My labour story ..

It’s a long one so settle in ... 

6.30pm on Sunday 10th March I got the call from the hospital they were ready for my - oh my f**king lord!! It was actually happening!!

After been told on the 8th March I would be going to full term my world was flipped upside down on the 9th when my consultant declared I needed to be induced ASAP. I turned 37 weeks pregnant on the Sunday so she booked me in straight away. 

Though I had a relatively easy pregnancy externally (no sickness or major body strain until week 32/33) internally was a different story. I was diagnosed with low PAP A early on, basically this is a condition that can cause the placenta to stop functioning as well in the 3rd trimester leading to low birth weight and in some cases worse. I also had the threat of pre eclampsia as it ran in my immediate family. Throughout my 3rd trimester my blood pressure and bmi soared making it safer for me to be induced early. 

I arrived at hospital and cried, I was so overwhelmed at the thought I would leave the hospital a different person entirely, I would be a mum! 

As I was already dilated I didn’t need the extra fuss of a pessary (which is essentially a special tampon that helps ripen the cervix,  vom) I was told at 8am on Monday 11th March I would be on my way to having my boy! 

As my husband and mum arrived to help me through this mammoth task that is labour I remained calm.

Gas and air was my best friend for the first hour as the midwife and doctors tried to break my water in the end I had to have a clip put on little Henry’s head to monitor him throughout. 

My first 2 contractions after this happened naturally then they introduced the drip.... holy mother contraction number 3 nearly knocked me over! Pain like I have never felt. My initial plan was to go through labour without any intervention of pain relief drugs, boy did my mind change quickly. 

First I experienced a diamorphine injection which essentially knocked me out for 10 minutes. When I came round the pain was back and I needed to up it a gear. Oh hello EPIDURAL. Mums this is not a crime, you are still a kick ass goddess warrior! This was a game changer for me, it enabled me to peer through the next 13 hours with nothing but love, support and Lucazade sport! 

As well as an epidural wire and my boys head clip I also had to have a cafete fitted. This meant the dream of a labour where I could roam freely was a thing of the past! But I did not care as long as my boy go here safe. 

At 12.10am on Tuesday 12th March I was ready to push. After a scare of Henry’s heart beat dropping with every contraction I knew he needed out. For me pushing only took 20 minutes and he was here, my beautiful baby boy ❤️