The arrival of our precious DD - 9th October 2012
After about 21 long months of ttc, God answered our prayers and we fell pregnant with our first baby. We could barely believe it and were very cautious at first, it seemed all too good to be true but at the same time we were so happy and thankful for this blessing. Pregnancy was all medically smooth and normal. I remember each time I went to see the ob, I would complain about something (nausea, heart palpitations, insomnia) but on the form, he would always write down that I was “well”!
In the early hours of Saturday 6th October, baby’s official edd, I got some bleeding – not a lot, more like spotting. I also felt very crappy. I assumed this was the start of my mucous plus coming out. I popped on a pad and went about the day. I called the hospital and was told to just wait and see. Still felt pretty sickly, but stayed up that night thinking contractions might start any time, but they didn’t.
Monday morning around 3:30am, I started getting sharp mostly back pain, and some butt pain, but they were coming and going which made me think they could be contractions. I managed to fall asleep and woke again at around 6:30am with the pain still there and seemingly getting worse. I told DH they might be contractions, either way he stayed at home just in case. I spent the whole day in bed, with the pains still coming and going and travelling towards the front. Finally around 5ish I couldn’t take the pain any longer and asked DH to call the hospital. They said to come in and get checked out, but I may not be staying. Since the contractions were not in any regular duration or intervals (though they were coming quite often), I assumed they would tell me to go home and did not pack anything. Off we went down the street, where a midwife strapped things to my tummy to measure baby’s heartbeat and my contractions. We concluded they were contractions, but it was still probably early. She said I could go home and see how I go (which I think they preferred) or I could stay if I liked. She asked what my main concern with going home was and I said the pain, and asked if they could give me something for it if I decided to go home. She said no... so DH and I decided I should stay.
I was checked into a birthing room, where the midwife did an internal and said I was about 3-3.5cm dilated. Our ob was called, who said he would come and check on me. In the meantime my contractions were coming much closer together; I barely had a break in between! The midwife offered me the gas, which I tried and decided was ineffective. She asked if it was the pethidine I wanted, and said it would be better to wait until I was checked out by the ob. I said ummm no I want the epidural! She seemed not too impressed but said I can talk to the ob and then see. The ob took awhile coming, maybe an hour or so (around 7:30-8pm by then I think), he did another internal and then broke my waters. That was not pleasant! I then asked him if I could have the epidural. He asked if I definitely wanted it or if I wanted to see how I go, and I said I wanted it (the midwife chimed in that I had been going on about it since I got there lol!). So he said if I was sure, I may as well get it now, and so they called the anaesthetist to come in. He took maybe another hour to come. He was very friendly, chatty and efficient, made me feel confident and at ease. First he put the IV drip in my left arm, then he injected a local anaesthetic into my back which was just a little sting. He then, I assumed, inserted the larger needle then catheter into my back and then had it running up my back to my shoulder, where it hung and continuously dripped the anaesthetic. The relief was pretty much instant it was sooo good! I was much more relaxed and smiled at DH with some renewed hope in my eyes. He later said after that he felt a lot more relaxed too. I think by this time, midwife2 had taken over and she inserted a catheter to drain my urine, as I would not be able to go to the bathroom. When the full effect kicked in, my legs felt huge and numb. I could wriggle my feet and toes, but not move my legs. I also had two belts strapped around my belly to monitor the baby and the contractions, but they were wireless contraptions which were great.
The midwife told me to get some rest while my contractions were happening and my cervix was opening up more so I dozed off blissfully pain free. After awhile (perhaps midnight) midwife came and did another internal, and said I was about 8cm dilated! She said it often happens after an epidural that it relaxes you and lets the contractions do the work. So they didn’t give me the oxytocin to speed things up, which they had planned to do. The midwives checked on me a few hours later, around 3:30am I think, did another internal and said it was time to push. I could by then feel the contractions coming as pressure on my butt, but they were also monitored. So between my pressure feelings and the monitor readings, the midwife and DH told me when to push. The first few pushes were pretty pathetic; it is a lot harder than I thought it would be! But I persevered and kept pushing as hard as I could with each contraction. Ob had been called to come in by then, about half hour later he arrived (in casual clothes and looking a little sleepy), checked my cervix and said it wasn’t open enough yet and to stop pushing. He left and they then did give me a bit of oxytocin to help things along. I could also feel a bit of pain at that point and asked the midwife to increase my epidural, which she did. She was quite confused about my cervix and concluded it was a flap which was moving in and out sort of, and it must have moved out then slipped back in closing the cervix a bit. Anyway they left me for another hour or so, checked again and said, time to push again! They called the ob to come back, and in the meantime I started pushing again. Ob arrived and said they had to use forceps to help with delivery as it had been quite a while and the baby was becoming distressed. I was fine with that. After he set up, he must have made a cut then with the next contraction I pushed while he pulled. I think it was only one or two more contractions later with him pulling and the baby was born! I was in disbelief at how quick it was and actually don’t remember much else in the next few moments – the midwife said it’s a girl and the ob was busily doing something, then he held up the baby and asked DH if he wanted to cut the cord, which he did. They then wrapped baby in a towel and handed her to me, and I said something like ‘oh she’s so slimy’ haha! I was still in shock at how quickly she was delivered in the end and that she was actually really here. It was such a special moment when I finally got to see my little girl! She was crying but I had a cuddle with her in the towel for awhile. Ob meanwhile was very busy down there I assume delivering the placenta, then sewing up the cut. The baby was taken from me to be cleaned up further and checked out, weighed etc. before being passed back to me for a bit of a feed. She was so warm and precious in my arms, the start of a new life.
Miss H: born 9th October 2012 5:22am
3.24kg/ 49cm
The arrival of our precious DD - 9th October 2012
Yay! I had been waiting for this :) well done and welcome Miss H x
The arrival of our precious DD - 9th October 2012
Aww thank you so much for sharing, Cattie! Welcome darling girl! Can't wait to meet her :)
The arrival of our precious DD - 9th October 2012
The arrival of our precious DD - 9th October 2012
Well done hon! Congratulations xo
The arrival of our precious DD - 9th October 2012
Congratulations Cattie! I'm sooo happy for you-glad the birth went so smoothly. Welcome Miss H!
