My labour and Birth story with Emily.

So as I did with Noah I will also do a labour and birth story for Emily. This will be my personal experience from my own point of view (if I can remember everything correctly). This is how I felt and how I experienced an induced labour. 

Let's go back a little bit, 

Tuesday 11th April. 38 Weeks.

I had my regular fortnightly consultant appointment. I went into the room feeling so nervous, shaking even with the thought of what could happen from this appointment. I had a growth scan a few days earlier and her weight although had gained- it was still slow and minimal. Like 200grams in 2 weeks. This made me anxious that my body was struggling to do the one natural thing it should be able to. I had my urine and blood pressure taken and they were both worrying in themselves. I had protein in my urine and my blood pressure (which normally sits at 120/80 not pregnant and 100/60 pregnant was up to 145/99.) Which if you didn't know was symptoms for Pre Eclampsia. I didn't have any other symptoms but those 2 were enough for doctors/Midwife's and my consultant to be concerned. After my growth scan a few days previously they had told me that I would be offered a sweep at my consultant appointment to try and get things shifting. 

So here I was sat in this room, with my consultant who is a lovely man! I had him with Noah too and he even remembered us as I made him check Noah's gender every week! 

He turned to me after reading my notes and looked at me with soft caring eyes and asked how my SPD pain was. I replied to him that I was barely sleeping and couldn't do anything for myself not even stand up from sitting. He told me he noticed that Chris helped me stand in the waiting room and that he stood behind me at all times due to falling. He then apologised to me for this pain which he didn't need to but it was nice that he cared.

He then asked me to fill out some stuff with a midwife whilst he went on the phone. I honestly thought he was arranging stronger pain relief or a care plan for my last two weeks until he cleared his throat and asked if Saturday was a good day for us to be induced. 

This hit me, I was shocked, scared and nervous. I quickly nodded and he continued talking. I looked at the midwife looking for answers and she looked back her eyes empty. She didn't know what was happening either. I looked at Chris for support and he pulled me into a cuddle reassuring me it was okay and he would be with me every step of the way! 

My consultant then got off the phone and looked at me, noticing straight away I was scared. He explained to me that my placenta is failing and that along with my pain she would be best on the outside rather in. I tried asking questions but my mouth moved and nothing came out. He could tell I was trying to process all of this so he began explaining everything. He told me that her poor weight gain had triggered the sonographer to look at her blood flow through the cord and the blood oxygen levels and they were worryingly low. Put that together with my SPD and the fact I was not having a great way of life due to this pain. I nodded taking everything in or trying to at least! I had walked into this appointment expecting a sweep but to be told that I was getting an induction just a few days after. Wow! 

Not much happened from then until Saturday other than I packed and unpacked my suitcase a billion times, I spring cleaned my house from top to bottom and prepared the household for our impending arrival, such as washed bedding and organised Noah with my parents and nursery. I used my time to take my mind of things and to try and kick start labour naturally which didn't work and before we knew it Saturday had flown up onto us. 

Saturday 15th April. 38 Weeks 4 days.

Me, my mum (my other birthing partner) and Chris made the hour long journey to the hospital, suitcase and snacks in tow and nervous filling the whole car. Chris was nervous for me and my mum bless her trying her hardest to calm us both down! We arrived at 11.30 and my obs were checked. Everything still wasn't looking great. I then had an internal to check how my body was doing naturally. And to give a sweep. I was 2cm and my cervix was low and soft! I had to cut it short though as it hurt so much! She then preceded to tell me that the labour ward was full and I wasn't a priority but to come in Monday and I would be. 

You what?!

I had just travelled an hour here to be given a bloody sweep and be sent home again! I was upset and annoyed that I had build myself up for today and it was dashed in one sentence. The anger formed inside me and I just wanted to punch her! But on the outside I smiled told her it was okay and left. 

