i gave birth to my baby girl on 20th may 10.36pm she was 1lb and too premature too survive. i tried to suppress labour and managed for a few days and the cervical stitch held well but my waters broke and the infection that put me into preterm labour got no better dispite all the iv antibiotics i was having.
i rang the whole of london begging all hospitals and consultants to treat me with steroids for my babys lungs so she had at least a chance but no one would treat me before 24 weeks, i was 22.6 weeks.
i am left wondering why i got this infection, aparently the normal bacteria down there just changed, same as thrush but nastier. i am thinking the stress of my last few weeks at uni and being forced to move into a damp flat was just too much, and my immune system just gave way a bit. i feel sick at the thought that my baby was perfect in everyway and there was nothing wrong with the pregnancy it was just the infection that started labour.
i feel physically and mentally empty but my boobs are full with milk.
i was treated horrendously in hospital by the midwifes. made to feel silly and wasting there time just because i was crying as my waters had broke and i knew that meant my baby couldnt be saved. having to wait all day to see a doctor just to ask what was happening to me as no one could even tell me what they were sticking in my arm every 4 hours! i was made to feel like i had called the midwife too early when i was pushing in labour, they were very busy and maybe uncomfortable with delivering a baby that was not going to live long. in the end my partner and i decided we would deliver the baby ourselves and if it wasnt for a midwife coming in at last second we would have.
i barely saw the same midife twice and i was only in labour for 5 hours- i am not trying to scare all of you, i am trying to prepare you and to maybe suggest you all get a doula to take the pressure off your husbands. my partner was constantly asking for my meds and they were never given on time, not even in the right hour and often one midwife would give me my 10pm antibiotics at 7 am in the morning and then another midwife would come in and try and give me my 8am meds. i really think a doula is a neccessity - you would have someone there with you at all times during labour then, giving you advice and support and hopefully less anger over the incompetance of the nhs.
i also urge all of you to go and get a swab test done at your next antenatal to double check that the normal bacteria is not changing. i had no symptoms.
anyway i am so sorry if this had scared any of you in anyway i hope you all have a better experience of hospital than i have.
i wish you all the best of luck with your babies and the future i will be thinking of you all in september, and thankyou to all of you for all your advice and support over the last 4 months.
signing off totally devastated
Sarah xxxxxxxx