Due October 2009 - To nest is best....

[smallone]

My first thread!

Welcome back patmum and congratulations.

lal and fluffycats-congratulations to you too.

Sugarkane-well done for sharing your birth story.

Sounds like some more of you are nearly there.

Have started taking my antibiotics so hopefully my infection will clear up and I will stop having smelly discharge. Ew!

Hope all OK.

HC
x

Congratulations patmum

Midwife has been this morning to weigh Joseph and he is 7.lb 14 so has lost 1lb. She says he is thriving and yesterdays mad screaming fits may well be due to my milk changing - apparently on days 10-12, the milk changes to more mature milk and you find baby gets very irritated and will only feed for very short frequent bursts. She was more worried about me and helped us work out a system where DH takes Joseph away and I sleep for 3hrs minimum.I barely slept at all last night-he screamed every time I put him down or DH took him. Much more settled today. We also talked about the co-sleeping issue and she helped reassure me.

OK, here's my birth story, long but v positive despite the forceps!

Sunday 4th October-Spent the day moving furniture, giving room a last coat of paint v early, then shopping for cushions and curtains. Had a lot of sharp twinges when shopping, kept having to stop. One was so bad that I knocked over a soft furnishing display in Matalan. At that point (3.30pm) we decided to go home. Put up curtains in bedroom, moved everything back and I settled down in the dark to listen to the hypnobirthing mp3. Pains grew stronger throughout the evening but I was coping ok, had a big show at midnight. DH put his foot down and tgot me to ring hospital. As soon as I told them I was hypnobirthing, they asked me to come in. Once there, found I was 1cm dilated so opted to come home. Tried going to bed but pains were v strong so let DH Sleep and I was downstairs hunched over beanbag on sofa, listening to the birth music from hypnobirthing cd and watching Harpers Island. By 4.30am I struggled to breathe through them so rang labour ward again-they had a listen to me and told me to get back there asap. Listened to birth prep hypno music all the way and when we got there, it was found I was almost 6cm dilated. They estimated I'd give birth by 3pm. Midwives v supportive of the hypnobirthing and of DH and his trigger statements. A student doctor asked if she could observe so she stayed with us. We went through pain relief options- I rapidly realsed that gas and air messed up my hypnobreathing so gave that back. Opted for pethadine at 10am, it Was bliss.

By 2pm, I was fuly dilated and ready to push.Waters were broken by mw. Kept on with the hypnobirth music. bp was near normal and various midwives and students kept popping in to observe the hypnobirthing lady. However, As hard as I tried, I couldn't push Joseph out. Each time I pushed out, my muscles pulled me back. It was discovered that his head was stuck at a funny angle. It was explained that if he wasn't out by 4pm, intervention would be required, most likely a c-section. If I'd managed to push him down far enough by then, I may get away with a forceps delivery. It was 3.45pm and that gave me the energy I needed to at least try. 4pm came and went-I has been put on the syncotonin drip so contractions were rteally strong. I was wheeled to theatre and given a full spinal blick. The worst part was having to pant through the contractions while they put the 6 injections into my back, it felt crazy after all those hours of pushing. Doctors offered to put the hypnobirthing cd on for me which I thought was sweet but I kept it on mp3. A v good looking bloke wearing scrubs came and held my hand and I was shocked to realise it was my DH!No-one expected the forceps to work but within a minute of them saying push, the head was out!That was quickly followed by the body and DH cut the cord. I was there for a further 1/2 hr while they stitched me up and inserted catheter then we were wheeled to recovery where we stayed for 3hrs waiting for a bed. Lots of the mws an theatre team came and found me to say congratulations and we finally got onto postnatal ward at 10.30pm. I'd had a Simpsons forceps and episiotemy. The student doctor stayed with me all the way through and the theatre team were fantastic. I've agreed to nbe a case study foe 2 doctors and a midwife.

