My birthing experience

I gave birth to my precious baby boy on 24.8.10. The birth of my boy was not as I expected.

I had to say, for the duration of my pregnancy, I had it quite easy. I had no morning sickness, mushrooms was the only food I was put off by but after 1 month, I was happily eating it again. My belly was not huge so I was able to run around. I wasn't very tired, I had a great appetite, I worked as normal. The last month was abit tiring as my tummy got heavy, sleeping was abit more difficult and uncomfortable. My lower back started to ache, but that was about it.

At week 35, was when things started to get abit tough. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes, meaning I had to make weekly visits to the hospital and get my fingers pricked (for the first time!! ).
At week 36, I was told I had a breech baby. My baby was heads up, bums down.
I was offered an ECV - this is where they put me on a Ventolin drip, monitor my blood pressure, have a heart machine and monitor on the baby and in case of fetal distress, an emergency cesearean would be needed. This is where the doctor manually tries to turn the baby by using his hands and forcing the baby to move. The success rate of this is 40% only. The Ventolin is used to relax my uterus so they put a cactus (a 1mm thick needle) into my arm. This needle is very very very painful and left a big bruise on my arm. Having a breech baby meant I cannot have a normal labour, I would have to have a cesearean.

I was devastated. Having a cesearean had never crossed my mind. I was always planning to have a natural birth. I never liked the after pain of the wound. I was really upset and depressed for a few days. I eventually, after many discussions with my husband, mum and BFF booked to do the ECV, where the doctor would manually turn the baby. I was super scared that it would hurt too much, but then I didn't want to have a cesearean. However, it was unsuccessful. Baby refused to turn, meaning that I had to book in for a cesearean.

At this time, when I had my blood pressure tested, it was very elevated. I was around 160/100. I've never had high blood pressure before either, which made everything more depressing.

All of a sudden, I had gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, plus a breech baby and will be having a cesearean.

I did a lot of research on all of the above and the more I read about it the more upset I got but after 2 weeks, at week 38, I accepted the fact I had to have a cesearean. I booked in to do the cesearean at the beginning of week 40, 30th August.

I had a blood pressure monitoring appointment on the 23rd. This is where I get admitted into day surgery and sit there for 4 hours and they monitor my blood pressure over 4 hours. My appointment was at 8am. That morning, I got into the shower & saw some bleeding. I was home alone. I rang the hospital immediately and because I wasn't having contractions, they just told me to go into the hospital. I asked the midwives if I can drive and they said I can.. so I finished my shower, grabbed my hospital bag (just in case) and drove to RPAH.

I got to the hospital and I was put onto a monitor to have my contractions monitored. I was 1cm dialated. I was told that I had to stay overnight to be monitored.

On the 24th, around 12noon, my water broke while the doctor came in to do their routine checkup. I was told I had to do an emergency cesearean straight away, so I was booked in for 1.30pm. I had to call Ray and my mum and they both rushed to the hospital. My baby was brought to this world at 2.35pm.

Following the birth, I had to stay in hospital for 5 days. Every morning I had to have blood tests, every 4 hours my blood pressure was to be checked. I was taking 20 - 25 tablets per day including painkillers for the pain from the wound. Not to mention, each morning my fingers were getting pricked. I had the dietician come in to talk about the diet for having diabetes, a special doctor (I can't remember the name now) for my high blood pressure and the midwives. It was very exhausting and very depressing. At the same time, the painkillers was making me very drowsy, so when I was feeding, I was seeing multiple babies. After a while, they reduced my dosage, making me feel the pain more.

During the 5 days I was in the hospital, I had 2 good midwives and 2 very bad ones. Ones that are rude and rough with my baby. Others were really helpful and offered assistance to more than they should have. One offered to look after my baby for 3 hours while I take a nap. Others just pick up my baby like it was a doll, and dropped him back into the basket without holding his head, and some just simply had really bad attitude. I was dying to go home!!

Anyways, before this birth experience, I wanted to have 2 children. Now after this, I don't want another child. It's staring at my baby's peaceful look when he is sleeping that has kept me going. Holding, hugging and kissing him. I hope one day soon I will change my mind because I really want to have 2.