I then travelled all the way home and tried every tactic under the sun to try and make her come on her own. Including spending hours upon hours on the bloody yoga ball even though it killed my pelvis and I just wanted to cry. I was just so desperate now.  But looking back is I'm glad I spent Easter at home with my boys eating way too much chocolate. 

Monday 17th April 38 Weeks 6 days.  

I phoned the hospital before hand like hell was I travelling all that way again to be sent home. I wanted to check they could actually keep me in. They reassured me that there was a bed and I was priority. Unfortunately my mum was working which killed me as I needed her there. I didn't know how fast I would progress and she kept joking with me to hold out until Tuesday so that she could be there. I was crushed by this but I couldn't change it and hoped that little girl would stay out until nanny came. 

12.30pm I was settled into the ward and all my obs checked and hooked up to the monitor. I made sure to keep an eye on the toco score (for anyone who doesn't know.. the toco score on the machine monitors contractions) I wanted to see how my contractions changed over the day. But this point the toco was only reading between 10-15 which is basically nothing, little braxtons hicks. 

Me and Chris then settled in and my dad and Noah parted. 

2.30pm I had the propess 24 hour suppository inserted. With the midwife telling me it could be within the hour or it could take 24 hours and beyond! I prayed for the latter option just so my mum could be there. I was terrified to do it without her. 

Nothing much happened throughout the day, I was allowed to come and go as I pleased as long as I was back for 7 to be monitored again. So me and Chris spent the time walking around the hospital and sat talking about what she would look like and how heavy she would be and what Noah would think of her.

7pm I had started walking back to the ward to be monitored and felt my stomach go hard, not painful but tight. I turned to Chris and asked him if this was the start. He looked hopeful, poor thing just wanted to go home. I was then hooked up to the monitor once again and my toco started reading at 25-30. Which was strange as I could see my contraction with my belly going tight and hard but felt no pain. Things were slowly kicking off! After monitoring I hopped onto the yoga ball and tried to get things to progress.

10pm My contractions started getting worse. They were starting to hurt so much I couldn't talk through them. I wasn't at screaming stage just yet but things were going well! By this point I stayed on the ward terrified that if I walked out she would just shoot out. We settled down in our bay and tried to watch a film. With me grabbing Chris' hand every few minutes to get through these contractions. I was hooked up to the monitor again to see if I had 5in10. Which I found out was the Midwife's looking for 5 contractions in 10 minutes. At this point I was only having 4 in 10 but the toco was ready at 50-55! I started losing hope at this point. When I came in 2 other women were there too, to be induced and we all had the 24 hour propess. By this point they had both progressed fast and were rushed off to the labour and delivery ward. I looked at Chris and asked him when is our turn? When can we meet our little girl. He pulled me in for a hug and told me it wouldn't be too much longer and we were next. By this point I was bed bound due to the ever growing contractions. We tried to eat a pot noodle and settle down with another film. I had so many contractions and pain at this point I couldn't even tell you what we were watching! 

11pm came and because I wasn't in established labour, the Midwife's were trying to get Chris to leave, my dad was here to pick him up (as previously arranged) but he was down right refusing telling them that I was progressing fast and he will not miss the birth of his child. It was true though, I was progressing fast and with my history of delivering Noah fast they went to get a doctor. She examined me and told me I was still only 3cm but she could see that in 3 hours I went from no contractions to having them every few minutes. She said he could stay but at midnight to go into the relatives room and to try and curl up on the sofa there. She understood how far away we lived and the fact everything was happening so quick. 

My dad then went back home to resume looking after Noah and I phoned my mum to tell her that things were getting faster. She told me that although she had been working all day, that once my waters had broke to let her know and she would make he journey up to be by my side. I burst out crying that there was a chance my mum could be there and I had held out enough that she could be there. I then stayed in my bed waiting for things to come along. With every minute the pain getting stronger.

