mum2b410
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Well- I can't quite believe I am in here writing this after what has been another mammoth pregnancy! I feel completely blessed to be able to say I now have two gorgeous boys and that I have been able to share this journey with some lovely people on here! Thank you for all your support and encouragement- in particular to my bump buddy- mummy_midwife- you have been amazing hun 
Zac's birth story......
After 2 failed attempts at sweeps at 41+1 and 41+5 I had pretty much given up my last hope of getting my second little boy to arrive without induction (Ethan had been born at 42+3 in November 2011 after a drawn out one!). So on Thursday 14th August, at 42 weeks exactly, my hubby and I headed into day unit to get the process started. We arrived and were hooked up to the CTG to check how bubs was doing- all well So first examination and prostin pessary inserted. I was 1cm dilated, soft but still posterior with a bishops score of just 4 :-/ Feeling disheartened and convinced I was in for the long hall we were back on the monitor again and then allowed home.
Came back home to look after Ethan whilst DH did a few chores and my mum headed off home for a bit. I played with Ethan and sat on my ball in some vain attempt to try and 'get things going' but apart from some niggly period cramps that were nowhere near regular I didn't feel any change.
We had to be back at the hospital for 3pm so after getting Ethan down for a nap and leaving him in the care of my mum again we headed off. I had my bags in the car and the car seat but completely expected there to be no change and to be coming home again with a second pessary overnight......
Back on day unit and monitoring again- bubs doing fine I was starting to feel some more intense period cramps and tightenings at this point and could see them on the CTG. The midwife came in to do my next internal and said 'you didn't look like that when you came in!' as I was now having to focus on my breathing through the pain. Still not expecting much change I laid back whilst she did my internal and to my astonishment told me I was now 3cm and that she would call delivery suite to get me a bed so that they could break my waters!!! (Those of you that know my last birth story will realise at this point that I felt utter relief and amazement as I was convinced I would be going through 'the works' again and that my body just didn't know what it was doing!) I burst into tears- of happiness! So stupid I know but I just couldn't believe that FINALLY something was happening!
We were sent to delivery suite at 5pm. I had rung my mum and told her we wouldn't be coming home that night- she was totally shocked and excited too!
By this point my contractions were about 3 in 10 and getting a bit nippy but I could still breathe through them well. I was put back on the monitor again and when they were happy they set about breaking my waters. There was some concern over the baby's baseline heart rate- they felt it could be too high and maybe my waters would be stained with meconium, but thankfully they were clear and baby's heart rate settled down fine. So that was about 6pm. They told me that I would stay on the monitor for a bit and then if all ok I could get up and about and see if things progressed. I was to be examined again at 8pm and decisions made from there- If no change it would mean the syntocinon drip. Since I thought this would be likely I asked if I could have an epidural before the drip was started (my experience from last time was hours and hours of labour before baby would come and I did not feel I would manage the strong contractions of the drip without the epi). They were happy for this to be the plan and said I was being very sensible.
Finally got off the monitor about 7.15pm and got up and moving- all the time waters leaking everywhere (yuck!) and lost my bloody show. I got on the ball and tried out different positions to see what would help me get through the contractions but still didn't think they were coming regular enough- although they were definitely getting more intense and I started to worry how I would cope :-/
By 8.15pm I was back on the bed and being examined- thoroughly disappointed to hear I was '2-3cm' and posterior but the midwife did a bit of a stretch and sweep and said I would need the synto drip to get the babies head better applied to my cervix to get things to progress. I asked for the epidural and was advised the anaesthetist would be half an hour. By now I was starting to struggle with the contractions as they were getting stronger and my breathing techniques were only getting me so far. I asked for gas and air which they gave me and it took the edge off whilst waiting for the anaesthetist. Fortunately he came within 10 mins and started getting the epidural sorted.....
The rest of my story becomes a bit of a blur from this point on as the contractions just got more and more intense and closer together- it seemed no time at all between them!! I was high on gas and air and had my eyes closed most of the time. I remember listening to everyone and doing as I was asked but being very spaced out and sucking on the gas and air like it was going out of fashion!! They had problems getting the cannula in my left hand so then had to have it in my right and finally got the epidural sited! (No idea what the time was at this point!) I remember just wanting the epidural to kick in at this point as I was just in so much pain with the contractions and writhing about on the bed thinking 'I'm such a wimp- I've got hours of this to come!!' Little did I know that Zac was coming quicker than any of us thought!!.....
