I was 10 days past my due date and had discussed with my obstetrician at an earlier appt that this was as far over as he would let me go. So, it was induction for me!! All started well with my waters being broken at about 9am and the the drip of synotocin being started at the same time. I felt fine at first, even sending DH off to get the newspaper so we could do the crossword! Well, he was gone for a good 30 minutes and by the time he got back the contractions had started. I had prepared for the labour by doing Hypnobirthing and this was helping me to manage the pain, in fact the midwife who was with me was amazed as she couldn't tell when I was having a contraction as I was so quiet.
About lunchtime she rang my ob and told him she was unsure how far dilated I was as she was having trouble picking up the strength of the contractions on the monitor and I wasn't making any noise. My ob came to see me, but thinking that I was asleep (I was actually in a deeply relaxed state) decided not to disturb me, instead chatting to DH. About that time he told the midwife to increase the rate of the drip in order to increase the strength of my contractions. She did so and that was the beginning of a series of events.
After this the contractions started to get stronger and the pain more difficult to cope with using the Hypnobirthing techniques, leading to me asking for a shot of pethidine. I was disappointed as I had planned a natural, drug free birth, but the pain was just too intense to manage otherwise. Around this time the air conditioning in the hospital broke down, resulting in the midwife and DH draping cool towels and face washers over me to help keep me cool. Soon after that the power in the hospital went off and the back up generator failed, meaning that there was no power for about 15 minutes.
The power going off meant the drip had to be stopped as they were unable to monitor me, giving me some relief as the contractions stopped when the drip was stopped.
A short time later the midwife increased the drip rate even more, leading to the contractions coming much quicker and harder and leading me to yell for an epidural. The contractions were also irregular, some were of the intensity you would expect at the pushing stage and there was almost no time between them. Owen's heartrate dipped to 50 beats per minute for a period of 2.5 minutes during one of these big contractions, as my cervix was nowhere near dilated enough for him to cope with such a contraction that big. I was screaming for an epidural at that point, as the pain was practically unbearable.
After this it was determined that my cervix was no further dilated than when I arrived and that given the dip in his heart rate, the best course of action was a cesar and I was whisked off to theatre with DH in tow. To add more humour to the situation the anaethetist took longer than expected to arrive at the hospital as he was unable to get his car out of the garage due to the power failure.........
Despite all of this Owen was born happy and healthy and is thriving in the outside world.
Shellsie - well done on the birth of little Owen!! What an adventure you had during your labour.... I'm glad he arrived safely Well done you must be very proud of yourself!
Thank you for sharing your story. He's very cute!!!
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Owen Angus' Arrival
Well done you must be very proud of yourself!
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