My problems occured postnatally at the hands of one particular midwife but thats a story for another day and only if anyone is interested. The weigh in this morning helped my shattered bf confidence so onwards and upwards x

HappyTangering - thanks for sharing your birth story. I am interested in the midwife story if you want to share.

Sounds like a great birth experience with lots of supportive people. I was in a similar situation to you last time and ended up with an ECS. Good for you to make it with the forceps. Hope you are healing well.

I'm still waiting for my back ache to turn into proper contractions. Hopefully tonight!

Here's my WHOPPER of a birth story.

Woke up at 4am Monday with constant cramping, lasted about 20 mins and I was just thinking something might be wrong when it tailed off. Got up and made hot water bottle and had a couple of paracetamol. Continued feeling weird and waters broke at 4.40am. Contractions fiddled about a bit but were intense, but short and coming every 3 mins by 6am. Rang hosp who said to come in sooner rather than later because of my previous c-s. So we rang my mum and dad and woke up a very bewildered dd and took her to a friends house.

Got to hosp about 8am and pottered about with TENS machine. VE at 10am and I was only 2-3cm, I was gutted and thought I was going to be in for the long haul again (previous labour was days ending in cs). Maternity support tried to take blood out of my one good vein and messed it up so couldn?t get any and bruised my arm so much that no-one else could either. MW wanted a canula put in and tried both hands and wrist and broke the needle in my hand. I was shaking uncontrollably at this point and MW decided to get the head anesthetist to put it in instead. The contractions were much more intense but managed to cope with TENS. Change of MW, VE at 1pm I was 3-4cm but stretchy. Put on the monitor for 30 mins. Got in the bath, which really helped me relax between contractions but the contractions were horrific without the TENS so had to get back out again. Back on the monitor, I was now shaking and being sick every 3 or 4 contractions was given something to stop me vomiting. I was most comfortable standing up during the contractions but was tensing up and felt like I was pulling the baby upwards so sat in the rocking chair. Was monitored again and started on the gas and air. Contractions got really bad and MW asked if I wanted pethedine, but I was worried that it wouldn?t actually take the pain away and would just result in a lack of control. By this point they were struggling to keep babies HB during contractions so moved me to the bed. This was bloody agony and I lost it, couldn?t breathe in enough gas and air and was screaming the place down and grabbing at dh, felt really bad coz I could see how much it upset him to see me like that. Head MW came in and asked if I wanted an epidural, I said I wanted a section, (only half joking) I agreed to epidural, Registrar came in and said they needed to put in a foetal scalp monitor. I was worried about going for yet more intevention and said I?d rather have a section than end up with instrumental delivery. I agreed to scalp monitor, I could hear the beeps stopping and starting and when I asked why they said it was losing connection as I moved around.

Waited what seemed like forever for the anaesthetist to come, told DH I wanted a section, by the time the anaesthetist came I had 2 mws a registrar and my consultant with me. I was hollering and my mw asked where the pain was. I said across front of pelvis and my consultant had a feel of my scar, which was really tender. He said something about a section and I said I?d love one! Then all hell broke loose as I was whisked off to theatre, lots more contractions, only now I didn?t have my g&a, lots of shouting at by anaesthetists trying to get me to do various things mid contraction. My personal favourites were ? you need to untense your arm so I can get a BP? ?stop moving round you?ll desterilise my trolley?. In the end they gave me a mask and said breathe this its stronger than entenox, I ripped the tube off the mask I was chugging it back so hard. Not sure what happened next as I lost consciousness, remember thinking I was going to die and that?d serve them right. Came round and was pinned to the table while they put the spinal in. Then the joy of the numbness of the spinal. Best feeling after all that pain. George was pulled out, consultant said he was a boy, shown a bright blue baby, who was then whisked off, only heard one honk from him and not much else. No-one told us that he?d needed 5 lots of O2 rescuss. That only came to light when I asked why we were having so much monitoring afterwards. But he?s absolutely fine now. I had a crash of BP the next day 85/44 and after frantic checking for haemorrhage they decided to give me massive amounts of fluids and put me on iron tablets as Hb was 8.7. I?m coming to terms with it now. I was really disappointed in myself for not being able to cope with the pain and not being able to deliver my babies. My DH is really traumatised and has said no more children, but he has said that I gestate very well!

