Finally, 13 days after EDD Freddie arrives at 19.58 on 05/06/07 by emergency c section weighing in at 9lb 3!
The (v) long version:
I was asked to go in on monday 4th june for about 8pm. I was having tightenings on the way and when i was put on the monitor they confirmed i was contracting but not often or strong enough. Also my BP was pretty high, after further tests i was told i would be induced purely on the basis of v high BP regardless of fact i was 12 days overdue.
So in the gel goes and hubby goes home. I manage to get to sleep for a few hours but wake up at 4am and have to go to the loo. My waters break in the corridor on the way and it takes me nearly 15 mins to find a midwife to tell! They call DH and tell me when he arrives i will be transfered to labour ward. I think im examined and told im about 3-4cm dilated.
DH arrives and TENS machine goes on. Pain and contractions increase and i regularly ask when im going to go to labour ward...every time im told...any minute, v soon but they v busy and havent got a bed for me! I eventually have to have the gas and air and about 9am i am taken to the labour ward.
I struggle on all day like this with TENS and gas and air. Baby keeps moving, engaged and dis-engaging. Then they realise he is OP. During the afternoon my BP goes sky high and they are worried about me having a stroke (DH looks petrified at this point) Also baby isnt playing ball and he moving about so much they keep losing his trace. The clip on his head falls off and an attempt to take blood from the top of his head fails and he wont keep still.
I am 7-8cm dilated but baby is bashing on the cervix its getting inflamed and not dilating. I am struggling with the pushing urges too at this point as well as the contractions and its decided epidural is good idea to stop me having urge to push and hopefully so i will fully dilate. After a failed first attempt i have the epidural.
BP gets dangerously high again and baby is still hard to trace. Its decided that emergency C section is the best way for me and baby.
I sign the consent forms but there is an even bigger emergency next door and its a further 2 hours before i eventually go to theatre. During this time the epidural starts to wear off and im back using the gas and air, begging them to top it up...whats the point in sticking needles in my back if they just let the pain come back!?
Also during this wait my BP comes back down a bit and the trace on baby settles. Consultant wonders whether we should change the plan. Has a quick feel of tummy and says baby is fully engaged so maybe we should forget the c section. 10 mins later he returns and does internal exam and baby is not engaged at all!
So its back to plan A. I have to say i'm relieved at this point. I just want to see baby out safely. I am exhausted and DH is terrified of losing both me and the baby.
At 19.58 baby Freddie is born weighing 9lb 3 and has a black eye! (incidentally surgeon tells me there is scar tissue inside me from a previous operation (ectopic pregnancy - tube removed) that would have prevented Freddie being born naturally anyway)
Freddie is doing great. Mum's BP is still high and after being discharged 3 days after Freddie's birth was readmitted less than 24 hours later! After another 3 days in hospital trying to get medication dose correct to control BP, mum and baby are finally home!!
Thanks to all for the support, advice and encouragement. I didn't get my calm water birth but you know what....it doesnt matter. All that matters is that Freddie arrived safely and he is totally gorgeous!
(Not sure how to post pic. might try later.)