Friday the 13th of June 2014 at 3.57am my waters broke. I had no idea what I was getting into.
I had this idea of birth and this plan I was going to follow - I was aiming for a natural birth and wasn't going to use pain relief other than gas, boy I was crazy.
After my waters broke I called the maternity ward to let them know what had happened. At that stage my contractions were very minor and they said to call them back in an hour to keep them updated. An hour later called the ward back and they advised I come in so they could check how I was going. Hubby then drove me to hospital. He was so proud and excited he made the exciting phone calls to our immediate family to let them know our little man was on the way. We got to hospital, it was crazy busy. It took the midwives around 20mins to find me a bed so they could check over me. Everything was fine and my contractions wasn't very intense (I still had a giant smile on my face) so they suggested I go home and get through as much of the labour as I could. As soon as we started heading home my contractions started getting very painful and that smile was quickly wiped off my face. I stayed home for a couple hours. I couldn't handle it much longer so hubby took me back to hospital where I begged the midwife for drugs (so much for my all natural plan!). The midwife took me into my birthing suite and provided me with the gas - oh my god, that stuff was amazing. I was happy with the gas at that stage. I got to take the gas with me into the shower, it was amazing having the water on my back and that gas to suck on.
The midwife later wanted to check on my baby. They placed a clip on my baby's head to see how he was going. At that stage he was fine. Being on my back so they could check on my baby was so painful I begged for an epidural (roughly 3.30pm) I didn't get the epidural until 7.30pm. It was the longest wait of my life! Oh that epidural was amazing. I started feeling the effects what felt like straight away!
While waiting for this epidural my poor baby was distressed, his heart rate dropped several times. The first time was so scary - I had no idea what was happening, about 15 people flooded into the room and started shoving a drip in my arm and started talking about prepping me for surgery, hubby was sitting in the corner with a look of fear on his face. Baby's heart rate then went back to normal, everybody was so relived and everyone left the room. The doctor stayed and explained what happened and let me know if this was to continue we'd have to discuss an emergency c-section. unfortunately this kept happening, baby's heart rate would drop, then go back to normal. The doctor made the decision that I needed an emergency c-section at about 8pm.
I was then prepped for surgery. I didn't feel stressed as I knew the doctors were doing what I needed to have a healthy, happy baby in my arms. There was an end in sight.
In theatre it was great. I had hubby by my side holding my hand as they doctors sliced me open and removed my baby.
At 8.59pm Logan was finally born. He had an awesome set of lungs, he was so loud. The doctors lifted him over the curtains so I could see him - unfortunately I couldn't though, all I could see was his foot. Hubby then got to go over to my baby and have the first hold and cut the cord. I was so disappointed, having the first hold and doing skin to skin was part of my birth plan but unfortunately the QLD government doesn't fund skin to skin after a c-section so I missed out on that. I still envy my husband for getting to experience that amazing moment. Hubby then got to take Logan to the special care nursery where he got to dress him and give him his first feed (I expressed colostrum while pregnant incase Logan went into special care, I'm glad I did as he needed it)
After being stitched up I got taken into recovery where I had to wait until i got some feeling back before I could be taken to the ward to meet my son. I was so excited! I was shivering from the epidural the whole time, it was such a weird sensation. I was soon taken to the ward where hubby and Logan were waiting for me. Logan was placed in my arms. It was the most amazing moment getting to meet my son.
In the end I wouldn't change a thing. I learnt that epidurals are nothing to be scared of - if you need one, get one! Why suffer in pain? I also learnt that c-sections are not the worst thing in the world, it was best for me and Logan. Logan would not have come out without the c-section as the doctor discovered he was coming out side on and got stuck, which was probably why he was distressed.
A few days after the birth the baby blues hit me and i felt regret about the c-section as i felt as if I technically didn't give birth to him and my birth didn't go to plan. I learnt to get over that as I had an amazing little man in my arms that I made! The human body is an amazing thing.
Logan, less than 24 hours old
- Rach xx
