My first son was born via emergency c-section. I was induced at 38 weeks as I had gestational diabetes. I had an epidural his heart rate continued to drop low so I was whisked of for an emergency c-section. He was taken to special care nursery (he was fine but I was a gestational diabetic so they wanted to watch him) I saw him for about 5min when he was 4hrs old but wasn?t able to feed him for 48hs as the midwifes were too busy to bring him to me.
My second son was born via elective c-section at 38weeks due to gestational diabetes again. I was not aware at the time that it was classified 'elective' as I was not given another choice. He was also taken to the special care nursery. I touched his face when he was born then fed him 24hrs later.
I was not able to breastfeed either of my boys as my milk never really came in even though I was expressing and doing EVERYTHING I could to make it happen.
When I fell pregnant with baby #3 I was determined that things were going to be different. I wanted to push a baby out my vagina, hold a wet slimy baby, feed them when they were only minutes old. I wanted hubby to cut the cord. I wanted to see maconium (I never changed my baby's nappies until they were 24-48hrs old). I didn't want the same things to happen. So I did some research. Hired a private midwife, choose an OB who believes VBAC's are safe and normal and educated myself and my darling hubby.
I got gestational diabetes again but my ob assured me it wouldn't mean I would have a c-section. At 38 weeks pregnant I noticed that bubs hadn't been moving much. I kept an eye on it and soon I hadn't felt him move for over 24hrs. I called the hospital and they got me in for a trace. All looked good but my ob wanted to induce me anyway. I saw my VBAC dreams slip away. I drove home from the hospital in shock knowing that they wanted me back at 7pm to begin the induction process. I saw my dreams and everything I had been working for slip away. I cried the whole way back to the hospital. I know that I could refuse induction but deep inside I knew something was wrong. I could feel that my baby was not doing well.
At 9pm my ob arrived and inserted a balloon cathader into my cervix. I had some mild contractions while I was trying to sleep. At midnight the cathader fell out (this was great news as it ment I was already dilating!)
My ob saw me at 9am and broke my waters. My husband and I walked the grounds of the hospital and as the day progressed I began having contractions. At midday my ob wanted to start a drip to get things going I asked for more time. At 3pm he asked again to start the drip. I agreed but only if it was a VERY low dose (he gave me half the normal starting dose). I called my private midwife and asked her to come into the hospital also.
Within minutes the contractions had intensified and I was looking for a comfortable place. I found myself leaning on the bed and rocking thru contractions. After about 1/2hr I asked the hospital midwife to take the drip out she said she couldn't. Then my ob walked in and I stated "I want the drip out now!" he smiled and told the midwife to take it out. My ob asked why I didn't have continuous monitoring (I had been stalling and refusing and complaining every time they put it on) I said I didn't want it. He said "so what do you want?" I replied "intermitted monitoring" he explained the risks and asked me to sign a statement saying I understand the risks. I did and it wasn't mentioned again! My contractions continued to get worse. I asked my hubby to fill the bath. I got in the bath and thats when I went to another planet. I was groaning (not screaming just a dull groan) thru the contractions and then I heard my ob walk in. He said "she looks comfortable" I didn't have the energy to respond but thought to myself just how UNCOMFORTABLE I was. The midwife responded 'you may want to hang around she is transitional' my heart skiped a beat with excitement as I knew the end was now near! My ob left the room.
At about 5:45 suddenly my contractions stopped and I just lay in the water enjoying the break. It felt like I was in another world I was so relaxed and calm. Then the contractions started back up again and they were different. I was pushing and it was SOOOOOO uncontrollable. I was pushing and pushing with each contraction while my midwifes told me how well I was doing. Not once did they tell me to push or do an internal. The pushing contractions were so intense that I asked for the gas. I sucked it once then wasn't too interested in it.
At 6.10 I could hear concern in my midwifes voice. She couldn't find my babies heartbeat. After another contraction (and me changing position) they found bubs heartbeat but it was only 70 and not increasing. They hit the alarm and people came running. My ob walked in and said 'we need to get your baby out I need you to get onto the bed and I going to help them along with the forceps" I got out of the bath, ran to the bed and jumped up on it. (I didn't want to have a contraction halfway there)
6:14 my ob told me to suck on the gas. I felt him put the forceps in then I had a contraction he did an episiotomy (I SCREAMED - this was the only time I screamed!) I pushed like a mad women as I knew my baby was in trouble. Then bubs was being handed up onto my chest.
He was all slimy and bloody and oh so beautiful. I looked at him and cried and said 'hello slimy baby!' It was amazing! We waited for the cord to stop pulsating and hubby cut it.
Baby Jaidan was born at 6:15pm weighing 9pd 1oz (4120gm).
As I pushed him out with one huge push I had a third degree tear. So my ob had a spinal put in so he could repair me properly. While he was repairing me my private midwife helped me to feed my little man. I lost 1.2ltrs of blood and went into shock and needed fluids and a transfusion BUT I still recovered so much faster than I did with my c-sections.
My milk came in 4 days later (a little late due to the blood loss) but IT CAME IN! I am feeding my amazing little man. I still can't believe I did it. I can't believe a baby came out my vagina. I can't believe my body makes milk. I can't believe I'm not broken. My body does work. I am still amazed.
