My Birth Story

I'm finally here, it's time to write my birth story.

This is going to be one long post as my experience was a long and drawn out process, with many ups and downs. I don't want to miss out a single detail and will try to be as thorough as I can. So grab a cup of coffee, we may be here a while!

If you have been following my pregnancy journey then you will of already read on my last pregnancy post that I had been booked in for in an induction. As my pregnancy came to an end I couldn't imagine myself going into labour naturally and said it on many occasions. I don't know why. I would of loved to experience my waters bursting randomly and going into labour naturally just like in the movies. 



The Induction: 

I was admitted into hospital on Saturday 9th of November. I was very naive when it came to the induction process and really had no clue what I was letting myself in for. I thought I would be induced and would leave with my baby shortly after. Little did I know, I would be in hospital for the next 4 days and it would be a long, slow and stressful process. 

Shortly after I arrived I had my observations done and the baby was monitored for a while before the induction began. Next up the nurse discussed what would be happening and gave me a pamphlet to read. 

The first step of induction is the pessary and this is where the nightmare began. The pessary is used to soften and thin the cervix. It wasn't a pleasant feeling and rather painful when it was being administered. As soon as it was in I began feeling cramps. They were showing up on the monitor as contractions and she was concerned as she said I shouldn't be feeling so much so soon. She said that she might not of put it in correctly and it may need to be corrected. She called another nurse to check and she said it was fine and it was just my body adjusting. I was so glad it didn't need to be put in again.

Fast forward 17 hours, it was now 5 am on Sunday morning and I was feeling very uncomfortable. I actually asked a nurse to check how I was doing. She was a trainee and wasn't very delicate with me and actually had to bring someone "more experienced" to check the pessary. Another lady came, swiftly checked and told me that the pessary had been put in wrong and had had no effect! I was absolutely gutted. I had gone through 17 hours of pains and numerous uncomfortable internals for nothing. They had put my pessary in wrong! They had to remove it and apply another. When they left I burst into tears. 

Sunday morning it was time for another internal to see if the pessary had any effect. It didn't. So after 24 hours of monitoring, a failed pessary, a replacement pessary and continuous cramps I had gotten no further. I felt very deflated but on one hand I was glad about the lack of progress as I literally had no energy to stay awake let alone go through labour. I was so exhausted as I was in an noisy ward where people would talk all night long. I was getting back contractions too so could only doze while sitting up. It was a nightmare. I remember bawling my eyes out in the toilet cause I was so drained, stressed and emotional.  

The next step was the gel. The gel is a more concentrated version of the pessary. You can have up to three doses of gel and they check after 6 hours rather than every 24 hours to see if it has had any effect. I ended up having 2 pessary's and 2 doses of gel just to get to 2cm dilated. 

Come Monday morning I had finally gotten to 2 cm dilated after around 3 days in hospital. They told me I would be having my waters broke later on that day. I'd had a better sleep and I was raring to go. I was so happy. We ended up packing up all my things thinking we would be going down to the labour ward in a few hours. We ended up waiting a ridiculous 15 hours! You can understand a long wait but no one kept me updated I was just on tender hooks all day long. I was finally taken to have my waters broken at 1 am on Tuesday morning. I wasn't raring to go at this point, I was knackered. But it was time! 



The Labour: 


1 am on Tuesday morning I was taken down to birth suite accompanied with the midwife and student midwife who would be delivering my baby. I couldn't of asked for anyone better, they were fantastic support the entire way through. Nick and my Mum were also with me and they were fantastic. The room I was in was really nice and I felt comfortable straight away. I led on the bed and was strapped up to monitors which kept track of not only the baby's heart rate but my contractions too. I was a little worried at this point as I didn't like the thought of being bed bound during labour as he was back to back and I had been experiencing intense back pain and strong contractions in my back for days. They assured me that once everything was under way I would be able to move around. I had an examination and was shocked to discover I was 4cm dilated. I had gone from 2cm to 4 in the time I was waiting to go to the birth suite. 

