I have a beautiful 7 week old baby at home and despite this, I am feeling some guilt and worry after her labour.
She is my rainbow baby (I dislike this term but don't have a better term) as I lost my son last year at 33 weeks. As a result, my pregnancy with her was incredibly difficult as I had a lot of anxiety and I was so worried I would not get to take her home. I would go into triage often for heartbeat checks as I was so worried her movement had reduced, even though I feel this was mostly anxiety induced rather than actual reduced movement and I would openly say this to the midwives.
At 37 weeks on the dot, I had another anxious episode, went into triage and as they checked her heartbeat (which was fine!) they noticed I was having some tightenings which I was not feeling. The midwives and a doctor then suggested I have a sweep. I'm not sure why this was suggested to be honest - I think it was that I was having tightenings, I had been on such a journey and my fear of reduced movements. The midwife said "I think you need your baby now, it's been one hell of a journey for you"
I asked if having a sweep at 37 weeks was harmful to the baby. I was reassured that baby was fully developed and from the looks of it, something was happening anyway. I said yes and during the sweep I was told I was 3cm dilated. I had some period cramping until about 5pm in the evening and then everything stopped. I then woke up at 3am with a mild pain, was in hospital at 4.10am where I was 4cm and gave birth at 5.56am. I had an hour and a half labour and pushed for 4 minutes (so quick!). She was born a healthy weight but did have jaundice which she needed to be under the lamp for.
Since then however, I have a lot of guilt. I've read that at a baby born at 37 weeks is at more risk of developmental delays, health issues ect. I'm annoyed that I allowed my anxiety to lead my brain. Lots of questions are now unanswered for me. Did the sweep work? Would I have made it to 40 weeks with tightenings and 3cm dilated or was she on the way anyway? If she was meant be born at 37 weeks I can accept that as it was naturally her journey but I feel guilt if the sweep brought her birth forwards by weeks.
Hoping for some reassuring words of wisdom (please only comments made out of kindness - us mums kick ourselves enough already)