Finally, my war story

So, when I started this blog in March I had promised to tell you about my War Story AKA My birthing story..... well, here it goes....

It starts on Wednesday, 12 December 2007. I was under the consultants care at the hospital as I had Pregnancy Induced Hypertension. I mentioned to the consultant that I had been having really bad "Braxton Hicks" all day and asked her if that could be a sign, as at one stage they were regulary 15 minutes apart, she asked if she could do a spectrum (examination). She did one and discovered that I was 2cm dilated. She did a stretch and sweep and said that the next time she saw me that I would probably be in the delivery room. The next day I had bad cramps all day and had my show that evening.... and then waited.... and waited..... and waited. I had to see the midwife every second day to have my blood pressure checked, and on Sunday, 16 December, I had to go to Bournemouth Hospital, just for a check up on my BP, as the midwife could not make it to my house that day. My BP was high when they took it and decided that they needed to transfer me to Poole Hospital, as I am a high risk case and Bournemouth don't deal with High Risk pregnancies. They would not let me take a bus to the other hospital, as we do not own a car. So, they made me go in an Ambulance. My first time ever in an Ambulance. Luckily Gareth was with me. They took me straight to the delivery suite when we get there and my BP stabilized. I asked them to do a spectrum as well, as I suspected that my waters were breaking slowly. They did and I was still only 2cm dilated, and my waters were still intact, so home we went again (via bus). Wednesday, 19 December 2007, I had another consultant appointment and this time after viewing my BP, they decided that because we were so close to my due date that they should induce me as close to my due date as possible. My due date was Sunday, 23 December 2007. I then spoke to the midwife doing the bookings and I was booked to be induced on Saturday, 22 December 2007. When you are induced you have to go into hospital the night before. On Thursday, 20 December 2007, Gareth and I went shopping for last minute supplies for me to go into hospital the next night.... a magazine, a couple snacks, etc. That afternoon I was tired, so my sister Jessica and I went to go and lie on the bed my parents were using while they were visiting me (my mom and stepdad were in Ireland from the Monday until the Next day, and my sisters were still staying by me. They had all come out to stay from 4 December - 27 December). I started reading P.S I love you, and then had an hours nap. At 6:40pm I put a Pork Tenderloin into the oven to roast, knowing that it only needed about 20 minutes. Just before 7pm I started to feel ill, so I went upstairs and tried to make myself get sick, I couldn't, so I lay on the bathroom floor. I, then thought that I might as well go and lie on the couch downstairs. I got to the couch and as I was half way down to put my bum on the seat I felt a gush of liquid between my legs, I burst out laughing, and Gareth and Jessica both asked me, "Whats wrong", I said "I think my waters just broke", and got up and tried to sit down again, and again a big gush between my legs..... so we all looked at each other..... Now What?. Luckily I was wearing dance trousers and they are very absorbant, so nothing leaked onto the couch. I went upstairs and changed then decided that I should phone the hospital, just to check. Normally you don't need to phone the hospital or anything until your contractions are regular and 5 minutes apart.... I had not had one contraction yet. The midwife at the hospital said that I should come in and just be checked out, but they will probably send me home again, as first labours take hours (I am talking 12-18 hours plus). I went back downstairs and it was 7:40pm, the pork was burnt, but I still made the gravy for it, and had 2 very mild contractions. Gareth called the taxi service, and then we went downstairs into the road to wait, with 3 bags and a 4 pack of Lucozade. The taxi arrived and took Gareth and myself to the hospital, I again had 2 very mild contractions on the way there. We got to the hospital and I suddenly got very nervous, I remember telling Gareth that I was not ready and never wanted to do this, and tried to leave the hospital.... too late. We went up to the assessment unit, and it was almost as soon as we walked into the Hospital my contractions were really strong and one after the other, there was not a gap inbetween them. They showed me to a room in the assessment unit and a midwife came to speak to me. She told me that if I really was in labour (i.e. established labour) that they were going to have to transfer me to another hospital, Bournemouth Hospital won't take