Actually Being Pregnant Part 3

Shit, being pregnant was hard. It was miserable. BUT and I must emphasise this, what I actually had although not unheard of, the actual severity I had is rare!!!!! I also want to tell you how much I hated all the negative stories people shared with me about pregnancy, child birth and the aftermath. So another thing I will two things I will say is;

1. Pregnancy, child birth and the aftermath COMPLETELY DIFFERENT FOR EVERYONE.

2. My pregnancy was hard and my labour long BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY DO IT AGAIN IN A HEARTBEAT <3

There I was with this pain in my back, and in my rib cage that got worse every time I sat down or lay down. It was like a pressure building. I had no idea if I should go to hospital. I was terrified of being told to go away, after all I had spent many a night in A&E (ED) when I was younger being told it was all in my head.

Some nights I would roll around on the floor just trying to find a comfortable position. I had to drive to Bunbury one day, I could not even breathe, I thought I was in hell. I spent the night rolling around the floor at my in laws. My mother in law kept asking if the baby was coming. The baby wasn't coming but my kidney was dilating!!!

The next week I ended up in Rockingham General hospital but no one knew what the hell was up and I couldn't have an ultrasound due to Anzac Day. They were all stabbing in the dark and trying to guess.... one even said shingles.

Eventually I had a scan where they diagnosed Hydronephrosis;

Hydronephrosis is caused by a blockage in the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder (ureter). Possible causes include a kidney stone, an infection, an enlarged prostate, a blood clot or a tumour.

Or in my case my large uterus compressing my ureter against a muscle!

Obvs this wasn't explained to me immediately. The urologists at Rockingham felt this was a common side effect of pregnancy and I should follow up with my GP.

By the following Monday the pain was at a 10 and I felt like I was dying, this really isn't an over exaggeration, I was totally exhausted. I decided to take myself to King Eddies, I knew whatever it was, it wasn't right.

I spent a week in hospital on a lot of strong pain medications discussing my options which were limited. The urologists didn't want to touch me. To put a stent in was just far to risky in their eyes and I should learn to live with the pain.

Whilst I was in hospital I had to contend with a new issue caused by the kidney dilatation.

My lithium levels had jumped.

(I was able to stay on my bipolar medications and was monitored really closely in my pregnancy. The 20 week scan showed no abnormalities and the baby was developing healthily. I can't remember if I spoke about this previously.)

My lithium levels usually sit at 0.6 ( I don't know the medical jargon but I know this is what keeps me level) but whilst in King Eddies they jumped to 0.9, still not a completely toxic level but not good for me. My dosage was reduced and seroquel was increased (this was bad but will come to that).

Now not only was I dealing with the pain I was also dealing with the change in medication and husband trying to be superman, you know working 80 hours, looking after SD, the dogs and the house (he obviously thought he was winning haha poor man).

My pregnancy was starting to remind me of that of Bella Swan!!

You can see the comparison???

The next 9 weeks were HELL! I was having to take strong pain meds at home just to get through the pain and I was struggling with the bipolar medication also. Seroquel (also known as quitiapine) were not friends. Having it in my cupboard as an emergency drug to sedate me when my brain overheated, yeah great but as a regular mood stabiliser NOOOOOO!

What I personally find with seroquel is I become far more agitated, and if you wake me, forget it your life is over. Husband will testify that this is not an understatement. He started talking to me one night when he thought I was awake.... Whoops!!! Some people have shared similar experiences but again everyone is different.

By 30ish weeks I was dead! I honestly was on countdown, praying to the gods that my baby would be delivered early and safely, yet when the obstetrician suggested inducing me at 36 or 37 weeks I was in shock.

Could I really bring my baby in to the world early? It wasn't really what I had been planning with my hypnobirthing but still. I really didn't know the right thing to do. I discussed it with Husband and Pip Owen

( https://hypnobirthingaustralia.com.au/directory/listing/pip-wynn-owen-western-australia-perth )

I also started the process of weaning off the pain medications because I was advised there was a chance my baby could be born dependent on the pain medication.

I was starting to feel like a bad mum, and I haven't even told you about breastfeeding yet!!

Stay tuned for birthing, student midwives, breastfeeding (or rather not) and my hypnobirthing expirience!