I wanted to write down my birth story, so I could look back on it as I’m likely to forget some of it. So with that in mind, I will start from the beginning. My due date was 30th May 2013. Although I ended up going two weeks overdue, and was induced at 13 days over. I had previously had two sweeps
which were done at my midwife appointments; at 40 weeks and 41 weeks, but
nothing happened so we were booked in for induction.
which were done at my midwife appointments; at 40 weeks and 41 weeks, but
nothing happened so we were booked in for induction.
We arrived at the
hospital at around 10am on Wednesday 12th June. They
hooked me up to a machine to monitor baby. We were waiting around
for quite a while, but at 12pm the midwife inserted my pessary. She said it
could take up to 24 hours to work so it was just a waiting game from that
point. Luckily, I had packed loads of magazines, my iPod and some
puzzles so Toby and I just sat there doing word searches haha. My mum stayed
for a while but there wasn’t much happening, so she went home after
an hour or so. We just chilled out for most of the afternoon and tried to
keep ourselves busy.
Fast forward to around 7pm, I was getting mild cramps but
nothing major. Toby went home at this point as he had been there with me all
day and there wasn’t really any progress. I told him to go and get
some rest as tomorrow would be a long day – or so we thought. The
midwife had said earlier that day they would break my waters in the morning as
my pessary would have been in for almost 24 hours by then. Before Toby went
home, he sorted the hospital TV out for me, so I could catch up with Emmerdale
and Coronation Street.
nothing major. Toby went home at this point as he had been there with me all
day and there wasn’t really any progress. I told him to go and get
some rest as tomorrow would be a long day – or so we thought. The
midwife had said earlier that day they would break my waters in the morning as
my pessary would have been in for almost 24 hours by then. Before Toby went
home, he sorted the hospital TV out for me, so I could catch up with Emmerdale
and Coronation Street.
At 11pm, I text
my mum just to update her and to say goodnight. I tried to get to sleep but the
cramps were getting stronger which kept me awake. At 12am, I nipped to the toilet
and the pessary came out. I told the midwife and the doctor came shortly after
to check. She examined me and I was 2cm dilated at this point. She then inserted some gel and
things progressed pretty quickly after that.
my mum just to update her and to say goodnight. I tried to get to sleep but the
cramps were getting stronger which kept me awake. At 12am, I nipped to the toilet
and the pessary came out. I told the midwife and the doctor came shortly after
to check. She examined me and I was 2cm dilated at this point. She then inserted some gel and
things progressed pretty quickly after that.
I couldn’t get
comfortable at all and I was in a lot of pain through the night. My waters
broke at 2.30am when I was on the toilet, I told the midwife but
she didn’t seem to believe me. She was supposed to come back and
check on me but she then went on a break. I pressed my buzzer for the midwife
as the pain was quite strong and I wanted some pain relief; she gave me some
codeine but it didn’t help – I was then sick and I felt
horrendous! The pain was getting so strong and I just didn’t know
what to do with myself.
comfortable at all and I was in a lot of pain through the night. My waters
broke at 2.30am when I was on the toilet, I told the midwife but
she didn’t seem to believe me. She was supposed to come back and
check on me but she then went on a break. I pressed my buzzer for the midwife
as the pain was quite strong and I wanted some pain relief; she gave me some
codeine but it didn’t help – I was then sick and I felt
horrendous! The pain was getting so strong and I just didn’t know
what to do with myself.
Around 4am, I
pressed the buzzer (again) and a different midwife suggested an aromatherapy
bath. I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so that’s what I
did. She offered me more codeine but I declined as I felt very nauseous. I only got out the bath at about 5.30am but the
pain was getting unbearable and I just had to breathe through it but I was
really struggling. I was very distressed so once I got out the bath and back to
my bed, again I pressed the buzzer (I hated doing it; I felt like I was
annoying them but I couldn’t do very much!). After seeing how
distressed I was, the midwife reluctantly decided to examine me and
it turns out I was 8cm dilated. I immediately rang Toby and told him to come to
the hospital and they took me straight up to the delivery suite. I remember
asking for gas and air in the lift haha! That stuff was amazing! It was
probably too late for an epidural but I didn’t really want one anyway – I was
terrified at how big the needles were when I had watched One Born Every Minute earlier on in my pregnancy.
