Hi all
Got home at last yesterday 
so lovely to be surrounded again by all my own chaos and mess and to be with DH and DD1 (feels so strange to know that we have DD2 now!). It's bliss. I am sooooo happy.
DH and DD have now gone out for a walk, DD2 is snoozing next to me in her moses basket and I thought I'd come on and update you all! Hope you are doing well muser and that your little girl is feeding well and sleeping well! Have been thinking of you, our daughters share the same birthday!
OK, ladies so here is the birth story. I've not held back here on detail, so sorry if TMI! The whole thing was the most wonderful, natural experience and I am sure that not panicking and having a positive approach helped. But don't feel you have to read!
So... we went into hospital early on Tues as I was worried as I hadn't felt any movement at all since 6am. They put me on a monitor and I heard her heartbeat and was so relieved I wept! They were a bit concerned as she was having heart rate decelerations and did not start to be more active through the course of the morning, so they put off inducing me till the consultant came round at 11.30am. He didn't seem too worried, but said that we should crack on with the induction to be sure that the decelerations were not to do with mild contractions, so they were going to skip the pessary and go straight to putting me on a drip. I was a bit disappointed that this meant that the birthing pool was totally out, but also more upset that it would mean I was less mobile and would almost certainly have to stay on the bed. I don't remember being too worried about the baby though, it is reassuring to be able to hear that heart beat thumping away!
I had been having mild contraction like pains by now as well- like strong period pains, nothing too bad. Before they set up the drip, the MW examined me to see if my cervix was 'favourable' and I was 4cm dilated! She also said there was still a small amount of waters around the baby's head which she broke for me at 12.15. The contractions started coming on thick and fast then. I just tried to focus on opening up and accepting and enjoying the pain (not quite the right word, but as close as I can find!) I moved around lots and lent on the wall when it got too bad, and also found bouncing on tiptoes helpful. At about 12.30 I started using the gas and air, which lent proceedings a woozy edge which was quite enjoyable. I was crouching by the bed and breathing through the contractions, when the MW told me to get up on the bed and lean over the back because she thought it was time to deliver the baby. I had been feeling mild urges to push before that but couldn't believe that it could be time to yet, so was still focussing on being ready. I got up on the bed, and had three big urges to push. At this stage the pain totally went in between the contractions and I felt completely composed and normal. Then the urges came and I just bore down as hard as I could, trying to remember to breathe through them as well. I felt her move down and then on the next push I felt her head birth, then her body on the third push. The MW passed her to me through my legs and I held her to me. It was amazing.
But she didn't breathe again, after the first gasp, so they had to take her away again and then she went blue and floppy and suddenly there were emergency alarms going off and loads of people in the room. They something to get her breathing and were doing chest compressions. It was pretty scary but I think only lasted about 2 mins and then she was breathing and back with me breast feeding.
On my notes transistion between the first and second stages is recorded as 1.20pm and birth is recorded as 1.23pm- so that raspberry leaf tea certainly did the trick for me!
Anyway, they then had some concerns about infection because my waters had broken more than 24 hours before birth, hence the stay in hospital for 5 days. It was not what I would have chosen and I really, really missed DD1, but now we are home and it is wonderful, wonderful. I am high as a kite on the hormones and lack of sleep!
And now Leila Hope is stirring next to me and looking for a feed, so I am going to end this huge post and go and nurse my little girl. Lots of love to all of you- hoping that the niggles and pains of later pregnancy are not getting you down. Looking forward to reading of the next birth announcements! And muser one of us should probably start up a post natal thread for the rest of us to gradually join. I think it'll still have to be the March one, although this little monkey was born in Feb!
Leila Hope, born 1.25pm Tues Feb 15th 2011