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Original poster

The Phantom pregnancy is over ....

115 replies

Ghosty · 07/02/2004 00:59

Hello all!
Just to let you know that I gave birth via a c/section on Tuesday 3rd February to a beautiful baby girl.
There is a bit of a long story involved so I will post more later if anyone wants the details.
Suffice it to say at the moment that she was a whopper at 10lbs and 10oz so there was NO way she was coming out the normal route!!!!
We are at home now and all is well ... I am totally in love with her, she is feeding beautifully (and I DO have enough milk!!!), I am feeling totally relaxed about it all, DS loves his baby sister, DH is besotted and is delighted that his wife is still smiling (unlike the last time!!)
Lots of love
Ghosty xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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Mum2Ela · 08/02/2004 21:28

Many congratulations!

stupidgirl · 08/02/2004 21:29

Congratulations

ANGELMOTHER · 08/02/2004 21:39

Ooooooh well done Ghosty.dying to hear the gory details

Original poster
Ghosty · 09/02/2004 06:01

Hello everyone ... thank you so much for all your lovely messages!
DD's name (always wanted to write 'DD' ) is ... (and this will be the first and last time I ever post it ... feel funny about it ... don't know why really ... )
Abigail ... Abby to her friends.

So ... the details ... not really so gory but you did ask.
I had a check up at term (30th Jan) at the hospital and the doctor that saw me wanted me to book in for a c/s due to the baby's size ...
I was really reluctant but she was really adamant that she didn't want me to go too much over term. So I agreed to go in on the Monday for another assessment and perhaps discuss an induction ... she also gave me a sweep on the Friday to see if that would get me going ... but it didn't ... apart from a little show on Sunday.
So Monday morning I went in. Had a scan ... and it showed that althought the baby was happy the fluid was quite low around her. They offered to induce me that day and after a discussion with DH we agreed.
First lot of gel had very little effect ... so that evening I had a (very very painful) sweep and another load of gel (apparently I was 1cm dilated at this point) and 20 minutes later my contractions started. By midnight I was in a bit of pain so was given pethidine that sent me off to sleep ... but the contractions never really got too bad and never kicked off. Overnight we decided that after what happened with DS 4 years ago we were not going to go on for ever with this labour and by the time the consultant came round in the morning I had pretty much made up my mind that a c/s was going to be happening. He examined me and said that I was still only 2 cm dilated, the cervix was too far back and my contractions at that point were still fairly mild. He said that if I was desperate for a vaginal delivery then I would have to be prepared for the long haul. He didn't try to persuade me to go for a c/s (he was very pro VBAC) but DH and I decided that we really didn't want that and asked if we could knock it on the head and have a c/s.
Good job too 'cos when she was born that afternoon at 3.30 she still had to be forcepped out as she was so blinking ENORMOUS and very high up.
Anyway ... that was the birth ... really not fussed about the c/s ... in fact I am very relieved because if my labour with DS was anything to go by then it would have ended in an emergency c/s anyway and it would have been terrible. As it was it was a lovely atmosphere in the theatre ... I felt totally involved in the whole process (unlike with DS) and because there was no screen up I was able to see what the doctor was doing and pretty much saw Abby come out (but didn't see any gore luckily!). It was the most positive, most wonderful experience of my whole life! I only wish that it could have been the same 4 years ago.
I feel truly blessed. DD is a gorgeous, placid, delightful baby. She feeds beautifully, she is alert, calm, hardly ever cries, and she and I spend hours just looking at eachother. I just never knew that it could be like this. The only downer is that I feel I missed out on this feeling with DS when he was born ... but I am trying hard not to beat myself up about it ... although of course 'guilt' goes hand in hand with motherhood doesn't it?
Anyway ... I am bleating on and on ... sorry to bore you all ... just feeling all lovey dovey and full of fuzzy maternal hormones ...
Now ... if you want to hear about the fight I had with the midwife who tried to give my baby a bottle of formula on the first night in hospital you just need to say the word and I will tell you the next installment!!!!!!!
TTFN ... Ghosty xxxxx

OP posts:
bobthebaby · 09/02/2004 06:35

What a lovely name Ghosty.

I think you should update your thread about your fear of midwives trying to give dd formula with that story, and then send a copied and pasted version to the hospital as a complaint.

batey · 09/02/2004 07:00

Glad it went so well, looking forward to all your "dds" news.

emmatmg · 09/02/2004 07:32

Oh Ghosty........that is such a wonderful birth story. You've bought tears to my eyes, it's beautiful the way you describe your feelings for Abigail and your DS.

Well done and enjoy your new bigger family.

BTW our DS1 was 4 when DS3 was born and he adores his little bruv....I think it's a lovely age difference being siblings.

buzzybee · 09/02/2004 07:34

Oh wow Ghosty that's such fab news. Great name and lovely birth story. Don't beat yourself up about DS, just wallow in the glory of this experience. Can't believe the MW would suggest formula - especially for a baby so obviously brimful of health! Many hugs from Wellington

dejags · 09/02/2004 08:28

Congratulations Ghosty - and of course congratulations to Mr Ghosty and DS Ghosty too...

Hope that things continue going well - would love to hear more about the bottle and feeding when you have time...

Azure · 09/02/2004 08:31

Many, many congratulations Ghosty.

mears · 09/02/2004 08:34

What a wonderful story - glad you have such lovely feelings. Try not to feel guilty about the last time - it was your last experience that was able to make you take the totally correct decision for you. You are much stronger and wiser for it.
Now the formula story...........

SpringChicken · 09/02/2004 09:12

Many Many congratulations Ghosty

Great news - lovely name - she was a whopper and a half

Roll on with the midwife story.........

handlemecarefully · 09/02/2004 09:30

That's lovely news Ghosty. You sound so happy!

Batters · 09/02/2004 10:16

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Marina · 09/02/2004 10:34

Ghosty, I'm so thrilled for you all. What a wonderful story and the happy ending you deserve. I hope she continues to give you all the joy that our little dd (know whst you mean about longing to be able to type those two little letters) has given to us. Oh, I've got wet eyes! Many hugs.

wilbur · 09/02/2004 10:37

Congratulations Ghosty - lovely story and lovely that you are feeling so happy this time round. Well done and welcome to small ghosty.

dinosaur · 09/02/2004 10:39

Congratulations Ghosty - it's lovely to hear you sounding so happy!

WSM · 09/02/2004 10:41

Fab, many, many congrats

sobernow · 09/02/2004 10:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

M2T · 09/02/2004 11:01

WOW! Congratulations Ghosty.

aloha · 09/02/2004 11:06

LOVELY story!! I wish I'd not had a screen - but that belongs on the other thread...

She sounds like an angel Ghosty. Lucky you

Blu · 09/02/2004 11:40

Very very happy for you and your family, Ghosty, well done. XXXXXXX

Thomcat · 09/02/2004 12:25

Wonderful - great news and glad you're still smiling.

Bugsy2 · 09/02/2004 12:29

Ghosty, wonderful, happy news. I'm so delighted for you and your family.

bobsmum · 09/02/2004 12:42

Many congratulations Ghosty! Welcome to Abigail! And I'll listen to the evil m/w story too