Hi all - feel like I have been away for weeks. Congrats to all of you who have done it, and good luck to those still waiting. Feel like I should share my birth story, but am also wary of frightening anyone being threatend with an induction...so if that applies to you, you've been warned.
Water broke at 11am on 19/02 - I wasn't sure if that's what it was, but two pairs of trousers later I was convinced. Went into hospital, and politely declined their kind offer of induction, so was sent home.
Fast forward to 11am on 20/02, and we were back at the hospital, np further along other than having soaked every towel we own, and every single one of my pairs of knickers. Had to be induced, which obviously meant labouring attached to monitors and a drip. (Became slightly worried about the whole business for the first timewhen I was asked, 'How allergic are you to penicillin?')
Hard labour took a whule to start, but by 5pm I was having a hefty contraction every two minutes or so. Decided that the heated pad had done a sterling job, but it was time to move on to gas and air. Not my best idea - it made me throw up Exorcist style all over myself/bloke/midwife, so I went back to my friend the wheatbag. (Bloke thought it highly amusing that one of the pain relief options was aromatherapy...)
After another 5 hours of hard, close together contractions, the midwife examined me and broke the news that I was...3cm dilated. At this point my resolve broke like a kit-kat and I asked for an epidural, after veing assured by the midwife that it would make no difference to the duration of labour because it was all being brought on my the Sytocin. At this stage Bloke helpfully asked if I was sure, and should he just get me some essential oils?
Winderful, amazing epidural was administered, and on we went. her heart rate started to fall whenever I pushed, which resulted in a room full of doctors threatening a c-section, arguing with two midwives who were convinced I could still push her out. C-section averted, but two docs still hovered ominously at the action end muttering about forceps, which was all the incentive I needed to push her out. Started pushing at 2.10am, and by 2.26am I had a cut, tear, poo, and a beautiful daughter.
She was put straight onto my bare chest, and started to feed alnost immediately. In an ideal world, I wouldn't have been induced, but it could have been a lot worse, and bot Ffion and I have been perfectly healthy since.
I can't believe that was almost two weeks ago. Have been typing this while feeding her - she is an absolute breast feeding star, just latches on and does the job with hardly any help from me.
See you all on the post natal thread.