Charli Monique

Well, I'm 10 months late posting in the birth stories section, but here 'tis

From the moment I conceived I felt a connection with the little being inside me. I could not shake the feeling that I was pregnant even though the first 4 pregnancy tests said negative. My instincts were right, I was going to have a baby!

I absolutely loved being pregnant. Everything about it. I was looking forward to having a wonderful natural birth and precious bonding with my baby.
All the women in my family have had pretty straight forward vaginal births and I had no reason to think that I would be any different.

When I was 35 weeks pregnant my blood pressure started to rise. I spent the weekend in hospital but my OB sent me home after medication and plenty of rest helped it to settle down a little.

At my 37 week check-up my OB told me that bub would probably need to be born some time the following week. Unfortunately an examination showed that she wasn't yet engaged and my cervix was closed. I had one week to get my body ready for an induction as I did not want a caesarean. I spent the next week having acupuncture, drinking raspberry leaf tea and taking evening primrose oil all in the hope that it would help my body get ready for birth. Unfortunately my 38 week visit showed that bub still wasn't engaged and my cervix was still unfavourable. I was booked in for a caesar the next morning.

I began to make peace with the fact that I was going to have a caesarean as I knew it was best for the health of my baby and I to get her out. And least I would have an epidural and be awake for my babys birth.

We arrived at the hospital at 5.30am and I was prepped for surgery. I was nervous and excited as I was wheeled into the operating theatre. I was soon to meet my baby! The anaesthetist got me to hunch over so he could insert the epidural. I began to feel a shooting nerve pain down the right side of my spine and I heard the anaesthetist mumble that he had hit bone. He tried again, and there was more shooting nerve pain, and again - more shooting nerve pain. I was beginning to feel physically ill and was scared that I was being paralysed or something. Finally it seemed the epidural had hit the right spot. I lay there waiting to feel it take effect but it wasn't happening. The anaesthetist kept rubbing an alcohol swab on my legs to see if I could feel it and I could. All of a sudden I heard the words general anaesthetic and before I could say goodbye to DH he was ushered out of the room and the mask was placed over my face.... I was in no mans land . . .

(While I was sleeping my OB delivered a 3410gm healthy baby girl. One with very good lungs as DH who was sitting on his lonesome in the room beside the theatre heard his little girls cries and thought in amazement - sh#t, that's my baby. A theatre nurse came and got him so he could meet his little girl while she was on the paed table in the theatre.)

The next thing I knew it was 1.5 hours later and I woke up out of the anaesthetic crying. My DH, mum and my student midwife bought my baby over to me and placed her onto my bare chest. It was all very surreal. As little Charli Monique was placed onto my chest she opened her eyes and looked at me. My student mid said it was the very first time she had opened her eyes since she was born.

Thanks for reading :)

Thanks for sharing your story. I can totally relate to the shooting nerve pains!!!

Hopefully your VBAC or MACS will be a fulfilling experience for you.

Much love
xx

Hi,

Gorgeous how you bonded :D

CONGRATULATIONS :D

Well done :D:D

Hi girls, thanks for reading my story.
Mel, Yes I am hopeful for a VBAC of MACS next time. I am trying to keep an open mind because if I get my heart set on one particular mode of delivery I think I could be disappointed. If my last birth taught me anything it's that anything can happen. I am just really hoping to be awake and have bub in my arms straight away for the next one. :hug: