Reading hockeymum’s thread reminded me to post my birth announcement too!
Isaac was born at 10:38 p.m. on Thursday 20 April, two weeks early. (His due date is tomorrow!). His birth weight was 5lbs and half an ounce.
Our story, in brief, is that we went into hospital on Thursday for a growth scan on bump, to check baby’s progress, and were told that I was being admitted that day to be induced as baby hadn’t grown. We went home to collect our bags, and returned to hospital. After an examination we were told I was to be given Prostin that night, and they would come to break my waters in the morning. I was given the Prostin at 8:30 p.m., and it kicked in pretty quickly. However, as well as giving me incredibly powerful (and painful) contractions, it also ruptured my placenta! The pain from the rupture was excruciating (far more so than the contractions) and it was continuous, unlike the contractions which did, at least, fade away. The placenta, having come away from me, was going to prevent baby from being born naturally, so I was taken in for an emergency caesarean section.
We were kept in the delivery suite for 12 hours, as Isaac needed to go into an incubator. I was then admitted to the postnatal ward, but Isaac was sent to the Special Care Unit because he wasn’t feeding – he had no suck reflex and so wouldn’t take from me or a bottle. He was fed with a syringe for a while. It took 24 hours for him to develop the suck reflex. In this time I was using the breast pump to try and stimulate my milk. Ultimately, two days later, we managed to get our acts together – me in producing and Isaac in sucking – and he was able to feed from me.
We were discharged from hospital and had a wonderful night at home, being looked after and spoiled rotten by Daddy and Grandma. But when the midwife came to check us both over she sent us back to hospital as Isaac had jaundice. We were re-admitted for 16 hours of UV treatment, and spent the fist nine days of Isaac’s life in and out of hospital for checks. Poor little man. We are all now home for good, and had our first Mother and Baby group yesterday, which Isaac slept all the way through!