Tobias Lawries entrance into the big World 18-08-08
After a very painful pregnancy I was almost ready to beg to be induced by the last trimester. Being a HG sufferer I took zofran zydis wafers from 7 weeks pregnant until the day I gave birth at 39 weeks, 2 days. I had the HG under control & was expecting a similar pregnancy to that of my daughter in 2004/05, once I was on the zofran zydis I had a pretty breezy pregnancy. This time I wasn't so lucky.
In April I started having problems walking long distances & eventually found out I had something called Pubic symphisis (sp?) which was incredibly painful making everyday chores a struggle. Getting dressed was a challenge, I had to sit on the bed as I couldn't put any weight on my legs one at a time.
In the last half of my pregnancy I was in tears every night when getting into bed & every morning getting out of bed. It felt like someone was stabbing me in my pelvis. I couldn't roll over in bed so was sore from laying in one position all night long. In the morning it took me a long time to get out of bed & slowly get onto my feet, then the struggle to walk while having stabbing pains in my pelvis with every step. God only knows what would have happened if there was an emergency while I was in this condition, thank goodness I never had to find out.....
So having this really put a dampener on my pregnancy & unfortunately had me wishing the time away instead of enjoying what will more than likely be my last pregnancy :(
The doctors were trying to convince me to have a c/s due to having a third degree tear when I gave birth to my DD. It was a huge decision & I thought long & hard about it for months (they first brought it up when I was about 20 weeks PG I think). They told me I had until 36 weeks to let them know my decision.
36 weeks came along & I had decided on a Vaginal birth again. While in the office telling the doctor she once again tried to change my mind to c/s. She gave me another 3 weeks to let her know by 39 weeks.
I went back to see her at 38 weeks & told her I'd be trying for Vaginal again & would prefer to be induced a week early than have a c/s a week early. She didnt want to induce me any earlier than 39 weeks which happened to fall on a Saturday. I asked if we could do it on the Friday due to the pain I was experiencing & since I was now sleeping on the lounge sitting up so not getting much sleep at all. I told her if I dont get sleep before I go into labour I will be too tired to do what I have to do. She wouldn't budge, so I was booked in to be induced on Monday the 18th at 39.2 weeks PG.
I turned up to the hospital on the Monday morning at 8:30am. They took us to the observation room, checked bubs heartbeat etc & all was good.
There were 2 woman already there, one was just about to start pushing & the other had just left the observation room to go to a labour room as things were starting to happen for her. I was told as soon as the first lady had finished having her baby they would induce me.
10:30am arrived, still waiting (that poor lady!). The midwife came & saw me & said we start to get things moving. FINALLY!
She asked if I wanted my waters broken. I told her I would because I'd like to see if labour starts on its own after having my waters broken then saving me having to be induced. She said ok & broke my waters (ouch). She told me I was still only 2cm which I had been for a couple of weeks after having my S&S. I was a little dissapointed I wasn't more dialated but excited my waters had now been broken & concentrated on being positive that labour would start on its own now.
As soon as I was comfortable enough I started pacing the room trying to start my contractions.
Around 11:30 I thought I felt a contraction. I told Dh to write down the time so we can see if any more follow. (Baby number 2 & I wasn't sure if it was a contraction or not LOL who says "You'll KNOW when you're in labour"??) I had about 3 more 12 mins apart. Ok, they were regular... things are starting on their own!
After those 12 min contractions it dropped straight down to 4 mins then quickly to 3 mins. Still not real painful but getting noticably stronger.
12:30pm a midwife came & checked on my. She checked the machine print out & said wow they're coming quite regular now. She checked the drip I had attatched for fluids then checked the bag they had there for the induction. She looked again. She was surprised it hadn't been hooked up. I told her what was happening with me getting a chance to have labour start on its own & it had obviously worked. She was amazed how well it was turning out. Time for a shift change for the midwives.
