my labour started around 7pm on the 25th September (2018) and the pain was much worse than I expected, but it was bearable at this stage!😂
I called my mum to tell her it was happening and for her to come over. Anyone who knows me knows that when I’m ill or in a lot of pain I like to have my mum around. (Yes even at the age of 21 – which I was at the time!) 🙈 she did however tell me to try and get some rest as labour can’t stop and start. So I went off to bed and did fall asleep I woke around 1am in a LOT of pain and called her again. This time she came over and sat with me. My partner was still in bed and I didn’t really want to disturb him as he has work the next morning and I wasn’t sure if my Labour was going to stop or not!
We called the hospital and they asked me to head over which I did. When we got there I was examined by the midwife but was only 2cm dilated and was offered a stretch and sweep which I took (this was extremely uncomfortable and I wouldn’t opt to have this again!) After that we were sent back home and told to call back when my contractions were two mins apart.
When I got home around 3am I took some paracetamol and managed to get some more sleep. I woke up again about 10am in extreme pain. I got up and walked around which I did find to relive the pain slightly. By the afternoon I couldn’t take much more of the pain and I was feeling really unwell and lightheaded! I called the hospital and they told me to come back in.
On arrival at the hospital I had my observations done. The midwife looked at the beeping blood pressure machine and then looked at me I could the see the shock on her face. At this moment I was terrified. She told me my blood pressure was extremely high and I would not be leaving the hospital again until I had, had my baby! I was prescribed tablets to lower my blood pressure.
a few hours later after the tablets not working so well as the doctors had anticipated they made the decision that they would like to induce me. I had an examination but to everyone’s shock (including mine) I was 9cm dilated and did not need to be induced. The midwifes told me I would have to have an epidural which made me really emotional as this is the one thing I had wrote in my birth plan that I absolutely did not want! The midwifes then popped my waters to speed labour up as my blood pressure was not dropping and they were becoming increasingly worried about mine and my baby’s health.
After around 4 hours of pushing I was exhausted and not getting anywhere and my baby’s heartbeat was slowing down. the midwifes decided to call the consultant in who made the immediate decision to perform a delivery via forceps. I had my beautiful baby girl in my arms within 10 minutes. Suddenly all the pain went away and I was over come with joy!
after I had been stitched up my mother left the hospital and my partner, Darcy and I were taken to our room. Within 5 minutes my legs started to shake uncontrollably and I told my partner to ring the bell. The midwife came in and immediately pushed the emergency bell. I was having an eclamptic fit. I don’t remember much after that!
the next few days I was really unwell, I was on magnesium drips which felt like they were burning as they travelled through my veins, on so many tablets to lower my blood pressure and had to have two injections a day to prevent me getting blood clots. I had a catheter fitted and by this time I think I had no dignity left! 😂
it was such a struggle as I was too weak to hold my baby girl but my partner was fantastic and did such a great job that first week!
after a week we were discharged from hospital to start our new chapter as a family of 3!
Chantelle’s blog 