Thanks for all your kind wishes, this is the first chance I've had since my original post, DH has been hogging the pc as he's had the last week off work to run around for me. Both he and MIL have been a godsend, DH has cooked and shopped and MIL has had DD1 and DS to sleep at hers for the last fortnight, getting them up and ready for DH to take to school. All I've had to do is concentrate on Jenny.
Here are the birth details; We arrived at the delivery suite at 2am on the 2nd, I was monitored for an hour, the midwife decided that nothing was going to happen just yet and offered to do an internal examination and told me that I was only 2cm dilated and that I could go back home if I wanted to. DH and I both thought 'Here we go again' - the same happened with DS. This time I knew that things were definately hotting up so we both said that we wouldn't go home. At 4am I was given some painkillers which had no effect whatsoever, I tried to sleep but was woken every 10 minutes with painful contractions and backache. I didn't bother to wake DH who was asleep in the chair, the midwife came in about 8am and examined me and I was 6cm dilated - very glad I didn't go home! She offered to break my waters for me but I declined and said she could do it after breakfast.
About 10am the consultant made an appearance and said that due to complications last time round he would recommend a CS. I had absolutely no idea that there were any complications with DS's birth other than his not breathing. It turns out that DS's shoulders got stuck and since all the signs were pointing to another big baby, the consultant recommended the CS. We spent a while deliberating what to do, but in the end I was so exhausted I didn't feel that I had the energy to push anyway and told them just to go for it. I have to say that all the staff at the hospital were excellent, everything was explained in detail from how the spinal block would work and EXACTLY what sensations I would and would not feel. I was surprised at how quickly everything happened once I gave the go ahead. As soon as Jenny was born the surgeon apologised because he had cut her cheek, as she was lying face up, but it's healing really nicely, (According to my GP who visited on Thursday baby's don't scar, so the cut should heal completely). Once she had been cleaned and wrapped up she was shown to me and I couldn't help but have a little cry.
I sometimes wonder whether I made the right decision in opting for the CS, but at the end of the day Jenny arrived safely, I'm gradually recovering and Jenny is adored by everyone that she sees, people are amazed by how small she is compared to her sister and brother who were much bigger than her at birth, 8lb 8½oz and 9lb 1½oz.
Well, I think I've waffled enough I'm going to have a quick look at some of the other discussions then go to bed.