It is around 10:30pm on a Thursday night, and it’s only getting later. The nastiest aspect of this maternity has been the waiting game. Yesterday at 4:30pm, Toni went into labour with contractions occurring on or around every fifteen minutes.
By this time last night, her contractions had become slightly more persistent, and the pain slightly more unforgiving. She soldiered on until around 1:30am when she decided that – with contractions coming every five minutes – she wanted to go to the birthing suite to ensure everything was in order.
We drove to the hospital in about five minutes after the orderly collection of bags, snacks and any supplies which would be needed should our visit turn into an extended stay. The path to the suite intensified the contractions and it took at least ten or more minutes to find our way to the ward.
The nurse took one look at Toni and (correctly) surmised that she wouldn’t be delivering a baby anytime soon. After a urine sample and half an hour strapped to a diagnostic machine, the inevitable news arrived – she was only dilated 1cm (she’d need to be around 10cm for to give birth).
At about 3:30am we were sent back to the house, and Toni was given Panadiene Forte for the pain. When we reached home, we both split into separate rooms to try and get some desperately needed sleep. I stirred around 7:30am and immediately checked on the mum-to-be.
She’d managed to find some small amount of sleep, and the contractions had lessened immensely. I knew I was in no shape to work, so sent messages to workmates, then returned to bed. More sleep, and around midday I woke to find Toni sleeping. We got concerned, and contacted the birthing suite. Apparently, provided there were no abnormalities (baby not moving, blood excretions etc.) we have to just wait it out.
So here I am, at the keyboard.. waiting. The tough part has been trying to figure out what to do. If, like last night, we have a 1:30am visit to the hospital, I need to be awake and alert. We don’t know if this is even going to happen at all.
So, for now, we have to take it as it comes.
The waiting continues.
Reading this takes me back to our experience some 4.5 months ago! Just when you think all is quiet on the border, it all escalates to defcon 2! Then there’s the waiting game, which seems to go on for a while…