The Birth Story of Jett Dion Clayton
I had seen my Obstetrician on the Thursday before bubs was born. He told me that although bubs had been head down for quite some time now, he had not descended at all and was free floating. He was also growing at a very steady rate and I was more than likely to go well over my due date and have a big baby. I was quite devastated by this news as my ?plan? was that I would have a ?normal and average? birth. I had invested myself in Calmbirth philosophies and was really looking forward to the whole experience. But I knew that the longer nothing happened the more likely I would be induced, or worse still *gasp* have a c-sect.
On Monday the 4th August I had a busy day planned. Firstly Pilates in the morning, a few errands, followed by a trip in to the city to have labour induction acupuncture performed at 3.30pm. The acupuncturist, who specialises in obstetric acupuncture, explained to me that for free floaters like my baby I would more than likely need 3 sessions. The first session would be to get baby to drop, the second to get things moving along and the third to kick things in to gear if nothing had happened already. If after those three sessions nothing had happened then there would be nothing else he could do. My body would only respond to acupuncture if it was ready and not before.
Following my acupuncture session I drove home feeling absolutely exhausted. I was 39w5d at this stage so it was nothing out of the ordinary to be tired. I had a nap when I got home and only woke up to eat my dinner, only to start falling asleep mid-mouthful. So I went straight to bed and slept very heavily. Around 11.45pm my DH climbed in to bed of which I was vaguely aware and disturbed me enough that I decided I needed to roll over. GUSH ? my waters broke and I was instantly alert saying to my DH that ?I think my waters have just broken? as I simultaneously jumped out of bed to avoid leaking all over the bed.
?Have they?... Have THEY?... HAVE THEY?? was his response. Giggling I waddled in to the ensuite to sit on the loo while I figured out my plan of attack and DH mopped up my ?spill?. Wow. This was it. That acupuncture sure was effective!!! Excitedly we finished packing my bags with all the things that I had left out while I was still using them at home and added some snacks. DH drove down to the servo to fill the car with petrol and grab some Gatorade. When he got home we rang the hospital, they asked the usual questions and said if nothing happened overnight to go in for monitoring in the morning. They then advised me to get some sleep ?as it may be the last decent sleep? I?d get for a while! DH and I sat up for a while talking about our lives, and how it was just about to change and just enjoyed the moment. I would recommend this to anyone about to have a baby for the first time, just enjoy this moment. It was very special.
After a while with nothing happening, we figured we should go to bed and have a decent night?s sleep. Next morning as nothing had happened and I was feeling no contractions, just mild cramps, we got ready to go in to hospital for monitoring. DH, who owns his own business, had to call his employee to explain what was going on. He also had to call a couple of clients and put them off for the week without letting on what was really going on (they were family friends, and we didn?t want all and sundry to know what was happening!!)... talk about a challenge!
Upon arriving at the hospital I got hooked up to the monitors to check on contractions. And just as I already knew ? they were just mild cramps!! I was only 1cm dilated. Although my waters had broken, bubs was in no hurry to evacuate! My text to my belly buddies read ?"What a boring experience! Still not much action, only 1cm dilated but regularish cx at 6-7 mins. Not strong and not long. Had gels put in and hoping it kick starts things. If not I have to go in tomorrow morning at 7am and get the drip put in. Not happy!!"
At this stage most Obs would have induced me as they will only let you go 36 hours max before they intervene when the waters have broken prematurely due to the risk of infection. I didn't know this. And indeed the midwife was already saying that I would be staying in hospital from then to have my baby. My Ob, who is very supportive of his patient?s birth choices, put gels in to try to bring labour on naturally. I was monitored for another couple of hours and then allowed to go home to labour in peace (or at least that was the plan). I was under strict instructions to be back at the hospital by 7am at the latest the next day. I was given tablets for pain relief and sleeping and told to take them before bed so that I would at least get a good night sleep.
DH decided to go to work for a while and so I went with him and sat in the office. One of his customers walked in and asked if there was any news of the baby yet. I replied that I was in labour as we speak... I don?t think he believed me!!
I took those tablets before bed and now wished I hadn?t! The contractions got stronger overnight so I didn?t sleep very well anyway and then as we were travelling in to hospital the next morning we had to stop along the way for me to throw up. Nice look in the middle of peak hour!! My Ob thought I just may be one of those people who get nauseous in labour but it went away as the morning wore on. I think it was all the fault of those stupid tablets that I didn?t really want to take anyway. Wish I had have listened to my gut.
Upon arrival at the hospital I was still only 1cm dilated. Disappointing to say the least. The drip and monitors were hooked up. So there I was, being induced, one of my fears. I employed all the Calmbirth skills I had been practicing and was determined that I would get through this and would still enjoy the experience. However the MW that was assigned to me did not make this easy for me at all. Every contraction I had she would push me in the belly, or fiddle with the foetal monitor or both which of course is the last thing you want during a contraction. Bubs heartbeat was strong and steady and it was not necessary to be fiddling with the monitors each and every contraction. I found I would tense up every time she walked in the room, and she did not offer any encouragement whatsoever. If I asked her a question I almost felt like I was a hindrance to her. Hang on a minute? Is she a midwife or what? Isn?t it her job to deal with labouring women? When I said I wanted to use the bath ? that was a chore for her to help me to the bath and move the monitors with me. Needless to say I was not impressed with her... but she did bring in a student M/W towards the end of my labour who really was just fantastic and I know she will go far as a M/W when she completes her training. So please, anyone reading this, please speak up if you get a M/W you aren?t happy with. It is NOT worth keeping the peace for. You have every right to ask for a different M/W if you aren?t happy with the one assigned to you.