Ok from here I cant remember times etc because DH stopped recording it as it was all on the machine printout.
The pains started coming faster & alot more painful & the midwife offered gas. It hadn't worked with DD's labour but I thought I'd give it another chance. Nope, all it did was make my mouth shrivel up like sponge bob square pants when he's out of water. I told DH I felt like my face looked like dried up sponge bob & he burst out laughing saying it did a little.
Out with the gas!
The midwife came back a while later & I was starting to struggle with the pains. I said I think I'll have an epidural. She told me she really thinks I can get through it only using pethadine. I had heard of pethadine but wasn't sure what it was. I asked her what it would do for me & she said it will take the edge off the contractions which sounded great right about that time. She told me it will prob take about half hour to get the guy to do the epidural, then another half hour for it to work. If she gave me pethadine it would be working in 5 mins. Hmmmm, an hour or 5 mins.... I'll take the 5 mins please.
I regret having the pethadine & wish I had've researched it before going into labour.
Within prob an hour or so I couldn't keep my eyes open. Everytime I opened them they'd roll & close again. Even worse I could still feel the contractions! What a waste of time & energy having that pethadine!! Grrrrrrr!
I asked for an epidural.
The lady came to give it to me. She tried to get it in twice. She got scar tissue from the last time I had it with DD's birth BOTH TIMES! I told her not to worry. I changed my mind though real quick with the next contraction hahaha. She said she'll have to come back.
By this stage I was sitting up. The pains were incredible. The midwife asked if I'd like a third attempt at the epidural. I said yes & she called for a guy to come do it. She did an internal while we waited. 7-8cm now.
The man turned up & asked if I'd still be having it. Everyone was staring at me. I was trying to keep my eyes open while talking to them. I said I would still like it as they promised I could have another try (LOL). They explained they don't usually do it that late in labour (I knew this but wanted some relief!). As they were standing there trying to decide what to do I continued sitting up through my contractions.
It felt like I was sitting on Tobys head but I didnt say anything as I wanted that epidural hahaha
After the third contraction feeling this way i decided to tell them. I said "It feels like I'm sitting on his head". The midwife told me I needed to lay down as she needed to see what was happening.
I laid back even though I soooooo didnt want to LOL & she then told me it was too late for an epidural anyway. It was time to push.
OMG I was going to do it without an epidural. It's what I ideally wanted but didnt think I'd be strong enough to do it without it. Now I had no choice anyway, I was going to do it.
I had asked the midwife earlier on if she could help me through the breathing when it came to pushing to try to save me tearing again. She had agreed & foloowed through with her promise.
As hard as it was to stop pushing when she told me to stop I managed to do it & came through with only a slight second degree tear. Phew!
17:01pm I felt him come out (I also felt DD come out as they had turned the epidural off in time to wear off to feel the end part but still took the edge of the pain off for me) & then I felt something warm on my chest. OMG it must be my boy! I raised my head to have a look. Yep, there he was. I struggled to keep my eyes open, I just wanted to stare at him but couldn't. Somehow I managed to have my eyes open for the photos (thank goodness I didnt look as drugged as I was in the photos!).
I also got to cut his cord!!!!!!
DH did a wonderful job this time. He had my Elvis CD playing, he stayed by my side, he really looked after me. Much better than last time, like a totally different man!
The best part was (& I haven't told him this but I probably should) because I was so out of it due to the pethadine I had forgotten about cutting the cord. He could have easily cut it himself & the midwife actually offered him the scissors. I remember hearing him say that I could cut it. The midwife looked surprised but handed me the scissors. We didnt even do it together, I DID IT! After all the arguements we'd previously had about it he ended up being really good about it. He said after what he just saw me go through I deserved it as he knew how much I wanted to do it.
So my labour only went for 4.5 hours & I managed to get through without an epidural.
All in all it was a wonderful birth, even though I did have the pethadine.
& what a perfect little boy I now have :)
Wow, sorry this was so long!