smallone that sounds like such a scary experience, well done writing it all down. Hope it helps you come to terms with it a bit better. Try not to feel too down on yourself at the end of the day we have all ended up with beautiful healthy babies no matter how they arrived in the world

Thanks for the other birth stories too HT and sugarkane it's really interesting hearing other peoples experiences.

Congratulations patmum fluffycats and lal

Just put a few more pics on my profile, it's amazing how much she's changed already!

smallone you poor thing, no wonder you were so traumatised. It sounds really frightening. I hope writing it down helps and the traumatic memories ease with time.

Apologies for typos in my post-am typing one handed. Joseph weighed in at 7lb 14 today from a birth weight of 8lbs so he's lost 1oz not 1lb. Milk has definately changed tonight-am leaking sgain and he's jut fed for 49 mins straight.

HMHB Will post the postnatal bit tomorrow.

I've sneaked a peek at another thread in ante-natal and see IDOB has given birth-congratulations!

Sparkly and ?Bella have been thinking of you, hope your appointments went well

Lots of baby out vibes to those waiting, am off to bed for a few hours while DH takes Joseph for a drive. xx

Wow smallone you've been through it haven't you! Thank God its over. Was it a C section in the end? Hope you are feeling better about it all now.

I had ECS last time and heard the surgeon saying 'this is exactly the sort of patient we should be using the new extra fine surgical thread on. Do we have any?'. Answer 'no'. At the end of the surgery he threw the implements into the trolly and stormed out . Thankfully I was out of it so didn't realise what was going on (obv. I wanted the new thread though!)

Still got weak tightenings / back ache. Hoping I can get some sleep tonight and then they come back stronger tomorrow.

I typed a massive post out earlier, and then lost it all when trying to submit as MN went down - so have copied and pasted this from my other AN thread:

Tried to head off to bed early last night, and when I went into DS' room, found he'd been poorly in his sleep - he was covered in sick and fast asleep! So, stripped him, the bed etc and put washing on, and stuck him in our bed. At 2 I woke up and he was absolutely roasting, so dosed him with some calpol and he took ages to settle afterwards, gone 3 anyway. By that point I was hungry, so toddled off in search of milky drinks and snacks. When I got back, DS was firmly planted in the middle of 'my' patch, not on his middle turf. I had a feeling I wouldn't go to sleep quickly, and would want to fidget, so went to the spare room instead.

He's much better today but couldn't go to nursery because of the sick - so friend came here and looked after him whilst we went to see the consultant.

First thing she said was 'you're not supposed to be here!' (meaning I was supposed to have had it by now!).

She said I looked really well considering how pregnant I am, and then it was up on the couch - I had a suspicion baby had wiggled upwards yesterday afternoon as heartburn kicked back in, and I'm right, head is down and hovering above my pelvis, but not in my pelvis, she tried to find my cervix but she could barely reach it, she said because baby's head wasn't pushing it down far enough.

So...she gave me some options;

1. wait it out
2. try a prostaglandin induction, but be prepared for an em c-section
3. book a section for tomorrow

So, we've taken a combo of 2 and 3, coz I really do want to try to have this baby vaginally, so I'm going in on Sunday morning for a prosto induction (previously she hadn't wanted to do this but she said stubborn baby had demanded a change of plan!) and if I haven't had it by Monday, then it will be a c-section. I don't want to be sitting around waiting for days.

Her suspicion is that my pelvis isn't big enough for baby's head and that this one is going to get stuck just like DS is, but is prepared to let me try.

So, by Monday I will def. have a baby, by some means, if it doesn't turn up before which judging by the heartburn, doesn't seem all that likely. Although I do have shocking backache this evening, who knows, maybe her rummage started something even if she couldn't actually reach it!

