Hello everyone :)
Finally have a spare bit of time to write my birth story.... Ive been struggling a bit to be honest to come to terms with it as it was quite traumatic....but feeling much more positive now:
Started off with 3 days of latent labour....first day totally manageable, but 2nd day things were cranking up a gear....still 15 mins apart though but strong enough at night time to make sure I didnt get any sleep....then by the 3rd day they were very strong and coming 7/8 mins apart.
Realised hadnt felt baby move all day so went into hospital at about 9pm to get checked....as soon as i got to hospital contractions started coming even quicker and stronger....but midwife checked me and I wasn't progressing at all....so decided to go home once they had finished the trace on baby...
2 hours at home and the contractions got to every 3 mins apart and my waters broke so went back in.....STILL wasn't progressing so told I would be induced next day....by this point I was beyond nakered, hadnt slept at all in 2 days and felt sick with tiredness, contractions would get really close together and then slow down...then speed up it was horible.... asked if I could be induced asap....told me they had a bed at 10 am (this was at 6am) couldnt sleep in all that time as each time I dropped off a contraction would wake me up.....finally got to the delivery ward at 11.30am....decided straight away to have an epidural as was scared about the drip and just needed to sleep....
Had a huge allergic reaction to the epi and also about 4 hrs in something went a bi wrong and the epi just suddenly stopped working.....went from no pain to full on induced contractions with no warning which freaked me out.....didn end up getting any sleep and that was the whole reason I had opted for an epi :(
Then they had to put a hook thing on Elenis head to monitor her a bit closer as her heart rate was a bit irregular.....I had been given something for my allergic reaction which made me feel like a zombie....completely zonked out.....at this point I was actually dribbling onto the pillow and FINALLY dropping off to sleep when Im told Im fully dilated and need to start pushing....again was gutted as thought I would either be too out of it to push or wouldn't be able to remember anything as so drugged up......
Was told I would have at least 2 hours before she was born so felt a little better , but then a load of doctors came rushing in as Elenis heart rate was dropping (I cant really remember this, but my DH can) was told by the doctor that if she wasn't out in 5 or 10mins I would need a crash C section.....so in the next 2 contractions with help of forceps and a bloody great big cut Eleni was born :)
This was the highlight....even though the birth was full of intervention the moment she was placed on my chest was breathtaking and I loved her instantly :)
She was born at 9pm so unfortunately we only had 2 hours as a family before I got wheeled to the postnatal ward and my hubby had to go home :)
This is where it all went a bit crap again...Eleni wouldn't latch on, wouldn't sleep in her crib thingy and the ward was sooo noisy. I got really teary as still felt really weak and had no feeling in my body as had had so many epi top ups (to try and combat the reaction) The next morning no one came to give me any water or toast or anything so was really tired and weepy.....I really just wanted to go home but had to stay in as didn't get feeling back in my legs till 6pm!!!
Then they took the catheter out and was over the moon....only to fail my bladder scan so had to have the catheter put back in again (which was so sore as was very bruised) decided to stay in for one more night to try and establish breastfeeding, but it was a complete disaster and just spent the whole night in floods of tears......again no sleep....not once did a midwife ask if I was ok.....felt like utter shit....
Went home the next day but had to have a catheter strapped to my leg for the next 3 days.....which for some reason really depressed me.
So since coming home its been quite odd.....LOVE Eleni more than anything, but had lots of anxiety that I think stemmed from the birth and after experience.....kept bursting into tears etc.....my midwife said this is quite common especially after a horrid labour...
I really hope this doesnt read to make me sound like a complete ungrateful cow....and I also hope it doesnt freak anyone out..... all said and done, Eleni was born healthy and alert and that really is all that matters and she was completely and utterly worth it :)
Guess I just never really expected to feel the emotions I felt......
A huge congratulations to you all and a massive good luck to those still waiting......this forum has been AMAZING over the last 9 months and I feel a bit emotional to be writing my birth story on here (seems like 5 mins ago I was joining with a 7 week bub in my belly!)
See you all on the birth thread!! xxxxxxx
Lots of love xxxx