h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hiya!

After some thought about the entry - I was wondering if I could possibly ask you a small favour - as you had a crash section, I was wondering if I could pop a personal account from yourself into the piece - I'd credit you, of course

It must have been frightening for you - how were you afterwards?

Stay ,
WD

OK, WD, no probs.

I'll do it after tea, when little 'un's in bed.

Feel free to chop it if it's too long.

And frightening - yes - I'd a car load full of supermarket shopping - and I didn't get out for 10 days!

Actually, now I've picked up little 'un from school, I may as well have a go now.

A bit of background first.

My dates went backwards throughout the pregancy. I first told mid September, then it went back to late September and finally to 9 October, which is where it was when I had the baby, which turned out to be very early September.

I went into hospital for an ultrasound scan. I was told that the head and the body were not at the same stage of growth. The body was small and there might be a problem. I was asked to come back in the afternoon, so that they could do foetal monitoring.

I did a large amount of shopping at the supermarket, then came back for a large meal in the hospital restaurant.

During the foetal monitoring, the baby's heart started to flatline, which meant that instead of undulations up and down, it was a wiggle. I was told that this was a very bad sign and was told that the baby needed to be born *now*. A crash team was assembled. Luckily for me, the heartrate recovered to a normal pattern and the crash team stood down. I was told I could have the baby a little later, to give my meal time to digest. I had to keep looking at the monitoring and to press a button if it flatlined again.

I was offered a spinal - a bit like an epidural, but the needle goes further into the cord. They tried twice, but when they pricked me on the leg to see if I could feel anything, I definitely could! I was told I would have to have a general. I was shaking and feeling very cold. I remember being wheeled off, and then nothing.

Later, I awoke with my mouth feeling like the bottom of a budgie's cage - like sandpaper and very thirsty. I was given two polaroid photos of a tiny baby. He weighed just 4lb 1 oz.

Hope that's OK - as I say, use what you need.

I didn't get to see him until next day and he seemed quite alien. I had no maternal feelings. He was on a waterbed for two days in the SCBU and stayed for three days in total. His Apgar (spelling) scores were good. I was told later that the shivering was because I had gone into shock.

Thank you It sounds like you went through a lot there - assisting at a crash section is quite stressful, but that's nothing on the mother who's going through it - thank you again for sharing your story

I think I'll use all of it - and the short paragraph about your baby going to SCBU (APGAR is right; it's a quick going over the baby's condition at birth)

Thanks again - I'll just blockquote it in, and credit you

WD

Thanks, WD!

One of my worries was how to get the car home and the shopping unloaded! The other stressful thing was that I was in the middle of trying to move house and I had the landlord of the rented house trying to get me to move out whilst I was in hospital. Now *that* was stress. The midwives were furious and threatened to go to the newspapers - the Church of England owned the house and it was the vicar who was putting pressure on me.

Tried to evict you whilst you and your baby were recovering from a crash section!?!

That is truly shocking - how cruel and discompassionate can anyone be?

*sigh*

Oh they didn't do it. But the vicar said I could move into a hotel! His agent was much nicer.

In the end, I moved a few weeks later, once my move had gone through.

Well - he was probably misinformed about C-Sections, one of the many who think it's a painless and problem-free delivery...

Hrumph.

But at least it was all sorted out in the end How did your shopping fare in the end?

I handed my car keys over to someone in whose driving ability I had very little confidence, together with my house keys and he drove the car home. It arrived in one piece, thankfully!

Actually, as far as pain is concerned, the most difficult things were going to the loo (ouch!) and I had wind, which was like being stabbed. I wasn't allowed to rest in bed long, though. The midwives had me getting out of bed on my own when it was very painful. 'It's good for you', they said. As the loo was only a little way from my room (I got a room of my own!), I was soon making it on my own (doing the caesarian shuffle), as it was too much of a hassle to get the wheelchair.

Awwh!

Well - at least the shopping got back alright

Yes. More importantly, the *car* got home in one piece. Someone else fetched me and offspring home.

Actually, apart from the pain and the worries about accommodation (the seond was more worrying), the most difficult thing was the breastfeeding.. Different midwives had different ideas, and I saw at least 10 of them. Some were lovely, some less so. One had me in tears.