I feel much better now that there is a plan. And thanks for the support after my very glum post yesterday.

Smallone, HT, Fluffycats, Sugarkane and Andrea75, thanks for your birth story posts, sorry for those that have had difficulties but I have to say, it seems like you've all coped amazingly well.

HC hope your infection clears soon

Hope all those with twinges, aches and pains are labouring nicely now

smallone-well done on sharing your story, that must have been hard for you reliving it.

Sparkly-hope DS gets better soon and how exciting to know you will have your baby by Monday.

HC
x

Morning all. congratulations idob. smallone well done for sharing, I hope you feel better for it. You have been through a real ordeal but have a beautiful baby. Maybe your dh could talk to someone?

sparkly Im frustrated for you but at least youll have your baby on Monday!!!!!

I had a show this morning!!!! But Im not kidding myself as I knowit could be another week or so but cant help feeling excited!!

Jesus Smallone, you have been through the wars. No-wonder it has hit you hard. But the pain you must of been in would of made us all do the same. As for loosing it, i did with my first, only because they kept losing the HB also. I ended up being knocked out. This time round i got a general for the c-section, so everything was great, thats an option if you decide on another little one. God i cant start to think what it must of been like for you, and your poor DH also. Well done girl, you did well to get through it xxx

MEGA catch-up post! Hello

treats I completely understand your frustration regarding BF, yesterday (as I do every day) I pumped an extra feed so that I can go to bed early and leave DH to do a night feed, but Annalise was taking so long to feed, that I was feeding, pumping, feeding and pumping all in a row, argh. DH has said he will go to the shop to buy some formula so it can sit in the cupboard to stop me fretting about getting that last 20ml pumped when I'm knacked. I'm hoping that just having it in the cupboard will stop me feeling anxious, and actually we will never open it!

andrea congratulations! welcome Benjamin

sugarkane cute photos! Sorry you have blues, as I posted earlier, crying hard really helped me as did talking about how I felt. hope you feel better soon. And your labour sounded stressful to say the least, hope you are well on the mend now X

lal123 goodness what a fab labour, lucky you! congratulations on the birth of Maia

Fluffycats and Patmum well done you too, big congratulations all round!

Happytangerine Your birth story made me cry a little, only because I had so wanted hypnobirthing to work for me, but I'm really glad you got as far as you did with it, it gives me hope that I can make it work for me if there's a next time . And if sharing your midwife experience is cathartic then do share.

smallone thanks for posting your story, does sound very hard, and I can totally relate to feeling disappointed about not coping with the pain, but I hope the experience will not seem so bad in the near future as you enjoy your lovely little boy. Of course if you still continue to feel upset, then tell us! And your health visitor, and your mum, and everyone. Big hug X

twinklegreen lovely photos - although I LOL at how much your baby and mine look the same I'm looking forward to her looking like an individual!

sparkly hope baby decides to make a mad dash for it this weekend then! Sorry to hear DS is unwell, hope he's better soon.

go peaches go! (although there was 5 days between my show and contractions starting so I completely empathise with the ooohhhh so nearly there feeling!)

VERY relieved this morning, Annalise spent the night sounding like a turkey being gutted alive (but asleep ), but by 7am produced her first poo of 48hrs. Was about to whisk her off to the Dr - anyone else have this stop/start pooing so early on?

smallone don't be disappointed. I am sure that birth must have been hideously traumatic, but at the end of the day the pain was your body's way of warning you that everything was not right. Thank goodness you listened to it and that the baby was born when he was.

Sparkly it's really good that you are feeling better now that you have a plan.

Congratulations to the new arrivals. It's really lovely to hear, although I am very that you are all getting to hold your babies.

