When Courtney met Sage-Ann
CW: This story mentions birth trauma.
Sage is our rainbow baby, having experienced a traumatic etopic in 2022, we started trying pretty much right away and it took only about 5 months. She was definitely brought to us from above.
I experienced chronic iron deficiency throughout my pregnancy and was put on high risk as I had preeclampsia with my son which resulted in an emergency C-section that was very traumatic from us all.
My pregnancy with Sage was quite smooth considering I was on low dose aspirin to help with any symptoms of preeclampsia and iron transfusions completed.
I was working in a quite stressful environment which got increasingly more stressful towards the end of my pregnancy, 3 days into my maternity leave my water broke at 34 weeks pregnant.
I had developed PPROM (premature pre-labour rupture of membranes). My water never broke with Jax so it was a completely different experience and I honestly couldn’t stop laugh as I was convinced I was just wetting myself.
I was at my sisters house has some cramps and went to the bathroom to wee however turns out my mucus plug had come out, I hadn’t even packed my bag. My sister sent me home to pack my bag only making a joke 10 minutes before that I would go into labour soon.
I rang the birthing suite they said to keep an eye on it and call if I had any changes so I rang my mum to fill her in as I didn’t want to make my husband worry for nothing. My water broke while talking to my mum and she heard it on the other end, she came to help me pack our bags while I called the hospital again they advised me to come right in.
On the way to the maternity ward, which feels like a lifetime from the multi story car park, my mum needed the rest room so I sat on the chairs just by the lift where I lost even more fluids. I didn’t relise how much is actually in there. I was so embarrassed but again couldn’t stop laughing, the girls at the front desk even gave me a big puppy pad to sit on while we waited to be called.
The minute we were called and walked in all the midwives knew I had intact broken my waters, they took the swab and hit me with my first dose of steroids. I had to stay for 72 hrs in case Sage decided she wanted to come out all the way. I’ve never really been away from my son so it was very emotional for us all.
I spent the next few weeks in and out of hospital staying a few nights every week as my infection markers were extremely high and we weren’t sure how far I’d make it. There was lots of hospital food, coffee, blood test, steroids and time away from my boys. It was very lonely. Finally they decided I couldn’t go on any longer and booked me for an emergency c section in the 22nd of December at 36 weeks.
It was such a different experience to my prior c-section. My surgery team went through my file with a fine tooth comb to make sure that I had a better experience this time around. My husband was allowed to be with me the whole time and was not kicked out at any point, I was in fact with it and alert. Anytime I felt anything my team would dose me up again or give me something new. As a red head I absorb everything really quickly and usually need a much stronger dose. I honestly couldn’t believe how well I was looked after, is I even made a face they topped me up I had extra local annosectic needles internally as I could feel it towards the end it definitely helped especially in the first 24 hours. I even got to hold my baby this time, and didn’t let anyone take her from me as soon as I had her.
I was determined to be home in time for Christmas for my son and I was home Christmas Eve. It was definitely not the Christmas our family was prepared for but Sage was the greatest gift.
I’m now struggling with PE (pulmonary embolism) and fluid that have filled my lungs as a result of my hormone levels and surgery. My boys are just smitten with her and Jax is the best big brother we have now definitely set into our new family routine.
What do you wish you knew before birth?
How lonely it can be having complications, as much as everyone try’s to check in you do still feel incredibly lonely, it’s something I experienced more this time around.
If you could, would you do anything differently?
I would have tried to be more calm and less frustrated.
What did your partner do that really helped during labour/birth?
Nick is the best post partum partner if it be helping me shower, get out of bed, clean my stitches, change my diapers 😂 and all the gross things inbetween. His amazingly calm which definitely helps to ground me.
What advice/honest truth would give a mama-to-be about birth?
That there is no clear plan how how pregnancy and birth will go and as hard as it is try to go with the flow. If you have bigger babies make them feel important and apart of the experience even if it’s the little things, it’s a special time for them as well.