It was blatantly obvious to me and Big Bear last night how much things have got out of hand. I started having mild pains at about 10.30. Originally thinking it may be IBS I took some paracetamol and tried to get some sleep. Palpitations started just moments after getting back into bed and the pains were already stronger and more frequent. I’d already given birth twice before – so why was I so nervous?
I started running a bath, recalling that the midwives had told me to wait before going in on Goldilocks. Aside from the palpitations, this was almost identical to the start of my labour with her. I rang my mother, who was very conveniently in Scotland for the weekend. Of course, by convenient I mean flipping awkward! She told me to ring my delivery unit first before deciding to wait. There was a problem – I had no idea what hospital I was down to give birth in. I’d been referred from consultant to consultant, to new ones and back to previous ones all thanks to the missing stomach bubble on the scans.
I rung the hospital I’d originally chosen to find out that I definitely was not down to give birth there, luckily there was only one other option. After a few minutes searching on the net I found the number for delivery, phoned them and explained the issues. They said I’d need to be seen straight away.
That was when it hit me. I was 35 weeks pregnant and had no hospital bag, no alternative babysitter, no newborn sized nappies or clothes and no idea what position the baby was lying in. Was he breech? Did the hospital know about the problems so far in the pregnancy? Would they be prepared to put the camera down his gullet, which needed to be done very soon after birth?
We quickly found an alternate babysitter but had to take the kids to them. Big Bear got Little Bear and himself dressed as Goldilocks got herself dressed as I grabbed what I could for a quick makeshift hospital bag. We left Goldilocks under the impression that everything was fine and we’d decided to surprise her with a sleepover - which seemed to work!
After spending several hours at the hospital we got away with some antibiotics and the skin of our noses, but not much else. This is a huge wake up call for us. Time to get moving and get it sorted – or in my case, get hobbling and get it sorted. At least, at 35 weeks, I am now certain where I am giving birth.
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