I am getting pretty tired of being pregnant now (lugging a 3 year old makes it a bit tricky when your pelvis hurts!). But I am all set up now to go for a waterbirth in our local MLU which is pretty cool given that I had a section last time. I'm just very glad to have the option and am almost looking forward to it (in between bouts of terror). I had some great BH last night which I can feel right down into my bottom, so I am hoping the baby will not make me wait 3 more weeks like her sister did!

I've had a record 5 hrs sleep and feel half human so here is my postnatal trauma bit. Sorry its so long-grab a cuppa!

We finally got wheeled up to the ward at 10.30pm which felt like ages after a 4.51pm birth. Joseph had latched on well and had two huge feeds. On the ward we had an odd shaped room that I shared with one other person,I was in a kind of corner with a pillar.It was v hot and I had a fan on permanantly. We spent the next few days establishing breastfeeding -Joseph had some problems latching on and settling in his crib but by and large we made good progress. My bp was the highis side of normal but no-one was concerned. I could have gone home Wednesday but opted to stay another night to really nail the breastfeeding. Big mistake. Wednesday pm the idiot SHO I'd encountered in clinic came at me with an electronic bp cuff. Not surprisingly, reading was a bit high. He asked if I'd gad any problems with high bp readings to which I replied "only when you take it." At that point he remembered me and got a manual cuff. He inflated and deflated it on my arm 6 times before realising end of tube had perished. He fixed it, took my bp on my now sore arm and expressed concern that reading was 148/85. Bloods were ordered and I was put ob 4hr bp monitoring - i.e a nightmare for me given my anxiety re having bp taken. Later on a mw came and did most of the discharge paperwork for us. Bloods came bck at 8m, all fine.

Wednedsay night I got almost no sleep-girl in the other bed had had her tv on all night and each time I turned off my light, she turned hers on. Her baby was really grizzly so she was up a lot. Joe would then wake and cry. This carried on into Thursday am, and when her baby cried, Joseph would wake up and start. He was latching on poorly but was feeding. As luck would have it, a breast feeding counsellor was on the ward-she observed the latch and said I was doing everything right but that they were a bit engorged due to my milk changing. We agreed to express a bit and she went off to find the machine. Just as she left, a mw I'd not met before came in and gave the other patient her final discharge papers.As she was leaving I asked if she had any news on when we could go so I could call DH. She was in the corridor at this point, put one hand on hip, pointed at Joe with the other. I said excuse me? To which she replied "Well, why do YOU think you've not been discharged? (Points again at Joseph) HIM. I told her I didn't understand and she replied "Your baby has done nothing but cry all morning, he's not fed all night and is hungry. You're not going anywhere because you're starving your baby." I was in shock and said to her that mine wasn't the only crying baby in the room - she replied again that it was the only one that was starving and hadn't fed. I explained that his last feed was 10.30am and before that 7.45 and 6.15 and she just shrugged her shoulders and said "well he's obviously hungry and not feeding now. "when I asked if this is why we weren't going, she said yes but when I asked why no-one had communicated this to us, she just shrugged her shoulders. I explained that the bf counsellor was going to show me how to express and she said "Yes I know, I told her to." Off she went. BF counsellor and other patient in the room were agahst at her behaviour-bf counsellor said thad she'd told her I was latching on fine and there were no concerns on her part. As we were using the expressing machine, cow mw came back in and went into soothing mode "You see, I don't want to let you go home and you ring up at 7pm saying baby won't feed..(I ignore her and start asking bf counsellor what I'm doing wrong seeing as I've been told I'm starving my baby.) BF counsellor tells me this is not my fault and cow midwife chimes in with "Oh you are doing everything right, mum is doing brilliantly, this isn't your fault." Just as I'm wondering if she's schizophrenic, DH walks in with the car seat. Cow mw explains that they want to see the baby latched on at 3om before I can be discharged but she's off to give blood so it won't be her.

