My precious and not so little boy arrived 4 weeks early on Friday 2nd July at 08:11 weighing 8lbs 4oz. Thank goodness I didn't go to term!!!
For those that are interested...
Birth Story
Ok so I posted on here on Thursday night about 8pm asking for advice on whether labour was on it's way as I'd had a few funny 'symptoms' for a few days (various shows over 10days, loose stools, very mild cramping). I didn't wait around for a response as I figured I'd check in the morning.
11pm my waters broke
Went into a state of denial telling myself I'd simply wet myself and must really get to work on those pelvic floor exercises . Needless to say when the fluid didn't stop flowing there was no denying it so off I dribbled to pop a pad on. Even though I double padded my pants it still only to about a minute for me to need to change them.
Told dh what had happened who sleepily rolled over and said "have they?". His brain just did not want to process that information apparently. So I tried again, he jumped up and said "errr...what now?". I instructed him to get dd and ds up out of bed [didn't prove to be an easy job!] and I would ring the hospital as I was only 36wks.
Obviously they said to come in so off we went, dropped the kids of at dh's parent's. My waters went a little more with every speed bump!! Not the nicest feeling in the world - and I was sat on a Pampers bed mat so it didn't go through my clothes onto the seat of dh's car. What a waste of time!!! I just had too much water.
Got to the hospital at 00:30 where they monitored baby [who had hiccups], CTG revealed I was already having tightenings although I couldn't feel them, they also did a speculum which confirmed I wasn't dilating.
At 01:30 they sent dh home to get some rest [he'd just a 12hour shift!] and placed me on the ward with a view to 'see how I got on'. Requested some painkillers at 02:45 for period pains [they weren't bad at all but I figured I may as well try to get some sleep before labour started or they induced me].
The tightenings just continued and got stronger but I naively believed they weren't strong enough to be doing much as I was just breathing through them.
That was 4am when ctx were every 4-5 minutes.
At 5:30 they were like clockwork every 3 minutes but I toddled off to have a shower cos I was sweating and my hair needed washing before I gave birth . And I still didn't believe it was established labour!!
By 6:30 I thought things might be stepping up a notch as I wanted pain relief cos my back was aching so much with each contraction - after feeling my bump during a ctx mw decided to examine me as they felt strong, she then laughed and declared me 7cms and fully effaced.
Cue then a frantic call to dh to get his ass there pronto!! I was transferred to labour + delivery ward so I could get the g+a.
He arrived at 07:15. At 07:30 I lying on my left side with eyes closed and not speaking. I was however wailing through every contraction - dh did ask me to be quiet as he was tired in an obviously jokey way but I was not amused and snatched my hand away [moi unreasonable?? ]
My mum text my phone at 07:50 asking how I was doing, she only knew that my waters had broken - she had no idea that labour was well underway. Anyhow, I told dh to not bother answering - must have been the way I said it because both him, the mw and student mw thought this was hilarious. My mw, Jill, was totally amazing and looked a bit like Bette Midler - I honestly half expected her to started singing Wind Beneath My Wings . She was so chatty and mum-like - just fantastic!!
My body did all the work for me really, I don't remember the times of specific things but it must have been about 8am-ish that my body just started pushing with the contractions. I could feel Corey's head moving further and further towards 'the exit' without me having to do anything other than breathe the g+a through the pain. Was weird tho - I felt very out of control and that scared me, but I was also very proud that my body instinctively knew what to do. As this was baby #3 for me tho I would have been surprised if it didn't!! This just didn't happen as far as I can remember with my other 2.
According to my notes it took 11 minutes for me to push him out - which surprised me as it felt like much longer, but then again I was so out of it on g+a [my only pain relief - refused pethidine and gave dh the evil eye when he suggested epidural ]
It then took 6 minutes for the placenta to emerge [disgusting feeling].
It was such a joy when Corey was placed on my chest as even though I could see and hear him - I didn't know what sex he was, dh tried to look but the cord was in the way - eventualy spotted Corey's todger . We had no name for him at first as we thought we still had a while to think of one, we had a girls name sorted but I don't think he really looked like an Emma.
I was also told I had one of chunkiest cords they have ever seen . Should I be proud?
We're home now and he is just perfect, he sleeps wonderfully waking for a feed and a nappy change then goes straight back off to sleep. He is gorgeous and feeds like a pro!
His big brother and sister totally adore him although they get a little jealous when I'm feeding him - they help with nappy changes by passing me the things I need.
It's bliss (for now) and apart from the 12 hours after delivery where I was exhausted, I don't feel like I've recently given birth! This is a good thing as because he was early - barely anything is ready. DH was assembling the cot at 11pm last night - we hadn't had chance to move the old furniture out yet and as this is where the cotbed was meant to go theres now very little room in there now - but I don't care because he is here, he is healthy and we are all loved up and happy!!
Bit of a mammoth post - congrats if you read through to the end!!