Hi ladies, sorry for the delay but things have been a bit hectic here the last week!! :)
Archie Dylan was born last Friday, 28th Oct at 8.10am weighing 6lb 10oz, 2 weeks early. So this is my birth story...
I'd been having lower back pain and period type cramps for about a week beforehand. Then on Thursday I met OH for lunch but had to come home early as couldn't get comfy. Cramps were coming and going fairly irregular so put the TENS machine on for the afternoon, by 6pm they had gone so turned it off. Went to bed about 11pm and woke up at 1.30am with contractions coming every 10 mins, lasting 30 - 40 secs. I rang the hospital and they said to call back when they were 5 mins apart. So I went back to bed and put the TENS machine back on. By 4am they were coming every 5 mins, lasting about 1 min. So I rang the ospital again and they said to call back when they were 2-3 mins apart. I woke OH and had a cup of tea and he ran me a bath. About 5.30am I couldn't sit in the bath anymore so got out, was instantly sick on the bathroom floor (missed the toilet so OH had to clear it up!). I couldn't stand up or sit down so rang the hospital as the contractions were 2-3 mins apart, lasting over 2 mins and told them I was coming in. They said don't be offended if they sent me home again!!
We left home about 5.45am and I was sick in my handbag on the way!! Got to hospital about 6am, all the birthing rooms were full so we got put into a consulting room. The MW came to check how I was, took one look at me holding on to the bed with my legs shaking and decided to give me an examination. I asked if I was dilated as I couldn't cope with going home again, she said 'Yes, you are 9 and a half cms dilated'!! 
She asked if I wanted to push and I said yes! So 1 hr and 30 mins later my little boy came into the world!! So I did it with just gas & air, lying on my back with my legs in the air. My birth plan went right out of the window, so much for my active birth, with birthing pool etc... But as the MW said I'd already done all that at home!!
I have a second degree tear and some stitches which are obviously uncomfortable, but not bad considering.
We had some BF issues as Archie won't latch on properly, but were discharged anyway on Saturday, expressing and topping up with formula via a cup. However, the MW spotted he was slightly jaundice on Tuesday so we were referred up to the PAU at the hospital. They said his jaundice was mild, but that his cord was infected and would need to go on anti-biotics. So we were admitted and Archie had a canular put into his hand, I couldn't watch... Both the paediatrician and the consultant said we weren't feeding him enough, this was based on both the MW and HV's advice, which was making his jaundice worse and so he was lethargic, vicious circle! Then we got transferred into isolation in SCBU, even those nurses said he was being under-fed, so I am BF as much as I can using a shield as he still won't latch on properly, expressing when I can and topping up with formula via a bottle - which he loves! He hasn't been confused by switching between nipple and teat. So we are going to carry on doing this as this seems to be what suits him best, and as far as I am concerned that is all that matters!
So he is now getting the correct amount of food, he is more alert and waking himself up for feeds every 3 hours, which is a huge improvement on last week.
Anyway, I hope all the rest of the November babies arrive safely and sorry for the long post and lack of name check! 