Well, little sister is sleeping and I had better give some details here as well as in my diary before things gain that ever more glowing haze that time supplies. Here is the birth story:
My hind waters went on Thursday morning, a week past due according to the scan. I had a MW appointment that day to talk about our options and so felt thrilled that it may not be necessary. I phoned DH who was at the library but told him we had plenty of time. I then phoned my friend and yoga teacher who had been invited with her 8 yr old to the birth. We decided that as I had no contractions and labour was rather drawn out last time she should wait until the end of the school day before heading the hour to our house. Then the waiting began! I told my MW about the hind waters when she arrived at our midday appointment and she checked that everything was alright, including taking a group b strep swab. I was told to phone when something happened but that she was off on her 2 week holiday that evening and who would replace her that evening.
Oscar was picked up from school by someone else and we were left to sleep for the afternoon. Supposedly when he was told he was going to a friends because mummy might be having her baby he was adamant that he should be home to do his job: find out if the baby was a boy or a girl.
We made pizza for dinner and DH went to visit a friend. A morning walk on Friday did nothing to start my contractions and so the day proceeded much as usual save for the worrying thought that if things didn’t pick up of their own accord we might be faced with induction. I realised in the evening that having my dear friend there to help was actually a hindrance and her well-intentioned support and telling me my contractions would begin each night really just put more pressure on me. So on Saturday morning I told her. We had a lovely morning together and she took the kids to the park while my reflexologist tried to press all the right points. After lunch we had the house to ourselves and I knew this would help loosen me up. Like all of you told me to I walked and walked and walked all afternoon, came home to bounce on my yoga ball and ooze more amniotic fluid before taking another walk.
As night set in dh and I had a good talk about how much pressure I was putting on myself and the fact that nothing was happening because my overactive brain was blocking anything natural from happening. We were past 48 hours of my waters leaking and he reassured me that at the 72 hour mark nothing was definite, I could still negotiate. He told me to turn off my brain and we cuddled up to watch a sitcom.
That was it.
That did it. My contractions started erratically and we got everything ready. I went for a walk to make sure everything moved along, dh started filling the birth pool. We called the midwife at 12.15 am and she decided that she would come along and see how things were. I baked my cookies and already the contractions felt strong enough to land me on my hands and knees but I was coping well. I found that dh rubbing hard down my back during contractions in this position was the best way to go and did most of them like this. I got in the pool after several hours and this slowed everything right down. We continued like this, in and out of the pool for HOURS. Until they phoned and told the MWs that the b strep swab had come back positive. I was exhausted at this point and really felt like “good! That does it, now I’ll go into the hospital and they will pull this baby out and I won’t have to do anything else.” I felt disappointed but ready to had everything over to someone else. Luckily the MWs didn’t see it that way. Antibiotics were brought in and I continued, shaking from tiredness, through hours more contractions.
At 6.30 Oscar woke up. Poor kid. Dh went upstairs with him and called our friends to come for him. I, meanwhile, hit transition. I threw up for a long while and shook and shook and made a lot of noise, until both of the boys came downstairs to rub my back. I had been laying down but got up for a big contraction, still shaking. I looked at dh and just said “I don’t know what to do.” I felt utterly helpless and lost. One of the midwives suggested getting back in the pool and within several contractions the baby was crowning. Oscar’s ride arrived and so I was able to let go and really roar. I put my hands down and felt her coming further out with every push. The MW reminded me not to push when I didn’t feel the urge but by this point I just wanted this baby out. I caught her as she came and melted into euphoria at holding her. All of the hours of sheer exhaustion, overextending myself were over. The placenta was a piece of piss after this and we retreated to bed after a brief weighing session.
I have spent the last week on the second floor of my house, dh has done most things with Oscar that needed doing, I have got him ready for bed but I must say that this babymooning thing is bliss. I ran myself ragged last time, was out of the house in 5 days and out of the country in 3 weeks. I am not going anywhere right now and feel blessed at home with my family.
So, a little reward for those of you who have at least scrolled to the bottom of all this: her name is Greta Anwen Hart.
Thanks for reading and here are the promised photos (finally got my bum in gear and signed up to something!)
