Firslty it has taken me ages to get on here on formally write my announcement but all the same...we are here now.
After a rather torid time with threats of an early induction due to fluctuating BP I decided to take matters into my own hands and try every possible method to get myself started off naturally. We did the curry, the birthing bal, long walks, raspberry leaf tea...pretty much everything.
On Sunday the 22nd January I had my usual daily MW visit to check my BP. All was ok, I mentioned to the MW I had been having very faint period cramp on and off and could that be a sign that things might move on a bit now? she said that anything is possible and just see how I go for the day and she would see me the following day for my usual checks.
Well, I had lots of icky shows on the Sunday so decided that I would wear a maternity pad to bed to allow me to "keep an eye on things"
Well after about 15 mins of being in bed I decided I needed the loo so got up at 11:50pm and much to my suprise....my waters broke!
Very calm yet excited I called out for my DH ( was byt this time on the loo trickling away my waters...they seemed never ending)
I called the hospital who told me to come in, they would check me over and then more then likely send me home. Well because of my BP history I knew there was no chance of being sent home so I told DH I would take a shower, do my hair, finish packing my bags and then we would head off.
We arrived at Shoroe Green in Preston at 01:05. Was seen by a MW and shown into a delivery suite by 01:20. By this time I had no contractions or anything, simply my waters had broken. The MW said there was no point examining me as I had not started labour but there was poo in my waters so she needed to pop me on the monitor.
5 mins later I was in full labour. I had my first examination about 10 mins after 1st contraction and was 1cm dialated.
The MW said to my DH that we would have our baby in the next 24 hours. YIPEE! She fetched the registrar to see me who said she was going to induce me because of the poo in my waters....I had only been in labour about 20 mins by then but I knew a lot was happening inside as the pain was hideous (no pain relief at this stage)
I refused the induction and the registrar said fine but she would be back at 6am to see how far along I was. If I was still in early labour she would insist on the induction...fine!
We had been left alone for about 5 mins and I declared to DH there was no way could I take 24 hours of this pain...giving birth was crap..it hurt too much! I thought I was being a total wimp (as did the MW I think!)
Then the MW witnessed a contraction (they where back to back within 30 mins of labour!) and suggested a try a little gas and air...thanks christ for that!!! I could not et enough of the stuff....was total magic!
After being at the hospital for only 2.5 hours and only being in labour for 2 of those my BP had gone up slightly so it was recommended I have an epidural...NO!!! I never wanted that at all and DH suggested to the MW she see how far along I was before insisting on the epi (I was so high I would have let them do anything to me although it really wasn't what I had wanted).
The MW said there was no point in checking me as I would only be 3 maybe 4 cm gone. At that point I pushed!!! Much to the horror of the MW (and me for that matter) she asked me if I felt the need to push and I said..
"no not really, I think I need a poo, I should have gone before I came in!"
The MW then examined me and made a little yelp noise as she said...
"Oh gosh, we are over 9cms dialated, you're having a baby, I best stay here!"
After much pushing, and a very polite me (so high on gas and air!) Peyia was born at 05:15 and weighed in at 6 pounds 12 and a half ounces.
The fun part was in the delivery of my placenta...the cord broke when they pulled so they had to do some bum trickery to get it all out, in the process they tore me!!!
So less than 4 hours of labour we had a wonderful and beautiful little girl. 5 weeks on she is a super star. A very happy baby who only cries when she wants something, is very alert and her mummy and daddies pride and joy.
We can't wait to do it all over again!!!!