Jordan Birth

Our baby boy was due on the 2nd Feb, we knew exactly which date because of the fertility treatment we had, but I had this feeling right from the 5th month that he would make his appearance on the 16th Jan, but because of position that baby was lying in, I had a c section booked for the 23rd Jan.

We were expected to have a 4kilo baby, so on the 14th my Mom came and repacked my baby bag, we took most of my premie clothes out and streamlined my 6 bags down to 3. That night I was extremely restless, I cleaned all the computers in our office, (with a dry paint brush), I washed the floor on my hands and knees, and I really battled to fall asleep. At about 24:00 DH woke me up and asked if I was okay, apparently I had twitched quite violently in my sleep. I told him I was fine, and tried to get back to sleep. At about 1:00am my carpal tunnel woke me up AGAIN, I got up and went through to the lounge, had a glass of milk and switched on the tv. I got up at 1:30am to go to the loo and attempt to sleep some more and my waters broke. I got up and tried to make way down the passage to the bathroom without making too much mess. I folded a towel between my legs and tried to gently wake DH. He PANICKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I eventually told him that these things take time, I packed my bag while he washed his hair, (don't ask)! We made our way to the hospital. I told DH to leave my bags in the car because I didn't even have contractions, I wanted to go back home and relax. We booked ourselves in, and went up to maternity ward. I was told that I wasn't going anywhere, given I gown and told to jump into bed and try to get some rest. At about 4:30 I woke with the most insane back ache and stomach cramps, I waited for it to pass, but after 5 minutes I was still cramping and decided to go to the loo. Let me tell you something ladies, trying to wipe your bum after a number 2 whilst having contractions is DIFFICULT! I eventually managed to get DH to call the nurse to wipe my bum, and I was moved back into my bed. I decided there and then that I wanted my Mom, and I gave her a call. The nurse checked my and I was only half a centimeter dilated. I felt like such a naffy girl, I was in sooooooooooo much pain and only half a centimeter!!!!!!!! They wouldn't bring me any meds because they still weren't sure whether I would need a c section, so I was given 1 c section and one natural birth bracelet. I didn't want to complain, but I was really battling and when the day staff nurse popped in to introduce herself DH told her something was wrong. She asked me to get back into bed, all I could do was lay over it, so that she could monitor my contractions. I told her I felt completely out of breath and she sat next to me through a cycle of contractions. I saw the concern on her face and she asked me if I was sure they were contractions and not just light cramps. I told her that I was POSITIVE they were contractions. She hooked me up to the machine and monitored them again. 3 contractions per set, measuring off the chart, spaced 25 seconds apart and with approximately 2 minutes between each set. No wonder I couldn't breath, I wasn't being given the chance. She did a quick internal and discovered that I was 6 and a half centimeters dilated, in less than an hour I had gone from half to 6 and a half. She ordered meds immediately, and had to break the news that my Gynae and his partner were not available, and that I would have a complete stranger for the birth. She also told me that Jordans head was in the right position and that if I felt up to it, I could give natural a go. YAY! I wanted a natural birth right from the beginning so I was extatic. They moved me to a delivery room, hooked me up to monitors and told me they would be back in half an hour. 15 Minutes later she was back, she was very concerned about how close and intense my contractions were, and suggested that I try an epidural because she felt I wouldn't have the strength to push when the time came if this was how my labor was going to continue. I decided on the epi, and 8, yes 8 tries later, the pain began to numb.

The problem with the epi was that it slowed labor to a halt, and a drip had to be administered to restart it, Jordans hearbeat stopped as a reaction to the meds, and we decided to halt all meds and the epi at 15:45. The nurse did another internal and found that I had dilated the rest of the 3 and a half centimeters in 30 minutes and at 16:30 I told her I needed to push. One push later they were on the phone frantically trying to contact the Gynae who was busy doing a c section. Our little man was coming, and he wasn't going to wait for anyone! The Gynae arrived as the next contraction hit me, he quickly administered a vacuum to correct Jordans head position, I pushed again and and I felt the burn of him crowning. I couldn't stop pushing to allow the doc to cut me.

Our son came into the world at 16:48 on the 15th Jan, without a sound, he didn't cry, breathed perfectly and was placed on my chest immediately. I will never forget how he looked up at me with those beautiful eyes, as if to say "nice to finally meet you". He fitted so perfectly on my chest, right over the heart he had grown in. He was tiny, 2.52kg, certainly not the 4 kilo baby we were expecting. An hour later, they took him away to give him his injections. He measured a perfect 10 on his ap scores, but his glucose levels kept dropping. I had the catheter and epi removed and took a shower, and at 19:30 took a walk to the maternity ward. I was lucky enough to secure a private room with a double bed, and at 21:00 once Jordans sugar had stabilised they brought him to me. He slept with me both nights we were in hospital, I hardly let him out my sight. I couldn't believe that after the heartache we had been through that this perfect child was MINE!

He's been a dream since then, so chilled and somehow he seems so wisened to the world already, a really little old man. Although my birth was not ideal, I would do it all again in a heartbeat, just to meet my baby for the 1st time again.

(And I still don't know how to put a photo up to show that special moment, I is internet doff).

Oh wow, I have tears streaming down my face .... Thank you for sharing!

Wow how sweet.

wow, what an amazing birth story, thanks for sharing!

oh wow that is amazing thanks so much for sharing

Beautiful story!! I agree with you fully on the whole birth-thing: It doesn't matter how crazy it is, it's all worth it in the end!

xxx

very cool story!

Hey Nix - very nice story indeed. I wanted to ask you though - about his sugar levels dropping. This is what I was told would happen to my baby if I didn't stop eating the amount of sugar that I did. They said that while he was inside, my body controlled the dips that come with the highs but once he is out his system is too immature to control the dips himself and they would have to put him on meds.
Did they tell you what was causing it? I would be very interested to know.

Such a beautiful story.

Hey "H" (dunno if I can use your real name here ),
I had elevated sugar levels throughout my 3rd trimester, I think it was the Magnum ice creams....

They gave him some meds, and cup fed him while he was away from me, then cup fed him every 2 hours thereafter, just 10mls at a time to keep his levels up. On the 16th they took bloods from him and weren't happy yet, continued the routine and gave him more meds, and by Saturday morning he had stabilised and we could leave together, with a list of symptoms like excessive tiredness (dah, babies sleep all the time), and strong smelling wee (am I supposed to know what newborn wee smells like) to watch out for.

That was such great story l got goosebumps just reading.

Thanks Nix - guess I had better start heeding the dr's advice - cause I want every minute I can get with my son after he is born.....

What a nice birth story!! Thanks for sharing with us

Yaah Nix, just encouraged me more on my natural option.
Thanx girl...