Leila Sofia finally arrived at 1.30pm on 5/6/07, 71b 14oz, 10 days overdue!
1am on Tuesaday morning, I woke up with familiar period style pain. Tried to get back to sleep and ignore it, but just 7 mins later, the contractions woke me up again. They were lasting about 30 seconds each time. Hmmm, Minipop thinks, perhaps this is a bit different after all. Put Tens machine on and pottered about the place for an hour or so trying to 'ignore' them as advised by the midwide at QC and Chelsea birthing centre. This was my first labour after all and this was jut the early stages. However, by 3am they were every 4 mins and getting stronger. I ran a bath, but it did nothing. By 5am the contractions were already 2 mins apart and lasting 50 secs. At this stage I screamed at Mr Minipop that we were going to the hospital NOW! Although it was quick, I knew that I was in established labour.
Got to the hospital to find that the birthing centre was full, so ended up in delivery suite. At this point, naturally, I was screaming for drugs. I was examined and sure enough was already 4cm. Entonox did not touch the pain. At one point my midwife had to leave to attend an emergency and my partner was moving the bloody car, so I was labouring on my own. This was only for about 10 mins, but it felt like forever. Some poor woman came in with a breakfast trolley asking if I wanted breakfast. To which Minipop screamed 'I need an epidural - not farking breakfast!'. At this stage (7am), there was only a few seconds between the contractions. They were so incredibly intense that if somebody had a gun I would have begged them to shoot me to stop the pain. The midwives then 'changed over' and I had a fabulous male midwife who could see that I was in no fit state to continue without a mobile epidural. Eventually, father christmas arrived with the drugs. I am scared of needles, but I didn't feel the needle going in at all, such was the magnitude of the pain. As it was a mobile epidural, I was able to walk around the room to help the baby descend naturally. I could also feel when to push, but without the pain. It was fabulous.
Just when I thought things were looking up, my midwife explained that despite being 10cms by 10am (although he thinks I could have reached that stage before he examined me), the baby's head was still in a weird position. Neither he or the doctor could work out exactly what this position was. There was also a concern that the baby's head was a bit too big for me which is why it was stuck.
The next thing I knew, a consultant AND a registrar were called in to examine me to try and work out what position the baby's head was in. Not one was sufficiently convinced that they knew. It was starting to look more and more likely that I would require intervention as the baby's head was just not descending, despite an hour and 30 mins of pushing. They assured me that they would do everythig they could to avoid a C-section. However, they could not use a ventouse or forceps until they were completetly sure of the position of the baby's head. I needed to be examined further.
The staff were fanastic. Everything was explained to me in detail and despite being scared and tearful and this obviously not being part of the birth plan (is it ever?!), I knew I was in safe hands. The most important thing was my baby delivered safely.
Baby Leila was delivered into this world with forceps - a bit battered and bruised - but otherwise perfect and totally beautiful.
What was quite amusing was my partner announcing to the world that it wsa a boy until the consultant asked him to look again [hmmm]
I am so exhausted, but so in love!