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...Siblings-1.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...th_Birth-1.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...h_DSC_0065.jpg
My hind waters went on Thursday morning, a week past due according to the scan. I had a MW appointment that day to talk about our options and so felt thrilled that it may not be necessary. I phoned DH who was at the library but told him we had plenty of time. I then phoned my friend and yoga teacher who had been invited with her 8 yr old to the birth. We decided that as I had no contractions and labour was rather drawn out last time she should wait until the end of the school day before heading the hour to our house. Then the waiting began! I told my MW about the hind waters when she arrived at our midday appointment and she checked that everything was alright, including taking a group b strep swab. I was told to phone when something happened but that she was off on her 2 week holiday that evening and who would replace her that evening.
Oscar was picked up from school by someone else and we were left to sleep for the afternoon. Supposedly when he was told he was going to a friends because mummy might be having her baby he was adamant that he should be home to do his job: find out if the baby was a boy or a girl.
We made pizza for dinner and DH went to visit a friend. A morning walk on Friday did nothing to start my contractions and so the day proceeded much as usual save for the worrying thought that if things didn’t pick up of their own accord we might be faced with induction. I realised in the evening that having my dear friend there to help was actually a hindrance and her well-intentioned support and telling me my contractions would begin each night really just put more pressure on me. So on Saturday morning I told her. We had a lovely morning together and she took the kids to the park while my reflexologist tried to press all the right points. After lunch we had the house to ourselves and I knew this would help loosen me up. Like all of you told me to I walked and walked and walked all afternoon, came home to bounce on my yoga ball and ooze more amniotic fluid before taking another walk.
As night set in dh and I had a good talk about how much pressure I was putting on myself and the fact that nothing was happening because my overactive brain was blocking anything natural from happening. We were past 48 hours of my waters leaking and he reassured me that at the 72 hour mark nothing was definite, I could still negotiate. He told me to turn off my brain and we cuddled up to watch a sitcom.
That was it.
That did it. My contractions started erratically and we got everything ready. I went for a walk to make sure everything moved along, dh started filling the birth pool. We called the midwife at 12.15 am and she decided that she would come along and see how things were. I baked my cookies and already the contractions felt strong enough to land me on my hands and knees but I was coping well. I found that dh rubbing hard down my back during contractions in this position was the best way to go and did most of them like this. I got in the pool after several hours and this slowed everything right down. We continued like this, in and out of the pool for HOURS. Until they phoned and told the MWs that the b strep swab had come back positive. I was exhausted at this point and really felt like “good! That does it, now I’ll go into the hospital and they will pull this baby out and I won’t have to do anything else.” I felt disappointed but ready to had everything over to someone else. Luckily the MWs didn’t see it that way. Antibiotics were brought in and I continued, shaking from tiredness, through hours more contractions.
At 6.30 Oscar woke up. Poor kid. Dh went upstairs with him and called our friends to come for him. I, meanwhile, hit transition. I threw up for a long while and shook and shook and made a lot of noise, until both of the boys came downstairs to rub my back. I had been laying down but got up for a big contraction, still shaking. I looked at dh and just said “I don’t know what to do.” I felt utterly helpless and lost. One of the midwives suggested getting back in the pool and within several contractions the baby was crowning. Oscar’s ride arrived and so I was able to let go and really roar. I put my hands down and felt her coming further out with every push. The MW reminded me not to push when I didn’t feel the urge but by this point I just wanted this baby out. I caught her as she came and melted into euphoria at holding her. All of the hours of sheer exhaustion, overextending myself were over. The placenta was a piece of piss after this and we retreated to bed after a brief weighing session.
I have spent the last week on the second floor of my house, dh has done most things with Oscar that needed doing, I have got him ready for bed but I must say that this babymooning thing is bliss. I ran myself ragged last time, was out of the house in 5 days and out of the country in 3 weeks. I am not going anywhere right now and feel blessed at home with my family.
So, a little reward for those of you who have at least scrolled to the bottom of all this: her name is Greta Anwen Hart.
Thanks for reading and here are the promised photos (finally got my bum in gear and signed up to something!)
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...Siblings-1.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...th_Birth-1.jpg
http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/a...h_DSC_0065.jpg
...and icecream of course