Once everyone left, I burst into tears-telling someone that they are starving their baby will have that effect. Other patient in room leaves with her happy formula fed baby. Joesph, responding to my mood, is very agitated. He latched on for a bit at 3pm but had come off and was screaming by the time another mw came to observe the latch. We were going to try again at 3.30pk but in the meantime, as Id not left in 4 hrs, it triggered another bp reading. It was (unurprisingly) through the roof, prompting a call to the doctors. I was advised by the lovely pair of midwives to consider discharging myself as they were sure this was white coat syndrome. I was told to walk around grounds with DH then have bp taken again. On that walk, I decided not to fight staying in - 24 more hours meant 12 more feeds with support on hand to ensure I wasn't starving my son. Thr brilliant mws moved me to a room on my own, best room on the ward. I continued to feed Joseph by expressing a little first, then giving him 1ml in a syringe to calm him down then a few drops on my nipple before he latched on. We had feeds of 15-25 mins throght the night and my bp came down a bit. Friday am-same lovely pair of mws. BP taken and found to be 155/90, highest its ever been. Broke my spirit completely, I resigned myself to staying in despite them saying they were 99% certain I'd be allowed home. Was v tearful when DH came, started telling him to bring extra bits for the weekend etc. I'd given up basically - cow mw was due back on shift later that evening so I knew I was in trouble if she was observing us again. At 3pm a new mw took my bp-135/77.Half hour later she came back and said we were good to go-doctor had signed us out! I couldn't believe it.

Every mw I've spoken to since knows exactly who I'm talking about-this one has a bit of a reputation apparently. My main mw supports me taking it to a formal complaint-loudly telling someone in the corridor that they are starving their baby, using such targetted emotive language - she feels they have no place in midwifery. I felt strongly that I was being penalised for having a breast fed crying baby while the screaming formula fed one was allowed to go. Yes Joseph was probably hungry and having problems latching due to engorgement but there were other ways to tackle it.Epecially when you consider how anxiety affects the milk supply. The worst thing was looking at my notes-at 11am that morning, a student she mentored had written "Feeding well, latch observed. mum reports breasts hardening, Joseph a little agitated." Cow midwife had countersigned it so she KNEW he'd been fed. The only reason I'm hesitating about a formal complaint is tht I was told she's recently had a miscarriage. I can't imagine how painful it must be to have to go to work each day with newborns having suffered like that so I want to show some compassion. Anyway, the weigh in yesterday did wonders for my confidence-I know now that I'm NOT starving my baby.

Thanks for reading if you got this far, I swore after this that I'd never have another baby in this country but time heals etc and 1 week on, I'm not going to let one mw with personal problems ruin an otherwise wonderful birth. I still use the syringe or little cup sometimes when he's particularly frustrated and I love my Medela swing but am having to use the syringe less and less now so we're on the right track. And he's not starving (breathes sigh of relief) x

Congratulations to all those who have had births recently - sorry I have had to catch up on all the posts and can't remember exact names

thanks to all those who have shared their birthstories too. It just shows how different birthing is for everyone.

smallone I really feel for you and am glad you felt able to share your birth story. I hope it helped to write it down. Sounds like you have nothing to be embarrassed about. Child birth is painful and everyone who has bee nthrough it understands that. Enjoy your little one.

I had no electicity all day yesterday so could not get online - electrician took all day to change the consumer unit - long story.

Went to midwife and she gave me a sweep and booked induction for Sunday. Sweep seems to have had no effect though. Midwife did say that I was 2cm dilated and that she could stretch it to 3cm so all these little twinges I have been having are having an effect. She also said that on Sunday they will probably only have to break my waters to start labour as my cervix was 'ripe for birth'. Sounds good to me and just like the birth of my dd. - looking forward t ohaving my little one by monday, yippee.

oh ht how DARE she treat you like that. It sounds like you were doing everything right and she certainly wouldn't have helped your blood pressure - nor would sharing a room with that other mum. I am SO glad the weigh in soothed and reassured you. Well done for staying so positive!

