I have wanted to write about this since I started my blog, however I have never felt in the right place mentally to put it all together, so here it is:
Now at the beginning of my pregnancy we were so excited (you can read about it HERE) however at around 7-8 weeks pregnant our world turned upside down. It was a Thursday evening and Ollie had just got back from collecting a Chinese takeaway. I was stood in the kitchen about to plate up our tea when for a split second I thought I had pee’d. When I was hit with an almighty stomach cramp, I looked down and noticed that it wasn’t wee it was in fact blood.
I rushed to the toilet where I continued to bleed and since I was crying uncontrollably my Mum was called (thankfully they live just round the corner) We left Beth with my Mum and Dad and set off for the hospital.
Once I was taken into A&E a nurse very harshly told me that I had quite obviously lost my baby and they were too busy to give me a scan so I would have to go home and come back to the Early Pregnancy Unit on the Sunday morning (how cruel!)
So after waiting since Thursday night we set off on the Sunday for our scan. I was so scared and refused to look at the monitor. I was waiting for the words ‘your baby has gone’ what we got was ‘we have found a heartbeat’ I actually remember sobbing quite loudly and quite unreservedly.
She explained the only reason she could fathom was that since I had lost such a large amount of blood was that I had been carrying twins and that we would never know for certain.
So after a few weeks rest I was back to work and things were going well (besides the morning sickness) until I had another bleed (nowhere near as much as before) and the most painful stomach cramps again.
At hospital I was this time scanned on arrival and it turns out I actually had something called a Corpus Lutheum Cyst. This what they thought was causing the current bleeding and pain problem so, after 24 hrs in hospital I was allowed home but told to take things easy.
To cut a very long story short (er ) I was actually admitted on 4 other occasions with blood loss and pain and each time we waited with bated breath for the heartbeat to be found …. Always successfully!
My Corpus Lutheum Cyst grew rapidly and at around week 19 of my pregnancy I was told it was the size of a grapefruit and I was at serious risk of an Ovarian Torsion (where the cyst twist the ovary) or it tearing away from my ovary and risked major blood loss for me and my baby.
I felt I owed it to my baby to hold tight, as general surgery was my only option and this would have risked putting me into premature labour and I risked loosing him. I refused and remained on bed rest at home with very regular scans to check to ensure it wasn’t still growing. I just wanted to wait will week 25 when I knew he would stand a chance.
So as D-day approached and the 25 week scan date arrived felt sick with dread. However the gods were shinning on us that day as it seems Joshua moving about had created a tiny puncture and the cyst was almost gone!
Throughout the rest of my pregnancy I suffered with acute SPD (you can read about it HERE) and was signed completely off work.
Then at around 30 weeks during a scan it was pointed out that not only was he going to be big, he also was doing the splits .. So after this little bombshell and that fact Beth was delivered by emergency section after she was too big for me to deliver it was decided that an elective section was the only way to go.
So on Friday 8th April 2011 I was wheeled into theatre for my elective section and I did so well, no tears until the local anesthetic went in and I then became a gibbering mess. Thankfully Ollie kept me calm and it all started……
Joshua was born at 12.22pm on Friday the 8th April weighing 8 lbs 4 ozs
Sounds like a rather nailbiting pregnancy. I know how I worried without all those problems, so can only begin to imagine what it was like.
Thanks Erica i was a nervous wreck by the end i can tell you!
What an emotional pregnancy.
I bet it felt like such a relief to actually hold him.
As for the hospitals bedside manner that just sucks
its about typical for the bedside manor i was shown throughout! xx
What amazing photographs. You must have been so nervous throughout your pregnancy, you poor thing.
Thanks Rachel, i was a complete wreck just waiting for something to go wrong!
Sounds like you had a really tough pregnancy which must have made his arrival so much more special. Some fabulous birth pictures!
Thanks so much honey x
This is one heck of a story and when you spoke about the cyst I was so worried for you. Lovely ending to what sounds like a difficult pregnancy – all worth it in the end 🙂 xx
it most certainly was honey, thank goodness! xx
Omg you went through a very tough time….I cant imagine how stressful it must have been x
The pictures are beautiful x amazing….x
thanks so much, i cant quite belive i have put my pregnant pictures on there lol
How stressful that must have all been. Wonderful to hear it was all ok in the end!
thanks Nell, good things come to those who wait 🙂
Such an emotional read, what a rollercoaster, but with such a superbly happy ending. My daughter was a whopper 9lbs 7oz and I remember being worried sick in the delivery suite thinking “how am I going to give birth to a big one!” Birth is magical xx
Thanks Karen! damn these big babies!xx
Sounds like you had a tough pregnancy, I’m just so glad he arrived safely for you. Those pictures are amazing, brought a tear to my eye! Thanks for hosting a wonderful linky xx
Awww thanks i cant wuite believe i put my baby bump pictures on though! lol
Your little man is very special, what a journey! Xx
he sure is! we got there in the end 🙂
I’m so glad that it was a happy outcome, it must have been a scary 9 months for you
it was so scary at time i can tell you xx thanks for popping over x
How stressful! And how very kind of Joshua to get rid of the cyst for you, he could clearly tell his mummy was suffering. xx
aww thanks Judith he is a super helpful boy xx
Such a tough beginning but the most fabulous ending 🙂 Beautiful pictures!
