Birth story - Carolyn and baby Dominic

⚠️Triggers: lack of progress, fetal distress, temperature in labour, and enemia

I went to see our midwife on Thursday September 17th and we did a sweep. My cervix had already changed and I found out I was already 1.5cm dilated. I came home that afternoon and lost my mucus plug/ had my bloody show and I was so excited! By this time I didn’t really have any other signs of going into labor.

On that Saturday, our cousin recommended drinking red raspberry left tea and eating dates (my mom had previously given me some dates on the Thursday we went to see the midwife) to induce labor. So my husband went out to the market to get the tea and I had 2-3 cups each day on Saturday and Sunday (we had also been taking walks around our neighborhood a few weeks leading to our son’s due date).

On Sunday night my husband and I were just watching movies on Netflix and throughout the night as I went to the bathroom I saw more and more mucus coming out. Then around 12:15am I had more come out and this time it was warm liquid coming down my legs. I couldn’t control it so I knew for sure that my water had broken. We called labor and delivery at the hospital and they told me to come in to get it checked out.

While we were preparing to go to the hospital, my husband packed our bags and car seat in the car while I showered. We couldn’t believe our baby boy would be here soon. Everything was happening so fast! After I showered, I even remembered saying to my husband that I should eat something first and stay hydrated. I had a banana and drank some coconut water while my husband got ready.

We got to the hospital around 1:30am (but my husband was not allowed in yet due to covid). He dropped me off and a transporter at the hospital escorted me to labor and delivery. I was happy to find out I was 4cm dilated. I was then admitted around 2:30am and my husband was able to join me again.

He set up the fairy lights in our labor room and set up a make shift “fireplace” through YouTube on the tv. I used some lavender oil on my temples and put some on my pulse points and a little on my mask. I used the Freya app to help me with my breathing and to help relax me as I tend to get very tense. I was already in established labor.

By this time my surges were about 3-4 mins apart, then after about an hour it became 2-3 mins apart and then got closer and stronger as the time past. I got on all fours and even used my husbands shoulders to hold on to which helped. After the 7th hour of being in labor I asked for the epidural so that I could relax and get some rest. I remember telling my husband how tired I was and tears started coming down my eyes.

For the next few hours I tried to rest and nap for as much as I could. My husband would also feed me ice chips, as I wasn’t allowed to eat.

I was given oxygen at 10:30am as baby was not getting oxygen and his heart rate was not stable with the nurse changing my position every 30 mins- 1 hour to monitor baby’s heart rate. I was also given pain medication through my iv which caused me to shiver. At this point I had developed a temperature. I felt so cold and could not stop shaking. I wasn’t allowed an extra blanket as baby was in distress and they needed my body to cool down. The only thing that was comforting was my husband rubbing my hands and stroking my arms to help calm my body.

They checked me again around 12pm and I had progressed to 7cm.

At 2pm about 10 people rushed into our room. By this time I was already 8cm dilated (I felt pressure as baby was already partially down the birth canal) and I had the urge to push however our baby was in distress and his heart rate dipped from being above 150 to 80. I still had a temperature so I was being monitored regularly. I was so scared, my body was in a lot of stress and I continued to shiver.

By this time my birth plan went out the window. The doctors were recommending a c-section as baby was in distress and not getting enough oxygen. This was my worst fear. This was almost an emergency, but they were able to catch it before anything happened.

Our midwife, doctors and nurses were amazing with letting me know I had choices and explaining to us so we understood what was happening. My midwife (who I have been seeing during my clinic visits) also made sure I knew what was going on which helped calmed me a bit. They all gave us space to discuss the options and make the best decision for the baby and myself. My husband and I used our B.R.A.I.N and ultimately decided to have the c-section.

They prepped me for the OR. I was tearing up I couldn’t control my emotions, but the nurses were great. They prayed with me and for me. The anaesthesiologist even put on relaxing music for me. I had carpal tunnel in my right hand in my last trimester of pregnancy and during surgery my hands were getting more tingling and numb because of the positioning on my hands while operating. The anaesthesiologist massaged my right hand while my husband held my left hand. Not long after, I heard our baby’s first cry. That itself was the most euphoric feeling. They cleaned baby and presented our baby to my husband and I. Baby was able to do skin to skin with my husband while the doctors/nurses stitched and cleaned me.

I was taken to the recovery room to do skin to skin with baby shortly after and we FaceTimed all of our close family and friends. I was so tired but it was the best feeling you could ever feel. Feeling high on oxytocin and so euphoric knowing that we are all healthy and safe.

My husband watched all the PBC videos with me and was an incredible birth partner, from keeping me as calm as possible throughout the whole process (turning on fairy lights, our make shift fireplace, encouraging me, breathing with me, asking the midwives/doctors/ nurses B.R.A.I.N questions that I didn't even think to ask. It was him that helped me get through and stay calm and get our baby out safely.

We decided to take the PBC course because of Covid and not being able to have any in person resources. I’m so glad that we took this course. It definitely helped us cope with everything that came up on the day and overall I feel really positive about the whole experience.