I didn’t write a birth plan either – mainly because I didn’t want to be disappointed
if I didn’t get a certain birth. Although, a water birth would’ve been my
preference – I wasn’t allowed one as I had to be induced.
pressed the buzzer (again) and a different midwife suggested an aromatherapy
bath. I couldn’t think of anything else to do, so that’s what I
did. She offered me more codeine but I declined as I felt very nauseous. I only got out the bath at about 5.30am but the
pain was getting unbearable and I just had to breathe through it but I was
really struggling. I was very distressed so once I got out the bath and back to
my bed, again I pressed the buzzer (I hated doing it; I felt like I was
annoying them but I couldn’t do very much!). After seeing how
distressed I was, the midwife reluctantly decided to examine me and
it turns out I was 8cm dilated. I immediately rang Toby and told him to come to
the hospital and they took me straight up to the delivery suite. I remember
asking for gas and air in the lift haha! That stuff was amazing! It was
probably too late for an epidural but I didn’t really want one anyway – I was
terrified at how big the needles were when I had watched One Born Every Minute earlier on in my pregnancy.
I didn’t write a birth plan either – mainly because I didn’t want to be disappointed
if I didn’t get a certain birth. Although, a water birth would’ve been my
preference – I wasn’t allowed one as I had to be induced.
To be honest, it all happened quite quickly. Toby
arrived at the hospital at 6am, just in time, as Sophie was born half an
hour later at 6.32am. I can’t seem to remember how long I was pushing for, but it can’t have been for very long! When she was born, the midwife said she was “quite big” and “at least
8lb”, so we were quite surprised when they weighed her and she was 7lb 13ozs. She seemed so tiny! Throughout my pregnancy, she was measuring a bit bigger, about 8lb 7oz. I was so worried she was going to be a huge baby, especially as I went two weeks overdue, so I
hardly bought any newborn clothes!
arrived at the hospital at 6am, just in time, as Sophie was born half an
hour later at 6.32am. I can’t seem to remember how long I was pushing for, but it can’t have been for very long! When she was born, the midwife said she was “quite big” and “at least
8lb”, so we were quite surprised when they weighed her and she was 7lb 13ozs. She seemed so tiny! Throughout my pregnancy, she was measuring a bit bigger, about 8lb 7oz. I was so worried she was going to be a huge baby, especially as I went two weeks overdue, so I
hardly bought any newborn clothes!
I was stitched back up by the doctor as I had a second
degree tear (ouch!) which took about an hour. I kept shouting at her because I
could feel her tugging, I don’t think there was enough anaesthetic. I had
a quick wash, we got Sophie dressed and then we went back down to the ward
where they pretty much left us to it.
degree tear (ouch!) which took about an hour. I kept shouting at her because I
could feel her tugging, I don’t think there was enough anaesthetic. I had
a quick wash, we got Sophie dressed and then we went back down to the ward
where they pretty much left us to it.
We stayed that
night then went home the following evening (Friday 14th June). I seriously couldn’t wait
to get home! They weren’t sure whether we would have to stay
another night to monitor Sophie’s feeding. We had tried breastfeeding at
first but she wouldn’t latch properly. I was exhausted and found it
way too stressful, so during the night I decided to give her a bottle of formula. She thankfully took to it really well so we got to go home that
evening. I really didn’t want to stay as the midwives were so busy with
everything else, they pretty much left us to it. We had never changed a nappy,
fed or winded a baby before, so as first time parents we had no idea what to do
and received practically no help from them.
night then went home the following evening (Friday 14th June). I seriously couldn’t wait
to get home! They weren’t sure whether we would have to stay
another night to monitor Sophie’s feeding. We had tried breastfeeding at
first but she wouldn’t latch properly. I was exhausted and found it
way too stressful, so during the night I decided to give her a bottle of formula. She thankfully took to it really well so we got to go home that
evening. I really didn’t want to stay as the midwives were so busy with
everything else, they pretty much left us to it. We had never changed a nappy,
fed or winded a baby before, so as first time parents we had no idea what to do
and received practically no help from them.
