WARNING: this will be big!
No baby over the weekend and had resigned myself to getting to Wednesday's CMW appt.
The m/w who has delivered both my boys at home was on holiday last week and returned to work on Monday.
She rang me to see if I was okay and offered to visit me at home after her calls. I agreed and she called at the house at 12.30pm.
I was not much further on despite my sweep (2cm dilated/ 1.5cm long) by my allocated m/w at last wednesdays CMW appt, all the sex and walking etc.
She gave me another sweep (she was vicious ) and said to ring her if anything started up.
About 20 minutes after she left, I felt tons of pressure and started having a lot of discomfort under my bump. Went to the toilet and there a watery, bloody discharge. I've never been so happy to see blood :D
I rang her and she said to pop on a pad in case it was my waters leaking, she would come back after her next visit, for me to keep active.
I rang Dh, he decided to have the rest of his lunch at work ! Contacted my mum and they set off to collect the kids, I pootled around the house, still contracting nicely, but not painful and got the rest of the stuff together for the kids, made them lunch etc.
M/w returned at 1.30pm and examined me again, NO CHANGE! Another sweep!! More bloody show immediately. She had another visit but said she'd be back by 3pm, to have a bath and see if I started to contract more strongly.
Kids left, I had a bath and set off walking round the house. Things started to feel a bit pokey about 2.30pm and there was lots of pressure, I felt as if my waters were trying to go!! I put the Tens machine on, Dh checked the pool was okay and got the towels etc together.
OhSnap texted me and I updated her, I was going to come on MN and do a live birth, but things hotted up and I started to have to stop everything for the tightenings
3pm the m/w returned and examined me, I was 4cm dilated with bulging membranes, hooray! She wanted to AROM and we discussed using the pool at this stage. I wanted to wait until I was 7cm dilated as I have done twice previously, but she was worried if I waited until 7cm I wouldn't be able to use the pool.
I was a bit concerned about Dd2's head not exerting itself onto my cervix enough, this birth felt different to me and she asked me to seriously consider AROM.
Waters were broken at 3.15pm, not much there tbh and her head descended.
I got changed and climbed into the pool at about 3.30pm, it was bliss! Instant relief and we chatted about all sorts, whilst I happily mooched in the pool (I think she was worried labour had stopped actually)
The contractions picked up and I used the breathing techniques from the Natal hypnobirthing cd and obviously LB's advice
Second m/w arrived about 4.30pm with G&A and everything was still very civilised.
I asked for some G&A at 5pm as the contractions were coming thick and fast and every now and again I felt I had to resist the urge to bear down. Things didn't feel right to me somehow and I asked for a VE to check my cervix. It was 7-8cm dilated, but still 1cm thick, she could stretch me to fully dilated with ease though so we think I probably was fully dilating with each contraction, but had a cervical lip. We waited...the G&A lasted 30 minutes and then the next cannister was faulty, I was on my own....a-frigging-gain!!
6pm saw me go very quiet and then I gave a huge push. It came over me from nowhere, I couldn't control the urge at all, my body just took over. The m/w asked me to slow it down, but I couldn't even if I had wanted to. Immediately, I gave another huge push and the m/w and Dh both shouted at me to stop, she guarded my perineum as I shouted back that I couldn't stop. The head crowned! I didn't feel a thing it was that fast.
I had a momentary break before the next contraction, the m/w flipped me over as her body was a little stuck and that movement delivered her body.
She came up through the water, opened her eyes and looked straight at me. We waited for the cord and I delivered the placenta in the pool (very grim) and got out after that. No cuts, grazes or tears.
2hours & 45mins labour (1st stage), 6 minutes estimated second stage and 5 minutes 3rd stage.
She weighed 8lb 12oz, has tons of hair, is little but chubby, especially her cheeks and I'll post a pic asap. We have named her Xanthe Seraphina (meaning golden angel)
She fed every 2 hours last night, slept well and we took her to the hospital this morning for her neonatal check, all was well. Kids are elated she is here and everything is settling down nicely.
Feeding is going brilliantly, she's a natural!
We're totally loved up
After-pains were absolutely brutal Diege. I now have Tramadol which has effectively reduced the pain to that of bad period cramps. Last night I was using Paracetamol/Codeine with pathetic results and I sobbed the night everytime she fed, wracked with pain. Tramadol is very def your friend
Will try to update tomorrow after the m/w has been if there is one to give.
OMG I have 4 kids