Hi ladies - That's me & baby finally home today, it's been a rough few days, not gonna lie!
My wee birth story for yous 🙈😂
Woke up Saturday morning with loads of period type cramps & had a 'show' on my pad. Had phoned triage as wasn't sure about it all - But they were very reassuring & had said it sounded like early labour... but my early labour had already started a week prior 😬😂 Had took paracetamol which wasn't working, so from advice from triage, I took codeine phosphate too - still didn't shift the pain. Phoned them again to explain I was still in lots of pain & I couldn't remember when I last felt baby.
Went in to be checked, contractions were getting stronger by the minute - ended up being wheeled up to triage as I was struggling to walk for the pain.
Anyways - Got in, got checked & was 4cm dilated and as the midwife was doing her check my waters burst in an almighty gush 🙈😂
Unfortunately baby was confirmed to be back to back (which I kind of already knew, despite what my midwife had been telling me for weeks prior).
Was still allowed to go ahead with my birth plan though as I was classed as low risk & baby may have moved herself before the pushing stage (spoiler alert: she did not!😂).
Got to the birthing suite, was on gas & air. Got into the pool, pain was getting bad so asked for the next type of pain killer (I can't remember what) so was given then.
Wasn't even in 20 minutes before I was telling them I needed to push & I needed more pain relief 😂 Was offered morphine but it meant I had to come out the pool but I accepted. After this everything became a bit of a blur. The pressure & pain of her being back to back was unreal that I asked for a C-section (they told me no). I then asked for the epidural, which they agreed to. As they were doing their checks, they found that I was already dilated to 10cm (which I told them I was but they didn't listen). So then they refused the epidural.
Everything seemed to move so quickly & honestly there's points I can't remember.
I feel like I kept blacking in & out and before I knew it, two hours of pushing had been past and they got the doctor in to deliver the baby. Ended up with an kiwi birth and Dr had to give me an episiotomy but I still ended up with a 2nd degree tear 🙃
They ended up keeping me in overnight as baby was presenting with a murmur so needed that checked once she reached 24hours. Unfortunately, during that time, baby I & were struggling to establish breast feeding so they kept us in for another night which honestly devastated me because I fully expected to go home. Baby's murmur was checked & it was still there so we've been referred but they reckon it's innocent & won't impact her life.
Monday comes & I've had to accept formula as baby still won't latch but because I'm still determined to breastfeed, they kept me in again.
This all would have been fine, had I not been getting told different things from so many different nurses/midwives. There is absolutely no consistency throughout the nhs & one person way of teaching me to latch is wrong to another person so it's been a very frustrating experience so far.
Anyways, baby & I are finally home with a mixed feeding plan.
We try breast first, if that doesn't work then I express my colostrum while DH gives her a formula/colostrum mix. So far this is going well. Baby has only managed to latch once unfortunately but I'm not concerned anymore now that I'm expressing but I'm still keeping at it anyways 🤞🏻
But honestly- I'm very proud of myself and my body and for not letting my ptsd get the better of me. I let midwives do cervical checks. I let a male doctor do his thing to get my baby out safely and then let him stitch me up (and stick his finger up my butt 3 times... 🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃) I've let student midwives check my stitches for me. I genuinely feel like I may have made a huge step in my recovery from my past trauma - it's never gonna leave me & im sure I'll still have obstacles but at least my next smear test should be a little less traumatic for me 🤞🏻😂
Sorry for the long assed post - I swear I condensed it for yous 😂😂😂
Anyways,
Congratulations @SamanthaVimes on the birth of your baby! And a massive good luck to everyone who is being induced or had sweeps and to those of you fast approaching your dates! The finish line is almost there for you ladies!
Also - swollen feet! I can't remember who mentioned this but omg mine are crazy swollen & sore! 😩😩
Hope you're all coping in the heat. The post natal ward was like sitting in the deep pits of hell with how hot it was. I sat about practically naked the entire time I was there 😂😂