Have been dying to catch up with you all! Laura, love the name Charlotte too, and hope the four of us can meet up soon? BDQ, if you fancy a trip west maybe we can make a sixsome at some point?
Anyway, here's the story. Had a bit of show on Saturday and a few cramps, woke up early hours Sunday and waters went spectacularly - it really was the Carmina Burana Old Spice ad. Went to hospital Sunday morning to get checked; had been having contractions every 10 mins or so, but they totally stopped at hospital.
Hospital policy is to induce if labour not started within 24 hours - at this point, I was still trying to avoid induction. Went home to see if things would kick off - watched the tennis, on birthing ball, wandering around, etc. Pains off and on - treated with bath, whisky and ginger (had promised myself a small drink when I went into labour!) and paracetamol. Didn't get any sleep - really painful contractions every 10 - 15 mins during night, but didn't speed up.
So. Monday morning, had had enough, and went to the hospital. Had lovely lovely midwife - but didn't like doctor. Grrr. Anyway - was monitored for 30 mins, and all fine then checked - 2 cm and in early labour. Thought I would have been given prostin, but Dr Evil insisted on drip straight away. So (after scoffing 2 bags of crisps) was hooked up to drip, antibiotics, monitor, etc. Contractions not too bad til about 1pm, had some co-drydamol. Lovely mw replaced by bitch mw for an hour over lunch. Decided to ignore her. Had gas and air when lovely mw came back - wish I'd insisted on it straight away, marvellous stuff. I was off my tits, crying with laughter. As everyone says, didn't take the pain away, but I didn't care - felt like being very nicely stoned.
Synto drip kept being increased, and I was coping ok, so mw turned it down, contractions still nice and strong. but all fine. Got second mw, who I'd seen a couple of times at antenatal, also lovely. Dr Evil came back and turned synto right up, insisted on clip on babe's head refused for a while til I was out of my head with pain.
Examined at 4pm, only 4cm, so had some morphine. Sort of lost it then - started shaking violently, feeling sick, v painful. Thought it was reaction to morphine. Expected hours more of the same so begged for epidural. Anaesthetist showed up, spent 20 mins explaining everything with me weeping through it, even though I kept saying I'd already read the info card, I didn't mind, just give me it. Eventually they started to set up, and I suddenly wanted to push. Fully dilated in less than 2 hours, so no epidural.
Pushed for all I was worth for maybe 30 mins - not quite sure - and Barnaby born spot on 6.30pm. I had three grazes, despite his 36cm head, and will be eternally grateful to midwife, even though I was screaming at her at the time. Roared my head off in fact, voice several octaves deeper afterwards!
Baby looked like a Ribenaberry when he came out, needed aspiration, Apgar 7, but Apgar 9 at 10 mins. Had skin to skin, and he started rooting almost straight away - likes his nosh!
Got home yesterday, and he's been brilliant - we all got some sleep last night - postnatal wards not conducive to rest! - and he's sparked out again next to me. I'm milk bar today, pneumatic tits, thank God I got gel packs - and for perineum too, straight from the freezer, bliss, they are doing the trick.
Sorry for mammoth mammoth post, really wanted to share with you all and get it all out! Feeling great and very very very lucky all round.
Lots of love all from Whinegums and Baby Whinegums xxxxx