I remember Sunday 26 June 2015 quite vividly. It was the day it all started. I had woke up with a slight pain in my back and thought it must have just been the way I slept so didn’t think too much more about it…
This is Rebecca’s story:
“We had friends over for lunch and by the time they left I was in a lot of pain. I just couldn’t get comfortable. I tried to lie down and have a shower but the back pain just got worse. My husband told me to ring my Obstetrician so I eventually did – no answer.
Just a check-up
I then rang the local hospital where I was planning to deliver the baby who told me that I needed to head into the Women’s and Children’s Hospital immediately. I assumed this was protocol and they just needed to check me over and then I would be on my way back home. However, once we arrived at the hospital it was evident things were moving along quite quickly. I was checked over and was told I was 3 cms dilated already and I would be having the baby by 3 am the next morning. I burst into tears – I was scared, in denial and definitely not ready to have a baby yet.
I was given a steroid shot to help the baby’s lungs and something to help slow the contractions and taken straight up to the delivery suite. Dean (my husband) was taken for a tour of the NICU and then we waited. The next morning we still didn’t have a baby – I was relieved and thought that meant I could go home. Ha…no chance of that! I was moved to the Antenatal Ward and told to rest. 24 hours after I arrived at the hospital I was given another steroid injection and given a tour of the NICU – such an eye-opener, but I was still in denial this was happening to us.
Still in denial
Things had settled down and Dean went home on Monday night but when I woke on Tuesday I was having contractions again. I called the nurses and the Ob checked me over. I was 5cms dilated and I was going to have the baby. I needed to have an Emergency Caesarean as the baby was in a breech position so as they were prepping me for theatre I called Dean to tell him to come in. As soon as Dean arrived I was ready to go. I have never been more petrified in my whole life!
24 hours after I arrived at the hospital I was given another steroid injection and given a tour of the NICU – such an eye-opener, but I was still in denial this was happening to us.
Tiny but perfect!
At 11.41 am on Tuesday 28th July 2015 at 29+2 weeks, we welcomed Oscar Hamish into the world weighing a tiny 1220g. I immediately thought the worst as he didn’t make a sound but once they carried him over to me I was relieved. He was tiny but perfect! He was taken straight up to the NICU where he got settled in his new home.
On Day Three, I was finally allowed to have my first cuddle – just precious! Leaving the hospital to go home on Day Five was the hardest, completely gut-wrenching and like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I can’t even describe it but it was awful. Like every prem journey, it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Oscar – he was born with an inguinal hernia and needed it operated on before he left the hospital. He also had severe reflux which didn’t make the whole feeding thing easy as he vomited constantly. I also got mastitis a number of times from expressing which ended up with me being admitted on IV antibiotics several times as well.
After 77 days in the hospital and on his due date, 12th October, Oscar came home.”
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