midwife's muse

The Bean has sprouted

Sunday was a long day. We arrived at the hospital at 8.30 and daughters waters were broken, copius amounts of fluid, and meconium (baby had opened it's bowels inside) so the monitor had to be used immediately, no walking around for her. An hour later the drip went up, and off we went. Within an hour her contractions were impressive but she was coping quite well sitting with her TEN's on and on the ball. They re-examined her after 4 hours, and there had been no progress so they turned te drip up, and on we went. Around 4 o clock things started to go downhill, emotionally. The gas and air had worked well for a while but had stopped being as helpful so daughter had Pethidine, and shortly afterwards lost her ability to cope. The contractions were fierce by now and she was desperate so we called the anaesthetist to put an epidural in. In he came, introduced himself, and was then called away to an emergency. The hour until he returned was horrendous, daughter was having contractions every two minutes and could not see any further than the pain, and was in despair. Eventually the epidural was put in, by the loveliest anaesthetist, a cross between Dr Kovack off ER, he was a Latvian Pole, and Michael Owen. With daughter comfy we could all have an hours rest. Another examination, no progress, outlook poor, Baby Bean sleepy, re-examine in 2 hours. At this point I started chatting to Mum and Dad about probable next move, i.e section, so when she was reexamined, at 10.30pm, and still not making any progress and Doc recommended section no one was surprised. I helped get everything ready, expecting to wait outside, but then daughter dropped the real bombshell, 'I want you in there'. I checked with everyone and they were OK about me being in there so I changed into my scrubs. I hate sections, they make my tummy go queasy at the best of times, but the prospect of it being my first born under the knife was extremely unsettling, to say the least! In we went though, and after a battle to free Baby Bean from its confines, out SHE came. Yes. I have a Grandaughter! A chubby, 9lbs 12oz, healthy, gorgeous baby girl, born 15.05.2005 at 23.12hrs. All are doing well, Mummy and Daddy are over the moon, no name as yet but that will come. I'm off to see them now, swamped with pink things and smiling broadly.

Here, at last. 15 minutes old.

16.5.05 13:16