Congrats to all the families with their new babies, I honestly mean that even though I am ! But it is getting closer - like you saraheb I am having a sweep on Sat and will be booked in for induction early next week, would love it to kick in itself before then though. Fingers crossed for you.

Every day this keeps going I get more emotional about everything (probably the spare time I have to think too much) i.e will I look at the baby and love it like I'm supposed to? Because at the moment all I can think about is this massive event that needs to happen first. I really appreciate all the birth stories, don't get me wrong, but what I've learnt is that everyone's is different no matter what you do so you just don't know what to expect. Normally I'm so organised and everything is planned, but I'd like to think I'm positive and calm about the whole thing, it's just that it's so close I can't stop worrying about the 'aftermath' now as well. It's ok for the DPs/DHs they can just picture the baby afterwards and get excited about that, but we have this massive mountain to climb first.
Not sure if any of that made sense, but thanks for listening.

Given some of the midwife experiences (actually 99% of them) that I've had at the hospital I'm almost not surprised to hear more negative stories. So sorry HT that this happened to you - I really don't understand how they cannot realise what effect they're having on you with what they say and do. Sure, they do this everyday - we don't!! I would be inclined to provide some feedback about this MW, maybe informally would be a better route?

Once again sending positive vibes to everyone needing them to kick start labour - I'm off to eat a pineapple or two and scrub the shower (AGAIN) ;-)

kk

HT please do not hesitate to put in a formal complaint. Accusing you of starving your baby is so cruel - talk about hitting you where it hurts. The hospital will be aware that the MW is a problem but they can't tackle it without complaints so it is important that you make the point if you can bear it.
And babies often are fractious when they are a few days old - they want to suck all the time to bring your milk in and then when it comes it is like a great gushing fountain and they have to gulp a lot to keep up! Sounds to me like you are doing a brilliant job now you've escaped from the hospital!

smallone - Well done for posting your birth story. I hope it helps you come to terms with what happened. Don't worry about how you reacted to the pain in the labour room - I was an utter coward in the face of the pain and I only laboured for a few hours. You had to go through much worse than I did. I think you should feel really proud!!

Wow-it has taken me a good 2hrs to catch up with this thread and I really can't remember all I wanted to say
Huge hugs to all those finding the early days hard and to all those who had difficult births and all those really wanting to give birth!!

It does get easier-with dd1 I found it so hard to begin with and had 6wks of hell bf-but went on to bf for 2.5yrs.

I will add my birth story now-better late than never!

