"Birth"

After an internal check at the doctor at 41 weeks, I was told my cervix was high and closed however early labour started 12hrs later a few days after this, around 4am with on/off back ache. I had my pre-scheduled midwife appointment at mid-afternoon so waited till then and they confirmed I was 4cm and recorded my contractions as regular, because my blood pressure was up they wanted me up the hospital.

They offered to break my waters but I declined as I wanted to try progress naturally first. The contractions stayed mild but regular but I didn’t progress so my husband was sent home to wait and I had a shower and was walking around at the hospital, unfortunately, I was awake all night long. In the morning I had a bath at the hospital to help with the surges, which was good for relaxing and then had an internal check. I was only 6cm after the whole night so they broke my waters the next morning but that didn’t ramp them up so they added the drip and put me on monitor by mid-morning. This meant I couldn’t have the water birth I had hoped for. I just used gas from then on in, the pressure got intense but I managed to get through it by reminding myself it was only a short time for the contraction and then I’d get a break between to relax. I went to use the loo before they did another internal check and it was discovered Bub was crowning. By this stage it was mid-afternoon, I pushed for 1.5hr trying different positions but they couldn't get the last bit so doctor called it. The midwives supported my decision to hold off on an episiotomy allowing me three more surges to try but unfortunately, bub wasn’t going to come without intervention. I had a 3b tear and had to have general surgery so Dad and Bub had the first 4hrs together.

I am glad I did the positive birthing classes as I learnt what I wanted to do and was supported until it was deemed unsafe. The classes allowed me to go in feeling informed and calm. 

The hardest part for me was the hospital stay after as being separated from my husband and being responsible for a newborn in my condition was very overwhelming.