Hi everyone,
Sorry for the radio silence! I hope I didn't worry anyone.
I went into the hospital on Monday for monitoring and Errol appeared to be fine heartbeat-wise although I was still having reduced movements. I showed no signs of labour and they put me on antibiotics, and got me on the steroid injections (Wow do they hurt!).
I was booked in for Thursday 05/11/20 and everything went well for me - it turns out my fibroid was well below the incision-site and I only lost half a litre of blood in the end so no haemorrhage, and afterwards my observations and iron levels were great so didn't even need iron tablets.
Unfortunately my partner passed out as soon as they put a canula in me and no sign of the spinal anaesthetic! He tried to get out of the room but he collapsed on the floor and spilled his water all over his crotch, then my nurses had to tend to him and take him out! I was left with just the anaesthetist to chat to, and luckily he took it upon himself to hold my hand as I had the shakes bad from the anaesthetic. The spinal was absolutely fine - didn't hurt at all - it wasn't an epidural, not sure what it was. The worst thing about the procedure was definitely the shakes, which also stopped my blood pressure monitor working properly so it was constantly inflating and my arm was really sore! Also the canula was horrible.
I had the screen up but I had requested to have it dropped which they did when baby Errol came out - he had a good cry and breathed well for a minute but then needed help to suck some fluid from his lungs. Sadly he then had to be transferred to the higher dependency unit at the special care baby unit in the hospital. He has been in there 4 days now, and I didn't get to hold him or touch him for 7 hours after the op although my OH got to touch him as he came through the hallway to be transferred.
I'm told I'm healing well. I was in hospital until last night when sadly it all got a bit too much for me and I phoned my partner saying I was worried I had postpartum psychosis. I don't think it was (!), I think I was just so anxious after the section, and sleep deprived from the ward, plus upset from being surrounded by loads of healthy babies and suckling mums. I feel much better after a sleep and a shower and lots of cuddles with my man.
As for Errol, I tried to get to him as soon as my anaesthetic wore off but I ended up fainting in the shower and was too ill to go! I got to him at about 7 in the evening in the end, but was disheartened to see him in the incubator with tubes up his nose and canulas etc :( He is on oxygen at the highest pressure rate, and although the fluid has improved he is still getting chest retractions when he breathes. I was allowed to touch him, and he opened his eyes to look at me which was wonderful. He has been on potassium/sodium drip and antibiotics, but yesterday he began feeding which was - again - wonderful. They had him on donor milk but he has moved onto formula now. I have been hand expressing, but I'll be honest it got really hard - my breasts are sore and only the left one seems to produce much at all. I've tried 4 times today and got just over a ml in total. Will keep up the hard work every few hours, but also going to focus on resting as I have definitely pushed myself too hard trying to be a good mummy to Errol whilst worrying so much about him and not having a nice time in the hospital.
Had my first skin to skin today and he latched (or tried to latch) onto my right breast, which was great to see! He was rooting like crazy as soon as he was on my chest which was also really heartening. He cried quite a bit today which I found difficult but am reminding myself the poor bean has been through a lot and also I wouldn't blame him if he resented me a little for leaving him all alone for so long!
Will leave a couple of pics here. Many congratulations to @AnxiousLady1 on your gorgeous new arrival, and solidarity to anyone still waiting and worrying about how it will happen! xxxxx