gblake
Hello Ladies, After an exciting Tuesday morning Thomas Cole made his entrance late last night (Tuesday night, Australian time 11:47 pm). I woke up and my water broke at 5:00 am. I called my husband to tell him to make his way back to Brisbane (he left the night before to a town called Roma). I got around, returned some emails and started to finish packing my hospital bag. I called the hospital and they said to get there immediately. I decided to drive myself as my only other friend just gave birth to a baby 4 months ago and I wasn't experience any contractions, had no bloody show. Well by this time I'm heading into the city it was heavy with traffic. Wouldn't you know it was backed much further than it's ever been before. I finally made it in and they checked me out in the Labour Ward. Again, my contractions hadn't even started. DH made it in from his flight at noon and this whole time had been freaking out thinking that he was going to show up to me in stirrups or meeting his new son. They gave me a tour of Special Care (like the NICU) since Cole was only 36 weeks they said it was a good chance he would be spending some time there.
They finally moved me to the Maternity Ward since I was not progressing with contractions. I received a steroid shot to help progress his lungs when I first arrived and was given another one at 10:00pm. My doctor came in a checked me and said he would see me possibly on Thursday for an induction. I really didn't want to be induced and apparently Cole didn't want to be either. About an hour before I was given my second shot I experienced my first contractions, but they were not really timeable, they were very sporadic. After I received my second shot I started feeling them at a regular pace and started to time them. I went out and talked to my midwife and told her that my contractions were 10 minutes apart and lastly with some regularity. She gave me Panadol/ like Tylenol (which did nothing) and a heating pad. Then they started coming more frequently. She called the Labour Ward, but I could tell she didn't think I would have Cole that night. She walked me down at 10:45 pm or so. The other midwife in Labour hooked me up to the monitor and then it was pretty much go time. In a matter of 30 minutes everything happened. The contractions were more intense and frequent. I tried to order my epidural and when I got no response I knew it wasn't getting it. My doctor was 15 to 20 minutes away and I had a feeling this baby was going to come before he made it. I was given gas which was okay. I didn't really like the loopy feeling it gave me at first but then I worked with it.
The midwife checked me. I overheard her talking to another nurse and other nurse asked what is she at like 5 and the midwife said no she's pretty much there. I knew I was past the point of the epi and soon to give birth. Doctor finally made it in and checked me and confirmed what I already knew, a natural birth. He got ready, prepped me to push and I started pushing. I pushed for about 4 sessions with 3 pushes within each session. So basically I pushed about 12 times. I did have an episiotomy and the local anesthesia hurt like the dickens. Cole arrived at 11:47 pm and with a little prodding gave a cry. I was able to hold him for about 10 minutes before he went to Special Care. I had my husband go with him so he wouldn't be alone. After getting stitched up I took a quick shower and changed and got wheeled down to see him. He was in an incubator. I wept at the sight of him in there though he weighed a healthy 6 lbs 3 ½ oz or 2.78 kgs. He did really well but all the hormones got to me. I cried the entire time in Special Care and when my husband got back to our room in Maternity I cried more because I felt like I was abandoning him and plus they were going to give him formula. I just felt like an epic failure, though I know these things were to help him. I didn't really sleep but DH slept like a rock. We are all doing good. Today was a much better day with him and I felt good. We practiced breastfeeding though I have no milk. I'm trying to hand express it. He got to come down to our room and visit a few times.
Hoping for everyone's healthy December babies. I'll be still checking in with you ladies!
They finally moved me to the Maternity Ward since I was not progressing with contractions. I received a steroid shot to help progress his lungs when I first arrived and was given another one at 10:00pm. My doctor came in a checked me and said he would see me possibly on Thursday for an induction. I really didn't want to be induced and apparently Cole didn't want to be either. About an hour before I was given my second shot I experienced my first contractions, but they were not really timeable, they were very sporadic. After I received my second shot I started feeling them at a regular pace and started to time them. I went out and talked to my midwife and told her that my contractions were 10 minutes apart and lastly with some regularity. She gave me Panadol/ like Tylenol (which did nothing) and a heating pad. Then they started coming more frequently. She called the Labour Ward, but I could tell she didn't think I would have Cole that night. She walked me down at 10:45 pm or so. The other midwife in Labour hooked me up to the monitor and then it was pretty much go time. In a matter of 30 minutes everything happened. The contractions were more intense and frequent. I tried to order my epidural and when I got no response I knew it wasn't getting it. My doctor was 15 to 20 minutes away and I had a feeling this baby was going to come before he made it. I was given gas which was okay. I didn't really like the loopy feeling it gave me at first but then I worked with it.
The midwife checked me. I overheard her talking to another nurse and other nurse asked what is she at like 5 and the midwife said no she's pretty much there. I knew I was past the point of the epi and soon to give birth. Doctor finally made it in and checked me and confirmed what I already knew, a natural birth. He got ready, prepped me to push and I started pushing. I pushed for about 4 sessions with 3 pushes within each session. So basically I pushed about 12 times. I did have an episiotomy and the local anesthesia hurt like the dickens. Cole arrived at 11:47 pm and with a little prodding gave a cry. I was able to hold him for about 10 minutes before he went to Special Care. I had my husband go with him so he wouldn't be alone. After getting stitched up I took a quick shower and changed and got wheeled down to see him. He was in an incubator. I wept at the sight of him in there though he weighed a healthy 6 lbs 3 ½ oz or 2.78 kgs. He did really well but all the hormones got to me. I cried the entire time in Special Care and when my husband got back to our room in Maternity I cried more because I felt like I was abandoning him and plus they were going to give him formula. I just felt like an epic failure, though I know these things were to help him. I didn't really sleep but DH slept like a rock. We are all doing good. Today was a much better day with him and I felt good. We practiced breastfeeding though I have no milk. I'm trying to hand express it. He got to come down to our room and visit a few times.
Hoping for everyone's healthy December babies. I'll be still checking in with you ladies!