So after about 5 hours my Ob examined me again. 3cm dilated ? yay! We were on our way. It was then that I decided to jump in the bath. I floated in there all afternoon. I did not realise at the time, but with every contraction I was bracing myself against the bath to stop me going under, which included pressing the back of my head on the back of the bath. My DH was trying to put a pillow or towel behind my head but I wouldn?t let him. The next day I wondered why the back of my head felt like it was bruised!! My drip was now at its maximum and I was getting no relief between contractions. I was still breathing through each contraction (as per Calmbirth) but I was getting tired. Towards the end of the afternoon I knew nothing was happening and started telling DH that I should just have a c-sect, or at least get an epidural. He was fantastic and kept encouraging me onwards and said not to think about it until after I was examined again. He knew what I really wanted, and stuck to the plan
It was four hours since the previous exam, but I was still only 3cm dilated. 4cm at a stretch. My baby was trying to come through sideways so I would actually have needed to dilate to 14cm! With every contraction he was grinding in to my pelvis and there was swelling on his head. My Ob, again trying everything he could to give me the birth I wanted, offered to let me keep going for another 4 or 5 hours if I would have an epidural. My other choice was a c-sect. I knew that nothing was happening, and if after 9 hours of full labour my baby was still not putting any pressure on my cervix to make it dilate I did not see what an epidural would do to help. I also didn?t want to put my baby through any more pain so I chose the c-sect, and my Ob did say after I had made my choice that he thought that I would have ended up with one anyway for the very same reason.
So I was prepped for surgery and I made it clear that the baby would come with me to recovery. Agreed to by my Ob, as long as there was no reason for the baby to go to special care. As I was put on the table for the spinal block I had another contraction. The staff in theatre were just fantastic and let it pass before asking me to stay still while the needle went in. I was laid on the table and I could feel the numbing begin. At this point I got quite teary because I could not give my baby the birth he deserved, or that I wanted. I would miss those first precious moments, because I was paralysed on a table. But I was still very excited that this was it! My DH arrived in the theatre much to my relief. He recalls how great the theatre staff were. They came and introduced themselves to him and asked him if it was ok for them to assist on this surgery. They made him feel free to be part of this delivery, and that he was welcome to wander around the theatre and not be restricted. My Ob came in and leaned over to me, checked I was ok, and told me I would be a Mum in a minute. And I was. A big disappointment to me was that I missed witnessing my baby being born because of the screen, but I am thankful that DH was able to and even get a couple of photos of this moment in time. There was the cry and then my baby boy was placed on my chest. All the emotions whirling around inside me quietened very suddenly as I looked in to my baby?s eyes and he looked in to mine and instantly stopped crying. I was given a minute before he was taken by the paediatrician to be checked over. DH told me he was obviously not worried as he did a quick check and pointed out 10 fingers, 10 toes and 2 balls!! DH cut what was left of the cord and he was placed back on my chest and then the obligatory photos were taken.
Remember the horrible M/W I had? The one who was there when I said my baby would be going with me to recovery? Well she then piped up and said they needed to take the baby and wrap him and take him ?upstairs? while I went to recovery. Well for the first time the whole day I arced up and told her in no uncertain terms that she wouldn?t and he would be going with me. I didn?t see her after that, but the student M/W stayed with me through recovery and saw me up to my room.
As we were going to recovery my DH was carrying our baby, but he had to go and change out of his scrubs and get his things so he walked off with bubs giving the nurses a hell of a fright!! I was ok with it though, as he was with my DH, and I knew he would be back! Bubs received the APGAR scores of 9/10, had his first poo and we attempted to establish b/f in recovery. My stay in recovery was quick before I was wheeled up to my room. My text to my belly buddies at this point was ?Born today at 5:22pm by c-section. He was trying to come out sideways so no choice in the end. 8lb. Haven?t named him yet but will tomorrow. I am exhausted and can?t keep my eyes open!!?
The next day after a little discussion Jett Dion was named.
Born Wednesday 6th August 2008 at 5.22pm
Place: Frances Perry Hospital
Weight: 3660gms (8lb)
Length: 52cm
Head Circumference: 35cm
So my birth was not according to ?plan?, I did get induced, and I did have a c-sect. But I still used Calmbirth throughout my experience, and as a result my recovery was very quick, I was on nothing more than panadol (to keep the nurses happy) two days after the operation and I was able to enjoy the new experience of being a Mum. The best thing I have ever done and I will certainly be going back for more!
So thanks for reading, I needed to get this down before the details faded in my mind!
Photos are here in my gallery
Hey MT - thanks for sharing your beautiful story and congratulations on the birth of Jett!!! He is so cute.
It's great to read about an unplanned c-section that wasn't completely traumatic. I am very scared of having to have a c-section myself and reading of your experience has helped me greatly.
Thanks girls! It really was a positive experience and I am glad you got that from my story. I want as many people as possible to know that birth is a positive experience, even though it doesn't always go to plan!
Thanks, even though it wasnt what you planned you did let that ruin it and made the best of a great experiance. think i might write mine, before the memories fade aswell!! thanks for sharing.
What a great birth story! It is almost a mirror image of my own birth story, right down to the acupuncture and premature membrane rupture and so on. I also had an extremely rude and negative midwife! You dealt with it amazingly!
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Jett Dion 6th August 2008 - Super Dooper Long!
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