Brandons birth story

Contractions started on the 24th June in the evening...around 7.30pm ish. At first I wasn't sure that's what they were. An internal a couple days before showed my cervix wasn't at all dilated, still 2cm long and being my first baby I expected him to be quite late. I'd had some crampiness after the internal but it seemed to just fizzle out to nothing.

Yet 1 day past my due date I had strong period-like cramps. DH dug out his iPod because being the geek he is he'd downloaded some contraction timer software on it. So we found they were coming regularly...about 5 mins apart and 30 seconds long. Still expecting a late baby and having not had any show or other signs I thought they'd fizzle out.

That night, we tried to go to sleep...but it just wasn't possible. At some point after trying that we called the delivery suite at the hospital. They said it sounded like early labour and to have a warm bath and take some paracetamol. I did both but neither eased the pain at all. Eventually, I send DH out to the car to grab the hospital bag which contained my TENS machine and I get myself all wired up. That helped.

In the early hours of the morning, I'm getting restless and I'm finding it hard to deal with each contraction. We call the delivery suite again and they tell us to come in. It's 3am in the morning when we climb into the taxi and I sit there hoping that the contractions don't disappear...for some reason worried we'd get to the hospital for them to tell me I'm a silly woman and it's all in my head. We get there and it's really busy...all 8 delivery rooms are in use and there's another also in labour in the waiting room. We join her and her partner in there...she doesn't seem to be coping well and I start to think that we've come in too early because I don't seem to be in as much pain as her. We get taken into another waiting room and they put me on a monitor. At some point I puked over the sofa in there. They then want to do an internal exam...ugh, I hate those...I tense up and can't stay still I find them really difficult...but I let the midwife have a go only to be told I'm only 1cm dilated. I was so disappointed and scared I wouldn't be able to cope later on as it already hurt like hell and yet I had so far to go.

We call my parents and they take us home where I try another warm bath, paracetamol and attempt to sleep...ain't happening. So I sat downstairs on the sofa, attempt to eat some toast and whack the boost button on the TENS and try to distract myself from the pain by tapping my hands and feet to the tune of Viva La Vida (by Coldplay), counting in my head and visualising the numbers as I did so...some techniques I'd started reading about a week before...the idea being that you try to bombard your brain with non-painful things so it can't focus on the pain.

Around lunchtime ish we called the hospital again. I was starting to have trouble coping with the contractions and wanted to go in. This time we get taken straight to a delivery room and pretty much left to our own devices for a bit. They try to do an internal...I wasn't having an of it that time and the midwife gave up and hooked up the gas and air for me. A shift change means a new midwife and a student midwife come in. They both then stay with me for the rest of labour...unusual really, you usually don't even get constant one-on-one care let alone two-on-one. However, these two did manage to do an internal on me, found I was 8cm dilated and broke my waters to find they contained meconium...baby wasn't happy.

So it was on with the monitors. I HATED being hooked up to constant monitoring. I wanted and needed to move...they kept wanting me to lay down but that only made it hurt more. I wanted to sit...which meant they kept loosing track of babys heartbeat and picking up mine and so kept re-adjusting the monitor. Some more contractions later and I'm asking if they can give me anything else for the pain...TENS, Entonox and distraction techniques aren't very effective by this point. However I'd reached "the point of no return" really...the point where you're so close to giving birth they don't really want to give you anything else. However, the midwife did decide to give me a tiny bit of pethidine...just to take the edge off she said, except I didn't feel any effect from it at all. My only regret in all of my labour is giving in to that injection but at least I know for next time.

However, as it turned out, I wasn't as close to the birth as they thought...it took me several more hours of contractions and then pushing to get baby out. At some point, they hooked me up to a drip. I'd been unable to eat since labour started the night before...everything I consumed, except liquids, came back up. They decided I was probably getting quite dehydrated (despite the fact I could actually keep water down) and a drip was put in. Then they kept trying to get me to empty my bladder, except I'd go to the loo and nothing would come out so eventually they resorted to a catheter. Finally, I started getting an urge to push and started acting on it though my first few attempts on all fours were pretty feeble. I switched to pushing whilst lying on my right hand side as they thought he wasn't quite turning the way he should through my pelvis. Later I was switched to my left side again to help baby turn the way he should. Pushing surprised me as it actually felt good to push. Whilst pushing was tiring, not pushing hurt...so clearly pushing was preferable! I seemed to be getting somewhere but not fast enough for their liking and the midwives started talking with the doctor who started mentioning possibly doing an episiotomy and using a ventouse to get baby out. I was told to try pushing lying on my back...I obliged but at first dreaded the thought as earlier being on my back hurt far, far worse. However, I actually found this more effective and babys heartbeat was more easily located and seemed more stable in this position which bought me more time...and I really spurred into action from that point. DH mentioned later that I seemed to gain a new lease of life and determination once episiotomy and ventouse was mentioned. That's because I was absolutely terrified of having them cut me or stick stuff in me to pull baby out for me...as thoughts of those things floated through my imagination I started pushing like crazy. I was NOT going to have them do those things to me or baby, I was going to get him out now! And finally, he started crowning...the docs and midwives calmed down and DH watched as his head emerged and the midwife grabbed hold of his shoulders and pulled the rest of him out with my next push.

