Saturday 27th November

I had barely finished punching the air with joy at the departure of the curry muncher only to have a new cell mate (but thankfully only for a few hours) who was a lady suffering from hypermysesis  .   Not sure if I have spelt that right but basically its means severe pregnancy sickness - she was approx 30 weeks and vomitted about every 1-2 minutes. On a drip, filling bedpans with sick so quickly they couldnt take them away quick enough. And only a curtain away from me........you know that kind of dry retching sound you have when theres nothing left in your stomach? That was her. Whilst it was unpleasant to be around, I did really feel sorry for her, what a wretched feeling to have.

I spent most of the afternoon in the day room, by the evening they had a single room for her. Poor girl spent 3 days puking in that room before she went home finally.

Two lovely friends came to see me late afternoon with cake and books and was lovely to catch up for a couple of hours.

Then DH came with chinese takeaway which which we munched with stolen plates and cutlery from the ward kitchen. Very pleasant evening.

Going home.......or am I ?

Next day is an emotional one. I have been positive but the hormones and missing home just get you sometimes. Wendy the breakfast lady makes a kind comment about a teddy bear picture I have that DD has done for me. I bite my lip and say nothing then a lovely midwife comes and together they say how nice it is.....so I cry and the floodgates open. I look like a beetroot and after a few sobs I calm down, the staff here are so good but its very hard being away from home.

Later that day the registrat comes to see me and says I can go home tommorow as theres been no more bleeding.  I cant believe it......I thought I had to stay but was definately not going to argue! Tell DH and he is like "are you sure?"

The excitement is shortlived.......an experienced midwife says she wants me to see my consultant before going. She says she has seen mums with my condition go home only to come back in ambulances hours later with heavy bleeds. Hmmmm, not a thought that fills me with happiness.

So next day I do see my consultant and she was right to intervene. He doesnt want me going anywhere.  Too risky. They will section me (straightjacket or under the knife?) at 37 weeks.  More tears but now I know where I stand.  I am officially a lifer.

The Snoring Curry Muncher.......

So after my turker baster friend goes, the next day in moves the curry muncher. Please dont think I have a problem with Indian people, or curry.  But this woman keeps strange hours......she sleeps all day and then keeps awake until 2am, with her light on whilst yapping on her mobile phone. And Jesus can she snore. I have never heard anything like it......sleep is impossible. Her hubby turns up and brings a full Indian banquet. I mean banquet - about 10 bowls , plates cutlery the lot. And it smells. A lot. If I wanted a room at the bekash curry house then I would have made a reservation. But as it happens this is my sodding bedroom too.

DH brings in my lavender room spray, and I do the curtains when she isnt there. She snores all night. I am forever thankful when 2 days later she is shipped out..........phew

Start of a new week........

Well after having the room to myself last night, I get a new roomie today. She is really nice and in with suspected pre-eclampsia. Her partner is with her and I quickly work out they are together together if you know what I mean.  Being nosy and of course I like a good story she tells me that it worked first time for them. So I ask if they did IVF and no they asked a bloke mate to donate sperm and with the all important turkey baster they make a baby.........

A couple of days later they take her to be induced as she is gettingdizzy, headaches etc. Shame to see her go really.

And then comes the roomie from hell.......

Getting used to the idea........

Me and dh go into practical mode and with the help of mum we sort out before and after school stuff for dd and make plans for the next few weeks, We have a builder turning up at home on monday to do some major work to our bathroom, and put in new windows. I will do anything to avoid being at home avoiding dust and noise!

Make arrangements to start my maternity leave early from work early.

Theres a nice girl in the other bed who is also a fellow bleeder - she is just 28 weeks.  dh goes home to get me some things and bring in dd to visit.

The next couple of days pass by, I am monitored and well looked after. Loads of people moan about the NHS but I have no complaints.

My fellow bleeder roomie goes home on the sunday night  and the room is my own until the next one arrives!

I have a nice visit from friends H and P who bring me a lovely goody bag and its good to talk about non-hospital stuff for a while.

The scan, and the news...........

I had a taxi ride in a wheelchair to the radiology dept to have the scan.  Baby was fine, moving and kicking on the screen but it was very obvious that I have placenta previa. At least this is the known cause of the bleeding.

DH turned up after lunch and the doc came to talk to me about the scan.  I am 32w plus 1 day at this stage.  I am told that as there is a high risk of bleeding I have to stay in hospital until the baby is born. Okay I think. Then I think again and then I burst into tears. OMG no way - thats weeks and weeks away. DH is shocked too. How the hell will we cope with that? DD at home without me, school etc, her birthday, christmas, all too awful to think of.

I am transferred to the antenatal ward into a quite large 2 bedded room. Oh god is this going to be home for the next few weeks?

18th november - a night on labour ward.....

We arrive at labour triage and am examined.  The docs want to move me to labour ward this time so I can be more closely monitored - the bleed is bad enough to be a cause for concern.

Me and dh are starving and think of those lovely lamb chops we were going to have for dinner........always thinking of our stomach even in times of stress.

He goes home as its getting late and i go to my bed in a 4 bedded room. its noisy and i remember its the same room i was in almost 5 years ago before being induced to have dd. In this room are 3 other ladies. 2 are in the early stages and one poor cow vomits every time she has a contraction. The other lady is quiet until her waters go all over the floor at 3am. Then she starts contracting too. Not the best nights sleep ever but its not a spa break is it?

In the moning a doc scans me with a mobile machine and he thinks my placenta is underneath the baby, lying low on the uterus. hmm, could this explain the bleeding?

I get some breakfast - hooray at last some food. Theres no more bleeding thankfully. I am booked for a proper scan later that morning.

I wont bore you with all the details but I have this eye condition called iritis which has given me some problems for the last 5 years or so and that morning I was due in the eye clinic to see my eye consultant.  I asked if i could still go to it as luckily the eye dept is right by the maternity unit. The midwife looked at me and said - well if you are sure, do you have anything to wear?????  hmmm - I must have looked like the walking dead having yesterdays mascara down my face, unwashed and wearing a skanky maternity nightshirt. and no sleep.   So fortunately i did have clothes and toiletry bag so after a quick clean up was acompanied by a nurse and went to my appointment. My eye cons has a very good sense of humour and she took one look at me in my creased clothes, flip flops and hospital band  not to mention dark circles under my eyes and said - Jesus Christ what happened to you ??????? At least my eyes were okay and off I shuffled back to labour ward after having my eye exam.........