My story starts in September 2010, where at 18 years old and 20 weeks pregnant, our daughter was diagnosed with Gastroschisis.
Gastroschisis is a full thickness defect of the abdominal wall through which the extrusion of the fetal bowel occurs.
We made it through the pregnancy from hell which included being adviced to terminate at 22 and 25 weeks due to doctors believing DD had a fatal chromosomal abnormality which would take her life, steroid injections at 27 weeks due to the very real possibility that bub would be arriving very early, a preterm labour scare at 28 weeks, more preterm labour at 31 weeks which was considered serious enough that the air ambulance was called and I was flown to Melbourne (500kms away from home).
All through out my placenta slowly deteriorated and my fluid levels got worse and worse. DD was suffering severe growth restriction. At 33 weeks the blood flow in the placenta was dangerously low and DD hadn't grown in 2 weeks.
DD was delivered via planned c/s at 34+1 weighing 3lb 12oz, with perfect chromosomes.
We were given a quick cuddle and she was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital for surgery, where at 7 hours old surgeons achieved full closure.
DD was in RCH for exactly 1 month and in Bendigo Special Care Baby Unit for nearly 3 weeks before we were able to take her home, weighing 5lb 2oz and on 3 different types of medication.
In August 2011, we were surprised to discover that I was pregnant, sadly I miscarried within days. It was heartbreaking, but I accepted it knowing that miscarrying that early meant that there was something not right.
DH and I married in September 2011 and decided to TTC right away. Having fallen pregnant easily 2 times, we knew it would happen soon but not in the first month!
We were over the moon, but the very real fear of having another baby with Gastroschisis was very real, recent studies showing that the chances of it happening again are nearly 1:5.
Many stressful, tearful weeks later we made it our 20 week scan where we got a good close up on the umbilical cord insertion which was perfect! Everything else showed our little Beez was doing perfectly.
I had nightmares all the way through of losing Beez and I would lay for hours trying to enjoy his movements, with just as many hours crying in fear that each kick would be his last.
At just over 37 weeks DH and I decided to make the trek to hospital (115kms away from home) at midnight as I was having contractions 2mins apart lasting a minute. Things fizzled after that and we were sent home the following morning.
At 39+4 we made another trip to hospital as I was having painful contractions 10 minutes apart. I wanted to know what was going on, I was scared.
At hospital my OB did an internal and I was at 2 "and a bit" cms and things were expected to kick off that night. We headed to the hospital accommodation to rest.
Over the next few hours I had heaps of bloody show (gag).
Things got more and more painful but fizzed at midnight where I managed to get a few hours sleep.
We headed back to the hospital around 6.30am because I couldn't stand the pain anymore, the pains were very irregular. The midwife said to me "Right, I'm going to stick a cannula in you." And I said no, I'm not consenting. She said "You're a VBAC. It's policy. You're getting one."
I said no, I'm not consenting. She said "Fine. I'm going off duty in a minute so you won't be my problem" and stormed out.
Dr's came in a bit later (not my OB) and asked me to consent to a cannula and an internal. I refused both, because I wanted to go naturally and I still saw no reason for a cannula. I had to sign a form saying that the hospital wouldn't be held liable if something went wrong because I didn't have a cannula, etc.
With that I was kicked out because they needed the room.
Back to hospital accommodation to rest and got told to come back at 4pm.
Got some rest but the tightenings were just so painful.
Back to hospital at 4pm where I was hooked up to monitors. Dr's (not my OB) came in and I consented to an internal because I was just so exhausted. It showed I'd only made it to 4cm, at which I wanted to cry. I felt like a failure. I'd been contracting painfully for 36 hours and I'd barely gotten anywhere.
I requested AROM, which was done at 4.40pm.
Again, I refused the cannula. (by then I was getting mad that everyone kept pushing it!)
Contractions came hard and fast from there. 2mins apart but only lasting 40 seconds. Throughout my labour after AROM I never had a contraction more than 40seconds.
My OB was coming at 9.30 to check on me. I prayed like mad that I would be close to holding Beez by then.
As much as I wanted to avoid continuous monitoring, I actually prefered it. It was reassuring to hear bubs heartbeat.
Beez was suffering decels before each contraction, so he needed to be watched. The m/w was concerned but when she told my OB about it he just said "Your heartrate would drop too if your head was being squeezed through a birth canal".... Thanks OB!
I begged DH to let me have a c/s. I'm ashamed to admit. I was in so much pain. I tried the gas, but fainted as soon as I tried it.
By 10pm I was constantly asking "where's OB? Where's OB?" because he was running late to check on me.
He turned up shortly after and did an internal. I'd finally made it to 8cm to which my OB told me I was clever. He was so good. He then said "Now, I don't want to hear any talk of c/s's now!" and told me bub would more likely be here today rather than tomorrow.
I was allowed off the bed to stand for a while which hurt more. I did alot of yelling.
At 11pm I started to push. The urge to push was so scary. I got terrified and my body just pushed and pushed. I was kneeling on the bed, hanging onto the top of the bed by then. My m/w started to tell me where to push and I felt Beez moving down. I was so scared.
The m/w told me to turn around for a few contractions as I was starting to 'bulge' and she wanted to see what was going on...
I turned around and got into a squatting position. I pushed again and she told DH to push the NURSE button.
The second m/w came in and she said "Page OB, we have head on site.".............
DH's eyes lit up as he spotted the head and I got given a mirror to have a look. I didn't look for long!!
Next contraction my OB walked in and grabbed a gown as Beez started to crown. I'll never forget looking down and seeing myself sticking out sooo far, Beez's head RIGHT THERE and OMG the burning!! It just burnt and burnt. OB sat down on the bed and said "OK." Everyone was looking at me, but no contraction was coming...
I gave a little push trying to kick my body into gear and bring on the next contraction. With that I felt the contraction coming. I didn't want to tear so I just panted and panted and POP out came Beez's head, no pushing required!
He came out screaming and all the way to his belly button. I grabbed him before anyone could and pulled him up to me. I had to hand him back for a second as the cord was around his neck and shoulder.
We had immediate skin to skin as I'd ditched my shirt and bra an hour earlier and was wearing a gown.
I started bleeding and had to consent to the injection and my OB said that they needed to get the placenta out. So, there was fundal massage and cord traction. I'm not happy about it, but there was a fair bit of blood. My placenta was incredibly aged and calsified.
Beez had breast contact for nearly an hour.
I got out stitch free, suffering only a graze.
Stats
Col.by Tay.lor
6lb 5oz
Born 11.50pm 5-7-12
Head 34cm
Length 48cm.
Char, you are such a strong woman and mumma to refuse the cannula like that. Good on you for standing your ground. Sounds like you had a pretty rad Obs as well!
The birth of Beez
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