Well . . I thought the second time would be pretty much exactly like the first so I was in for some suprises!
On Thursday I couldn't sleep for the life of me, 2 hours max, felt just 'wrong', my Dad has always said if you have a sleepless night for no reason often it's because you're getting something - I should have paid more heed to that. Felt really sick all day Friday at work and just exhausted, wasn't enthused about having guests around that night but was the NBA finals and we have been very slack with socializing from pregnancy/toddler drain so didn't say anything as DH was excited.
Was soo glad when they left as was feeling even worse, than at 10:30pm went to bathroom and noticed I was losing my plug!! That was exciting as never noticed that with my first. I told DH I am feeling really off and I'm losing my plug so I'm pretty sure it's going to happen tonight - in anticipation I jumped in the shower and washed my hair etc. Started feeling even worse from steam in shower so had to get out, by this stage those dull period pains had been having in late pregnancy seemed to be coming in waves of 10 seconds and were uncomfortable, but still like strong period pains, but overhwelming was the intense stabbing pains in my stomach. I thought - this is odd, must be what prelabour is like (I went straight into hard labour with DD1) Wondering what the deal with the stomach pains was though.
At 11:30 I found out, big time. Threw up an incredible amount, couple of litres at least, couldn't believe how much seeing as all I'd had for dinner was a small bowl of weetbix. Was in agony with my stomach by now, started throwing up every little bit of bile I made every 20 minutes. I threw up in labour with DD so thought this must be it, but was worried about the volume as was already feeling weak and had only been an hour so at 12:30 I rang the midwife. Felt so guilty ringing her mobile, but that's the only way to contact the midwife the MGP there is no staff on the ward to ring so have to ring them and wake them or the middy on call - luckily my MW was on duty. Unfortunately, even though I was in pain, it was my stomach, was having intesnse period like pains in waves every 10 to 20 seconds for about that long too, but wasn't 'labour' like and didn't feel like the full on contractions with DD - MW said she would come in and assess me if I'd like her too but it doesn't sound like labour yet (which I had to agree with), only reason I was ringing was to see if it would be ok if I trotted up to casualty and got some Maxalon to stop the vomiting so wouldn't get so dehydrated. She said that it is stupid but if I did that they wouldn't treat me, all they'd see is a pregnant belly and send me to Gosford, I did NOT want that, so said I would try her advice of one sip of water every ten minutes with some panadol to see if could sleep a bit.
One sip of water with the tablets, followed by one more in ten minutes just resulted in more vomiting. Basically this went on until 6 in the morning. I sent DH to bed after I spoke to the Midwife as he was just sitting there looking tired and I thought it would be best if one of us got some rest.
Around 4 I started to think I wasn't coping, I was so weak and in pain so thought would start 'timing' to see if could call what I was going through labour yet. Contractions were roughly 5 minutes apart at this stage but were still like severe period pain. I held out till quarter to six and called the midwife to tell her I wasn't coping, was coming in and was now having contractions 5 minutes apart-ish, she said to come on in the main entrance and she was on her way.
We went to get my Dad up to watch my DD for us, only to find out he'd thrown up a few times so wasn't feeling like he could watch her! So all this time it had been a horrendous virus and I always get hit hard by stomach flu's, but was only just finding out that's what it was. Rang my mum who'd been on night shift at the same hospy we were delivering at and she was fortunately able to knock of early and meet us at maternity to look after DD.
Around 6 the contractions were much more painful (think was the relief of knowing I was going in where I'd be cared for), by the time I got to the delivery suite at 6:30 were coming every 3 minutes-ish and were lasting from 30-90 seconds and were intense but felt more like stabbing pains in my lower back and bladder than the sword twisting up my butt feeling I got with my first.
Midwife assessed me, I told her had just found out was a virus after all, and she said that basically it sounds like all that 'pre-labour' period pain/contraction waves were an irritated uterus but she would get on to the Dr to get a drip and maxalon into me and do an internal.
Internal showed I was 1.5cm, that was depressing and I said something to that affect, Midwife said . . Hang on, it's all happenning before me, you're now 3cm and cervix has thinned to .5cm . . (yay), she asked if she could do a careful stretch and sweep as didn't want to rupture my membranes and I agreed, didn't really hurt much to be honest I thought it would.
With DD I'd dilated from under 3cm to 10cm in a few contractions and I'd warned my midwife that my labour's don't follow the textbook so she was expecting this so was happy to say if she didn't see me at 4cm, she'd say my labour started at 4am when the pains were a few minutes-ish apart.
Finally the Dr's rang back with approval, and I got a shot of Maxalon in my butt, and a very difficult to insert Canular into my arm (veins were attrocious as was soooo dehydrated) they gave me something called Hartmans I think, which is basically Saline with some kind of pep in it as I was a wreck, I couldn't stand up and was struggling to stay concious, only thing keeping me somewhat with it was the pain. Because I kept lying down, my contractions kept dropping from 4 in 10 to 3 in 10 and were all over the shop, really slowed down my labouring but wasn't anything I could do about it. I kept down some water and apple juice for about an hour before throwing up again, but realized the difference straight away - I had changed from viral sickness to labour sickness, things were underway and I could sort of be upright again.
