The birth of our daughter - Emergency C-Section, Premmie birth, SCU

**mel_cur** · November 4th, 2010, 03:01 PM

As it is almost my DD 2 birthday I thought I had better finally get this written. I apologies in advance if some of the details are a bit sketchy as I can't remember everything this far on!

A bit of back story
I feel pregnant after 6 months of trying. Pretty lucky considering I have only one ovary! At the 8 week mark I started getting morning sickness which lasted until about 22 weeks. I had a wonderful OBGY that ran out of St George Private Hospital (Pls PM me if you want his name - he is the best thing since sliced bread imo!). From a previous operation I knew I had a 'heart' shaped uterus (my uterus is kind of divided into two sections which causes the baby to run out of room) which might cause some issue's as the baby got bigger and I might give birth early.

Birth story
I was enjoying my first week of maternity leave but since the Tuesday had had some pains and restless nights. On Thursday, DH was getting worried so we went in for a checkup with our OBGY Dr K. Dr K did an internal and said everything was closed up and no signs of labour apart from a few low contractions.

Friday morning (5 weeks before my due date) I woke up and thought I had wet my PJs! I went to the loo, cleaned up and put on new pants and went back to bed. Then it happened again! I can be a bit slow in the morning so it took me 3 pants changes to realise it was my waters breaking! I crabbed walked out to my maternity bag which was near the front door for a pad and sat on a towel and called my DH and said 'erm you had better come and get me, my waters broke!!!'. He left in a hurry and came and got me. The baby had been breech for weeks so I knew I would have to have a c-section. By the time DH had come I was starting to have painful contractions but not regular.

We get to the hospital and had a 10min wait to get a room. I remember trying to sit down but it made the pain worse so i kind of walked around for a bit. When I got a room they hooked up the monitors to me. They showed no contractions! I was totally shocked since I was having pretty sharp pains at this stage.

The midwife said let me check to see if you are dilated. She showed me how to place my legs and put her fingers in me and says 'OMG I feel a foot!' Next thing I know she was telling John to go out in the hall and call everyone in. I was freaking out but I did hear him yell out 'WE HAVE FEET!!!' The room was swamped with people and everyone was talking and hurrying around. I start crying but the midwife told me to stop as every jerk of crying made the foot come out more. That stopped me quick!

Within about 10mins I was on my way down for an emergency c-section with about 10 people trailing after us and poor DH rushing to keep up. The mdiwife had to sit on the bed with a hand up me to montior if the feet came out and further and if the cord prolapsed. If the cord came out we would have 3mins or so to get the baby out otherwise she would die.

We get to the operating theatre and I get moved across to the table. The midwife moves her hand out and goes out the room but I did hear that the cord had prolapsed (DD had both feet out at this stage - cheeky bugger). I was give a general very quickly. About 10mins after I went in, out they came with DD and they got DH to go up with her to get checked etc. I was in recovery for about 1hr I think and everything went fine.

I was taken up to briefly see DD who was under a heat lamp, with not a fuss in the world. I got just touch her feet before I was taken away. DD had to go on antibiotics, a heat lamp and had a feeding tube down her nose. Thankfully she didn't have any lung issues. I couldn't hold Maya for 24hrs because I couldn't leave the bed although DH took some lovely photos/video's for me which helped a lot!

The next day I shuffled into the Special Care Nursery and gave her a cuddle and a feed. She was such a good bubba - So alert and awake. I had to mostly feed her via her tube since she was so little so I mostly sat there and expressed watching her. When I did get to BF she latched on straight away. However my breast milk never really came in so I was mixed feeding her (basically BF then topping up with formula).

After 6 days in hospital I was released but she had to stay in SCN for another week.. That was the hardest thing, leaving her there. We both had a major cry over it and went home and stayed in bed for the day

We went in morning and night to give her feeds and after almost a week we could take her home!

Maya Scarlett was born Friday 7 November, 12.59pm, 2835g, 42cm long and was 5 weeks early. (Maya is pronounced My-a)