So many things happened all at once...it was all in the space of a few seconds but it seemed like slow motion at the time. Firstly there was immense relief from the pressure and pain and I realised I'd done it, he was out. I peered down to the end of the bed and there he was...looking a bit blue and having his airways cleared of fluid so meconium didn't end up in his lungs. And then he cried and so did I and so did DH. Next thing I know they're lifting him up and putting him on my chest and I'm up on cloud nine. They stitched me up (2nd degree tear) and I didn't care, I was hot and sweaty but didn't care, I was tired but didn't care. All that mattered was that he was here.

Ugh

So the itching continued and I called up the hospital last Thursday and they thought I should come in and be monitored again. So in I go and instead of being reassured they scare me half to death. The dozy midwife couldn't find babys heartbeat...she kept finding mine but convinced herself that it was babys and that it was really slow. So I get rushed down to delivery suite with her shouting "bradycardia, got a bradycardia" at any nearby midwife or doc. In one of the delivery rooms she tries again to find the heartbeat...no luck and she pushes the emergency button. A dozen midwives flood in, shortly followed by a doc. One midwife has taken over trying to find the heartbeat whilst another is pulling off my shoes. The dozy midwife is telling the new arrivals that she found the heartbeat, is sure it's not maternal heartbeat that it's shot up a bit but is still low for a baby. I'm thinking yeah, of course it's bloody shot up that's MY heartbeat and you're scaring the crap outta me, my heart's fucking pounding now!

Anyway, one of the other midwives finds babys heartbeat...nice and normal. I get left on the monitor for several hours, have a midwife and a doc attempt a stretch and sweep but my body wasn't having any of it...I have issues with that kinda thing at the best of times but after the scare they gave me I wasn't in the right place mentally to keep calm and relaxed enough for that kinda thing. So they took some blood to repeat the liver function test and also do a bile salts test (which is more specific for detecting obstetric cholestasis). Then told me to come in for monitoring on Saturday and Monday and to see the consultant on Monday...didn't tell me what for though!

So Saturday I get monitored again...all fine, liver function test is fine. Bile salts test takes longer to get the results but midwife says if liver function is ok the bile salts one usually is too. By Saturday the itching is much better but I wasn't sure if it was because it was actually getting better or was because the weather was cooler (it would itch more when I was hot). I knew it wasn't the antihistamines because I'd stopped taking them. Monday I go in to be monitored again...again all fine, still awaiting the bile salts test. They tell me to come back on Thursday for monitoring and the results of that test. On Monday I see the consultant and it turns out it's about induction...he's of the opinion that they can keep testing and monitoring but the levels will just keep going up until something's detected so might as well induce. He didn't pay any attention to me saying the itching had practically stopped (if it was OC you'd expect it to continue or get worse). So now I feel they're throwing around the idea of induction when there's probably no reason to do that at all.

So tomorrow I go in for monitoring again and to get the bile salts results. If that's all fine and I make it clear the itching has stopped (the weather has been roasting again lately so I know it's not related to that now!) then I hope the midwives will be happy to let me go without a mention of induction, sweeps, consultants or coming back for more monitoring. If they do mention any of that kind of stuff I'll be up for a fight because if the blood test is fine, the itching has stopped (and when I did itch I'd come up with little blisters...a case of eczema rather than a liver problem if you ask me) then I don't have OC and there's no need to do anything other than leave me be and see if I go into labour naturally over the next couple weeks and if not then induce...just the normal rountine.

So I'm up for a fight. I'm fed up of being poked, prodded and strapped to monitors. If the blood test is fine then there's clearly no need for any of that unless I have concern over babys movements or go well overdue.

Good news

Got the results of my liver function blood test today and it's normal...no obstetric cholestasis. Which is what I was thinking as when my hands and feet itch they pop up in a rash. I guess what I have on my tummy has spread to other places and is a case of PUPPPs (Pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy...aka PEP or polymorphic eruption of pregnancy).