We settled in well at home, Toby was amazing and sorted
Sophie through the night while I caught up on sleep as I hadn’t slept in about three days! I’m so thankful that she arrived safely and there were no complications.
I’ll leave you with a few more photos…
Sophie through the night while I caught up on sleep as I hadn’t slept in about three days! I’m so thankful that she arrived safely and there were no complications.
I’ll leave you with a few more photos…
I hope you enjoyed reading how Sophie came into the world! I’d love to hear your birth stories too!
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I love hearing about other people's experiences. It's amazing how they can all be so different yet achieve the same thing. I remember the midwife fobbing me off with codeine when I was in agony. I was just like are you serious? I've not got a headache, I'm in labour lol x x
It is amazing isn't it?! Hahha the codeine made no difference whatsoever! I was in agony all night.. I don't know how I coped with the pain on my own! Thank god for gas and air haha xx
I love reading birth stories, especially ones different to mine! your midwives sounded a bit rubbish, I got given co-codamal and told to go home when I was in so much pain with intense contractions haha xx
Me too! Yeah they didn't seem bothered at all. Although they were brilliant on the delivery suite so I can't complain too much as Sophie arrived safely which is the most important thing. Haha I don't see why they even bother giving codeine/co-codamol.. It doesn't make any difference when you're in labour! xxx
Oh ouch, second degree tear sounds nasty. Your birth was so quick, my second was quick like that too x
Yeah it was pretty painful but I guess it could've been worse and I healed quite quickly! Yeah it was very fast, surprisingly, as they kept saying how it could take days as I was being induced! xx
I love birth stories, each of them so different. I had a completely different birth with each of my children! How gorgeous does she look in the first picture so new. I can still remember mine like yesterday xx
I love reading birth stories too! Aaw thank you, it feels like a lifetime ago now! xx
Thank you for sharing your birth story – and what a gorgeous wee baby x
Thank you 🙂 x
Ah I love this, love reading birth stories now as I've only shared my own. Your partner made it just in the nick of time didn't he!!
Thank you, I'd love to read yours.. where can I find it? Yep, I was so relieved when he walked through the door, I was terrified he was going to miss it! xx
Your midwife didn't sound too supportive which is a shame, But sounds like you had a good labour, I only had gas and air when I had my eldest and it made me feel as if I was very drunk!
Ouch to the second degree tear, a friend of mine had a third degree tear and I remember the agony she was in for a long time afterwards.
Thanks for sharing.
Emily xx #Love2Blog
She wasn't unfortunately but I understand they're very busy and she may have just been having a bad day. Yep it was pretty straight forward luckily! Haha yeah, I remember being high as a kite on gas and air lol! Ouch, yeah it was pretty painful but it healed quite quickly. Thank you for your comment! xx
I love reading birth stories and seeing how other babies entered the world. It's a shame the midwives left you so long. With my last son, got to the hospital and was 5cm dilated and within 5 minutes had gone to 10cm dilated and gave birh 10 minutes afterwards, just as I entered the labour ward 🙂
Me too, I love a good birth story! Wow that's very fast, at least you made it to the hospital to give birth! xx
Always interesting to read about other peoples experiences. I've had three sections, and the second two were so very different to the first, emergency, one! #love2blog
I agree, it's amazing really as no labour or birth story is the same! xx
I love reading these! I'm so excited to give birth again next year 🙂
Oh I bet you can't wait! I'm looking forward to hearing about your second baby girl arriving! xx
I love reading birth stories. I fekt very much like you in my first labour. I was terrified, in a lot of pain and kept being left. I hated pressing the buzzer. I also had no help with the baby! I didn't have a clue haha x
Me too, it's amazing really as all labour and birth stories are different! It's a shame that we both felt like that really but I guess there just aren't enough midwives xx
Awww I love birth stories, everyones seem so different from each other! Sounds like a very simple birth too, according to plan! I turned down a sweep with Abbie, she then came naturally the day after so she was ready anyway 🙂 x
It's amazing isn't it, as not one labour and birth is the same! Yeah, it was pretty straight forward and thankfully there were no complications!
Aaw she must have been ready to come out then 🙂 xx