me, as I am high risk, so I will either have to go to Dorchester (40km away) or Salisbury Hospital (47 km away), as their Delivery Ward was closed for the night, as they had too many ladies in labour. First thing that Gareth and I both thought of was the Taxi Fare...lol. They did spectrum to see how far I was, and I knew that they weren't transfering me anywhere when the midwife said, I can tell you that the baby had dark hair. I was 4cm dilated and it was around 9pm. They were having a change of staff and told me that someone would come and see me soon. They gave me a gas and air cannister, at first I refused it as I have had Gas and air before and it made me feel sick. I told them that I wanted an epidural, I was told that the doctor and anaesthetist were both busy with 2 emergencies and they would get to me as soon as they could. I sucked on the gas and air, but found that it never did anything for me, but I carried on as it gave me something else to focus on. At about 10pm Amanda, the midwife assigned to me aka my new best friend, came to collect me and take me to the delivery ward. She told me that she had been pulled off the post natal ward and had not delivered a baby in 5 years..... Great!!! At just before 11pm I had said to Gareth that either I need the bathroom or I needed to push (I always wondered how you would know when to push, well, now I knew). I asked Amanda when I was getting my epidural and she told me that the doctor and anaesthetist were still busy, Gareth told her what I had told him and she asked me if I wanted some pethidine. I said "yes, please"....... but, I must tell you that I was totally against pethidine, but at this stage I could not even think straight. She said that she would first need to examine me.... she did and told Gareth he can take the gas cannister away from me, and that I was not getting that pethidine as I was ready to push..... HUH?!? I am having this baby without drugs?!? I can't tolerate pain and I am not brave? Whats going on?!? After 45 minutes of pushing, Gareth holding my one leg and Amanda the other, James Edward Rose entered the world. He was put straight onto my stomach, umbilical cord still attached, and I kept staring at this little person on my tummy, saying to myself, "Its a baby, its a baby" in disbelieve. Gareth cut the cord and then came and stood next me, we opened up his legs together, and both said at the same time, "Its a boy!!!" One of my most memorable and special moments ever. He was born at 11:55pm on 20 December 2007. The midwife then told Gareth to pull the cord behind the bed, and in rushed the doctor, the anaesthetist and 4 midwives. Gareth was given James and they were pushed against the wall, I was told to stay calm, yet I had no idea what was going on. As quickly as I can say drip, they had one up and in me. I had started to Hemorrhage. Gareth says that it looked like a horror movie, there was blood pouring down the sides of the bed and forming a meter by meter pool of blood under the bed. They managed to stop it and deliver my placenta within 12 minutes. They then gave James back to me and he did his first feed for 25 minutes, really impressive. After they had cleaned up the blood, they could see that I had torn - second degree and vaginal wall.... although they did suspect that that I had third degree tears.... luckily not. Finally at 3am, with the help of a lot of gas and air (it worked wonders then), the stitched me up. I was kept on the delivery ward until 2pm the next day to be monitored and then transfered to the post natal ward. That Friday, my sisters came to meet My Son. That night I hardly slept as James would cry and then the other 3 babies in the 4 bed room would cry too. On Saturday I begged to be released to go home, the doctor said that I can, if I came back the next day for a check up, as my iron levels were not good. I got home at about 6pm and introduced my parents to their first Grandson, another special moment. I went back the next day and everything was ok. But thanks to the Hemorrhaging I am now anemic and need to take iron tablets every now and then or I don't have the energy to get out of bed.

James was 56cm and 8lbs (3.63kg) at birth. My records show that my labour lasted 3 hours 7 minutes and that I lost 1.6 litres of blood. Thanks to the Amanda and all the staff at Poole Hospital.

Me in my last weeks of pregnancy

James being weighed

James and Mommy

James and Daddy

James a couple of minutes old

On the post natal ward.... exhausted

Daddy admiring his handsome son

Aunty Roxi and James

James first hour at home

Aunty Jess and James

Proud Grandma and James

Now look how big he is.......

He is just growing and growing and growing

(5 months old now)


And thats my war story..... in a few years I will another one, so watch this space.....