight - still hadn't dilated more than 1cm so resigned myself to the fact that this baby was not coming out naturally.
Woke up at 5.30 to one of the other ladies, who had only come onto the ward on the Tuesday afternoon, going across to the delivery ward. Had a minor meltdown over the fact that for yet another lady the induction process had worked but it wasn't happening for me.
The consultant came round at 8.30, and the first thing he said was 'This isn't working is it? Shall I get a consent form?' Which actually made me feel so much better - and I said yes - I think that might be a good idea. So, Wednesday morning I was all set for a planned C Section. They felt it was probably a good idea to check that I hadn't dilated without realising, just to make sure. So was examined, yet again, and was found to be 2-3cm and was told that while it would be painful they would be able to break my waters, so I could do it naturally. Obviously, I would much prefer that to a section so agreed.
Off we go to the delivery ward, the breaking of my waters was very painful, as I wasn't really dilated enough. My Christ! I didn't realise there could be so much water in there! And it just kept coming - I went through 2 pairs of bottoms and several pairs of pants in an hour! I had to phone my sister to send her to Primark to buy me more things. I then went on to flood the bathroom as the shower head fired off at a stupid angle and it flooded under the door and into the delivery room.
Contractions didn't start naturally so had the drip put in. Started to get some really good contractions which were building nicely, started to think this might actually work. However, when I stood up to change position I managed to move the line in my hand and all the drugs were filling up my arm rather than going into m blood stream. Had to have another line put in, but because they re-started to drip at the level they stopped it it all went a bit too much too soon. So drip was stopped and restarted and a lower level and again, contractions developing nicely. However, as the drip was increased, each time I had a contraction the baby's heartbeat was dropping.
The heartbeat started to drop to a really alarming level as the contractions got stronger - all of a sudden there were lots of people in the room and the pain had got to a level that was becoming close to my limit. It was obvious that baby was distressed but unclear as to why - I was asked what I would like to happen - I believe my exact words were 'get him out - just get him out now'. Hubby was then given a set of scrubs and we were wheeled off to theatre.
I think over the next 15 minutes I said the word 'weird' about a million times! Having a spinal is a very weird sensation. Everything was very weird!
So, Oliver was born with his cord wrapped round his next twice and tucked under his arm. My placenta was a the top of my uterus so he physically couldn't get down to come out naturally. Hence, the failed induction process and his distress.
Was finally allowed out of the hospital on the Friday - after what felt like forever. By the Sunday night I was really ill - I spent the next 4 days in bed being really sick. I had picked up oral thrush somewhere along the way and with the lowered immune system after the operation was proper ill. Started meds for it on the Wednesday, and started to get better by the weekend and then had a relapse the following week. Am now, finally, recovered.
Luckily, I have an amazing husband who took over looking after Ollie and our daughter, while I couldn't do anything other than throw up!
Sorry this has been so long winded and I want to thank you for reading.
Oliver was born at 10.47 on the 12th February after an almost failed induction process and what can only be described as a comedy of errors!
I was booked in for an induction on Monday 10th Feb as baby was not showing any signs of wanting to come out on his own. Arrived at the hospital at 4pm, was put on the monitors and had all the usual checks done. Baby was happy on the monitor but not moving much. Managed to time the monitoring for when the evening meal was served so had to try and eat in a semi-reclined position - not that easy (but perfected it before the week was out!).
Had the pessery put in at 6pm, and didn't really expect anything amazing to happen too quickly. Sent hubby home to get some sleep and so that he could take DD to nursery on Tuesday morning.
The only sign I had that anything might be happening was a bit of back ache during the night and the next morning but nothing to get excited about.
By the time they had to take the pessery out at 6pm on the Tuesday nothing had progressd so in went a 6hr tablet. Again, nothing major to report, a few tightenings, but stopped if I walked around so started to feel this wasn't going to work. Had another tablet put in at midnight - still hadn't dilated more than 1cm so resigned myself to the fact that this baby was not coming out naturally.
Woke up at 5.30 to one of the other ladies, who had only come onto the ward on the Tuesday afternoon, going across to the delivery ward. Had a minor meltdown over the fact that for yet another lady the induction process had worked but it wasn't happening for me.
The consultant came round at 8.30, and the first thing he said was 'This isn't working is it? Shall I get a consent form?' Which actually made me feel so much better - and I said yes - I think that might be a good idea. So, Wednesday morning I was all set for a planned C Section. They felt it was probably a good idea to check that I hadn't dilated without realising, just to make sure. So was examined, yet again, and was found to be 2-3cm and was told that while it would be painful they would be able to break my waters, so I could do it naturally. Obviously, I would much prefer that to a section so agreed.
Off we go to the delivery ward, the breaking of my waters was very painful, as I wasn't really dilated enough. My Christ! I didn't realise there could be so much water in there! And it just kept coming - I went through 2 pairs of bottoms and several pairs of pants in an hour! I had to phone my sister to send her to Primark to buy me more things. I then went on to flood the bathroom as the shower head fired off at a stupid angle and it flooded under the door and into the delivery room.
Contractions didn't start naturally so had the drip put in. Started to get some really good contractions which were building nicely, started to think this might actually work. However, when I stood up to change position I managed to move the line in my hand and all the drugs were filling up my arm rather than going into m blood stream. Had to have another line put in, but because they re-started to drip at the level they stopped it it all went a bit too much too soon. So drip was stopped and restarted and a lower level and again, contractions developing nicely. However, as the drip was increased, each time I had a contraction the baby's heartbeat was dropping.
The heartbeat started to drop to a really alarming level as the contractions got stronger - all of a sudden there were lots of people in the room and the pain had got to a level that was becoming close to my limit. It was obvious that baby was distressed but unclear as to why - I was asked what I would like to happen - I believe my exact words were 'get him out - just get him out now'. Hubby was then given a set of scrubs and we were wheeled off to theatre.
I think over the next 15 minutes I said the word 'weird' about a million times! Having a spinal is a very weird sensation. Everything was very weird!
So, Oliver was born with his cord wrapped round his next twice and tucked under his arm. My placenta was a the top of my uterus so he physically couldn't get down to come out naturally. Hence, the failed induction process and his distress.
Was finally allowed out of the hospital on the Friday - after what felt like forever. By the Sunday night I was really ill - I spent the next 4 days in bed being really sick. I had picked up oral thrush somewhere along the way and with the lowered immune system after the operation was proper ill. Started meds for it on the Wednesday, and started to get better by the weekend and then had a relapse the following week. Am now, finally, recovered.
Luckily, I have an amazing husband who took over looking after Ollie and our daughter, while I couldn't do anything other than throw up!
Sorry this has been so long winded and I want to thank you for reading.
