Birth story: “If the dilation did not progress, I had to undergo a cesarean section under anesthesia. And that while my husband and I wanted to discover the gender together!”
My labors never started spontaneously
I was induced both times. The first pregnancy because I was quite overdue, specifically 41+5, and during my second pregnancy at 38+2, because I couldn't take it anymore. I had to vomit terribly a lot due to HG (hyperemesis gravidarum). Both times, dilation was initiated by a balloon catheter. This is a small balloon that is placed in the cervix. They inflate it with water. This creates pressure between the baby's head and the cervix. This pressure causes dilation. Once there is about 2 centimeters of dilation, they can break the waters and administer labor-inducing drugs through an IV.
During my first induction, we were asked to report to the delivery room at 8:00 AM. After an extensive CTG, they were ready to insert the catheter. First, they inserted the speculum and with a lot of fiddling, they managed to get the balloon in. What an unpleasant feeling, but fortunately, it wasn't painful. And then the waiting began. Waiting. And more waiting. Together with another expectant mother who had also just received a balloon, we lay in the maternity ward waiting for the catheter to fall out. Around 2:00 PM, this happened to me. Yes, there was enough dilation! But unfortunately, I had to wait until the next morning for a follow-up. I was taken back to my room and played some games to pass the time. Despite everything, I slept quite well that night. It was as if my body knew I could use the rest. At 6:30 AM, they came to take me to the delivery rooms. Half an hour earlier than planned. Anxious about what was to come, I lay on the CTG. At 7:00 AM, luckily my partner arrived at the delivery rooms and they could break my waters. This went quite quickly. However, inserting the IV for the labor-inducing drugs did not go as quickly. After six failed attempts, they decided to call someone from the operating rooms to do the insertion. An older woman came who managed to do it in one go. So, everything was ready and the labor-inducing drugs were administered. After a good hour, the cramps started to come. 'This isn't too bad,' I thought! But after two hours, I found myself in the midst of a storm of contractions. Wow, that was intense! Since I was only at 4 centimeters dilation, it was decided to give me an epidural. So there I went, in the middle of a storm of contractions, with bed and all to the operating room for an epidural. This time, the insertion was a nightmare. Meanwhile, I still had CTG straps around my belly and a call came from the delivery rooms that I had to immediately lie on my side because our baby's heart rate was dropping. I hardly noticed any of this. I was completely in my own world and deep in contractions. Finally, after three attempts, the epidural was properly placed. I was given a catheter to collect urine, and our baby had sensors placed on his head to monitor his heart rate. There I lay with all sorts of wires coming out of me. I also couldn't get out of bed because of the epidural. Meanwhile, the contractions continued with full intensity. After two hours, it was time to check the progress of the dilation again. Damn, still at 4 centimeters and the baby was also struggling during the contractions. The midwife indicated that I had to turn on my side and that if there was no progress now, they would have to perform a cesarean section. Slightly panicked, I turned on my side. Suddenly my partner said: 'Your bed is all wet behind your back!' The midwife was called again and it turned out that the epidural was not placed correctly and was leaking. They used an ice cube to go over my belly to check if I could feel it. And sure enough, it was cold! The epidural was not placed correctly and had done nothing for me all this time. What? Had I been lying in bed all this time for nothing?
Then the decision was made to use a pump
which contains remifentanil. This drug ensures that the peaks of the contractions are softened. Again, I had to wait for approval from the gynecologist. Meanwhile, my dilation was still stuck at 4 centimeters and there was talk again of a cesarean section. I absolutely did not want this! How would that work? My epidural wasn't effective? Would I have to be put under general anesthesia? And would I meet our baby much later? We also didn't know the sex. And with the thought that I would know the sex later than the rest of the operating room, I found it terrible. The storm of contractions continued with full force. There was not much time to think. After forty-five minutes, the midwife came in and I had the green light for a pump. My dilation was checked again and I was at 6 centimeters. Yes, it was working! There was progress. Everything was set in motion so that I could get the pump as soon as possible. But from that moment on, the dilation progressed rapidly. The nurse came in with the materials to connect the pump. I indicated that I needed to push. "No dear, that's not possible. Half an hour ago you were still at 6 centimeters and it's not possible that you now have full dilation," said the midwife. Again, I indicated that I had a strong urge to push and just to be sure, she checked the dilation again. The midwife was speechless. "Uhm girl, you're right! You can start pushing." Within forty-five minutes, my dilation went from 6 to 10 centimeters. What a relief! The pump was no longer needed and the real work could begin. After 20 minutes of pushing, on December 29th, our son was born. Completely green from the meconium, our little hulk.
During the second induction, my husband finally got to hold the baby.
DJOEKE
