The Ultimate Twist

 

It was the 15th January 2019 and we had our antenatal class that evening. It had been a busy old day if I recall, but something was troubling me; I hadn't really felt much movement from baby all day. For those of you who haven't experienced pregnancy this sort of anomaly needs to be taken seriously, regardless of whether it has gone 'smoothly' so far or not. So after our class we went straight up to the maternity triage. When you are there you have apparatus attached to your stomach that picks up baby's heartbeat. Her heartbeat was there and was beating just fine. Another relieved mummy-to-be moment. Due to the sheer thickness of my green book, however, Stepping Hill decided it would be a good idea to get me back in for a scan. They took all day to call me on Wednesday and, in truth, this made me think that this was all just a formality, a 'just lets make sure but we are confident all is fine'. I was booked in for a scan on Thursday.

Now, I know what you are thinking, obviously Vic and Aly went to Stepping Hill on Thursday for this 'formality' scan. Of course I didn't (rolling eyes in hindsight), I thought this is just a formality and Aly had had so much time away from work so far that I would just go on my own. I mean surely there couldn't be more, I had been discharged from St Mary's. What an optimistic fool. 

The scan started and I was watching the screen as usual and all the different array of pictures and measurements were taken. The sonographer turned to me and said that she just would like the senior sonographer to take a look as well. Still I sat there, in total denial, thinking I get it, my green book is thick, they want to be absolutely sure that baby is ok. She handed me the tissue to wipe the gel off my stomach and asked me to follow her so that we could have a chat about next steps. My heart started pounding, I knew where we were heading: the room. 

This time I sat there alone, feeling very sick, awaiting the midwife to come and see me. They informed me that they would like me to speak to one of the obstetricians. There had been a significant rise in the amount of fluid surrounding my baby and they would be looking to refer me back to St Mary's Fetal Medicine Unit. I phoned Aly, who left work and caught the first train he could to come meet me at Stepping Hill. If I remember rightly our appointment was on  Saturday 20th January back at St Mary's. 

I spoke to the obstetrician. I don't remember much of what was said. I remember that hitting week 32 would be a significant milestone, which was coming the following Wednesday, the 23rd January. Also, I remember it being highlighted to me how precarious my situation now was, that my baby really wasn't developing well anymore. I sat back in the waiting room, waiting for Aly. I didn't know what to do. I just sat and cried. A lovely midwife came and put her arm around me, comforting me. 

Saturday arrived and we went back to St Mary's for scan number 12. The fluid had indeed increased significantly around my baby, and there were notches in my umbilical cord. This was causing inefficient blood flow to my baby, but currently it was still in a positive direction so something that didn't require acting on just yet. We were to return on Wednesday, week 32, for my 13th scan and we agreed that now would be the time to have an amniocentesis test, just to see if there were any chromosomal problems and be ready to deal with them when baby arrived. 

I worked for half a day on Wednesday 23rd January, making it known that an amniocentesis could bring about labour so to be aware that I might not be back on Thursday. I packed my bag ready for this rare eventuality. The way this was all going I was bound to be that 1 in 100 that it does cause labour to begin. Aly made his way home and Aly's mum gave us a lift to St Mary's. My parents met us there. I had my 13th scan. It didn't last long so I was now in the consultation room waiting to be taken for my amniocentesis test. I was very anxious about this. I mean who wouldn't be? A big needle into your belly; I don't think that is anyone's idea of fun. I was shaking. 

The obstetrician came into the room and delivered the gut-wrenching news. I wasn't having an amniocentesis. The life of my baby was now at risk and, as we had hit the week 32 milestone, I was to be admitted there and then to the maternity ward and my baby would be delivered on Friday 25th January by caesarean section. I was numb. This was never in the plan. Little did I know I wouldn't leave the hospital site again for roughly 10 weeks.