Birth story - Lauren and baby Georgia

*Trigger Warning* - miscarriage, bleeding in early pregnancy, hyperemesis/vomiting, gestational diabetes, failed epidural/spinal, pain & contractions (not negative for me)

Pregnancy 🤰

Having had two previous miscarriages, this pregnancy was fuelled by excitement and anxiety. Thrilled to be pregnant again, but terrified of it ending prematurely again, like my previous. I bled pretty much until 16 weeks, so I had a few extra scans to put our minds at ease. Every time, our baby was jumping away on the screen, reassuring mum and dad all was well.

I was taken into hospital at 8 weeks due to hyperemesis and not being able to keep even water down. Thankfully, it was managed well with cyclizine and that boost of IV fluids in hospital, although the nausea lasted until I gave birth!

I was then diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 32 weeks, which I managed well with small dietary changes. However due to this, I was given growth scans and told baby was measuring on the larger side and given the pros and cons of induction of labour for 39 weeks, which I accepted. I used my BRAIN to inform my decision and felt this was right for me, my baby and my partner.

🤰the birth

My partner and I made our way over to the hospital at 1730 on Tuesday 11/10/22 for my induction that was booked for 1800. I was taken to the triage room and scanned by the on call consultant to ascertain baby’s position (back to back, but head engaged), examined and found I was 1cm dilated and then the cook’s balloon was inserted as planned at 2030.

My contractions started immediately, with a 2-3 second break in between. My partner called for the midwife to come back and see me and she was surprised by the fast progression of my contractions. She explained that this is rare, especially with a first baby. She sought advice from the consultant who suggested I now stay in hospital (we had planned to return home until labour progressed as we lived close enough to do so) and to give me pain relief now to prevent me from fatiguing too fast. I was given Diamorphine and went for a shower which really helped the back labour pain.

I was still getting contractions through the night, but managed to rest with the pain relief. I went to the loo at around 0200 (12/10/22) and felt I couldn’t pass urine due to the balloon pressing. I beared down it came in the toilet. I pulled the call bell for the midwife which woke my partner and both came running in. My other half was standing at the door panicking but the midwife reassured us both that this was positive and asked to examine me again which I accepted.

My contractions didn’t feel as strong now and I was examined on the bed. I had progressed to 2cm and told that labour ward would be able to break my waters later on, having time to rest now for a few hours. My partner and I went to sleep for a few hours, despite our excitement for labour starting and meeting our longed for baby.

We were woken at 0700 and told we could move to labour ward and have my waters broken. There we met our lovely new midwife and were asked if we minded a student midwife assisting. Normally I don’t think I would have agreed to the level of involvement that I accepted for the student, but I had worked with her as nurses within the same hospital before we both left to pursue new things, with her pursuing midwifery. This immediately put me at ease and the excitement for the day built.

My waters were broken at 0800, all the while laughing and joking with my partner and the midwives. This was what I had envisioned as part of my labour experience that I wished for. Calm, happy and jovial. I then went for a walk with my partner around the hospital grounds to try and keep active and move things along.

We got back to labour ward around 1000, my waters still leaking, me bouncing on my birthing ball and my other half cracking jokes. Again, this part of labour I loved. Even the pain.

I was examined again at 1200, although I had only progressed to 3cm. I was advised that due to my waters breaking and not progressing very far we should start the pitocin drip which I accepted. I was eager to meet my baby and wanted them to be safe. Although due to this, I would need to be monitored continuously and not be able to be as active as I had planned.

My contractions intensified and got closer together with the drip, which I welcomed as it felt we were getting closer to meeting our little one! I was coping well, still able to hold conversations and sing along to the labour playlist I made in between contractions. However after being examined again at 1600, I was still not dilating much and had to have the dose of pitocin increased again. With this came more intensity and I was fatiguing. I accepted the offer of gas and air and loved it for dealing with the pain.

My contractions continued for the next few hours and I again started to fatigue. I was offered Diamorphine again which I accepted. This did take the edge off for a while, but then the pain in my back became unbearable (due to baby being back to back). I was offered and accepted an epidural at around 2230. This was instant relief! And I had gotten to 5cm dilated. However, baby then moved down further into the birth canal and became stuck by the head. With this, my epidural was no longer effective and the pain became so intense again. Baby was also in distress as indicated on the monitor with the clip on the head. With this, my consultant was worried about baby’s heart rate irregularity and suggested we go ahead with an emergency c-section. Although reluctant, I wanted my baby to be safe and get through this so I accepted.

In theatre the plan was to top up epidural and go ahead with the section, however this did not work. The anaesthetist then tried a spinal block which didn’t work either. There’s was no other option than to proceed with a general anaesthetic. I was upset by this, as was my partner as he would not be allowed to stay with me through the surgery. However, my midwife reassured us both that baby would be taken directly to him after birth for skin to skin and both would come to me in recovery as soon as I came round from the anaesthetic. My midwife also reassured me that she’d stay with me throughout the procedure and arrange another midwife to come and collect baby to take to my partner. Which is exactly what happened.

My gorgeous daughter, Georgia, was born 3 minutes after I was put under, at 0231 on the 13/10/22, getting delayed cord clamping and skin to skin with her daddy as I had asked. I was woken up at 0310 and my baby and partner came to see me 5 minutes later. I saw him walk towards me with a tiny bundle in his arms, with a little pink hat on her head and I melted. She was placed on my chest for skin to skin and all of the last 36 hours just evaporated.

My baby was finally here, safe, beautiful and so much more perfect than I could ever imagine. My midwife took pictures of the 3 of us, our first family photos that we will treasure forever. She then took my face in her hands and said “you did amazingly, I’m so proud of you!” This woman who’d known me for 7 hours and treated me with such care and compassion throughout, just amazed me. She is truly worth her weight in gold and I could not be more grateful for how she took care of us all!

We were taken back to labour ward where Georgia latched on and fed perfectly, despite her dramatic entrance to the world! From there on, she has spurred on my recovery, being worth every second of pain and making all the negatives into positives. Despite my birth going pretty much oppositely to how I wanted it too, it was an overall positive experience, mostly due to the incredible team of professionals who ensured the safety and well-being of me, my daughter and my partner throughout my pregnancy and labour. We could not have asked for more in an impossible situation! Now at almost 4 weeks postpartum, I look back on the whole experience fondly, and I can tell my daughter when she’s older of her dramatic journey into this world! Thank you PBC for all of your techniques which without you, I would not have felt as prepared and calm going into labour and birth.