2.30am came and I was back on the monitor this time I was having 7 contractions in 10 and they were reading at 75-80! I kept thinking to myself.. if these contractions were this painful at 75-80 what the bloody hell would the numbers be in full blown labour?! I begged the nurse for gas and air and she told me they don't give it until I go upstairs into labour and delivery. She recommended a hot bath to try and get the pain eased until I progressed. 

2.45am I got into the bath and sure enough it did help a little, I was able to relax a bit and the contractions although still there they weren't as painful. Chris sat by my side (FairPlay he never once left me) he tried to take my mind off things by joking around and making me smile. 

2.50am I was mid contraction and Chris was breathing me through it and out of know where I looked up at him and confused he turned to me and said where's my contraction gone. I looked down between my legs and we both watched as a gush of cloud formed between my legs. My waters had gone. And naturally! (They had planned to do it the next morning if my cervix was favourable enough). Without even thinking about it Chris lept up and told me he was getting a midwife, she came down and told me to get out of the bath and back into bed. The only problem was these contractions came with a vengeance, they were twice as painful and I could barely breathe. As soon as one finished another started. The midwife and Chris both tried to get me dressed, but at this point I would of been happy to walk back to bed in the complete nude! I just wanted to lie down. She hooked me back onto the monitor and within seconds she ripped it off and ran to the phone to phone labour and delivery! She came back and pulled out the propess and told me and chris to get everything ready to go upstairs! It was finally our time to go and meet our little one. I asked the midwife out of curiosity what the reading was (the very little reading she took) and the toco was 100-120! And I can confirm that they hurt like hell! On the way up to ward I kept telling everyone I needed to push, they didn't believe me and told me it was just the pressure of her head. But chris kept near and told me to ignore the pushes and to focus on my breathing. He kept reminding me that I didn't want the baby to be born in the corridor. The midwife just looked at him and he snapped at her that the last time I said I needed to push Noah came a few minutes later! He knew how far along I was and when I said I needed to push.. I bloody needed to. This hurried them up and when I got into the delivery room and onto the bed they examined me and told me I was a full 10cm! Nobody can believe I went from 3cm to 10cm in less than a hour! 

3am I climbed onto the bed on all fours as stated in my birth plan as my pelvis and hips couldn't take being on my back with legs spread. They gave me gas and air! Which is completely my best friend! I shouted to chris to ring my mum but he told me that she wouldn't be able to make it in time and that because I needed to push she would be here soon. My heart sank but I couldn't focus on that I needed to push and badly! 

Little side note here:

With Noah I told them I needed to push  and they told me no and to push when they said. I ended up being in more pain and having stitches.

Back to the story.

They listened to me and told me to push when I felt like it, TMI here but when pushing I could feel water trickle down my leg and in that moment I felt like I was wasting everyone's time and that I just needed the toilet until I pushed hard and they told me the head had be born. Wait what?! I thought I was getting my pain mixed up with constipation to then be told my baby girls head had be born. I then asked to move onto my back to deliver the rest. This would be more comfier for me and it wouldn't be too much stress in my pelvis as she was coming and quickly. 

15 minutes from being in the delivery room and 3 pushes later. Our little girl was born. 

3.18am and at tiny 6lbs 2oz Emily Hannah Grace was born. 

She was placed straight onto my chest but me being so out of it with gas and air didn't realise and I asked the Midwife's how much longer is it going to be for them to laugh and tell me she was on my chest! 

I cuddled her tight and looked at her in awe! Half hour ago I thought I would be stuck in the ward until tomorrow and now I was looking at my beautiful baby girl. A teeny little human that I had carried and nurtured for 9 months was finally here. And I managed my second Labour on just gas and air with no stitches! Go me!! 

I literally felt amazing after labour except for being super tired! I hadn't slept in nearly 24 hours and contractions really take it out of you! But after I felt like I had gone shopping not gave birth! 

 Meet Emily, Few Hours old.

Emily Now at 10 Weeks Old.

And that's that! Be sure to look out for an update post.