Blake Mark's Arrival

It makes sense to start Blake's birth story 9 days before his birth (37+4) At our regular Monday OB appt it was revealed that he had moved into a "deflexed posterior" position and it was "unlikely" he would be able to engage with his head in such a position. To say I was devestated was an understatement. My OB was fairly unconcerned - there was still plenty of time for him move into a more favourable position. But for me - devestation (complete over reaction). I was sooo tired and uncomfortable and had not had a good nights sleep for weeks. I was offered sleeping tablets, but declined.

That evening I called my Mum for some consolation and she proceeded to tell me I was being very silly and that I should focus on the fact that I had a healthy baby coming out soon and that a c/s was not the worst thing that could happen. It was not what I wanted to hear and I was sobbing and she was not being suitably sympathetic. (My Mum is usually fab - we are really good friends) I was losing the plot when my DH walked in the door from work 1.5hrs early - a lifesaver and he made me feel heaps better. I resolved to do something to help him move and spent the next week moving more, lying in a beanbag and sitting forward in my chair etc...

At the next OB appt (38+4) on Monday 13/7 I was very nervous as I had no idea if Blake had moved at all. I had no "drop" and was still very sore, tired and emotional. I cried all over the midwife - who was lovely and said all the right things and I was very apprehensive when seeing the OB. I cried all over him too - I was soooo tired... he offered sleeping tabs againa nd I said yes - anything for sleep. He did an U/s and BLAKE HAD MOVED!!!. He was still slightly posterior but had engaged and I had a chance of going into labour :dance: That night I took a sleeping tab and actually had a good nights sleep (only two pee stops) and felt rested for the first time in more than a month. Still no signs Blake would be arriving anytime soon tho.

Tuesday night I couldn't sleep...got up at 12.30am to read a book/surf Belly Belly and had an unbelievable craving for peanut butter on toast. It was 1.45am and I was about to give in to my craving when I heard a funny POP and my knickers felt warm. My first thought was "Oh crap I've wet myself" then it was ?oh crap - my waters have broken?. Grabbed the hand towel to shove between my legs and waddled in to tell DH. He said ?what do we do now? I had no idea - so called hossy. (and posted on BB) The midwife asked all the usual questions and at this point my fluids were clear. She said to stay at home till I had contractions 3-5mins etc but to call back if anything changed. At this point I had no contractions at all - thought we were in for a long wait. Then the midwife called back - she had spoken to my OB and he wanted us to come in for an hour to monitor Blake?s hr etc. When I went to put a pad on to go to hossy I realised my water has started to get a green tint. I knew I would be kept in for this so ran about finishing my packing etc. Still no contractions....

We arrived at the hospital at 2.30am and the place was chockers - I was in room 5 (of 5) and so didn?t have a bath or anything which was disappointing. My mw Allie settled us in and put the monitor on. She also broke the bad news that my OB wanted continual monitoring due to the mec stained waters - so my movements were limited. We settled in and tried to rest - I read and listened to my ipod and DH tried to sleep on the sofa bed. Blake?s HR was excellent and the monitor showed some mild contractions. I started to feel some period type cramping - but very mild. At about 4am the contractions were getting a little stronger and the m/w offered an internal. I wanted to know what was happening in there so agreed readily. At that point I was 0cm!!! But fully effaced - It seemed we would be there for a while.

More reading, music....waiting, waiting....by 5.30am it was getting a bit more real - pain getting stronger and I decided to call my Mum. She had a full morning as the convener of an interview panel - so she said she would come in on the way to work and then come back after the interviews (we thought I had AAGGEESS to go) at 6am my m/w did another VE and I had progressed to 2cm - the pain was getting stronger - I was standing leaning over the bed and trying to rock etc. I also tried lying on my side with DH rubbing my back. The monitor was giving me the sh**ts and I was getting grumpy. My mum arrived at 6.30am just as the pain seemed to jump up a few levels. My contractions didn?t have the ?wave pattern? I expected. There were no discernable breaks between and no relief from the pain which was in my pelvis, back and radiating down my legs. It was just one long multipeaked contraction. I had difficulty standing but wanted to try a hot shower to manage the pain. I got no relief from the hot water so back into bed and try the gas/air. This just made me feel sick and dry in the mouth and didn?t seem to help with the pain at all. By 7am I was moaning and crying and DH was constantly rubbing my back. At this point I asked for morphine. My m/w had read my Birth Plan and knew I didn?t really want it and said no and that it was only going to take the edge off anyway - so I asked for an epidural - I knew I couldn?t cope with this pain for much longer.

It took the anaesthetist until 8.30am to arrive and during the wait time I turned into the woman from ?The Exorcist? - my head was spinning around. I have never felt such pain and it is indescribable to me even now. My DH was wonderful and kept rubbing my back and hugging and kissing me and offering encouragement. My Mum kept going on about being ?a cloud and floating away? or being a ?marshmallow? - funny in hindsight - at the time my sense of humour was MIA! I also had a change of m/w and Wendy was now looking after me, along with Helen who was a student Nurse. Wendy was awesome and kept offering lots of suggestions to manage the pain and was very patient with my grumpiness. I kept asking when the epi would be done and the answer was always ?soon?. My response was ?how soon is soon??. Dr H arrived at 8.30am and I have never been so pleased to see someone in my WHOLE LIFE! I was in AGONY - constant AGONY (yep I?m a drama queen) He started explain the procedure and I just kept saying ?yep, yep, yep?. I got into position and my OB arrived too. He sat and stroked my hand and talked calmly to me as the epi was put in.

I cannot explain the relief the epi provided - I had a personality change - one minute I was deranged -the next I was chatting calmly to my mum - bizarre! My OB did a VE and I was 8cm!!! No wonder I was in such pain I had dialated 6cm in 3hours. Mum decided to stay as it was all going to happen soon! I relaxed for an hour or so and at 10.30am I had another exam and was ready to push. I had felt increased pressure in my vag and bum and the initial epi had started to wear off. They hadn?t put up the continual/drip and it looked like I wouldn?t need it! I had 30mins of pushing and didn?t get very far. Blake?s head was on a funny angle and wasn?t progressing. We got the OB and he decided to try the ventrose/vacuum. He was about to get started when he got called urgently to recovery - so a 15min delay. Then he was back and I helped push as he pulled and at 11.32am my little man was placed on my belly screaming his little lungs out.

I had a second degree tear which needed stitching - but my little boy was perfect. DH cut the cord and OB delivered the placenta and stitched me up. My BP then dropped and I had to lie down flat for a while. I held my little man for 4 hours and he had his first breastfeed (he took to it like a natural). He had his weigh and measure and we headed off to our room.

All in all a very positive experience thanks to my DH, M/W?s and OB!

Awesome story. Thank you so much for sharing.

wow how awesome thanks for shareing

A wonderful birth story, congratulations hun x x x x

Awesome birth story, thanks for sharing :)

What a great ending!! Well done hun!

Well done and Congratulations :D

Lovely birth story..thanks for sharing. Enjoy your little boy

Congratulations on the arrival of Blake, and well done :D The Exorcist reference gave me a chuckle!

You did a fantastic job, congratulations!!!

Thanks for sharing your story :D