Lesley's story, UK - waters breaking early and Group B Strep

"September 2002

This was my first pregnancy. I was 19 years old and 28 + weeks pregnant.

In this pregnancy I had really bad sickness and and sciatica, I was bed ridden for weeks with my back. Other than that I was enjoying it. One day in September 2002 I was having a lie down (at my partner at the time's house) as I wasn't feeling too well. When I felt a gush of warm water between my legs I got up in such a fright and looked at the bed; it looked like I had peed the bed. My boyfriend at the time shouted for his mum who phoned my local midwifery unit who said I had to go to the labour suite 25 miles away and had to wear a pad. So I did and when we got to the hospital they tested my pad and said that it was my waters that had gone. I got put straight on a drip to try to stop the contractions and got steroids injections. I was so scared but they said that they would do everything in their power to stop my labour progressing. I got a scan and was told the head was well down. Hours passed and I was kept in the labour suite as they said my baby was well on his way. During the night nothing seemed to happen; I was given the steroids again 12 hours after the first time. I was kept on my drip to stop my labour for 48 hours. After that they put me up to the maternity ward and I got checks every few hours. This would be my new home for the next week. During the week they discovered Group B Strep in my urine and in my high vaginal swap. I had never heard of this before and was puzzled to what it was so I was explained to that I would need antibiotics for the rest of my pregnancy because of my waters breaking and that also during my labour that I would need a drip in to administer antibiotics straight into me to stop my baby becoming ill when he entered the birth canal. After they were convinced that I was OK to go home, I was given my tablets and leaflets and told not to have sex. 

October 2002

I was getting checks all the time to make sure everything was OK, I would have scans and blood taken. When I went for a check one day I was kept in as I was having tightenings, nothing happened and after a few days I got home. This happened a few times over the next few weeks. 

20 November 2002 

36 weeks pregnant

They were really happy that I had made it this far and decided I would be booked in for induction on the 2nd December, 18 days before my due date. On the 20th November I got my usual scan and blood taken and they said everything was fine. The next day, 21st, I received a phone call from a midwife telling me to get straight into the hospital as they had found a problem in my blood. I was so scared. I got there straight away when I was told that my CPU level in my blood was at 2 and if it went to 3 there was a great danger of infection and that I was to be induced straight away. I was taken to the labour suite and put on my drip to start my contractions and my drip for antibiotics so here I was stuck on a bed with a drip in each hand after about 9 hours my baby boy Dylan entered this world weighing in at 6lb 6oz, 4 weeks early. He was taken away and had swabs taken on his eyes and ears to be sent away to make sure he had not contracted the Group B Strep. Luckily he didn't. We got home after a few days but were back in for a week afterwards as he was really bad jaundiced. I hated being back in there but knew it was the best place for him. 

My son is 9 years old in November and he has no idea the trouble we went through to keep him in my belly until 36 weeks - one day I shall explain."

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Jade's story, Thurrock - twins with a very fast unaided home delivery!

"31st August 2010 I had a normal hospital appointment. Well I say normal, this was like my 100th one because I was carrying twins. I was 36 weeks pregnant and was really hoping that they would induce me. I layed on the bed and got that little excited feeling I always got when hearing their heartbeats, then mine skipped a beat when he told me he wanted to do a quick scan to see how they where laying. I thought this was it... he was going to tell me that he was going to induce me. I was bitterly dissapointed. Another 4 weeks at least he said. They didn't look ready. Sitting indoors, I was upset. My back was killing me, I hadnt had a decent nights sleep in months and I longed to see my baby boys. Even on the TV, soap stars where having their babies. Off to bed I went with a heavy heart.

2.30am. Woke up with a bad belly ache. I remember thinking about what I had eaten that day and what could be causing it. Food poisoning was all I needed! Spent about 20 minutes on the toilet. Diarrhoea... nice!!! Went back to bed and closed my eyes, but five minutes later I was back on the toilet. I was starting to worry that I was seriously ill and called my partner. That's when I realised there was blood on my tissue. My bloody show!!! It had never occured to me that I was in labour. We knew we had to get to the hospital. My parter woke our two year old girl and had just removed her nappy when I felt something drop. I called him to come quickly and asked him what was happening. I think I nearly passed out when he told me he could see a head! I just remember him saying to get off the toilet as he didnt want his babies falling in there!

I only made it to the floor when I knew I had to push. My partner had rung an ambulance and was still on the phone to the operator who was guiding him through what to do. I had to push, there was no stopping it. As I was pushing I felt my waters break and the floor felt flooded. I was uncomfortable and wet but kept on pushing. Then 2 minutes later out popped Max. Looking at my partner I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He had the phone propped up against his ear, our new born son in the other and he was fighting back the tears. Then it started all over again. The ambulance hadn't arrived yet and the second baby was on his way. We tried to juggle around in our small bathroom. Me propped up against the toilet while my partner was by the door getting ready to bring the next baby into the world. I started pushing, and the babys head had just popped out when the ambulance arrived. Well, two ambulances and a fast response car! My partner took our little girl into the next room while the paramedics delivered Aiden. I remember crying because I couldn't hear him crying. I just wanted to see him too. Why wasn't he crying? The paramedic then told me that he was still in his sack and it took them a minute to get him out and place him in my arms. 1st September 2010, At 2.30am I went into labour. By 3:50am Max (6lb 9oz) was born and five minutes later along came Aiden (5lb 5oz). I hadn't realised I was in labout until ten minutes before they where born. I guess they wanted to see us as much as we wanted to see them!"

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