The weekend before the section I felt OK but on Monday morning, 6th February, I woke up about 3am feeling crampy, like I was getting a period. I felt very uncomfortable and didn't sleep well and in the morning I went to see my mum and asked her if she felt like this when she went into labour. As I never went into labour naturally I didn't know what to expect. Anyway, I thought I'll ring the hospital and ask them what they thought. They said, come in to Prenatal Assessment ward. So about 9am, Alan and I went to the hospital, I left my hospital bag at home, I didn't think I would need it. I was hooked onto the monitor to monitor the baby's heartbeat and to monitor contractions. There were contractions but they were mild and irregular. They told me to stay for a few hours and if the pains and contractions didn't increase I would go home. I was also examined internally and I was not dialated at all. I felt very tired and I tried to snooze and the cramping continued, sometimes being very uncomfortable. About 2pm I was examined again, after being there for four hours and I was still not dialated and although I did have cramping the doctor said it was OK to go home but to come back if the pains increased. Alan was 45 minutes away from the hospital so his mum came to collect me and I went home. I came home and was really tired and went to lie down. I coudln't really sleep and whilst lying down I started to get regular pains/contractions. I was so tired but when I looked at the clock the contractions were coming every 5 minutes. It was just before 5pm when I called the hospital and they told me to come in. This time I brought my hospital bag and I actually thought yes, I'm in labour. The contractions were uncomfortable but not too bad at this stage. I was speaking to my mum and she said your contractions are shorter than 5 minutes. And so we went to the hospital and I was getting really uncomfortable. Alan let me out in the front of hospital and the pain was intense it was difficult to walk and a couple of people actually asked if I was OK. I was then examined in the hospital and told I am 1 cm dialated ! The contractions were getting more and more painful and I was given a couple of painkillers which didn't do much. I was then given gas and air and although it felt better I just felt really lightheaded and after a while I got sick, threw up three times. I asked when I would be sectioned and they told me there was an emergency section and that the consultant would see me. She eventually came and said there was another person who might be going before me and she was going to see that person. Whilst the consutlant was there the contractions were really intense and I was hoping I would be next. And I was! Just before 8pm she came back and said I was next, they asked me if I wanted to walk to the theatre and I told them I couldn't. I know I sound like a coward but the pain was really strong and when I went into threatre it took ages to get the spinal in as my contractions were just so fast and furious. Eventually the spinal was in and I was all hooked up and prepared and Alan came in. The section took quite a long time as they found a lot of scarring from the previous section, so they had to call another consultant to have a look at this. I felt very very cold during the section, apparently a side effect from the spinal anesthetic. Eventually, over an hour later, Emma Grace was born at 21:22. She weighed a healthy 3.715kg (8lb 3oz), we were going to take a picture of her when they took the screen down but she was covered in vernix and blood so we didn't until after they cleaned her up. Her upgars were 8.5 and 9.5 and she had a strong voice, she wasn't happy being dragged out! She nursed almost immediately they put her next to me, she fed for over an hour, such a pro!
She is such a contended beautiful happy baby girl, she has definitely made our family complete! We could not be happier and I keep looking at her, can't believe she is all mine!
