Hi all, sorry too tired to catch up properly, DH just taken DS for walk and DD at nursery so want to get some kip while i can!
Just thought i'd quickly update you on my birth story; Saturday eve 2100hrs (watching Glast'ry on tv) and felt 'damp', checked and enough liquid to have marked underwear and trousers but not tonnes, told DH and just put on pad to check I hadn't just wet myself!! Went to toilet to check about 20mins later and pad fell into toilet before i checked it - doh!! However I then started with lower back cramps, 2 10 mins apart, then decided to go to bed thinking they wouldn't continue - got another 9 mins later - suggested to DH he may want to get DD to his parents 'just in case' so he took her and as the cramps were continuing I called midwife who said she'd come to our house as she only lived around corner, she arrived 45 mins later, did BP etc, all fine, chceked me and already at 5cm! still just cramps, able to talk and act normally etc. We had decided to give birth at local birthing centre, but it was closed as no one in, though this was no problem and they opened it up and another MW was called to meet us there. All set off, told no rush (and no sudden movements as waters were bulging! - hind had gone). Arrived at birthing centre, they already had pool running for me, had a cup of tea and at 0100hrs we were all discussing Amy Winehouse, listening to Elvis (think I must have been mad as I was dancing away), drinking tea and I was having a sway when I had a contraction. (Had TENS machine on) At about 0230hrs I got into the pool, then had some G&A about 0315hrs, by 03030hrs I was begging them to break my waters as wanted the thing out and was struggling a bit, got out of water, they broke the waters, got back in and Isaac James put in an appearance 8 mins later! Though only 0345hr labour, I felt totally in control and chilled out (apart from right at end when i was desperate for waters to go). Stayed in pool for quite a while, discovered he was a boy (!), waited for cord to stop pulsing (no injection), DH cut cord and then delivered placenta whilst in pool (water looked lovely at end!) they washed me down in pool and then got out, keeping Isaac with me, they examined me - no tearing, then left us with mug of tea and toast for about an hour before coming back and weighing him - 10lb 10z which was a bit of a shock - no one had suggested he was going to be big!
Can't remember who asked about the MWs and the water birth, but basically they just sat around (not in pool, nor was DH), chatting with me, supporting me when I needed it and if not pretty much keeping quiet. When he was delivered I was leaning forward over pool edge, moaning like a cow (they had taken the gas and air off me to make it more controlled!) and so they just kept telling me what they could see (lots of hair, eyebrows, nose, chin etc), they caught him under the water and then delivered him straight to me between my legs. I just then had to keep him as under water as poss to keep him warm. They also checked his HB every 15mins but this was just by giving me the doppler to put on my belly and kept the water temp right by topping it up or whatever.
Whole experience of the birthing centre and waterbirth was brilliant, though not sure I'd recommend the 10lb baby! Think it was the waterbirth and controlled second stage that stopped the tearing.
Feeling pretty normal already, felt very bruised for first 24hours! Isaac is feeding really well and also going 3-4hours between feeds, one bonus for a big baby i suppose!
Hope everyone else is okay and congrats to others that have given birth and I've missed.
Sorry for long post!