Hello everyone, my internet is back and I've managed to scrounge a spare moment to take a peak on the thread! Congratulations to all who have been blessed with the arrival of their little ones, and those who haven't - don't worry anytime now, sending labour vibes to you.
My little girl Freyja has been quite the handful, but I've gotten the hang of everything it seems so far. I'm a little wobbly and nervous when it comes to breastfeeding, I have to top-up with formula as well, but she is putting on weight and doing fine. (Apart from lots of wind and crying at night, but it's to be expected!)
Thought I'd write out my birth story, tmi warnings.
Early afternoon I went to the toilet, felt a strange 'pop' and when I stood up - immediately sat down again as waters broke with a big gush! Panicked a little, wasn't sure what to think exactly, so calmed myself down and told myself not to think about it unless something else happened. Sat down in the armchair, felt more gushes. It got to the point where major shifts in position or standing up would cause huge gushes.
Approximately ten minutes after the first gush, I started getting contractions. I didn't time them, I couldn't really think at that point and called DM, DP and DGM, to tell them what was going on. About five minutes later they were ridiculously strong and my grandmother was timing them at around 3 minutes between contractions. We had to call an ambulance and I was whisked off to the hospital.
I was put on gas and air, yelling out due to the force of the contractions. I remember feeling thoroughly woozy, when I talked it was rapid and sometimes incoherent. When the midwives tried to ask me questions I found myself relying on my mother and partner to answer them for me. My first stage was four hours, my second stage was two and a half hours, and my third stage was just ten minutes! I remember feeling exhausted from the hours of pushing, feeling like I just couldn't find the energy to push her out. I put my head in DP's chest and poor him - dug my nails into his skin towards the end as a means of relief from pushing so hard, but he didn't mind, just telling me I could do it, giving me his utmost support and letting me rest my head on him inbetween contractions/pushing.
At the very end I remember feeling something like she was going to come out of my bottom! I gave it my all, putting the last of my energy into it with long pushes and eventually I felt her come out. There was a few seconds of silence and then she cried, I felt myself brought to tears with both relief and through the strong bond I felt with the child who had come into this world.
However, I had lost 600ml of blood. After collapsing four times within an hour I was put on multiple drips, had four blood transfusions, anti-clotting treatment, abdominal and leg scans, tests of every kind. After a few days I recovered pretty well, but wasn't discharged until five days after her birth. I had an episiotomy but apart from that and gas and air, I had a completely natural birth that I'm proud of. I couldn't be happier, she is simply gorgeous!
Will upload a couple of pictures once I find the leads for my camera etc.