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Kirsty Walker’s Birth Story

Hello,. Sorry it took so long for me to send in my birth story but it’s been a whirlwind few weeks, baby and I had a stay in hospital after the birth so just been getting better and enjoying Aida being at home. I wanted to share my story as my birth did not go to plan at all, but I want to tell it to show no matter if it doesn’t go how you imagined it, the end result of your beautiful baby is just so worth it

We got to the hospital on Monday and had a scan at 4 pm to make sure baby had not turned back into breech position before inducing me, which she hadn’t so induction started at 6 pm, we waited for 24 hours to get things going then they came to take me to the labour ward I was only 2 cm dilated so the first stage of being induced hasn’t done much. I got put on the drip at 9 pm Tuesday and they broke my waters at 10:30 pm. The pain wasn’t too bad at all to begin with it was quite bearable. I lasted about 6 hours without any pain relief at all which the midwives were surprised at, with being on the drip the contractions got stronger and stronger and I was only 3 cm I’d been in labour for hours. The breathing excercises we learn in yoga helped through the pain concentrating on my breathing really got me through the whole thing.
then they turned the drip up and put me on oxytocin got so the contractions got really strong. Was still going 9 hours later I really really tried for a natural birth so I saw the doctor I asked to be kept on the drip for another 4 hours to see if I would dialate. I was 6 cm then they checked again only 7 cm after the 4 hours then they found I had developed an infection in there heart rate was high and babies so they put me on two types of antibiotics and paracetamol. I had wires and drips everywhere far from the natural birth I’d hoped for. I was monitored every half hour and I was on nil by mouth the whole way through. With the labour being so long they offered me an epidural to keep going and try not to have a c section which I really didn’t want. The epidural went wrong and they pierced my membrane which lead to my spinal fluid leaking from the hole they had made. They had to go higher with the epidural which means it went patchy so feeling in my right leg came back during labour and the epidural was too high up my body so wasn’t effective I just got on the gas and air and kept concentrating on keeping my breathing slow and calm. So after the extra 2 hours I was only 9 cm baby was still really high up, wasn’t moving down and she was back to back. Realistically she was not coming out the normal way it just wasn’t meant to be and was coming out of the sunroof!!! I was 22 hours into labour and they won’t let you go longer than 24 hours due to risk of infection which I already had developed duriing labour. So they came in read me the small print on the c section I was so exhausted and fed up at this point I was ready for her to arrive. I couldn’t be awake during my c section due to risk of infection and with me already having sepsis starting I said no. So general anesthtic it was. Sad I would be asleep but better than more infection and further risks. I went in to theatre around 7:15. The anaesthetist was saying just think of this baby she really kept me calm and said I was doing well considering she could tell I was nervous. Sue gave me a big hug before I went to sleep
I woke up at 9:25. They just said she’s here and she’s beautiful, she was fine and with dad. I was over the moon. She brought her in for skin to skin. She was just perfect she was super calm and I was just so happy. 7.7 pounds and th at 7:28 Aida Rae Taylor. Kind of overwhelmed and proud of myself for the long slog I had endured for days. I was trollied up to recovery and Dave got to go and see her on the baby special care unit. She was chilled and happy. I had a blood patch epidural procedure to fix the hole in my spinal membrane and stop the spinal fluid from leaking out, it seems to have worked. After a very long 10 days in hospital I was just so glad to be home with my beautiful baby. I am amazed at the sheer grit and determination I had the whole way through my 22 hour labour. Even though it didn’t go to plan I tried everything I could and I was so proud of myself considering everything that was thrown at me. Us women are so strong and amazing I have a new respect for all the mummy’s out there.

Thank you so much Ann for all your advice at pregnancy yoga it all really did get my through it all. Say hi to all the lovely ladies for me

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Lots of love
Kirsty x x .

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