Hi viroids
Sorry for the radio silence.....I did my baby on Saturday! A gorgeous GIRL weighing 7lb.
The shortened version of my birth story: regular contractions started in earnest around 4am on Wednesday morning. Went to hospital on Thursday morning but was disappointed to be told I was only 1cm. Came home, did my breathing excercise and rotated on my ball. Pain was getting a lot worse and I was contracting 3 in 10 minutes. Returned to hospital where they asked about foetal movements - I couldn't remember when I last felt my baby move so they made a note of that, examined me again (STILL 1 shitty cm) and told me to come back in the morning. Went home again and started worrying as to how bad the pain could possibly get if I was still only 1cm.
Went into hospital again on Friday morning and was given a nice private room with a TV to "relax" in. Got examined again, confident I was at least 7cm due to the - now extreme - pain. 3...cm....dilated. Each contraction was now unbelievably painful. Due to my reduced movements/history of reduced movements I was told the midwife led unit - and my water birth dream - was officially over. I really didn't give a shit by this point. I was mooing and stamping and shouting out with each contraction. I accepted some oromorph and got nicely high, although this didn't touch the pain.
Hours went by and I accepted more oromorph and then a shot of diamorphine. Oh Christ I was high. High as a kite. I wanted to teach the world to sing in perfect harmony. I genuinely started to understand why people become heroin addicts. Yeah, the drugs had still not touched the pain - not even taken the edge off - but as I was on another planet I simply took it with good grace and rolled about/shouting bit with a much improved mood.
By 3am however, I was no longer high and wasn't allowed any more drugs until I was in "established" labour and could go to the labour ward. Got examined and HOORAY! off I went to the labour ward, where I was immediately put into the care of two wonderful midwives. I was offered an epidural and took it immediately. Never. Ever. Have I felt such sweet sweet relief. I has been contraction for 72 hours by this point and hadn't slept for more than 5minutes since Tuesday.
Spent the next few hours dozing, chatting with midwives and having a lovely time abusing the entonox and enjoying the fact I wasn't in constant excruciating pain.
My next blow, however, came when I was told my baby was back to back. And there was meconium coming out of me. Fuck. Apparently back to back makes the pushing harder and longer. The meconium meant my baby might be distressed. I really wish they hadn't told me, although I needed to know to make sense of what happened next - which was a failed ventouse, episiotomy and shallow forceps. All a bit traumatic. I was hysterical and couldn't stop crying during and after the birth of my girl. When she was born I couldn't look at her/acknowledge her. I just felt flat. DH was amazing and managed to not leave me whilst engaging with our daughter.
I passed out twice after the birth - I just didn't have an ounce of energy left.
Before I had a chance to completely check out of bonding with my new born, one of my amazing midwives came along and plonked her on my breast where she latched on amazingly well and got feeding. Voila - my self pity/short stint in hormonal hell was over.
I don't have enough good things to say about how well looked after I was. The midwives I had were actual saints and I'll be forever thankful for them for being such an amazing support all the way through.
My injuries were limited to the episiotomy. I don't know how I avoided tearing with the forceps, but I did. Recovery is pretty painful but I can't complain.
I just cannot believe this beautiful baby came out of me. She's so lovely. I'm so excited for all you viroids to get your babies too!!