I had my first child, Timothy, by emergency caesarean section in February 2006. After 9 hours of active labour (not mentioning the previous 12 hours of what some midwives like to call 'niggles') a lot of gas and air, a shot of pethidine, an epidural that only took on one side and a fetal blood sample test (not particularly pleasant) it was decided by a couple of male doctors that, at full dilation, my child was distressed and would be delivered by section. I signed the form and went along with what they were saying, them being the 'experts' afterall. Off I went to theatre, epidural had now been 'sorted' so the surgeons proceeded. It was after the incision had gone through the first few layers and my partner had just come into the room that I then realised the epidural had not been 'sorted' to full effect, hence the pain I was experiencing. I was then knocked out after begging for a general, and my partner was rushed back out again, poor bugger! I woke up a while later, no baby in sight. He'd had apgar scores of 4 at 1 minute and 8 at 5 so had had to be taken to Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU). Unfortunately, due to the total lack of care and support, including being left all night without access to a call buzzer despite repeatedly asking for one (baby was delivered at 7:08 pm) I didn't get assisted out of bed and taken to see him until 5pm the following evening, and in the meantime was treated as if I hadn't had a baby, despite being put on a ward full of women who had their babies with them - very sensitive! All ended well, we were both discharged a few days later and recovered fine physically, but I was constantly troubled by my experience for months after, feeling like a failiure and feeling violated and let down by the 'experts' who were supposed to be caring for me. I made a formnal complaint to the trust Chief Executive and apologies were offered but it will never change the fact that what should have been the happiest day of my life was ruined.
In December 2006 I found out I was expecting again. All went well with my pregnancy, but I was constantly troubled by the decision I had to make, elective caesarean or attempt at VBAC? I'd already decided on a different hospital within a different trust for my delivery and after a number of meetings with my consultant, decided to try for a VBAC. So on the night of august 15th 2007, the familiar pains started, they came and went all night then stopped in the morning, but started again in the afternoon. After droping Timothy with my parents, we (being me and my partner Pete) headed for the hospital. Contractions were irregular again by this point, so I was put on a monitor for 20 minutes and told all was well but my blood pressure was very high so I was admitted to the antenatal ward for observation. I think the staff forgot I'd come in with contractions as they were so concerned with my blood pressure that no one examined me to see if I was dilating. So, assuming I wasn't yet in active labour, I made myself comfy and sent Pete home, expecting nothin to happen for good while yet. Within the hour I was doubled up in agony, and after being examined was found to be 5 cm dilated. Hooray! So poor old Pete had to come back. This was 6.30 pm. By the time he arrived I was back up on labour ward in a delivery room, half cut on the gas and air (Pete rolled his eyes, remembering the effect it had on me the first time.) A while later I'd had enough and begged for an epidural. So the anaesthetist came in and popped a drip in then popped out to run some blood tests first. During this time I got the most overwhelming urge to push. On checking the midwife could feel the head and encouraged me to push. By this point I was in tears because I wanted my epidural first but was told there was no time. The anaesthetist came back and they told him not to bother! I pushed with all my might for the next 20 minutes (during the whole time I was convinced I was sh*****g myself, despite being repeatedly told I wasn't) and then he was born, at 8:35pm. They handed him straight to me and I spent about the next 5 minutes in shock as it had all happened so quickly. All was well and although I suffered a 3rd degree tear (right from front to back, lovely!) I was stitched up in theatre and back on the ward the next morning. The post natal care was fantastic and we were home a few days later.
Nicholas will be 3 weeks old tommorrow and I can honestly say my VBAC was the best experience of my life. All the staff at Singleton Hospital in Swansea were amazing, I wouldn't have done it without their support.
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