(NB This was written retrospectively)
The night before at about 9.30 my contractions started. They were very mild and I hoped that they were Braxton Hicks contractions and that they would go away. I had a funny feeling that they wouldn’t, which is why I called J and told him, but I still hoped they would.
Continue reading “The Birth”
(NB This was written retrospectively)
Lucy and Georgie, J’s step-sister and her business partner, came to have a brief lesson on how to use an accounts package for their business. The morning went well, and Lucy very kindly offered to go with J to take his car in to be fixed after I had caused some damage in a minor RTA some weeks previously. J came home from work and together they left for the garage. Meanwhile Georgie and I were left at home with strict instructions to order pizza for us all to share over lunch.
Continue reading “My Waters Break”
(NB This was written retrospectively)
J and I and a couple of friends went to see Le Cirque du Soleil. It was absolutely fantastic and although this tour was sold out months and months in advance we really do recommend you try getting tickets next time they are in town. The show is never the same as they have different people in their troupe at any one time. I have seen them once before in Las Vegas about, ohhh, 20 odd years ago, no not quite that long but definitely 15 years ago, and I remember it well!
Anyway, having come home after such an entertaining evening, my back was in pieces due to the excess amniotic fluid. Doing anything for longer than an hour was sheer hell. Well, I had a show, which some of you will know is one of the labour signs. As I was only 31 weeks + 4 days pregnant, this was a very, very scary thought. So much so that I couldn’t sleep and read all the sections on premature births in each and every one of my books just so that I felt ready to face whatever came next.
(NB This was written retrospectively)
I had a routine antenatal appointment with my midwife and she diagnosed polyhydramnios – excess amniotic fluid. She sent me for an urgent scan to see if they could find a reason for the excess. This is what has made me so huge and so, so uncomfortable. As the days went by I wondered how on earth I was going to continue for another 2 months like this. I had given up driving (a small accident in J’s car helped to make this decision) and stopped working and could really do nothing much at the moment.
Polyhydramnios means a premature birth is much more likely due to the pressure of the excess fluid. There is also a higher risk of a prolapsed umbilical cord – ie. the force of the water pushes the umbilical cord out before the baby putting the baby in mortal danger. Should this happen an emergency caesarian is preformed.
Rest is all I could do, and of course hope for the best.