Thank you for the congratulations and for following my blog.
It brings a tear to my eye when I think of the journey that this miracle boy has taken from a little oval shaped embryo into the person that lays beside me. Now that truely is a miracle.
xx
Monday 3 October 2011
Saturday 1 October 2011
New Mum!
Well, I cant believe it but its true, Im actually a mum to a totally adorable little boy.
I completed my 24 hour urine collection and took the bottles back to the hospital to be analysed. I rang the following day and the results showed that I had failed (just) the urine test. I was invited into the day unit to have my case reviewed by a doctor. There seemed no urgency and the I chatted with the midwife and eventually decided to go in on Sunday, as that is the quietest day.
Sunday arrived, dh's birthday, and we stopped into the hospital on the way to dinner. They took my blood pressure, it was elevated, and the doctor said that they want to admit me. So that was that Sunday, 11 September I was admitted onto the ante-natal ward.
On that first night they gave me a bp pill that split my head in two. I couldnt believe it. They gave me the pill at 11pm and the first time I could put my head on the pillow was 2pm the following afternoon. I spent the night begging for medication and crying.
There I stayed having blood pressure scare after bp scare - with bp reaching levels of 198 at the end. Mostly my bp raised in the night and the same procedure would happen. The nurse would wake me, take my blood pressure, it would be raised, she would ring the doctor, the doctor would prescribe another pill, sometime later she would return, take my blood pressure again, it wouldnt have gone down and the doctor would come. He would tap my joints to check my reflexes, order bloods (which were mostly clear) and my bp would come down an hour or so later only to spike in the middle of the day. Then in a day or two the whole procedure would start again. That was the pattern of the days including some growth scans and trips to the diabetic clinic until they began to see me on the ward.
On the 19/9 the sonographer who completed a very quick growth scan concluded that 'the ac (abdonminal circumference) was now below the 3rd percentile and as stated in the previous growth scan the measures had halted'. On the night of the 19th my bp rose to 198 and they introduced lots of different medications to try to lower it.
For the morning rounds of the consultant I had it all worked out how I was going to demand some action but I didnt need to say anything. The consultant reviewed my results and said ' in light of the bp and scan we need to induce you'. I later asked the nurse when I would transfer me over to the birth centre and she said about 8ish. Within an hour they were there waiting for me.
I was transfered to one of the rooms and given a gel to prompt the cervix to open (be warned it is the most horrible thing I have ever had done to me. They put 2 fingers inside you and keep going till they find the opening they then insert this gel.) After 6 hours nothing had happened so the procedure was repeated (this time by a midwife with amazingly short and extra plump fingers!!) Again nothing happened. What they want is for the cervix to open enough for them to break your waters. I fell asleep, the next morning the same girl gave me a 'sweep' which is kind of the same but without the gel. At my hospital they wont repeat the meds more than twice then you have to have a 24 hour break. I was wandering around the room, had a quick bounce on the birthing ball and bang my waters broke.
They transfered me to another room and gave me an epidural immediately. Because of my high blood pressure it was felt safest for me to have this immediately so my body wouldnt experience the highs and the pain could be managed from the off. They then started the hormone drip that brings on contractions. Im very proud to say that after only 1 hour of proper full strength contractions I dilated 5cms! I had only had one shot of the epidural and felt I was managing the pain well. But after that point every time I had a contraction the baby's heart slowed. This is apparently fine if fully dilated but not at this stage of labour. The doctors came in and discussed between themselves what should happen, they decided that I should have a break and they would review in 30 minutes. They then left the room. The midwife swictched everything off and stopped the drip (which stopped the contractions) as instructed. She told me to lay on my left side and relax. I did this and after only 5 or so minutes we all listened as the babies heart slowed to nothing. The midwife asked dh to press the emergency switch - I shouted at him to push it now.
Within 2 minutes the room was full of the same doctors crowding around the bed and I shouted as forcefully as I could that they need to get my baby out now. We were run and bumped down the hallway on the trolley. DH was given scrubs to change into and he joined me in theatre. A tent thing was erected, I was striped bare (the cold air across my body), my drugs changed so I could feel no pain just sensation and suddenly from behind the sheet - a cry. It was the most amazing sound I have ever heard. He was rushed for checks by the baby doctors (they had been told he was 31 weeks so half the team were there). I told dh to go with them so he could hear what was being said and check everything was okay while the doctors put me back together. Then he appeared, wrapped in a towel, perfect. He is tiny (that much was true) he weighed 4lb1, he now weighs 3lb9 or 1.8kgs (that weight loss is normal after birth). He has no signs of any syndromes. He is beautiful and has made typing this message twice as hard as he is laying on my chest curled in his favourite position.
We were discharged from hospital on Sunday. Sunday night we got home and I have a terrible fever. So after 1 night we are back in hospital, apparently I have a blood infection and a collection of fluid from the c-section (try typing with a drip and a baby) and we will have to stay till I feel better. Im pleased because that 1 night on my own, with no midwives to asked I worried about looking after my tiny boy. I may be sick but I am overwhelmed with happiness. My job is to feed him and keep him warm until he grows. The most amazing thing is how he recognises me from everyone else. I think he is pretty clever too, he scowls, has a sulky face and smiles. Not bad for 9 days old.
Well thats it... except you may be asking about names...we havent decided. I like Soren and have been road testing it but it feels such a important decision I want to get it right.
We have a wonderful private room (probably because of the word 'infection') overlooking the Thames and I check the time by looking across the river at one of Big Ben's faces.
