Hello everyone- slightly delayed birth annoucement as Ruby was born last Wed 23rd January but here it is...
Well- On Monday night I sat on my birthing ball drinking raspeberry leaf tea and expressing milk with breat pump for 30 mins- had a power cut so stopped, had a show the following morning and started getting contractions at about 5pm only 40mins apart so went to bed and slept.
At 3.30am woke up and was having contractions every 7 mins, but bearable, called hospital at 6am when they changed to 4 mins and went to hospital... was examined and told I was only 2cm dilated and that I was not yet in active labour, was told that I had an appointment booked to be monitored at the day centre the next day I think to induce me, wasn't really listening to be honest, told to go home have a long bath and get some sleep as things were unlikely to progress before the appointment the following day, so I took my lovely packed suitcase, puzzle books, rounds of ham sandwiches and my dh home at 9.30am!
DH went to get some breakfast from all day cafe, take away thank god because by the time he came home to me 30mins later I was getting no break from contractions.. called hospital again and they said that it was up to me when I wanted to come back in, to be honest I think they thought I was a bit of a hypcondriac (sp) but because the mw had told me earlier that I was 'not in labour' plus the fear of having to get back into my dh car I put off going to the hospital again until 12pm..!
When returned to hospital my waters broke in the corridor where loads of couples were waiting for they scans!!! But it followed by a large blood loss, so they strapped me to bed and put me on the monitor, had gas and air and screaming for an epidural.. put the drip in my hand and the anesthetist (sp) turned up 10 mins later- she was lovely and started telling me what she was going to do to me.. at this point I had an almighty contraction and the anesthetist then told me- to my absolute horror- that I needed to use the gas and air 'properly' apparently I had just been sucking on it and not getting any benefit.. I then had an urge to push and I had dilated from 4cm to 10cm in a matter of minutes.. gas and air took off me, told I couldn't have any pain relief and that I needed to push... 4 pushes and Ruby was born!!! She did such a good job of helpin me as she didn't tear me and she came out perfectly- 10 fingers and 10 toes!
So at 1.41pm that day I had my gorgeous little girl weighing 6lb 14oz- an absolute dream come true, can't stop looking at her and loving her!!! I can honestly say I have never experienced the love I feel for her before..!
There is a little sad bit o this birth story, we had to give our cat away, we brought Ruby home and our cat (big black male cat) went barmy, he was always unpredicatble and me and my dh were always scartched to bits by him but before Ruby came into our lives we just put up with it, but with the slightest chance he could ever hurt our little girl, we just couldn't risk it- tough home coming to be honest but I know he has a nice new home with someone that will give him lots of love!
So there you go, 9 months of worrying and panicing, of being impatient and dreamy- a new chapter has begun!
Just wanted to say thank you as well to all the people that have helped me and answered the silliest of queries, I honestly couldn't have got through childbirth and pregnancy without the help and support of mumsnet xxx