I got in my swimmer top and jumped under the shower and on the shower chair with DH rubbing my lower back with contractions (this bub was posterior). Midwife would listen to the heartbeat and feel my contractions just with her fingers - they were sooo irregular. Things were really intense but way out of whack. DH asked if I wanted the gas, but the thought of that stupid thing in my mouth made me want to throw up again and I knew I was in too much pan to concentrate on breathing it in so I passed it up. around 10:00 I couldn't stand being in the shower anymore, I tried to stand up but almost passed out so said to DH I NEED TO LIE DOWN NOW, lay on my side on the bed, DH tried to rub my back but pushed him away, pretty much wanted to be in a coma at this stage, can I come back and do this later when I'm not 2 nights without sleep and not sick as hell?, Told DH to start timing things so had an idea what was happenning, was having 60-90 second contractions 10 - 60 seconds apart, again, totally irregular, but on top of each other and agonizing.
As quickly as I wanted to get on the bed, I wanted to go to the toilet, the pain in my bladder was excruciating, maybe I needed to pee, sat on toilet, could not believe that pain, thought my bladder might explode, tried to pee, nothing, maybe wind, tried to fart, nothing, midwfie took one look at me and said "Girl (in her cute accent), are you pushing??" Me . . "Grunt . .( push ) no, just have some wind of something, grunt (push) trying not to push because it made everything hurt WORSE" DH . . "That's what she said last time", Me, SUDDENLY turning into some kind of injured moose by the sounds coming out of me started shuddering and moaning and bearing down HARD against my will as hurt way too much.
I still wouldn't get off the toilet as was sure there was poo in there and had this real hangup about not pooing on the bed, sure enough did some poo, but was definately pushing and felt a head suddenly at the top of the birth canal. My goodness, I couldn't believe the noises I was making.
Midwife said let's get you up, DH on one side and her on the other, I insisted on wiping up first (what a stupid thing to be concerned about at this stage) Midwife said she could see some membrane, asked if I wanted to stand up to give birth, or get on the bed, I said didn't have energy to stand but if they helped me on bed would kneel and could they lift the end. Couple of almighty pushes and I felt the head crown, I'd directed in my birth plan I didn't want to be coached to 'little push' as wanted to go with what felt right and see if could avoid tearing so much this time (had also been doing pereneal massage), felt head crown and just put a constant small amount of downward pressure from my tummy and felt the head slowly easing out, could see it coming if I looked down between my legs, felt the head come out and unlike DD the body didn't just drop out afterwards so that was new. I could see the baby had turned anterior through labour and delivery.
The second midwife turned up at this stage (had only been a few minutes since I started pushing on the loo so took a while for her to get there. 2nd Midwife said, you're almost there, just a little push will get those shoulders out too . . sure enough I eased down and felt the shoulders come out and the baby slip out as my waters broke in a gush (hadn't broke up to this point) and my Midwife caught what DH proudly proclaimed was "Another Little GIRL!!", I looked down and could see she was only small like DD but had a little double chin and some fat on her face so was sure she wasn't LBW.
Placenta hurt sitting there waiting for delivery, but still hurt to push so was reluctant to push it out, but I eventually talked myself into it and it came out intact and healthy as well. I felt instant relief of the nausea and was so happy to turn around and take my little girl into my arms (I got them to towell her down quickly, did not want blood all over me for a couple of hours) and she snuggled in and latched on to my breast like a champion after a few minutes and didn't want to let go!
I did tear a little, but only first degree and grazing, am AMAZED at the difference, this is nothing compared to last time and the stitching didn't hurt at all! Was so happy to have another little princess so my girls will be so nice and close together in age and have a wonderful opportunity to be such good friends.
After 4 hours I faced my next hurdle - could I pee (couldn't last time, had catheter in for 48 hours) I finally cajoled a tiny bit of pee out of myself and let out a cry of rejoicing from the bathroom in celebration. This meant we could go home. Lilah was born at 10:41am after 11 minutes of pushing and was 6lb 9oz or 2.96kg, she is just gorgeous. At 3pm we were allowed to go home and it was wonderful to be back home with my family instead of stuck in a horrible 4 bed hospital with a bub in the SCN for days.
Stats:
Labour: (Impossible to tell according to midwife due to irregular contractions and sudden dilation, so she guessed 6.5 hours)
Stage 2: 11 minutes
Weight: 6lb 9oz, 2.96kg
Length: 48cm
HC: 34cm
I can't recommend Midwifery Group Practice highly enough and was so happy with the treatment and support from my midwife and the other staff in welcoming our new daughter into the world!
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Little Lilah's Arrival - Super long, I just keep blabbing, be warned ;)
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