All I then remember is the midwife examining me and saying there was 'no cervix left' and asked me to push with the next contraction! When I did it felt 'good' like a 'release' and that it was exactly what I needed to do at that point! I kept asking my hubby of baby was ok and he just kept relaying to me what his heart rate was and that he was doing fine! I kept sucking away on the gas and air and pushing with everything I had......the epi had kicked in a bit but I just felt mildly numb and could still feel all the contractions and the head coming down. (Last time I was totally number out and had to be told when I had a contraction and when to push!). I held on to DH's hand for dear life as I pushed and then all of a sudden the head was out! One more push and he was out! He cried immediately and was placed on my chest. It was 9.49pm- less than an hour and 30 mins since I was only 3cm!! I couldn't believe how fast it all happened! The cord was left to stop pulsing before DH cut it and Zac and I had to skin to skin time whilst they placed my legs in the stirrups to check for damage. Unfortunately I had a second degree tear and 3 other tears but they decided they didn't need stitches. I was so glad of the epidural being in at this point while they carried out the stitching- I still was told to use the gas and air and had a local anaesthetic too! I didn't care really- just having Zac with me was amazing! He desperately tried to suckle but I was led in such an awkward position he couldn't :-/ and we had to wait until I could sit back up again to get the breast feeding going. He ended up being a bit shaky coz he needed the milk but thankfully that all settle after 3 feeds on delivery suite
I chatted to the midwives about how it had all happened in the end since it was a blur and they said that after the 'stetch and sweep' my body just cracked on with it and the contractions were coming thick and fast ( 6 in 10!), that they never even got the syntocinon started in the end and he ended up coming very quickly!!
We were transferred to the maternity ward about 2.30am and DH went home. I managed to get up and about and after Zac passing all his checks in the morning and feeding going fine we came home later that day
He is now 5 days old and the birth already feels ages ago! It all went so differently to the first time and I cannot get over how fast it all happened in the end! Sleep deprivation has well and truly hit but we are coping ok and Ethan loves his little brother- so sweet to see them together
For anyone facing a induction for a second time I hope that my story gives some hope that it can happen very differently and a lot quicker than with your first! (I am still in disbelief!)
Thank you for reading- sorry I always write an essay!!
Zac's birth story......
After 2 failed attempts at sweeps at 41+1 and 41+5 I had pretty much given up my last hope of getting my second little boy to arrive without induction (Ethan had been born at 42+3 in November 2011 after a drawn out one!). So on Thursday 14th August, at 42 weeks exactly, my hubby and I headed into day unit to get the process started. We arrived and were hooked up to the CTG to check how bubs was doing- all well
So first examination and prostin pessary inserted. I was 1cm dilated, soft but still posterior with a bishops score of just 4 :-/ Feeling disheartened and convinced I was in for the long hall we were back on the monitor again and then allowed home.Came back home to look after Ethan whilst DH did a few chores and my mum headed off home for a bit. I played with Ethan and sat on my ball in some vain attempt to try and 'get things going' but apart from some niggly period cramps that were nowhere near regular I didn't feel any change.
We had to be back at the hospital for 3pm so after getting Ethan down for a nap and leaving him in the care of my mum again we headed off. I had my bags in the car and the car seat but completely expected there to be no change and to be coming home again with a second pessary overnight......
Back on day unit and monitoring again- bubs doing fine
I was starting to feel some more intense period cramps and tightenings at this point and could see them on the CTG. The midwife came in to do my next internal and said 'you didn't look like that when you came in!' as I was now having to focus on my breathing through the pain. Still not expecting much change I laid back whilst she did my internal and to my astonishment told me I was now 3cm and that she would call delivery suite to get me a bed so that they could break my waters!!! (Those of you that know my last birth story will realise at this point that I felt utter relief and amazement as I was convinced I would be going through 'the works' again and that my body just didn't know what it was doing!) I burst into tears- of happiness! So stupid I know but I just couldn't believe that FINALLY something was happening!We were sent to delivery suite at 5pm. I had rung my mum and told her we wouldn't be coming home that night- she was totally shocked and excited too!
