At 5 I woke hubby and told him I thought it may be time but was not sure, he timed the contractions and I used the breathing to get through them (THANKS !!). But the contractions were still not strong in the stomach just back back back. I could not sit on the birth ball as the pressure was unbearable and just wanted to stand or sit on toilet. I called the hospital and they said to stay home till I was sure. I put on my tens machine and it did help a bit but not much.

So we continued. At about 7 the contractions were getting closer but no change in strength. I called the hospital again and they said stay home till you’re sure.

At 8:30 the contractions were between 4 and 6 minutes apart and I told hubby to pack the car I was not calling the hospital as I was just going in if this was not the real thing I would come home but I needed positive confirmation NOW.

We arrived at Kingston at 8:30 and they monitored me for 20 minutes she said the baby was fine, but there did not seem to be any real contractions going on. She did an internal, very painful, I used the breathing again and discovered that I was 3cm at this point. So they were not sending me home. PANIC SET IN. I started using Arnica and planned to take one every hour and did manage most of the day with that. I also used water with Rescue Remedy in throughout.

I got into a bath in the hospital and this really eased the pain but I was on my back and so decided to get out and move about. I was pretty tired at this point, only having had an hours rest. My sister was on her way from Camberly and hubby was doing fine with me but very scared by all the pain and noise I was making. I used Kali Carb to try and help with the back.

At 10:30 I decided to ask for an epidural, as I could not bear the pain and then used the gas and air till the anaesthetist arrived. I did not want to have the pethadine. The epidural was given at 11.

I alternated sides and the epidural was fine, it was a mobile one and I was able to move around quite fine. There was still a lot of pressure but it was bearable.

At 12 I was unable to pass urine so they inserted a catheter, and my waters broke around the same time. They gave me another internal and I had dilated to 6 cm so all was going well but the contractions were not showing up strong on the monitor irregular and not really peaking. Every now and again we would have a whopper but they would go away again.

At 1 I had a heavy blood loss, contractions were 2/3 in every 10 but still not strong. And the pressure had appeared to have eased when I told them this they did another internal and I was 7 cm, the doctor wanted to give me the sintocinon. I tried using the gelsemium to get it all going, but it had no effect. I asked if I could get Shirley Anne in as she had offered to if they needed to get things going but the doctor said no it was not a good idea. I tried to stall them as I really did not want the sintocinon. They said I really needed it as the contractions had not been strong all day I had no more pressure and the dilation seemed to have slowed down aswell they agreed to give me a very low dose to see if it was just a little nudge I needed.

At 2 the sintocinon was given and I was told it would be reviewed at 4. I had to remain on the bed due to all the monitoring and the drip and catheter. I tried to sit up and forward but the baby’s heartbeat dropped below 100 so could not and alternated sides. I managed to relax and may even have had a sleep at this point. At 20 past the contractions were not picking up and by 40 past they started to pick up again.

At 3:30 I started feeling very nauseous and had a bad headache.

At 4 the contractions were 4 in 10 but not long ones. The pressure had returned a bit but I was not dilating and was still 7cm and I now had a temperature.

They decided to increase the dose of cintocinon and wait another 2 hours to see how things were going to go.

At 5 I was still feeling nauseous and vomited.

At 6 o’clock they did another internal, I was 8 cm but not fully effaced on the one side, and the baby was in the back to back position. The midwife did a sweep. The contractions were 5-6 in 10 and still weak. The doctor said that the baby had been under some distress in the last hour but it had returned to within acceptable range. She said I could opt for a c-section at this point if I wanted to, or I could go another 2 hours at which point the decision would have to be made. I decided to give it the 2 hours. They said if the baby was at all distressed though in the 2 hours we would have to go straight into theatre. They again upped the dose of cintocinon.

At 7 contractions 3 in 10.

At the 8 review things were still the same as before the cervix was still thick on one side but it appeared to be the opposite side to the last time ( I was not sure that was possible ?). We needed to make a decision. The doctor allowed me to try for one last hour and said at 9 if I was not ready to push we would have to go for a c-section.

At 9 contractions 4-5 in 10
At 9:15 contractions 3-4 in 10.

Another internal was done at 9:20 and I was now 9cm but still not fully effaced. The baby had started to turn but was not fully in the right position. The decision was made to go for an emergency c-section.

I went into theatre and they cut at 22:05 and Joshua was delivered at 22:15. It took 3 attempts to get him out as he was well wedged in. He weighed in at 9lb5 (4.25kg). The top up epidural they gave me numbed me right to my fingertips and I was unable to lift my head to look at Joshua or hold him. I was incredible sleepy and felt totally out of it and cannot remember too much about what went on in there.

I also lost a lot of blood 1 1/2 litres and I needed a transfusion in the morning.

I was really upset I had not been able to feed him straight away and cannot now remember when the first feed was. He got jaundice and lost more than the 10% body weight allowed, and we had to stay hospital for 6 days. We had to top him up with a bottle in hospital to get over the jaundice. Had one very stressful night with him under light screaming and not eating. And another 2 fairly stressful ones. The doctor came and had a chat to me, and told me that there was absolutely no way a natural birth was going to happen as I was not going to fully dilate and that when he had turned he had actually gotten stuck and so would not have descended any further. My cut healed very well, I continued with the Arnica and also alternated Hypercium and Bellis Per. They were actually surprised how quick it healed and how soon I was up and about as I was walking around within 24 hours.

But we are home now and all is going well. The breastfeeding is going along nicely now and I think we are getting there with him. I have not had to top up with a bottle at all yet at home and he has picked up 400g.

Wish all the girls well from me and good luck. And I look forwared to seeing you all again in the post natal classes.

Janine.

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