Quick summary of things leading up to ds2's arrival.....
I had ds1 in 2005 by elective cs as he was breech. It turned out I have a heart shaped uterus and he was completely stuck.
This time round, I was wanting a VBAC, but was aware that the VBAC is a rupture risk, as is the bicornuate uterus. Also, a bicornuate uterus may not be able to contract in a co-ordinated enough manner to get the baby out. So, I was of the "I'll give it a go" frame of mind.
At 32 weeks pg, I fell and broke my ankle. I had surgery on it at 34weeks and was in an orthopaedic boot and using crutches. None of the obstetric people were concerned about the broken ankle, but I was wondering how on earth I was going to manage.
So. My EDD was 27th Feb (last Sat). I started having twinges on the previous Wednesday, more serious twinges on the Thursday, a show, lost my mucus plug and reckoned it couldn't be too far away.
I started having contractions on Friday during the night, but they fizzled out. Then on Saturday, I was having mild contractions whilst doing the Sainsbury's shopping! And they continued on and off through the day. I was really tired, so went to bed hoping for a good sleep on Saturday, but I was woken up having contractions. They got to 3 mins apart and I called the hospital. The consultant had kind of panicked me a bit by saying I was to get to the hospital sooner rather than later, but the midwives were like, yeah, stay at home a bit etc. So, by midnight on Sat/sun they were getting quite serious. We went to the hosptial, only for them to stop completely. I was examined and wasn't even a centimetre and got sent home. Then, it started happening a few hours later. The contractions were really regular for a couple of hours, got to the hospital and was told only 2cms, go home. Aaaaargh.
So, ds was shipped off to granny's on Sunday night because I was so tired having been up all night. And lo and behold, at 0030 on Sunday night/Monday morning they started up again. Oh FFS I thought. I didn't wake DH and just got up and paced round the kitchen for a while. My mum had come to visit to help out with ds so she got up with me and kept track of how long the contractions were taking etc etc. At 5am, they ground to a halt, so I tried to get some sleep.
DH got up and I just told him to go to work because this could carry on for days! Off he went, only for me to phone him around 9.30am saying the contractions had started up and this time they were serious and I had to go to hospital.
We arrived at the hospital and this time I was 5cms. Hoooray!!
Despite the consultant saying i would need constant monitoring, and doubt about using the pool etc, I had written my birth plan saying no constant monitoring, want to use the birthing pool, no intervention unless absolutely neccessary etc.
So, we get shown to the labour room which was brilliant. A huge room with a lovely pool, the lights could be dimmed, there was a cd player etc etc. I went into the pool and stayed there for 3 hours!! I could not believe the reduction in pain just from being in the water! I had my ortho boot on with the waterproof cover on top, so it was no prob being in the pool. I don't know how long I had been in, but think it was quite a while before I asked for gas and air. (lovely stuff )
The midwife was lovely. She brought me cups of tea and drinks of water in the birthing pool. We ate some of the snacks I had brought, it was all very relaxing.
Then around 3pm, she wanted me out to examine me. She had been slightly concerned about the baby's heartbeat too. I was 7cm by this point and the waters hadn't broken yet. She did this and said I had a lot of amniotic fluid. It did seem to gush and gush for ages!! Things started to move pretty quickly at this stage and this is where it gets a bit hazy for me!
The concern over the baby's heartbeat got a bit more serious and I was told I wasn't allowed back in the pool. She told me to get on the bed where I tried to get on all fours and she said no, lie on your side. This was the best position for the baby, but not really best for me, but needs must when things are not as they should be.
I was pushing for a while when they said they were going to have to intervene. She pressed the emergency button because the baby's heartbeat had dipped to around 80. DH said that the room filled with people, including a couple of surgeons who were weighing up having to do an em cs. When they told me this, I was like "I DON'T WANT A CAESEREAN". They said, no, neither do we!!! So, they tried the ventouse but it wouldn't stay on ds2's head, so I ended up with forceps just to get him out there in a hurry..
Sandy was delivered at 1717. He weighed 5lbs 15oz which was a surprise! They checked him over, gave him one puff of oxygen and he was right as rain. He fed within half an hour of his birth and has been feeding brilliantly ever since.
I am a bit bruised and sore, but that will heal. The midwife told me after that if it hadn't been for the slow heartbeat, I would have managed on my own maybe 10 or 15 mins later, which is nice to know. I can't believe i did it all on gas and air!!
DS1 is delighted with his wee bro and dh and I are over the moon.