Well after spending all day yesterday cramping Our daughter was born last night after a very speedy labour at 2155 at Kingston hospital. Weighing 3.1kgs / 6lbs 13 oz.
Shot out unexpectedly quickly 55 mins after arriving at triage where we were told I was only 3cm & not in established labour!
We had been moved into a side room (actually they told us to go for a walk but I didn't really want to walk through a brightly lit hospital into the daylight outside so we turned off the lights in the side room and DH put the mattress on the floor for me to throw myself on for each contraction) and then I paced about between. However contractions were lasting 30s and coming every minute so actually was quite hard to keep mobile. Intensity was increasing too but as I'd only been 3cm a few moments before I couldn't believe it was really happening.
Was quite something. Am glad she is #2 or I think I would have been quite traumatised. It was quite a visceral event.
She came out screaming - no joke!!!
MW managed to get into the room in time with her catching gloves on. Events were so fast I couldn't believe I was actually birthing a baby so kept shouting "what's going on", comedy really!!!!
Doula didn't manage to make it for the birth as it was so fast. It was really down to me and DH in support!!!
Listening to my ocean waves tracks and having DH stroke my back really helped (light touch stroking with all his finger tips, rather than proper massage).
In fact the birth was so fast everything else took ages in comparison. Am actually glad the doula made it for the latter part as it's quite boring and unrewarding!! The placenta took nearly 2 hours - wanted a physiological 3rd stage but ended up with the injection as it just wasn't happening. Then they had to sew me up and had to wait for a dr to come take a look as it was a "complex" 2nd degree tear. Who knew 75% of women tear? And 85% of first timers. I had no idea the stats were like that.
Finally got moved to post natal single room at 3am. Currently waiting for paed to come round to sign us out. Quite nice tho. Room on our own. Chilling out and recalibrating.
DS and the au pair popped in this morning
And DH has taken them to a "stay and play"
This afternoon at his new school - in prep for starting reception in September. Gutted not to have been able to go but also enjoying this me and daughter time together alone. (She is sleeping!!)
She has latched on like a trooper already but the cramping of my uterus as it contracts back down is horrific. Don't remember it being like this last time. Having to use Hypnobirthing techniques to get through!!!!
Anyway. Best of luck to you all. And thanks for the link to ththe silver breast pads. Very interesting.