Handlemecarefully's fragile package has been delivered

[handlemecarefully]

Christian (brother to Lily aged 21 months) was born at 17.16 yesterday. He weighs a respectable 8lbs and 7 oz.

I had what you might call a 'healing' birth experience (at risk of sounding like an earth mother or advert for the NCT).

Mild period pains began at around 9.30 am yesterday. Nothing major and didn't deter me from going to West Quay to do some shopping. Returned home by lunch time, and by 14.30 the 'period pains' (I didn't think they were strong enough to merit the term 'contractions'had become more regular at 5 mins apart lasting for 30 secs, so on insistence of my parents I rang labour ward to ask their advice. They said to come in and be examined, so we poddled off to hospital (with me fully expecting to be examined and then be told to go home as it could be another 48 hours yet). Arrived at hosp at 15.30, was examined at 16.15 - by which time I was apparently 7 cms dilated, and as aforementioned, Christian arrived at 17.16.

I can honestly say the discomfort only turned to active pain by around 16.00, so an hour and a quarter of labour agony aint at all bad. Had 2nd degree tear, but its not bothering me, and we went home last night.

This was so different from my daughters birth which was posterior, of 36 hours duration, prolonged agony, and ultimate delivery in theatre with full scrub team on standby (expecting to do a section) - but eventually managed to give birth after ventouse, forceps and episiotomy. Also my dd had become respiratorily distressed and had a short term spell in SCBU.

So the two births couldn't have been more different - and I am so made up that this one went do darned well. Am sure its made me a happier and more relaxed mum this time around (although it is early days - will probably be tearing my hair out soon!)

[lydialemon]

Well done and congratulations!

[Kayleigh]

Congratulations, so glad it all went well

[sammac]

Great news, lovely name

[Grommit]

HMC - congratulations and welcome to Christian

[wilbur]

Well done hmc - and a big welcome to Christian! Glad to hear the birth was a good experience, I think it does make a difference to those early weeks.

[fisil]

Fantastic news. Well done.

[motherinferior]

Well done, Handleditbeautifully! xxxxx

[allatsea]

congratulations - what a fabulous birth Welcome Christian

[bossykate]

congratulations! it's so heartening to hear things went so differently for you this time. i don't think it sounds too earth mothery or stereotypical NCT at all. good for you!

[JJ]

Congrats HMC! Glad to hear that things went so well.

Hope you and hsc (handlesoncarefully) are doing great.

[dot1]

wonderful birth story HMC - I'm so pleased -it's great it could be so positive and different the second time around!!

[Hulababy]

Congratulations and welcome to Christian

[CountessDracula]

congratulations HMC!! What a great experience that sounds like.

[Angeliz]

Congratulations

Glad it was such a good experience+++++++++

[colette]

What a great birth.Congratulations and welcome to Christian

[Ghosty]

Congratulations HMC

[twiglett]

message withdrawn

[hercules]

Congratulations - sounds like a dream birth!

[suedonim]

Congratulations!

[emmatmg]

Wow, it really does sound like a good labour.
Welcome little Christian and congratulations to all the HMC family.

[gingernut]

Congratulations hmc! What a great birth story, it gives me hope! And welcome to your little man .

[Marina]

HMC, what a wonderful post, so glad you had a really good experience this time round. Love the name too, it was a big possibility for us if dd had been a boy! Many congratulations.

[WideWebWitch]

Ah, HMC, that's a lovely birth story, congratulations!

[mummytojames]

congratulations hmc glad to here you and baby are doing well and nice weight should be a nice little bouncer before long again congratulations on the birth

[prufrock]

What a wonderful story - I'm so glad things went well for you, and welcome to Christian