Fortunately, this has no effect on baby and, besides driving me batty, isn't something serious for me either. So I've been trying to keep my hands, feet and tummy cool..trying not to scratch and trying every cream under the sun to ease the itch.

Just got back...

...from the hospital. I spoke to the midwife about the itching when I saw her last Thursday. She seemed to agree with me that the tummy itch was irritated stretch marks but she said if I itch anywhere else, especially feet and hands, I should call the day unit at the hospital and get it checked out. Basically that's a symptom of obstetric cholestasis...a condition caused by the increased hormones in the last trimester affecting the liver. As a result, bile salts end up in the blood causing itching...they can also affect baby and lead to an increased risk of maternal hemorrhaging. EEK!

So what happens to me yesterday...I wake up with an insanely itchy toe. Hmm...so I think I'll see how it goes. Later that day...an insanely itchy finger. I have a cool bath before bed to soothe my tummy...I get out and I have insanely itchy toes on both feet. I wake up around 3am itching madly...this time it's belly and my hands. Not good me thinks. So I called the day unit at the hospital...told them about my itchy tummy and how I've now started itching elsewhere and they told me to come in.

So baby heartbeat has been monitored...everything seems normal and he seemed to be having a whale of a time trying to kick the monitors off my belly. I've had some blood taken for full blood count (see if I'm still anaemic) and liver function. My urine sample has been sent to the lab also because it showed signs of a UTI. I've been given some antihistamines as well to try to stop the itch and help me sleep. So I'm just waiting for results now...I call them up for those on Monday. I hope it's all ok and the itch has a more harmless cause!

*itch*

I've recently gotten a lot of stretch marks and in addition they itch! Not all of them, just the ones down the middle of my tummy...I think the "comfy" tracksuit bottoms I've been wearing lately have irritated them and possibly given me a bit of a rash. So yesterday I started using Bio-Oil to hopefully improve the appearance of the ones to the side and then Sudocrem (antiseptic cream...most commonly used to treat and prevent nappy rash but also great for other itchy, sore stuff) on the middle to soothe the itchy bit. Seems to be helping already as is letting the air get to my belly...so I'm currently sitting here with my belly hanging out...lovely! lol

I think baby is trying to get himself engaged. Not sure how successful he's been but certainly feels like he's wriggling down and occasionally when walking (well waddling) I get a sharp pain in my nether regions...maybe he's head butting something. I had quite a few of those pains earlier whilst wandering around the kitchen making some lunch...then I had a really low, long and strong cramp. It was like a period cramp on steriods. Again a look of panic crossed DHs face lol. I'm sure he won't fall apart when I'm actually in labour and sees for himself what he already knows from the antenatal classes...that labour isn't like on TV where all of a sudden the woman doubles over with a contraction and then there's a mad rush to the hospital because that of course means the baby's coming in the next five minutes. Pfft I wish that's what happens IRL!! 5 minutes of pain I can take!

Hmmm

The mild panic has subsided now...well for me at least, DH looked almost like he was going to pass out when I commented on what I'd been feeling today. Now I'm feeling really excited, still a few labour nerves floating around, but on the whole I can't wait to meet my baby and hopefully soon!

Which leads me onto what I've been feeling today and for some of yesterday too...backache and crampiness. Braxton hicks have been more noticable this evening too. Now according to the midwife on Monday baby isn't engaged yet and well knowing my luck it'll still be weeks yet but I'm glad that something seems to be going on.

Don't Panic!

Both DH and I have been filled with a mild sense of panic over the last couple of days. For both of us it's the realisation that we're near the end...the pregnancy bit is almost over and we're going to be parents soon.

For me, that has meant worries about labour and hospital stays (yeah we decided not to go for homebirth but ick, I really don't want to have to stay in). Then the fact I'm preparing myself for labour (hospital bag is packed, raspberry leaf tea being drunk, birthing ball being bounced on, etc) has triggered other worries. It's suddenly made me think along the lines of "hang on, I'm getting ready to get this baby out...but, but taking care of baby inside is quite easy...now he's going to be coming out, that's going to be hard...and coming out from where??!! oh gods!!!"

It's just once you get pregnant, you spend so much time thinking about, reading about and worrying about the pregnancy and then the labour...the bit that happens afterward all that gets pushed to the back of your mind because it seems such a long way off. Then once the end is drawing near it all jumps upon you as you realise that actually it's happening and quite soon. So this weekend we've both felt like we've been hit with a tonne of bricks! And for me that had kicked off nesting instinct...I'm currently washing some baby clothes, wanting to stock up the cupboards and freezer with easy meals for the first few days and I'm just about to clear out the kitchen cupboards to find room for the steriliser and bottles.