My Birth Story

I really don't have much of a concept of the timings but here is my story nonetheless ;)

I woke up at about 7.30ish on Monday morning as my OH got in the shower for work with pains in my pubic bone region & legs. I didn't realise that this was labour as I was expecting contractions across my belly. I'd had a bit of period pain type feelings the evening before but thought nothing of it.

After a while I realised the pains weren't going - it was a constant pain with it coming sharper about every 15mins. I rang my midwife and she told me to go to the maternity day unit at the hospital to be checked over.

I still didn't realise I was labouring even though I had 3 contractions walking down one hospital corridor! When I arrived at the MDU they did a 20min trace which confirmed that yes I was indeed contracting, and baby was very happy. They then said that it may just be BH's and asked if I wanted to be examined to see if I was dilated at all to determine where we would go from there. When I said I did I was given a whole argument about why I shouldn't be, but I decided that I did because I was feeling it quite a bit. I kept thinking, corr if this isn't it, I dread to think what the real deal is like! It wasnt terrible pain, but it wasnt nice!

I was examined and found to be 3cms dilated and told I would be having my baby that day. I was so excited! They walked me to the midwife led unit at the hospital, which I was booked in to, that was about 11am.

The room was really nice and we unpacked my bags, well rather my OH and Mum did (they were both my birth partners). We'd forgotten to pack any music, but there was an Elton John album and another compilation in there which we played. Forever more that Lionel Ritchie song about castles will remind me of my labour! Wish I could remember the name of it though!

Once I had been checked over again there, I decided to get the TENS machine on. It helped, but wasnt like what I thought it would be. It was like someone whacking you with a paddle of needles on the back! But the boost button certainly did help! They hooked up the gas & air too ready for when I wanted to use that. My mum took me to the loo and I could hear my OH chugging on it!

Eventually the contractions were less than 5 minutes apart and I started with the gas and air which I loved! It really helped to have the mouthpiece to bite on, and I liked the woozy feeling after the contraction had passed where I just felt spaced and calm.

I got up to go to the loo and felt something happen inside me, like a shift. I told the midwife and she then decided that she wanted to keep a midwife in with me from then on incase I went into second stage. I told her I wanted to use the water so they filled up the pool for me which took about an hour.

I got in and it was sooooo nice, it felt like such a relief and felt like my bump was floating. I was surprised at how warm it was in there and they kept topping it up with warm water. My bump moved really low down and pretty soon I had the urge to push. I was having one strong horrid contraction and then one not so bad one. The midwife came and checked my dilation about 4ish and I was fully dilated. She told me that the only thing stopping the baby from coming was my waters, and that she was worried about breaking them for me as baby had decided to go back up the birth canal. She decided to call the registrar to see if he/she was happy to break my waters, but the registrar was busy with a caesaran birth going on so we just had to get on with it.

I wasnt worried at all when I was told the news, it didnt register as something which may cause a problem but just as news. I started getting teary and told everyone I wanted to go home now (lol) so came out of the water to be checked, promptly threw up a few times, and decided not to go back in. The midwife wanted me to rest, so got the beanbag and big long kneeling mat out for me to lean on but after a while my knees were killing me so I moved to leaning on my side. I was then being told to push. Here's where the pain came! I was taking the gas and air so hard and from the wooziness, not pushing with all my strength, so I was only allowed 3 pulls on it before I had to finish my contraction with a push. I was shouting and screaming and was being told to hold my breath and push down. My leg was being held in the air by my OH and I was hanging on to my mum round the neck while she was telling me what to do. Eventually my waters broke and the midwife told my OH to go down the other end as it wouldnt be looking nice, so him and my mum swapped places. It was better having my OH there for me to grab round the neck as I knew I could be a bit more firm with him.

I kept thinking that this must be it now, all I remember was imaginging myself down there as a chocolate digestive biscuit, thats how big it felt I was, and really couldnt take it any more. I was screaming out that I needed something else for the pain, and that I wanted it to stop and please help me and I want to go home. I was so hot and couldnt cool down, then eventually I was being told they could see hair. Then I could see a head, my OH was nearly in tears saying I can see the head the head, then with my next push came out the rest of the face, from there I knew it was nearly over and did it with all my might. He came out with his little hands clenched into fists under his neck which meant it was a bit harder, but with the next push he was out and was such a funny feeling as he came out of me! 12th June, 20.48 and 3 days early, Louis Ray was born.

He was put on my chest and was whinging straight away, my OH was just sounding so in love and my mum was crying, I asked if it was a boy or a girl and they told me to look and it was a boy! My OH asked about 100 times if I was sure and the midwife got him to check too and we confirmed it, my OH was so happy as he secretly really wanted a boy. We waited for the cord to stop pulsing and then my OH decided he didnt want to cut it so my mum did the honors.

We passed baby over to OH for a cuddle while I got set to getting the placenta out, I couldnt push any more, so the midwife got me leaning back with her infront of me taking my weight, then we tried coughing it out, and then out it plopped! I was taken to the bed for a check over, had some more gas and air for my examination, where I was told I didnt need any stitches which I was very pleased about. I went all shaky and freezing so I was covered in a sheet and given some toast while baby Louis had his checks done on him.

OH's mum and sister had come down after work so were called in from the next room to meet the new arrival, then he had his weight taken and I was amazed to find he was 8 lb 11oz, my eyes nearly popped out my head!

Because it was a MLU I had my own private room which Louis and I were taken into. I really needed a wee but was so scared to do it. My OH came and helped me and I used my TENS unit. I was soooo stingy!

At about midnight my OH and Mum went home and Louis and I were left. I was really feeling quite shaky a short of breath so the doctor was called to check on me and he put it down to my pre-pregnancy anemia and decided I would have my blood tested the next day.

I fed Louis a couple of times and he slept soundly, I just lay awake. It didnt help that we had to leave the light on in my room so the midwife could keep an eye on me. He did a massive big jelly-like sick & I grabbed him from the cot because I thought he was struggling and called the midwife. I was so scared something was wrong. I was told it was normal and she'd be back in 5 mins to help me change him. 15 mins later still no sign of her so I did it myself and he was sick again, and again! I called the midwife because I needed to wee and didnt want to leave him alone and when I came out she said she was concerned that he was breathing quickly and called the paedeatritian.

He was checked and was fine but I was now worried! As soon as they left he got the hiccups which made him breathe fast again! We both finally got to sleep and he woke for a feed at which point I realised it was getting light which meant my OH could come back and I got all excited so stayed awake looking at my little man.

Opps just realised Im telling you his whole life story rather than birth story!

Anyway, we were allowed home that day, me with iron as I am still anemic. Midwife came round today and yesterday and is happy with us both. Louis is feeding well, but is a little bit jaundiced bit overall great. He loves being awake and eating at night but sleeps well in the day which is taking a bit of getting used to, but my OH has taken to it like a natural and my mum has been excellent too.

Well that's the end of my essay, sorry I got a bit carried away. I will update with pix once I get round to putting them on the pc.

Well done for reading this far!