Hello everyone. Eloise Laura born at 4:05AM Sunday 27th October weighing 8 lb 13 oz.
Once I finally got a room, the induction went very well.
The registrar came to break my waters. However nothing seemed to happen. He was disappointed in himself, said it hurt his professional pride. He started talking about ELCS. Anyway, after he left the room a little trickle started and then a stream, so he had actually done it.
I then had to make the pain relief decision. You all know what had happened to me over the preceding 4 days, and I was an emotional mess. I didn't think I was in the right place to try a syncotonin induction with a back to back baby. So with some regrets I asked for an epidural.
The anaesthetist came and did the local anaesthetic and put in the needle but no drugs, at which point I got a big electric shock in my leg (normal, and I was pre-warned). However, I then fainted! While they were reviving me from the fainting, the anaesthetist had to go to an emergency in theatre. Midwife suggested getting the drip going, and see how it went. I thought this might be fate telling me to give it a go, so I said yes.
So started on drip about 9:15pm. Things went fine and contractions started slowly. I was coping just with breathing exercises. When the anaesthetist came back 3 hours later I told him I no longer wanted the epidural.
Went onto gas and air at about 1 am BST, and was coping OK. Midwife said that counted as going into established labour. At 3 am she checked me, and I was only 2-3 cm. I was so disappointed and felt like a right wimp as it was feeling pretty tough. This really dented my confidence. My midwife went for her break and at 3:30 I was finding the pain terrible, and the idea that I was only 3 cm and probably had more than 6h of this to go was unbearable, so I asked for an epidural. The anaesthetist was in theatre so not available. Midwife suggested pethidine to tide me over. I said yes, but it only really just took the edge off the pain. Some more waters came and the pain and pressure moved downwards. My midwife came back and told me to open my legs and push. I was like 'what, but I am only 3 cm?' She said 'no, the baby is coming'. So I gave a few pushes, but kept trying to close my legs (!), so she put me in stirrups. Pushed and pushed, and she told me I needed an episiotomy or I would tear. Then she said she didnt have the local anathaetic to hand. Then the next push the baby's head came anyway! All the rest of her with a gentle push and I had my baby in my arms. She looked so much like my DS that I assumed another boy and didn't check for a while. Was then amazed to have a little girl! My intuition clearly sucks, as do all the old wives tales re bump shape and heart rate etc! So happy.
I delivered the placenta reasonably quickly, then had to be stitched for a second degree tear.
All fine with Eloise, APGAR score of 8 as she took a little while to breathe as the cord was quite tight round her neck. Nothing too scary though.
So mother and baby doing well, I had an epidural free birth and am very happy about it. Only regret was having the pethidine. If the midwife had checked me before I had taken it I would have found out I was already 10 cm and I then would have just gone with it - it was the idea of hours more of that level of pain which made me want it. However, as Eloise was here so quickly after it was administered it didn't affect her in any way, so it was all fine anyway.
We are still in hospital, but breast feeding now established, so will be leaving today.
Thank you all for your support while I was on my hellish wait, it meant a lot to me. The midwives strongly recommended I complain via PALS. They themselves believe that they are chronically and dangerously understaffed. I will certainly be complaining when I have recovered.