27 hours in labour..... (Hospital Births)

Member Name: emmahumphries

Product:	Hospital Births
Date:	05/02/01 (80 review reads)
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Hospital has got to be THE best place to have your baby, as I learnt from my labour. Ok it wasn't a very nice hospital birth and I was very annoyed at times, especially the way I was treated as I'm only 18 but everything is there just in case anything goes wrong.

I went to see the my midwide as normal for a checkup on my due date. After taking a urine sample and my blood pressure she found that both were abnormal. Having protein in my urine and high blood pressure she was worried I may have pre-eclampsia, so I was sent straight to hospital.

When I got there they did the tests again - both were fine by then so they sent me home after having a blood test, saying if I got a headache I MUST call them straight away. So that's exactly what I did the next day.

When I did call they checked on my blood results - they showed that my blood pressure had been up and down all over the place so they wanted me to go in for monitoring.

After being monitored and talking to the doctor I was told it would be best for me to be induced. I was also told it was best to do it late at night as it didn't always work first time, they would then try again at 6 O'Clock in the morning if nothing had happened.

So 9 O'clock I sent my husband home to get some sleep and I was induced at 10.30, within 1/2 hour I was in pain. I called for the midwife and she just gave me paracetamol and told me to have a bath she refused to examine me. Again I called for her and she basically told me to shut up. It wasn't until the midwife changeover at 3.30 that I was examined, and surprise surprise I had started to dilate HOURS AGO. My husband was called and I was taken to the Labour Ward.

I had pethidine, which made me fall asleep for 1/2 hour it didn't take away the pain it just made me more relaxed. So had it again 6 hours later when it had worn off.

The rest of the day I spent hooked up to 2 drips, one to t
ry and speed up my contractions. Being in labour was soo painful. As any other mother knows it is the worst pain ever, but when it's over it's well worth it.

After 25 painful hours I decided to have an epidural. I had tried gas and air but in made me feel very light headed and sick. It was still another two hours until my son was born. BUT THEY WERE 2 VERY PAINLESS HOURS. It was so nice to relax and not feel a thing. I had been dead against having a nedle put into my spine, but I was just too tired and had no energy left as you can expect after this long.

It didn't help that I wasn't allowed to eat in case I needed a caesarian, so no food for over 24 hours made me feel awful. I spent most of my labour being sick - which resulted in my pulling a stomach muscle, very painful!!

When I was examined late in the labour too much pressure was put on my baby's head which stressed him out - the alarm sounded and so many people rushed into the room. I got really scared as no one would tell me what was happening, except a very young trainee who didn't really know an awful lot.

I had to lie there and watch my baby's heartbeat drop from 130 pbm down to 60 bpm then rush up to over 170 bpm. Not knowing what was going on had to be the worst thing ever. I just wanted to hold my baby, to know he was ok.

Eventually what seemed like hours later people calmed down and my baby was fine - the doctor asked me if she could help deliver my baby as it would be quicker. So I agreed and there I was legs in the air in stirrups, and as I had an epidural and couldn't feel my legs they kept hitting the midwifes on the head - lol, so I had a midwife holding my legs up. The doctor performed an episiotomy and delivered my baby by ventouse (suction), and to be quite honest when she told me to push I didn't as I had no energy I just pulled the right faces to make the doctor think I was puching - I maybe pushed on
ce or twice.

WWAAAAAHHHHH - That was the best noise I ever heard, when my baby emerged into this world. He was delivered straight onto my stomach and weighed a healthy 7lb 15oz. My husband hiding behind a curtain near the door - kept peeking out every now and then seeing his face was amazing.

It was such a brilliant experience and the aftercare was very good. Although I couldn't stand for a while after having an epidural so I had to be wheeled to and helped onto the loo, then I had god knows how many stitches that hurt for weeks.

I would definately have a hospital birth every time - I'm glad I did or there wouldn't have been a paediatrician to put me out of my pain - lol.

If anyone pregnant is reading this - don't worry every birth is different!!!

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