I wrote this last year so that I could remember and reflect on the labour and birth of my son, Mason. It was my greatest achievement to date and an amazing experience. This little boy is growing up so fast and is a gorgeous little man. I'm reposting this story here so that I can share it with others.
It is long, and it does talk in detail about how I felt during the labour and birth. If that makes you uncomfortable then this may not be a post you'd like to read.
If that doesn't bother you... please read on!
On the morning of Wednesday the 5th of May my husband and I arrived at the hospital for our induction. Our baby was now 41 weeks, and with proteinuria our obstetrician (OB) decided an induction was necessary. I didn't agree with the OB, but gosh darn it - it appears I don't have a medical degree! I arrived at the hospital in tears.
The idea of an induction was incredibly upsetting, as I had wanted a natural labour and birth and I was shattered that this had been taken away. I wanted the excitement of contractions starting and the trip to the hospital, maybe even the waters breaking dramatically! Every induction story that I had heard of had ended up with even more medical intervention, and the artificial rupture of the membranes and the Syntocinon drip meant that my baby and I would need to be constantly monitored. Whilst I knew that the hospital would still allow me to be somewhat active (as far as the cords would reach) it meant that using the shower or bath for pain relief was now out of the question.
In the lead up to the scheduled induction I tried every natural induction method I'd heard of. I ate a hot curry every day, ate copious amounts of pineapple, had sex, tried acupressure and nipple stimulation and then finally, as a last resort, castor oil on the Tuesday night. Castor oil was suggested by both my OB and a midwife at the hospital, and the midwife assured me it would have cleared my system by the time labour started. I was hesitant, but decided to go for it. It certainly cleared my system, but unfortunately did not get contractions started.
So after a light breakfast I was on my way to the hospital. The midwife who had been assigned to me for the day was specifically chosen, because she was one of only a few who had a good working relationship with my OB. She greeted me with "I hear you don't want to be here today?", and I just laughed and nodded. I had been into hospital the previous day for monitoring and had had a great discussion with the midwives about my disappointment and apprehension about the induction. Obviously the lines of communication were working beautifully! Turns out my OB had also been talking to them about me, telling the midwife "She's a crier". Considering I turned up to the hospital in tears I can't really blame her for saying it!
Initial tests were done, not surprisingly my blood pressure was elevated (120/70, as opposed to the 100/60 I'd averaged throughout pregnancy) and my pulse was high - 111! The OB was running late, so the midwife snuck in some more food (essential, as I am hypoglycemic and I wasn't going to be allowed to eat once everything was under way) and my husband took some final photos of my pregnant belly.
When it came time for the artificial rupture of the membranes (breaking of the waters) I was really scared. Tears were streaming - partly through anxiety, but also the intense disappointment that it had come to this. I'd heard that the procedure hurt, but surprisingly it wasn't as uncomfortable as the internal examinations I'd had previously. After the procedure my OB asked if we wanted a baby with hair or not - I said I didn't care. Turns out he had a good head of brown hair - we were given a lock of it right then! The OB then put in the cannula in preparation for the drip. Before she left she came around and talked to me saying that she was leaving me in the capable hands of the midwife, and that we would see how things progressed over the next 12 - 24 hrs. Although I was hoping that labour wouldn't take that long, the extended time frame she gave made me feel a little better. I was worried that if things hadn't progressed by the time her theatre list was complete she'd send me off for a caesarian, and that was something I really didn't want to happen.
Once the OB had left the midwife said I could get up and go for a walk before she started the drip. I was so grateful for this (I don't think it was in the OB's plans!). The walk around the hospital gave me a chance to clear my head, have a chat and a laugh with my husband and just get myself prepared for the fact that this was it. Even though I had arrived at the hospital not wanting to be there, it had started now and I had to deal with it as best as I could - I was going to meet my baby today!
To be continued...
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