Friday, 6 May 2011

e3

Anyone reading this already knows that on December 30th, 2010 I gave birth to Lucy Louise Rollins. Our second daughter was 11 days late and I was scheduled to be induced at 7:45 Thursday morning. Instead I went into labour at about 2:00 am and she was born, less than 6 hours later, at 7:47 am. She weighed 9 lbs 5 oz and I am proud to say that I did it with no epidural, drugs, or gas. I felt like a rock star! What many people don't know is what happened after that...

I was getting settled in my room, nursing my baby and eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich that Andrew had brought me. It was the most delicious thing on earth because I was starving and still feeling that post-birth high. I wanted to try getting up to use the washroom so I had nurses helping me since it was my first time moving around and I was sure that I had pulled a muscle. I got to a sitting position, tried to stand and felt like I was going to black out. They made me lay down again and started monitoring my blood pressure. It was low, then lower... It wasn't long before a Dr was telling me that I had probably ruptured my c-section scar (from Sadie's birth) and would probably be heading to surgery. I was heartbroken. I had worked so hard to have a beautiful, natural birth and all I wanted to do was hold my baby and bask in those first moments. I was sent for an MRI but before I could even get in my pressure dropped again. I could feel it happening, the nurse with me could see it happening (I was scary white by now) and I was rushed back to the labour and delivery ward. That's when things got scary. I had a room full of people trying to prep me for surgery, they brought Andrew from the nursery to see me and then I was being rushed off again. I have never been so afraid in my life. I had everything to lose and all I could do was pray. "Please let me get back to my girls, I have to get back to my girls" If I had died that would have been my last thought.

In surgery they found that my previous scar had not ruptured at all. I had a rare complication and was quickly bleeding into my abdomen. I had lost approximately two thirds of my total blood supply and if my amazing nurses and doctor hadn't acted quickly I never would have seen my girls again.