Zoe's Story

A Stubborn Mom's Birth Story

It took me 3 three years to fall pregnant naturally I was so close to doing IVF but as you know everyone suggests you 'Go on a holiday!' and then you will fall pregnant! Well I did, in the first week too and was therefore ill the entire way for 7 weeks in Europe!! Still I couldnt be happier, afterall its a good sign and I had had one miscarriage (very early on) a year before!

Everything was great until we started to notice my blood pressure was rising....and finally I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia, a condition which occurs normally in the 1st pregnancy but not always and means 'strike like lightening' in other words I could fit and both of us lose our lives! Somehow deep down I knew this would never happen but at 35 weeks it nearly did! My baby was already a healthy 7 pounds and could have come out then but the doctors and myself preferred to let me keep on going. I willed my blood pressure down to get out of the hospital the next day...and succeeded in doing so.

I went home and was monitored every day 6 times a day with the blood pressure machine. I never told the truth to my doctor simply because some of the readings I would get I couldn't believe and would mean immediate hospital. Stubborn to the bone and now I realise pretty stupid too, but I ran a company and I was invincible!! Never-the-less the days passed very slowly, the heat was unbearable and I became hooked on daytime soapies whilst I lay there on my back.

The big day came to induce me and off I went to a flying start. Unfortunatley the blood pressure went through the roof and my baby had turned so the pushing I had been doing for 2 1/2 hours was going no where. The baby didn't lose a heart beat but I was in trouble and my husband could see it! I was rushed off to an emergency caesarian and out came this huge baby girl..9 pounds 5 ounces!! It was 36 hours of labour from whoa to go...and my husband collasped crying as we were both OK!

You know I still thought I was invincible, I was still stubborn too and refused medications to help with the after effects of a traumatic birth. It wasn't until 6 months later that my daughter taught me thats it Ok to be needy and to let people help you. Most improtantly I realise now that she is nearly 2 that my life is really important and its never worth risking. Next time will be different I can assure you, I've learnt an improtant lesson on life!