Amy Elizabeth - A British birth
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Doctors in the United Kingdom hospitalized one mom when her blood pressure shot through the roof. But just as they started to send her home, she instinctively asked for an internal exam. Their reluctance turned to shock when they finally agreed to her request.
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I had a fairly straightforward pregnancy -- things were progressing as they should until I reached seven months. At that time, I had protein in my urine, swollen ankles and hands, and my blood pressure shot up to 150/100. Doctors told me I had to stay in hospital until my blood pressure went down. I was in hospital for just over a week, and at 35 weeks pregnant, I felt a bit fed up.
One night I saw some spots of blood, but the midwife reassured me that it was common to have a show weeks before the baby was actually born, so I didn't panic. A few days later I didn't feel so good and thought it was because of my high blood pressure. I had bad trapped wind (so I thought!), and my back was killing me.
It was about 8 a.m. when the doctor came on his rounds and told me I could go home. He had put me on blood pressure medicine, and said things should work themselves out. I said, "That's great but I'm feeling a bit funny today..." I went on to tell him my symptoms, and he just told me that it could be the early signs of labor, or it was, as I suspected, trapped wind.
Instinctively, I asked for an internal examination. I don't know why. I didn't really feel that bad, but I asked him anyway. He was a bit reluctant and said he didn't really feel it was necessary, but to put my mind at rest he would do one anyway. I was lying there feeling very unladylike when he said "Oh my god, you're six centimeters dilated."
If I hadn't been lying down already, I think I would have fainted with shock! They wanted me to go straight to the delivery suite, but I went outside for some fresh air and to phone my birth partner. She was in the middle of an interview and sounded a bit angry when she came to the phone. When I told her what was wrong, I could hear her screaming and apologizing to the interviewers! She was with me within 10 minutes and we made our way to the delivery suite. I was now seven centimeters dilated and the midwife said I should have this baby fairly quickly.
Hours later I was still pushing! In the end they said my baby was facing the wrong way. They wheeled me into the operating room as a precaution. If the forceps didn't work, they would have to do an emergency c-section.
Luckily the forceps worked, and I had a healthy little girl. She weighed in at just 4 pounds, 14 ounces. I couldn't feel anything from my chest down because of the epidural, but my heart was almost bursting with pride. I would do it all again tomorrow; it was a great experience!
