The labour room was a lot bigger than I thought it would be. Of course, we had seen one room during our antenatal classes, but this room seemed much bigger. There was a bed, a space hopper birthing ball, lots of machines and a cot for the baby to go into once he or she arrived.
I changed into a hospital gown and I was told to lie on the bed to have my waters broken. The midwife managed to get them first time so I wasn't exposed for too long. This was the part I was dreading; having my bits on show to every Tom, Dick or Harry that wanted a peek...maybe I wouldn't be in this predicament had I not let one of those aforementioned names see my womanhood in the first place.
I was hooked up to an IV so I could have the hormone drip to start my contractions. I needed the loo and I had to take a bedpan in with me. Were they worried I was going to give birth on the toilet? I really only needed a pee, not a baby. I did feel something strange happen when I went to the loo though and when I checked the bedpan, I had passed the mucus plug or, more pleasantly named, the show. Husband almost puked in another bedpan.
I wanted to try and not use any sort of pain relief if I could, other than gas and air. I sat on the space hopper, resisting the urge to go bouncing out the room and down the corridor. The contractions were really strong but I guessed they would be with the hormone drip. It was all so artificial but it was still painful.
Only 2 hours after having my drip put in, I was crying for drugs. I tried the gas and air and it made me feel sick. I couldn't go on. I was in agony. The midwife checked me and I wasn't even a full centimetre dilated. She called for the anaesthetist.
I had my epidural and within 10 minutes, I couldn't feel a thing. I went to sleep. I slept for most of the day. Husband was watered with plenty of cups of tea and fed sandwiches. I was allowed small sips of water. I felt hot and groggy and not with it.
My midwife had to leave. Her shift was up. It was 8pm. Still I had no baby. They checked how dilated I was. I was only 4 centimetres. I had moved 3 cms in 8 hours.
I had a temperature. A really high temperature. The Doctor came in and told us if the baby hadn't moved within the hour, I would have to have a C-section. My cervix was starting to swell around the baby's head and the Doctor was worried I was going to become very ill. I had a top up on my epidural. I was given paracetamol for my temperature.
At 10pm, the Doctor came back to check me. We were about to find out if I was going to have my baby myself or whether I would have to have an emergency C-section...
This post is for Flashback Friday which is hosted by these lovely ladies...