A question though,is 8lb 4oz deemed ‘big’? A friend has just had her baby by elective section because baby was going to be big and she weighed the same amount,the reason I’m asking is my youngest was delivered naturally at the same weight and I’m beginning to worry that maybe she shouldn’t have been!
Oh Jaime what a journey… but so very pleased it worked out so beautifully in the end x
Lovely! I love birth stories!
thanks Karen me too! 🙂 x
What a journey you had! It must have been so emotional and stressful for you, but it must have made Joshua’s arrival that much more special. Amazing photos, what a lovely record to have. xx
Thanks so much, it was a very difficult time but one i would never of done differently! 🙂 x thanks for linking up again x
Wow – wonderful photos, I have similar ones of Lottie but haven’t posted them anywhere yet :)!
Does that mean this could be next weeks post?? xx
Aw fantastic Jaime, I’m thrilled that it all turned out beautifully in the end and we both have Magic April babies x
We certainly do and how precious they are 🙂 xx
Wow! What a stressful time you had. It’s horrid that what should have been magical was so tainted and even more so that the medical professionals were so unfeeling towards you. Bedside manner certainly doesn’t seem to exist in some job descriptions. So glad it all turned out ok in the end though – nothing like a happy ending!
Thanks so much honey, After I was still a little raw however now i am ok and it was just meant to be .. happy endings are always the best 🙂
it must have been very stressful for you, your photos are amazing xx
it was awful at the time but he was well worth it!
It’s funny how those 3 letters….SPD, can send shivers down your spine just seeing them! Thankfully I’ll never have to feel those pains again!
I’m so pleased everything turned out well in the end 😀 xx
Thanks so much Shell i still have my SPD and it now seems I will have it permently which is why i need to lose the weight in order to take the pressure of my pelvis x
A series of desperate worries, punctuated by magical moments each time you heard they had found a heart beat. What an incredibly tough pregnancy. Well done you for being so strong and for finding the strength to share it now. xxx
aww thanks so much for a lovely comment too 🙂 x
What a scary, yet brilliant story! It must have been awful to live with the worry all through your pregnancy. I feel so blessed that both my pregnancies were problem-free. Your story did make me smile though, as one of my twins was actually born doing the splits! They were emergency C-section, as they were both breech, but though G very nearly came out all on her own, bum first, her sister was performing some acrobatics and was pulled out with one leg up by her head. Always a flair for the dramatic, that one!! x
lol yes Joshua was also breech! these children are a blessing but also a worry lol xx
Oh wow, I know exactly how you must have felt in those dreadful moments. I’ve been there with good and bad news on different occasions. It’s sad that medical staff get inured to people’s feelings, but it is also I guess their way of protecting themselves. No excuses really. I’m so happy for you that you had your wonderful little boy, and well done you for finally being ready to share the story and those pictures. xxx
Thanks so much honey, I still am a little shocked that I have finally shared! x
I love a story that ends in a magic moment. Never take pregnancy or a healthy baby for granted is what I’ve learnt. So lovely to read this all turned out ok! And good on you for sharing the story… emotional stuff xx
Thanks Lorraine, it was a bit of a rollercoaster that’s for sure ! x
Wow – you must have been so on edge. Must have been amazing to finally meet your little guy.
It was so heartbreaking but yet so amazing through all of it! It was like a little miracle when he finally made his appearance 🙂 x
Oh my goodness what a scary time for you during your pregnancy,I cant begin to imagine how you must have felt!So glad it turned out so well and I love the photos,they are fab.Thanks for running such a nice linky and thanks for the follow on Twitter x
Its my pleasure to run the linky honey, although i did think i was already following you on twitter .. so not sure what happended there but i am now following you again xx
Oh bless u, so very harsh can the joy of pregnancy & birth be. So glad ur happy gorgeous boy entered the work so healthy and love the pictures, I wish I had someone taking picks for me and my studley. Next time 😉 xx
awww thank you honey, this was by far my best pregnancy/delivery out of the two. Bethany’s was so traumatic! xx
Awwwww that made me cry. A very scary start with an awesome finish xx
aww thanks lovely, it seems so surreal these days, fingers crossed for baby 3 .. eventually x