By this point my contractions were about 3 in 10 and getting a bit nippy but I could still breathe through them well. I was put back on the monitor again and when they were happy they set about breaking my waters. There was some concern over the baby's baseline heart rate- they felt it could be too high and maybe my waters would be stained with meconium, but thankfully they were clear and baby's heart rate settled down fine. So that was about 6pm. They told me that I would stay on the monitor for a bit and then if all ok I could get up and about and see if things progressed. I was to be examined again at 8pm and decisions made from there- If no change it would mean the syntocinon drip. Since I thought this would be likely I asked if I could have an epidural before the drip was started (my experience from last time was hours and hours of labour before baby would come and I did not feel I would manage the strong contractions of the drip without the epi). They were happy for this to be the plan and said I was being very sensible.
Finally got off the monitor about 7.15pm and got up and moving- all the time waters leaking everywhere (yuck!) and lost my bloody show. I got on the ball and tried out different positions to see what would help me get through the contractions but still didn't think they were coming regular enough- although they were definitely getting more intense and I started to worry how I would cope :-/
By 8.15pm I was back on the bed and being examined- thoroughly disappointed to hear I was '2-3cm' and posterior but the midwife did a bit of a stretch and sweep and said I would need the synto drip to get the babies head better applied to my cervix to get things to progress. I asked for the epidural and was advised the anaesthetist would be half an hour. By now I was starting to struggle with the contractions as they were getting stronger and my breathing techniques were only getting me so far. I asked for gas and air which they gave me and it took the edge off whilst waiting for the anaesthetist. Fortunately he came within 10 mins and started getting the epidural sorted.....
The rest of my story becomes a bit of a blur from this point on as the contractions just got more and more intense and closer together- it seemed no time at all between them!! I was high on gas and air and had my eyes closed most of the time. I remember listening to everyone and doing as I was asked but being very spaced out and sucking on the gas and air like it was going out of fashion!! They had problems getting the cannula in my left hand so then had to have it in my right and finally got the epidural sited! (No idea what the time was at this point!) I remember just wanting the epidural to kick in at this point as I was just in so much pain with the contractions and writhing about on the bed thinking 'I'm such a wimp- I've got hours of this to come!!' Little did I know that Zac was coming quicker than any of us thought!!.....
All I then remember is the midwife examining me and saying there was 'no cervix left' and asked me to push with the next contraction! When I did it felt 'good' like a 'release' and that it was exactly what I needed to do at that point! I kept asking my hubby of baby was ok and he just kept relaying to me what his heart rate was and that he was doing fine! I kept sucking away on the gas and air and pushing with everything I had......the epi had kicked in a bit but I just felt mildly numb and could still feel all the contractions and the head coming down. (Last time I was totally number out and had to be told when I had a contraction and when to push!). I held on to DH's hand for dear life as I pushed and then all of a sudden the head was out! One more push and he was out! He cried immediately and was placed on my chest. It was 9.49pm- less than an hour and 30 mins since I was only 3cm!! I couldn't believe how fast it all happened! The cord was left to stop pulsing before DH cut it and Zac and I had to skin to skin time whilst they placed my legs in the stirrups to check for damage. Unfortunately I had a second degree tear and 3 other tears but they decided they didn't need stitches. I was so glad of the epidural being in at this point while they carried out the stitching- I still was told to use the gas and air and had a local anaesthetic too! I didn't care really- just having Zac with me was amazing! He desperately tried to suckle but I was led in such an awkward position he couldn't :-/ and we had to wait until I could sit back up again to get the breast feeding going. He ended up being a bit shaky coz he needed the milk but thankfully that all settle after 3 feeds on delivery suite
I chatted to the midwives about how it had all happened in the end since it was a blur and they said that after the 'stetch and sweep' my body just cracked on with it and the contractions were coming thick and fast ( 6 in 10!), that they never even got the syntocinon started in the end and he ended up coming very quickly!!
We were transferred to the maternity ward about 2.30am and DH went home. I managed to get up and about and after Zac passing all his checks in the morning and feeding going fine we came home later that day
He is now 5 days old and the birth already feels ages ago! It all went so differently to the first time and I cannot get over how fast it all happened in the end! Sleep deprivation has well and truly hit but we are coping ok and Ethan loves his little brother- so sweet to see them together
For anyone facing a induction for a second time I hope that my story gives some hope that it can happen very differently and a lot quicker than with your first! (I am still in disbelief!)
Thank you for reading- sorry I always write an essay!!
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