On Monday we should be discharged if the collection has reduced from the previous scan if not Im afraid its a big needle and ultra sound equipment to remove it.
Im overwhelmed when I look at my darling little boy.
I completed my 24 hour urine collection and took the bottles back to the hospital to be analysed. I rang the following day and the results showed that I had failed (just) the urine test. I was invited into the day unit to have my case reviewed by a doctor. There seemed no urgency and the I chatted with the midwife and eventually decided to go in on Sunday, as that is the quietest day.
Sunday arrived, dh's birthday, and we stopped into the hospital on the way to dinner. They took my blood pressure, it was elevated, and the doctor said that they want to admit me. So that was that Sunday, 11 September I was admitted onto the ante-natal ward.
On that first night they gave me a bp pill that split my head in two. I couldnt believe it. They gave me the pill at 11pm and the first time I could put my head on the pillow was 2pm the following afternoon. I spent the night begging for medication and crying.
There I stayed having blood pressure scare after bp scare - with bp reaching levels of 198 at the end. Mostly my bp raised in the night and the same procedure would happen. The nurse would wake me, take my blood pressure, it would be raised, she would ring the doctor, the doctor would prescribe another pill, sometime later she would return, take my blood pressure again, it wouldnt have gone down and the doctor would come. He would tap my joints to check my reflexes, order bloods (which were mostly clear) and my bp would come down an hour or so later only to spike in the middle of the day. Then in a day or two the whole procedure would start again. That was the pattern of the days including some growth scans and trips to the diabetic clinic until they began to see me on the ward.
On the 19/9 the sonographer who completed a very quick growth scan concluded that 'the ac (abdonminal circumference) was now below the 3rd percentile and as stated in the previous growth scan the measures had halted'. On the night of the 19th my bp rose to 198 and they introduced lots of different medications to try to lower it.
For the morning rounds of the consultant I had it all worked out how I was going to demand some action but I didnt need to say anything. The consultant reviewed my results and said ' in light of the bp and scan we need to induce you'. I later asked the nurse when I would transfer me over to the birth centre and she said about 8ish. Within an hour they were there waiting for me.
I was transfered to one of the rooms and given a gel to prompt the cervix to open (be warned it is the most horrible thing I have ever had done to me. They put 2 fingers inside you and keep going till they find the opening they then insert this gel.) After 6 hours nothing had happened so the procedure was repeated (this time by a midwife with amazingly short and extra plump fingers!!) Again nothing happened. What they want is for the cervix to open enough for them to break your waters. I fell asleep, the next morning the same girl gave me a 'sweep' which is kind of the same but without the gel. At my hospital they wont repeat the meds more than twice then you have to have a 24 hour break. I was wandering around the room, had a quick bounce on the birthing ball and bang my waters broke.
They transfered me to another room and gave me an epidural immediately. Because of my high blood pressure it was felt safest for me to have this immediately so my body wouldnt experience the highs and the pain could be managed from the off. They then started the hormone drip that brings on contractions. Im very proud to say that after only 1 hour of proper full strength contractions I dilated 5cms! I had only had one shot of the epidural and felt I was managing the pain well. But after that point every time I had a contraction the baby's heart slowed. This is apparently fine if fully dilated but not at this stage of labour. The doctors came in and discussed between themselves what should happen, they decided that I should have a break and they would review in 30 minutes. They then left the room. The midwife swictched everything off and stopped the drip (which stopped the contractions) as instructed. She told me to lay on my left side and relax. I did this and after only 5 or so minutes we all listened as the babies heart slowed to nothing. The midwife asked dh to press the emergency switch - I shouted at him to push it now.
Within 2 minutes the room was full of the same doctors crowding around the bed and I shouted as forcefully as I could that they need to get my baby out now. We were run and bumped down the hallway on the trolley. DH was given scrubs to change into and he joined me in theatre. A tent thing was erected, I was striped bare (the cold air across my body), my drugs changed so I could feel no pain just sensation and suddenly from behind the sheet - a cry. It was the most amazing sound I have ever heard. He was rushed for checks by the baby doctors (they had been told he was 31 weeks so half the team were there). I told dh to go with them so he could hear what was being said and check everything was okay while the doctors put me back together. Then he appeared, wrapped in a towel, perfect. He is tiny (that much was true) he weighed 4lb1, he now weighs 3lb9 or 1.8kgs (that weight loss is normal after birth). He has no signs of any syndromes. He is beautiful and has made typing this message twice as hard as he is laying on my chest curled in his favourite position.
We were discharged from hospital on Sunday. Sunday night we got home and I have a terrible fever. So after 1 night we are back in hospital, apparently I have a blood infection and a collection of fluid from the c-section (try typing with a drip and a baby) and we will have to stay till I feel better. Im pleased because that 1 night on my own, with no midwives to asked I worried about looking after my tiny boy. I may be sick but I am overwhelmed with happiness. My job is to feed him and keep him warm until he grows. The most amazing thing is how he recognises me from everyone else. I think he is pretty clever too, he scowls, has a sulky face and smiles. Not bad for 9 days old.
Well thats it... except you may be asking about names...we havent decided. I like Soren and have been road testing it but it feels such a important decision I want to get it right.
We have a wonderful private room (probably because of the word 'infection') overlooking the Thames and I check the time by looking across the river at one of Big Ben's faces.
On Monday we should be discharged if the collection has reduced from the previous scan if not Im afraid its a big needle and ultra sound equipment to remove it.
Im overwhelmed when I look at my darling little boy.
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