It was then time to break my waters. I was apprehensive at this point as people say it can be painful but I didn't feel a thing. It felt very relieving once they had been burst and I continued to loose waters throughout the labour. The midwife told me that the baby had pooed a little and the baby doctor would have to take a look at him once he was born but he wasn't in any distress according to the monitor so I wasn't worried. 

Shortly after my waters had been broke I was put on the induction drip which speeds up contractions and makes labour faster and more painful. As soon as I was on the drip my contractions intensified tenfold and I was straight on the gas and air. It took me a while to get the hang of gas and air but it really helped. The midwives repeatedly told me how well I was doing and that I had a high pain threshold cause my contractions were so strong already and I was hardly flinching. 

This is where everything goes foggy as I did go a bit crazy on the gas and air. I found that at the beginning bouncing on the birthing ball helped with contractions, Nick would stand behind me and hold my shoulders to keep me steady. I remember being sat on the ball and glancing at the clock and it was around 3.30 am and I remember thinking how on earth had it got to that time already? As the baby came lower and lower I found the back pain becoming intolerable and sitting on the ball was excruciating so I opted to stand up, walk around and make circles with my hips. 

I then had the urge to go on all fours so they brought out a birthing mat. I remember thinking at this point that the baby would be born soon but I was very wrong. I was on all fours and my Mum was holding the gas and air in my mouth. At this point the gas and air was having little effect and my back pain was becoming too much for me. I actually demanded an epidural around this time as I couldn't get comfortable in any position. How was I supposed to give birth? The midwife said she would have to examine me first before we could discuss an epidural. I was 8cm at this point and thankfully she convinced me not to have an epidural and I opted for the diamorphine instead. This allowed me to actually lie on my back! I felt no back pain whatsoever and I was so relieved. It made me very drowsy and I ended up dozing off between contractions.

More time passed and it was time to push! Thankfully I was able to be comfortable led on my back so I was on the bed for the birth. I used the arm and leg stirrups and literally went full throttle. They had to put a heart rate monitor on the baby's head as we kept losing signal but I didn't know they did that until after he was born. I thought the whole pushing process would happen faster than it did and it was very exhausting. The pushing part of labour was the part that had always frightened me the most but I have to say it was the easiest part. It is true what they say. At this point you just want your baby out and sheer determination and strength takes over. I remember my Mum and Nick both bursting into tears even before he was born because I was trying so hard. I kept asking the midwives if I was doing it right and they assured me I was doing fab. 

Next thing I know I feel a gush and he is out. I could feel him kicking in between my legs and I couldn't believe I had done it! They pulled him on top of me for skin to skin and Nick cut the cord while I gave my son his first cuddle. I remember being led on the bed delivering the placenta and being stitched up while my son was getting checked out over on the table away from me and I was desperate to have him back in my arms. While they were working on me I was telling my Mum what to dress him in! I also remember Nick just gazing at him with pure adoration. 




The Baby: 

Noah Nicholas was born shortly after 6am on 12/11/13. Shocking us all weighing just 7lb 2oz. No feeling comes close to that moment when your baby is finally in your arms and you set eyes on them for the first time. My heart literally wants to burst with love and I cannot believe Nick and I have created a soul so beautiful. He is utter perfection. 




My Thoughts: 

The whole induction process was an absolute nightmare and I so wish I was able to go into labour naturally. It was such a long winded experience and I wish that I had of done my research before hand. 

I am very happy with my labour experience. I have always knocked myself and said I wouldn't be able to handle it but I didn't find it half as painful as I thought it would be. Instinct just takes over when the time comes and you will be surprised at what you can handle!

I still cannot believe I gave birth just over a week ago and I am so proud of myself and my beautiful baby boy.  

