My fasting reading came back high and no matter what I did with my diet or exercise, I could not get it under control, so I went onto slow release insulin of an evening.
Then at 33.5 weeks I went into early labour. I was having contraction 3-5 mins apart. I was admitted and had numeral swabs and tests done. My cervix was still closed and there was no sign of the labour indicative protein. Soon my contractions calmed down and I was sent home. The contractions continued. Sometimes only barely noticeable, other times bone shakingly painful and at 36 weeks she had dropped into my pelvis and I thought my waters broke. This too was a false alarm and I was sent home.
But as my due date ticked closer and closer I knew they were going to start putting the pressure on me to have a c/section. It got to 37 weeks and it was decided at the growth scan that she was over 4.25kgs and at high risk for shoulder dystocia. I would not have been able to live with myself had I made the decision to go ahead with a VBAC for my own 'selfish' reasons and caused her to have a paralysed arm for the rest of her life, or worse be deprived of oxygen because she got well and truly stuck. Regardless of the fact that I was skeptical of her measurements.
The sonographer said it was hard to measure her as her head was deep in my pelvis and her tummy was under my ribs. But I had to make a decision. My OB even said that if I went in to labour prior to my booked c/section date that they would perform an emergency c/section due to the perceived risk. So after two false labours and constant "take your breath away" contractions, I was booked in for a c/section on the 24th of February.
The morning of the c/section was calm. (Unlike the morning of the boys'). I felt remarkably well rested. We were due at the hospital at 6:45am so we were up before sunrise. I finished packing my bag, finished off the boys' big brother t-shirts and waited for my parents to arrive to baby-sit. I was a little emotional that we had to leave before the boys woke up but I tried not to let it get the better of me and we hit the road. I was second on the production line but when the first lady chickened out, we were bumped up to first.
The anesthetist initially couldn't find the right spinal space and after 3 attempts I finally started to go numb and I was laid down and made presentable for Baker Bob to join us. The drape went up, Baker Bob was led in and I was sliced and diced. When it came time to get her out, there was a bit of a hiccup. She wedged in my pelvis. (I kept telling my OB she felt like she was going to fall out.) They had to get a pair of forceps around her head and we waited with baited breath.
Baker Bob was so excited to see a shock of dark hair appear he forgot to take a photo of her being born. I had to remind him to start taking photos. She weighed 3932gms and screamed her little lungs out. She was wrapped and we had a cuddle. Then my spinal block started to wear off on my right side.
I could feel them stitching me up. They quickly injected with some drug and I almost instantly passed out. I couldn't keep my eyes open, I couldn't talk or lift my arms and Baker Bob and Eva were ushered out of the room.
About 10mins later, having recovered my senses, I joined them both in recovery were I got to give Eva her first breastfeed, something that was denied me with the boys. Both Eva and my blood glucose levels were completely fine after her birth and we were due to go home 3 nights after the c/section.
I missed the boys dreadfully while in hospital even though I saw them everyday, but it was nice to have some one on one time with a newborn. Emotionally, logistically and physically it felt a lot easier. She was a brilliant baby in hospital, placid and content. That all changed when she got home but that's another blog entry!
2 comments:
Thanks for sharing xo
Thanks for sharing. You did an awesome job and she is beautiful.
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