A bit of a belated update as my new little girl is now a week old! Despite all hopes, I didn’t start before my induction….I tried to have a sweep at 39+1, but my cervix was still closed; I went in for my scheduled Foley’s balloon induction the Sunday before last, but my cervix was still unfavourable, so I went back home and then came back the following day to have the gel (1ml). Things started slowly, but as things had finally got going, when I had the second dose it was another 1ml dose late on Monday evening. That seemed to do the trick for more regular contractions, although throughout Tuesday I was able to breathe through them. However, by Tuesday evening that was getting trickier, and although they were only every 6 minutes or so, they were long and intense, and from Tuesday night I was struggling not to cry out, which I was really conscious about, as I was in a shared antenatal ward. Late Tuesday I had an examination and was 3cm, but I wasn’t re-examined for another 16 hours or so (partly because the Labour ward was full, so they had nowhere to put me even if I was dilated enough). This pissed me off so much, as the way they described it, although I was on the list for the Labour ward, people coming in with spontaneous labours would be prioritised, even if less dilated, I was seriously worried I’d end up giving birth in the antenatal ward and by that point was desperate for gas and air after two days labouring on paracetamol and codeine which did precisely nothing! Luckily, I finally got reexamined mid Wednesday afternoon and eventually got into the Labour ward at about 4.30, so could use a birthing ball, gas and air, and had an epidural at about 7, which was a huge relief after 2 days of relentless contractions! When I got to the pushing stage, I was reminded how rubbish I am at that bit - ended up with about 6 people in the room urging me on - but I finally managed it, without needing to resort to the instrument tray, and Freya was born on her due date at 22.11!
We were discharged the following afternoon, but then noticed the following day that she was looking a bit yellowy. The MW who did the Day 2 visit was fairly dismissive (just told us to see how she was by Day 5), but by last Saturday her eye whites were also yellow, so back to hospital we went. Sure enough they confirmed she had jaundice and would need blue light therapy, so we were readmitted over the weekend. The nights in particular were pretty horrific as Freya absolutely hated both the blue light and having to wear goggles/a blindfold, but the light did their job and we were discharged again on Monday afternoon. Unfortunately, we’ve still been going back and forth to hospital all week for bilirubin tests. Yesterday it had started to decrease again, but increased again today (but still under treatment levels), so we still have at least Friday and Saturday tests to go…..I’m hoping this all ends soon and we can just enjoy her.
She also has 90% tongue tie, which we’re getting separated tomorrow, so hopefully that will help with better feeding to battle the jaundice!
Congratulations on all the other January babies 💕