Delighted to say that Esther Una came to join the Peculiars last Friday 8th April. She arrived at exactly 1pm at home in a hastily filled birth pool. She weighed 9lb 15oz (and is currently wearing 3-6 month babygrows ).
Full details below (especially for the other April mums/mums to be ). Turned out to be a very long story (for a fairly short labour) - sorry. A positive story for anyone who had a long first labour or back to back presentation though. My first labour with DD1 took 4 days from waters breaking to delivery and included oxytocin drip, epidural and damaged back. So I was feeling a bit terrified (I can finally admit this!). OPted for home birth to try to achieve continuity of care with mws, and to try to avoid epidural. In my heart of hearts I thought I'd end up in hospital with an epi but hoped having a mw I knew there would help a lot. Anyway - here's what happened this time:
Thurs 10am - midwife came and did sweep, said I was 2cm dilated and everything was nice and stretchy and ready to go. Baby still lying back to back. I try not to get nervous about this. Made an appt with hospital for this week to discuss induction but said she doubted I would need it.
Thurs 1pm - went for lovely reflexology session. Then a walk and wander around the shops in EAst Dulwich.
Friday 3am - woke in bed with severe cramps. Knew something was happening, but no contractions. Stuck the tens machine on, wedged myself in the bed with hot water bottles and went back to sleep (still can't believe I managed to do that!)
7.30am - woke up when DD1 arrived in bedroom. Got up to give her breakfast - felt slight contractions but nothing major - cramps still hanging around.
8am - called midwife - mostly to ask whether we should get the birth pool which was at that stage somewhere in East Dulwich (the midwife practice loan out 2 pools and I had only got on their list earlier that week when we realised my bith pool in a box had a slow puncture). Told her the contractions were about 2 in ten and fairly regular. She said we'd be having a baby that day and to get and fill pool. She asked me to call back when contractions stronger, more regular.
8.05am Told DH to orgainise collection of pool.
8.06am Exploded at DH when he suggested waiting til 9am to ring the people who currently had the pool as he thought it was a bit early to disturb them. Knew I must be in labour!
8.45 DH heads off to collect pool and drop DD1 off with friends for the day. I tidy the kitchen. Time contractions, seem to be coming 1 in 10 or so and lasting 45 secs or so. Fairly easy to deal with so continue with kitchen. Don't time every contraction as I found that depressing with DD1 as they kept changing rythm so just build up a vague picture of what's happening in between unloading dishwasher. Texted my sister to tell her things kicking off and to expect some news within 3 or 4 days.
10.00am DH arrives back with pool and starts building it after he has his coffee.
10.30am realise DH hadn't looked at instructions for pool so it needs to be rebuilt
10.45am page midwife to say vaguely that contractions feel stronger and more regular and she might want to pop over to check things out.
11am Midwife arrives. Contractions feeling a lot stronger in the last ten minutes, so am kneeling on ground leaning on birth ball when she arrives.
She reckons contractions good and regular and does internal to establish I am 4 cm dilated but that that's fine. She decides to hang around. I think she is here for the long haul.
11.30am Contractions very strong. Coming 1 in 2 and lasting a minute. Still have tens machine on and focussing hard on breathing. MOving around between contractions. About ten inches of water in pool. I begin to despair I'll ever get in it.
12.10pm a bit of puking going on
12.20pm feel a big pop in my tummy and a gush of water (on the good cushions too!)
12.25pm contractions getting unbearable - decide to tell everyone it is all off and I want to go to hospital for an epidural after all. DH pops me a homeopathic pill and mw wonders if I am feeling an urge to push. I had thought I needed a poo and was a bit worried about the living room rug as I didn't think I could make it to the bathroom . Turns out it was transition.
12.30pm Pool now full but mw thinks too hot. No-one has a thermometer to check. I need to get in that pool.
12.40pm mw takes pity on my plight and tells me I can get in the pool anyway. Rip off the tens machine and hop in. DH turns on the naff whale music. I close my eyes and try to pretend I am in the pacific. It's sooooo nice.
Pushing now with every contraction. Not as sore as I expected. I think the water really helped with this.
Head is born about 12.59am and body with a couple of pushes (and a well timed mw yank!)
1pm Open my eyes to see the beautiful girl. 1.01pm Start to cry.
1.30pm deliver pacenta sitting on the loo. MW examines me after, no tears. It's a miracle!
In so far as the most excruciating experience can be it was really wonderful. And so different to DD1's birth I still can't believe it.