Arrival

I started getting contractions a week before the planned c-section that was proposed at 38 weeks. I thought though that these were more likely to be Braxton hicks but not having had experienced them before I couldn’t say for certain. As the days continued, they got worse and more painful and I started to make plans for an early arrival of baby girl.

Friday 15th October we keep a log of the contractions and call the triage number in the evening. The midwife felt that these were likely to be cramps and not labour and said to take a hot bath and have paracetamol. This didn’t do anything for me. We called again at midnight and she said, well you can come in if you want to. My husband made it clear we were because the whole reason for the early c-section was to avoid full labour.

We put the bags into the car but both of us felt that we may be sent home. The contractions were painful but I was coping with the pain. Maybe they were just Braxton hicks….

We arrive at the hospital and I walk up to the midwife at reception calmly explaining why we were there. I think she was thinking I was going back home too. She got me hooked up to the machine and when I had another contraction she saw how strong it was and changed in her attitude towards me. She asked me if they were all that strong. I nodded. She went out of the room and came back to say I think you’ll be having your baby today. She checked me and said I was 5/6 cm dilated with bulging waters. Part of me was half convinced I may be having my baby that night but I was still shocked by the news. She spoke to someone outside of the door informing them of the dilation progress and a stream of people came into the room. They started to prep me for theatre. The doctor who would be performing the delivery asked me whether I wanted to continue naturally or have a c-section. I explained I did not want what happened previously with my son to happen again and that I would opt for the c-section as planned, especially due to the risks of rupture as a result of the ectopic pregnancy last year.

My husband got changed and we were quickly wheeled into theatre. It all felt surreal. I was still having contractions whilst they got everything ready around me.

As I lay on the table, I remember the community midwife telling me if I wanted to see everything being done to look in the reflection of the lights above. She was right….I decided after a few glances I did not want to see it all. I asked the doctor to please let me see my daughter as she pulled her out from me.

After what seemed like hardly any time, the doctor was holding my daughter in the air above me. I gasped….she was amazing…and bloody! I don’t think I expected to see her looking so big and have so much hair. My baby girl cried and shielded her eyes from the bright lights. I remained quiet as photos were taken and I took in seeing my daughter. I felt physically and emotionally exhausted. My husband and I had done it- we had our second child, we had our daughter.