My gorgeous little boy was born on the 4th of Noemeber, nearly 1 month early, by emergency C-Section. What a shock!
I woke up on Thursday 4th and noticed that I was 'leaking'a sort of pale brown fluid - like the start of a period but lighter. My DP was really worried but I sent him off to work thinking I would be fine! Over the previous couple of days I had been having feelings like period cramps. Bizarrely enough I had an antenatal appointment on Tuesday 2nd and my baby's head was not engaged, according to the midwife - but that's another story.
I call the Triage and Assessment Unit at my maternity hospital and said I was getting a bloody discharge and was feeling the baby move less frequently - they advised me to come in for a check up. DP came home from work and took me to the hospital. Just as well,because 5 minutes after arriving at the hospital I went to the loo and my waters broke! It felt like something going 'pop' inside me. This was confirmed after an examination by a midwife. She said to me that I needed to go home and rest, she would expect my labour to start within 48 hours , if not I would have to come back in and be induced.
I was a bit surprised by this because I have Strep B and had been told previously that I would have to go to hospital straight away if my waters were broken as this is the point wher ebaby can be affected by the virus. I mentioned this and the MW said oh yes in that case we will have to keep you in and induce the birth!!!! OMG, I was in complete shock at this point thinking my baby could be born tonight - which he was. My labour bag was only half packed and we were still in the middle of decorating our flat!!!!!! Fortunately we already had the cot, lots of baby clothes, nappies and bedding.
Anyway, I was whisked straight up to the labour ward where I was hooked up to an IV drip (for antibiotics) and a Syntocinin drip. The MW explained that this was because I had Strep - the longer I was in labour the greater the risk to baby. I was hooke up to the drip at 5pm. After about half an hour I was getting quite strong contractions which I can best describe as being like bad period cramps. At this point I asked for an epidural - it took two goes to get it in , not pleasant but by the time it was in and working, what a relief. It finally started working about 7. I could still 'feel' the contractions but it felt like I could deal with them. I don't remeber much after this point until the room was filled with doctors at about 9pm. By this point I was absolutely exhausted (I hadn't had any sleep the night before and was pretty shell-shocked). A doctor examined me and said I was only 1 cm dilated and they thought that baby was distressed. They wanted to deliver baby as soon as possible - at this point I realised that they meant a C section. By that point I just wanted it over with so I agreed - it all happened so quickly - 15 minutes or so later my little boy was born at 9.14pm. My DP was with me at the top of the bed and he told me (I don't remember this) that they asked him if he wanted to see baby being born. I remember them saying 'Here comes your baby' - he was lifted out and my DP yelled it's a little boy! Apparently he peed all over the surgeon. They whisked him away to be checked and continued with the rest of the operation (sewing me up). My DP came back in with him all wrapped up in a blanket and held him up to my face so I could see him. I remember thinking - I can't believe that's my baby! he weighed in a 6lbs, which I think is a good weight considered he was nearly 1 month early.
Anyway 1 week on and we are all at home and I love my little boy more than I ever thought possible. I can honestly say that having him is the best thing I have ever done with my life