The "simple" procedure

This is for those who are interested in the events of the last couple of days for me...a warning though... I will use words such as cervix, so if this is going to freak you out, stop reading now! Also - this is a long read - I tend to waffle a bit!

On Friday morning we were told to go into the birthing suite at 10am to have the stitch out. We arrived and were put in a waiting room til the dr was ready. We happened to be in the waiting room with two very excited ladies waiting to hear of the birth of their granddaughter in the room next door. They had to wait about an hr or so and were starting to get worried as the pushing part of the birth had been going on for a while. Dave prayed with them which was a great unexpected opportunity. The baby eventually arrived safely for them with lots of granny tears and excitement!

Around 12 we were called in. I told them straight up that my last expereince was very painful and I wanted the gas. The dr was happy enough for that to happen. Yay! The procedure started and although it was uncomfortable, it wasn't too painful so I held out without the gas. They got the stitch out, but then discovered there were two stitches in there. The second stitch was harder to reach. My cervix was very soft and the stitch (to use the dr's words) was "embedded" in there. OUCH! So she tried to get it out for a while, but it was clear it wasn't going to happen, and my cervix was cut and bleeding by their attempts so they gave up. She examined me and said she could feel the baby's head! That freaked me out a little!

 They told me I'd need a general anaesthetic to get it out. I was pretty disappointed, but happy I'd at least be asleep for the next bit, so no more pain! (So I thought!) Because I had eaten just before the procedure I then had to fast for the next 6hrs before I could have a general. More waiting!

About half an hr later another dr came in who was a specialist. He said he'd be willing to have another go at getting the stitch out so we could avoid the anaesthetic.He said it would definately hurt quite a bit (at least he was honest), so they'd make sure I was using the gas before they started. Dave and I agreed to give it a go.

So I sucked on that gas so hard before they started that I was light headed and laughing hysterically! I love that stuff. So he had a try, and it was pretty awful. I think Dave's hand might have got a bit bruised with how hard I squeezed it! The gas was great, but it really can't mask the pain that much! Thankfully the dr realised pretty quickly that it wasn't going to work and stopped. They agreed that a general was the only way to get it out. So, back to waiting. I was transferred to the antenatal ward to wait it out.

I was booked in for the op at 6pm, but things never go to plan, so ended up leaving for the op at 10:30pm.
In the meantime they put monitors on me and the baby as they were worried with all they'd done I'd go into labour. I was also bleeding a bit too. I started having some back pain which began to come in waves and quite regularly. I had similar back pains in labour with Matty, so a midwife stayed with me to monitor what was happening. They started coming every 2 minutes, but there was no abdominal tightening, so they still weren't sure if it was contractions or not. They rang down to theatre to say I needed to go quickly, but still I had to wait at least another hour. The contractions started to calm dowm and things went back to normal just before I went to theatre.

I was wheeled in, ready to go and the anaesthesiologist spoke to me telling me he was going to give me a spinal injection. I told him I was told it'd be a general anaesthetic. He spent a great deal of time trying to convince me to have a spinal instead. I was very hesitant, I couldn't talk to Dave - and feeling very anxious. I just didn't like the idea of needles in my spine, even though I know they are used all the time. But eventually I agreed as it would be better for the baby.

Then the surgeon came in to talk to me and told me I'd be having a general. I spoke to her about what the anaesthesiologist had said and she was very surprised. She spoke to him and it was obvious that they disagreed about what should be done. But the spinal was agreed upon. I was very nervous - I hated the idea of being awake for the whole thing.

The worst bit was the needles going in my back, after that the procedure was fine and I wasn't anxious at all. But it was the weirdest feeling - I've never had pins and needles quite like that! The procedure went well and quickly. After it was over, I was in recovery and had the shakes very violently. This lasted for an hour and a half at least and was not fun at all! My blood pressure (which is always quite low) dropped a lot and they had to monitor me very closely. Eventually Dave was allowed in and I told him about all the change in plans and what had happened. Once I was stable, (a couple of hrs after the prcedure) I was transferred back to antenatal. I was starting to have sensation in my knees finally. But it took quite a few hours before I could feel my legs fully. They did a check of the baby's heart beat and once that was fine and I was settled, Dave could finally go home around 2ish for some sleep! I didn't get much sleep that nght with all the obs that had to be done.

The next day, things settled down and I felt much better. They did a check of the baby, and at first she was showing signs of distress, so I needed the ctg machine on for a good 45 mins to check she was ok. Eventually she started to do the right thing. Praise God! Otherwise they were talking emergency caesar. 

So they wanted to keep me in another night just to be sure all was ok with me and the baby. Things went well after that with this bub doing great (must have been the extra chocolate I ate to hype her up!) The only thing they were worried about was my low blood pressure, til they worked out that was just me!

So on Sunday morning the dr gave me the all clear to go home! I'm thankful that it's all over and that everything is ok with the baby at the moment! I'm thinking though that this bub will be making her entrance soon!