My Birth Story.

My Birth Story

Charlie Sage-Halford. Born 17/12/16 at 9:40pm weighing 8lb8oz. 

My whole pregnancy people told me I was big for my dates so I began growth scans at week 28. Baby was a little larger but not a concern. I passed my OGTT so I was advised to be re scanned at 32 weeks just for reassurance. Baby had crept up the chart so I was scanned again at 36 weeks when baby's abdominal circumference went over the 100th centile. I did another OGTT and passed. I then met with several consultants and I was given a few options so together with my partner we made a plan. The plan was to have a sweep at 39 weeks, then another one at 39+4 then to be induced at 40 weeks. 

On the morning of week 39 I got up and went to work, yes, work! It was the children's final day in school and I'd made it to the end of the term. As I said goodbye to the children and my colleagues and headed off to the hospital I really had no idea what was in store for me over the following 48 hours. 

I met Matt at the hospital at 3.20pm and had the sweep. It was uncomfortable but not painful. Although, a little bit of wee did come out during the sweep. The midwife told me I was already 2cm dilated which wasn't a huge shock as I'd been feeling a few cramps and back ache the past week. 

After the sweep I spotted a little and had 3 hours of bad period like cramps. I took some pain killers and went to bed. When I woke up Friday morning I was still getting a few cramps and I believe I had what they call "the bloody show". Lots of mucous with pale blood streaks. Me being me, I carried on about my normal day and went to meet friends for coffee. That night, my cramps were still there but I took some pain killers and headed to bed. 

At 7:30am on Saturday morning I woke up with a stronger cramp and then a short time after I had another one and then a short time after I had another one. Matt decided to stay at home and boy am I glad he did because it all of a sudden dawned on me that this could be it. These could be contractions. I got up and sat on my exercise ball and began timing. After 1 hour of timing it turned out I was getting contractions every 4 minutes but they were bearable by this point. I woke Matt up and told him the current situation. He got out of bed and we decided now would be a good time to eat something to get our energy levels up. 

By 10am the contractions got stronger and closer together so Matt ran me a bath and I tried to relax. I think it all became a bit too much and I started to get a little emotional and therefore I was feeling the contractions more. Matt called triage and they said to wait for 4 contractions every 10 minutes for an hour and then come in. They were 4 every 12 minutes and had been for an hour. I wanted to go to hospital so we did. We arrived at 11:30am and I had an internal and it was heartbreaking to hear I was still only 2cm. They gave me some pain killers and I began making my way home around 12:30pm. 

When I got to the car I began to leak a little fluid so we went back in and I had another internal. I was leaking amniotic fluid but only a little so they suggested it was just a tear and to go back home. So, off we went again. It was 1pm and we got half way home and there was a pop and an almighty gush. Yep, that was my waters...all over the front seat of the car and it just kept coming. Matt called the hospital and they said to continue to go home and only come back when the contractions were 4 every 10 minutes. 

We got home and I was in an unbelievable amount of pain. I begged matt to take me back to hospital so he did. By the time we got there it was 3pm and the contractions were 4 every 10 minutes and very strong. I had another internal and I was 3cm. I started to sweat and shake. I was very dehydrated but could barely talk, let alone drink. By 4pm my body began to involuntary push. They did another internal and in less than an hour I'd gone from 3cm to 5cm dilated. I was taken straight up to the labour ward. 

I was given gas and air and pleaded for an epidural. Matt held on to my hands and managed to get my attention for a split second to ask me if I wanted to go ahead with an epidural. I believe at that point I swore! The epidural was painless and within seconds the contractions disappeared and I opened my eyes for the first time in over an hour. It was now 5pm and I was sat on the hospital bed looking at Matt. He began crying and I knew it was because he felt relief. He said as the epidural went in he watched the pain disappear from my face. 

Within minutes I was sat up, comfy and chatting away to the midwife who'd been with me since entering triage. Her name was eve. She said she was pleased to see me at ease and didn't want to leave me until she knew I was ok even though triage was busy and she'd probably be in trouble! She gave me fluids through the IV that had been put in my hand at some point as I was so dehydrated and linked me up to the CTG. Then, she headed off back to triage. A midwife took over for a short time and explained the next shift would start soon. I asked how long she thought it would be before baby arrived. She looked at my CTG and said probably not this side of midnight as my contractions had stopped for 30 minutes and potentially I would need an oxytocin drip to start them up again. Boy was she wrong! 

Our new midwife arrived on shift. Her name was Ronke and she said she'd be our 1:1 midwife and would stay with us and deliver our baby. She was lovely. 

The next few hours were pure bliss. Matt and I just sat and chatted. He retrieved my bags from the car and ordered a pizza but Ronke said I shouldn't eat anything heavy so she made me some toast and I munched on some of my hospital snacks. Matt got to watch the footy and Man U won! 

At about 7pm I was a little cold so asked for some extra blankets. At that point Ronke said I felt hot so she took my temperature. It was 38oC. They explained to me I'd need anti biotics and that when baby is born he'd need them too. It was a little worrying but I stayed positive. The anti biotics went in along with paracetamol to bring down my temperature. 

Over the next hour my contractions picked up and were every 2 minutes. At around 8pm I started to feel pressure in my bottom. Ronke decided to do an internal and had the biggest smile on her face when she said "just as I suspected, you're fully dilated". Both Matt and I got emotional as she started to prepare for delivery and tears flowed especially as she asked for his first outfit to put under the heater to warm it up. As I watched Matt pick out a baby grow the pressure feeling increased and Ronke said it would be time to start pushing. By 9pm everything was ready and the epidural began to wear off so I could feel the contractions and know when to push. 

The baby's heartbeat increased to around 190-210bpm so I knew I had to do my best to get him out safely. I began pushing with the contractions.... 

Ronke was amazing and was very calm. She helped me to begin with and guided my pushing and was very encouraging. She told me most first time mum's can take up to 2 hours of pushing before baby arrives. Within no time at all she could see his head and asked if I'd like to feel. Holy crap I thought - he's got so much hair! A few more pushes and Ronke said he was so close but felt an episiotomy would help. I told her to go ahead and do it if she felt it would help. She carried out the cut which was painless and a few pushes later Matt said his head was out even though Matt was my head end! Ronke said there was meconium in the fluid and she would need assistance. She pushed the button and as the second midwife came in our gorgeous baby was born at 9:40pm and placed straight on my chest. His little cry made me overcome with emotions and Matt and I just cried with joy. His cord was cut by the midwife which she told us she would do if she needed to due to any complications - we believe it was because of the meconium but Matt and I were so overcome with emotions we didn't really pay attention to what was happening around us. 

After a short time, a paediatrician came in and needed to run some checks on baby due to the meconium and my infection. All checks were fine but poor baby needed a drip in his hand to administer the anti biotics. Once the paediatrician was finished, I breastfed for the first time and it was a beautiful moment. Then, Matt held our baby for the first time and I was stitched up. Towards the end of my stitches, Matt dressed our baby and we were left in peace to bond as a family. We just spent hours staring at our perfect little baby. 

We were moved to the post natal ward about 4am. We barely slept a wink and wanted to just go home but knew we had at least another night in hospital. We had Matt's parents and brother to visit but we were both so tired it is all a bit of a blur. 

We were moved into a private room that night due to my cough which was a blessing as we managed to get a few hours sleep. On Monday, the final checks were done and both me and baby were given the all clear for infection and discharged from hospital. 

We walked out of the hospital at 6pm on Monday evening with our baby and made our way home to finally settle into family life... just the three of us 👪