36 comments:

  1. Congratulations! He's gorgeous :)

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  2. aww congratulations! what a story! ^^

    He's lovely! <3

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    1. Thank you so much. There is so much I can't remember or have missed off. It was an amazing experience despite the long process to get started off. xx

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  3. Aw I really feel for going through all that with the induction! I thought 37 hours was bad! Well done and congrats on your gorgeous boy :) x

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    1. The induction was long but once my waters were broke and labour was established he was out in just 5 hours, so that wasn't too bad! Thanks so much. xx

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  4. Congratulations! He is adorable :)
    Thank you so much for sharing your story, its amazing to hear someone talk about labour in a full an frank way. Really reassuring for a newly (ish) wed who is thinking about the next steps. I'm amazed that you went through all of that and still felt like it was a positive experience!

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    1. Ahh thank you Jennie. Go for it! It's an incredible experience. Don't listen to the horror stories, go in with an open mind and let nature take it's course. You will be amazed at how your body copes and how you naturally know what to do. Thanks for your comment x

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  5. Hes adorable. Congratulations :)

    xxx

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  6. What a great story and you'll be so happy that you have written it so soon after. I didn't write mine until Caleb was 4 months old and I'm pretty sure I skipped parts out! He is absolutely adorable and well done you!! xx

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  7. congratulations, he's so gorgeous! xxx

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  8. He is so gorgeous! I'm pregnant myself and love hearing other peoples pregnancy stories. They sure don't tell you about things like this in the books do they!? Congratulations on making such an adorable little man :) xx

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  9. Congratulations Jenna <3 He is gorgeous! xx

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  10. so interesting to read! brave woman! xx

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  11. Congrats! I had a long and scary pregnancy...I was so happy when my lovely little baby boy was born! Wishes for many happy and healthy years to come! <3

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  12. Congratulations, every birth is so beautiful - bloody hurts though! ;)

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  13. awww wow! hes lovely! such a cute name too! arrr x

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  14. Aww I read on twitter you were in for the long haul! So glad you and him are fit and healthy - thats the main thing! xoxo

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  15. Aww congrats! I had a little Boy (Bert) 14 weeks ago! its good to read other birth stories to compare. x

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  16. He's a cutie for sure!! :) xx

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  17. beautiful baby, well done and congrats to you both! x

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  18. Congrats Jenna! He is so adorable! :)

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  19. Congratulations,he is such a cutie

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  20. Congratulations!

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  21. I love reading birth stories and yours is similar to mine. I found pushing the easiest part of the whole thing. Congratulations on your beautiful little family xx

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  22. He's beautiful, well done. I still can't believe they let you wait that long. I was induced, the pessary kept falling out and they went straight to break my waters at 8 that evening. By 4.23, Amy was born and less than 12 hours later, we were home

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  23. Woah what a lovely story. Your little boy is absolutely beautiful. x

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  24. Ahhh This will be lovely to read to your son is 18 and towering above you!

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  25. Congratulations to you both, he's absolutely gorgeous, what a cutie! My little 6 month old nephew is called Noah too, great name choice! Thanks for sharing!
    L xo

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  26. I was another mum whose birth plan got thrown out the window as I also had to be induced (but straight on the drip). I think they had to wrestle the gas and air away from my eventually as one contraction seemed to roll into another with no proper gap.

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  27. Love your birth story, he's gorgeous.

    xXx

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  28. Worth it all for your precious baby -

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  29. Your Birth Story is a record for yourself and your family. The Induction process can take time, a matter of days :- Just as it was in your situation. It is best to try to relax, rest,and be patient. The same goes for Birth partner, family etc. As best to try to avoid encountering the labour process overtired / exhausted. Your experience, and sharing that may assist others for when the time comes for their Induction of labour etc.

    Congratulations on the Birth of your Son. Take time to become a family, get into a routine which suits you. Accept how he changes your life, and the life of family and friends. As you have just added a new person to your Community. Likely to be Exciting and Challenging times ahead. Enjoy!

    Rachel Craig

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