My best friend Cherysse (a Trinidadian also) migrated to London England to attend university and to start a with her family with her husband. But as you will read, not all pregnancies are a walk in the park for some women. Cherysse and her husband has 2 healthy, handsome boys, that keeps them busy and happy. Here is her story on her journey to motherhood, I present to you Cherysse Sampson Bennet mom of 2 living in London.
“I’ve given birth to three children, and each experience was differently similar! Ok, ok, I know this is contradictory, but here’s why I use that term.
My first baby was our honeymoon baby girl and I was sick from conception. Although travelling in boats on the Indian Ocean and eating hotel food may account for the first couple weeks, my suffering with a condition known as Hyperemesis Gravidarum (a severe form of morning sickness) endured right to the day she was delivered naturally with gas and air; prematurely and breech at 24 weeks.
Throughout the pregnancy I was unable to eat or drink anything, and was just about able to tolerate sips of water. Parts of our home became ‘no-go zones’ as my sensitive nose picked up ‘smells’ that would trigger uncontrollable heaving. I spent much of the pregnancy on the living room floor, too weak to do anything much. It was not the best or prettiest of times. A normal 15 minute trip to the doctors would take me an hour and a half! I dramatically lost weight and all my hair, but nearing the end I had managed to start eating a little bland food again.
Both our daughter and I were too weak in the end to fight off an infection, and although we lost her after a week-long labour battle, the experience taught us a valuable lesson. The fact we were in a new area as a married couple meant I had not been seeing my usual doctor and had not been getting the best care. We had been too trusting of the system and would never make that mistake again.
Two years later we got pregnant again and were apprehensive given our first experience. We had moved house and were receiving much better care under a specialist, but having to see him every 2 weeks was frustrating at times. Every possible test was done to ensure our baby boy was healthy. I again suffered problems with Hyperemesis and lost weight, but because I was now monitored much better, I was hospitalized for drips to aid with dehydration and nutrition. I also received blood flow tests to my legs when I complained of hip and groin pains, but my doctors concluded they were symptoms of SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction).
The labour was very slow progressing, and after struggling through the pain for 24 hours, I went to the hospital for help. I received synthetic hormones to speed up delivery and an epidural for pain management. After 18 hours of active labour, our son was born on his due date by ventouse delivery – nearly 3 days after the first signs of labour. I had a 3rd degree tear that was painful for a while after the birth. Both baby and mom needed antibiotics, so we stayed in hospital for 5 days and it was later discovered I tested positive for Group B Strep.
When our son was three and a half, we got pregnant a third time with another little boy. Hyperemesis again reared its ugly head and I endured extreme morning sickness to the end of the pregnancy. I had problems with weight loss for the first 7 months, but thankfully knowing how much I hate being admitted to the hospital, the consultant agreed he would only keep me in if he felt it became absolutely necessary. I also wanted a less intrusive pregnancy and was allowed to reduce my number of visits with the doctor provided I saw the team of midwives on a regular basis. I still had lots of tests, but I was more accepting of the fact that pregnancy and birthing would not be a problem free affair for me and was willing to just go with the flow without stressing too much.
Again walking became increasingly difficult and I had to live with the pain of SPD. Two weeks before his expected date, I went to the consultant in frustration for help. I had made it that far, but the constant nausea, vomiting, discomfort and hip pains had taken a toll. A week later and only 24 hours after booking into the hospital, our second son was born. I got intravenous antibiotics for the Group B Strep, meaning our baby would only need a 24 hour observation period after birth. Labour had yet again been slow to progress, but I insisted the doctor on duty did all she could to break my water. With the help of synthetic hormones and an epidural, I endured 3 hours of active labour to produce a healthy baby via another ventouse delivery.”
There you have it, true definition of LABOR and DELIVERY!
Special Thank to Cherysse for sharing your story on momdukes blog. And a HUGE HUG for participating in the 31 in 31 challenge as a guest writer.