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On Thursday morning, 2nd October, star6 welcomed baby Quinlan to the world 36 hours of labour total and an extended stay in the hospital but we are now home and very happy! Thanks SO much to all MNers who have helped me with answers to questions throughout my pregnancy. MN has been a godsend.
Birth story: Waters broke tuesday evening. Started having contractions about an hour later. Went in to hospital and spoke with midwife who did GBS test and told me to go home until contractions were worse. Contractions got worse, went in again and had internal exam (my worst nightmare... very painful for me). Only 1 cm dilated. Sent home. Contractions stronger and closer together- called hospital and said I couldn't bear to be sent home again, contractions unbearable and wanted to be admitted to delivery area, not midwife led unit (needed drugs!). Spent the next day/night in delivery room - went through 3 different midwives (going through shifts). Had pethadine for a bit which allowed two hours of rest... FINALLY got epidural I'd been begging for since the beginning after 29 hours of labour... they only gave it to me because internal exams were causing me so much distress. Epidural was bliss and allowed for some sleep then time to push! Pushed for an hour and only felt pressure, not pain, but was very hard work! For next hour, epidural wore off and they would not top up!!! Unbearable and pushing and pushing and finally doctors came in and said they would have to help with forceps or vontouse. Went with vontouse as baby was not progressing well and had been a long time pushing and a long time since waters broke. Gave me a local anaesthetic but still felt a sting as they cut episiotomy. Vontouse was quite intense... had midwife, DH, pediatrician, 2 doctors (and a STUDENT WATCHING)in room all of a sudden and was very chaotic and scary. Vontouse kept slipping off baby's head so they had to get another type of vontouse to use. That one finally worked after lots of me pushing and them pulling. Baby finally came out and he felt enormous! But... once I saw him, I didn't care about the dr stitching me up... didn't care about anything except my beautiful gorgeous little boy!!! I love him so much. I didn't know that love like this existed. He is the most gorgeous little boy in the whole world.
Well... I've been scared of childbirth for a very long time and I must admit... it was definitely as horrifying as I thought it would be. But the end result is definitely worth it.
star just read this. Sorry. well done you though. I remember with dd it was a very long labour. i also had loads of people in the room and its not until youlook back that you think "hang on a minute, did anyone actually ask if I mind"! If I stripped off with my legs wide open would I want 6 people about looking at me NO!!! That is why this time I am prepared, and hoping at least 2nd labours come with experience!! It is just so scary and you are in the hands of other people trusting them.
I am sooo glad that you have an adorable little boy and that you managed to forget everything straight away. I too was like this and the midwife said that DH would always remember I suppose if we thought about it too much we would never do it again!!!
Oh well done Star and welcome to your baby boy. You should be very proud of yourself and your boy. Your birth experience sounds very much like mine, I had 2 ventouses (can honestly say was better the 2nd time round!).
Hey there, Star6, I was just wonderoing how you were! Congratulations!! Very very happy for you!! First time I saw you on MN when I posted a threda about epidurals and you joined and asked loads of good questions. So these guys did not top up, ???? I am 24 weeks PG, and like you I am terrified of labour, the only hope is epidural. Which hospital were you in? so I know.
ranirani - kingston upon thames - Kingston Hospital. They topped up all the way until the very end. Then they said they wanted me to feel it so I could push. I pretty much was just so freaked out by all of this and not really pushing and screaming at them that they finally gave me a more local anaesthetic for when they used ventouse. I could feel extreme pressure of ventouse (not pain) - more anxiety than anything else...and a stinging when they cut episiotomy, but that's it.
My advice is to relaxxxxxx. Get something that relaxes you and make sure it's with you during labour.
And if you are assertive enough and yell loud enough you eventually get what you want
good to hear from you ranirani I'm sure it will all be fine. Just relax yourself now. I started reading hypnobirthing book and that was helpful... would have been more so had I had the time to finish it
lucky you!!! saw your baby, star, now, he looks very very cute! saw your bump too, you have not put any weight on during PG!! how did you manage it? I am already 16 kg over , 27 weeks only
Thanks all don't worry about weight at ALL ranirani. As long as baby is healthy that's all that matters. I didn't have a lot of cravings for anything unhealthy - mostly wanted loads of raisins and apple juice dh and I are very careful, picky and healthy eaters. I also went for an hour long walk every single morning before work and worked up until my waters broke. The walk really helped!
36 hours of labour total and an extended stay in the hospital 
but we are now home and very happy! 
NO!!! That is why this time I am prepared, and hoping at least 2nd labours come with experience!!
