Hello ladies, firstly apologies abandoned mumsnet when I went on mat leave. Preggo brain couldn't keep up with both Fb and mn.
Iris Antonia is now 12 days old, born Sunday 15th Sept at 40+6 and she is awesome, perfect and healthy.
So I thought I'd share my birth story finally. I became a little fixated on how she would be born and desperately tried to avoid being induced for GD, trying every trick in the book including acupuncture. GD was diet controlled very well so consultant happy to let me go to Edd then induction was booked for the Sat. Started contracting on the Thursday so thought I might get to have my active/ water birth after all...little one had other plans and wasn't ready to make her grand entrance just yet.
Induction by propess started working within 30 mins as I was already 1cm. Unfortunately my body reacted badly and contractions went into overdrive, coming thick and fast. Eventually broke my waters and I went into shock, my body shaking and contractions even stronger. Meconium in waters too so birthing pool would have been out...
The reality of labour was the polar opposite of my birth plan and ended up having pretty much every pain relief option and drug possible. TENS, entonox, pethidine, syntocinon, epidural, diamorphine...eventually she was born by EMCS. After 16 hrs I was failing to progress and stalled at 3-4 cm, baby was a little stuck too but my contractions were still in overdrive. Main concerns were that baby was very distressed and her heartbeat was fluctuating and not stabilising. They took blood samples from top of her head and attached heartbeat trace there too. Plus they were concerned about anterior placenta as I was losing too much blood.
The reality of EMCS was a lot more relaxed and calm than I'd built it up to be. all the staff were incredible, some cracking jokes to keep us relaxed too. Despite being doped up to the eyeballs and exhausted I can remember most of what happened in theatre, including the two songs playing on the radio before and after she was born. Roxette - it must have been love and Gotye - somebody that I used to know.
Recovery on the ward was hard and we spent 4 days there as we both struggled with breast feeding and sleeping. Both of us were getting pretty miserable cooped up in our claustrophobic prison cell and just wanted to go home and be with daddy. The ward is now a distant memory, she's now breast feeding really well and sleeping in my arms and I love her wholeheartedly. Just so happy she is here at last.
Sorry for the essay...I think I needed to write this down somewhere. This thread and others have been a real saviour throughout my pregnancy, previous ectopic and now the Facebook group is helping tremendously in my first tentative steps into mummyhood. Thanks ladies you're all incredible.