Sunday 4th MW came and gave me a s&s, she said I was 2cms. Had a bit of a show and the whole day cramping-I really thought this was it! Then everything really slowed down and then stopped! On monday I had some more show but no more pain. Felt quite down and resigned myself to being induced, and not getting my home birth. Dp then informed me that he'd looked online and that 2nd time being 2cms was nothing and that you could be like that for a while
So that night in despiration I jumped dp-even though i really didn't feel like it!
Anyway-got to bed late, dd woke up and at my 2nd toilet trip as I stood up I felt something-a tiny trickle. Went to the loo and as I walked back to bed had a gush. Told dp, got back into bed as thought it'b be some while and I needed sleep! As I lay down-another gush and my first contraction-very strong. It was 2.30am. Told dp-got out of bed and went downstairs-told him to sleep.Had to call him down after 20mins as I tried to come on here to post and to get the contraction timer but was in too much pain contractions were coming strong, thick and fast. Dp came down and asked if he should set up the pool, I ummed and ahhed as I didn't want dd to wake up and the pool to get cold but something suddenly told me he should. He set about filling the pool. I was in a lot of pain. Went upsairs to get bag etc then decided I needed to ring mil to come and collect dd who'd woken up. I got her stuff ready and sat with her-very emotional that it was our last time just dd and I. Mil turned up about 3.20. Dp had phoned for the mw and we had to guess the timings-guessed at 3-4 every 10mins. Mw was going to come then. Had to ring back a few mins later to tell them it was more like 5-6 every 10mins! She said she would come quicker
DD went off with Mil-quite excited as it was the middle of the night!
Dp filled the pool and Igot striaght in. MW arrived at about 4. Ctx v close together and v. painful. She asked q's looked through my notes, was very relaxed-after a couple of contractions I started to feel pressure and mentioned pushing-that woke her up! She took my bp and got the g&a out. God that was good-ffelt very dizzy for a few mins but then it was great. My ctx vere very visalbe-my whole bump tightened and changed shape. Around then she told us that she only had 1/2 a tank of g&a (they should have 2!)
Was feeling a lot of pressure, so she called for the 2nd mw. Kept feeling like my body wanted to push but I wasn't ready-contractions were too close and painful and I didn't want to increase the pain! Just before the 2nd mw arrived i felt ready and they joked that i'd been waiting. They rang the hospital to get someone to bring over some more g&a onlt to ring back a few mins later to say that they wouldn't need it as the baby was on its way-que relief from me, tears from dp and then me thinking hey-NO i need more g&a!!!! After 6mins of propper pushing DD2 was born into the water and passed up to me, at 5.45am. I was 41+2. She was covered in a v thick layer of vermix (sp) and I had to blow several times in her face to get her to make a noise-it was just as though she was asleep-very peaceful! They joked that the cord was like a skipping rope as it was massively long. We let the cord stop pulsating and dp cut it. Decided to let nature takes its course in the 3rd stage-after 15mins they got me to stand and push and cough and I delivered the placenta. We told them how dd1's cord was twice round her neck and that had caused so many probs in the delivery-thay then told us that dd2's cord had been 3times loosly round her neck!

Anyway I got out the pool-I had a tiny graze and a tiny 1st degree tear that didn't require stitching. They weighed dd and were surprised as they thought she'd be over 9lbs-she was only 7lbs 14oz. We were both wrapped in towels and sat on the sofa feeding. 2nd mw left-she'd only been here half an hour and 1st mw left after she'd packed up-was here 3hrs in total! Then we were left just the 3 of us cosy and warm in our lounge! Was so surreal! DD1 came home an hour and a half later to meet her new sister! I didn't move from the sofa to shower til lunch time!

It was the most calm and surreal experience of my life! Don't get me wrong as we were waiting for dd1 to be collected I was telling dp how I couldn't do this again-the pain was too bad (not knowing it would only be 2 hours longer!-thinking I had many hours more!) but I wanted to do it again straight away-I'm in love!

I had quite a bad time with dd1 and i'm so pleased this time was so much better. I think it has helped with dd2-she is much calmer and more laid back that dd1 was-and i'm sure the differences in their entry to this world are the reason!

Bf going very well now-few days of pain and a couple of blisters (again with dd1 I had 6wks of blood, blisters, 1/2 a lost nipple etc).

I know I've rambled and prob forgotten important stuff-this has taken the last hour and a half to write in between feeds and lunch!

Was discharged from mws today and saw hv yesterday-she has gone from 7lbs 14oz to 8lbs 1oz in 9 days-she only lost 2ozs (again dd lost just over 1lb and took ages to put it back on!)

I already want to do it again and am feeling very sad that this will be my last time-I don't want her to get bigger

I could waffle on about loads more but you are all probably asleep by now

I have added her name to the list-we registered her on tue (as well as giving notice of our intention to marry!)

x x x

I dreamofbeanie - 27/09/09 Girl
Cookiemonster1 - 2/10/09 Boy
dogstar - 4/10/09 Girl
fluffycats - 4/10/09 Don't Know
Sparklytwinkletoes - 06/10/09 Don't Know
Saraheb - 08/10/09 Don't Know
Sugarkane - 08/10/09 Don't Know
Heylottie - 09/10/09 Don't Know
Andrea75 - 10/10/09 Don't Know
Kowaikiwi - 10/10/09 Don't Know
SassJ - 12/10/09 Boy
Princessmel - 21/10/09 Boy
Hackneybird - 15/10/09 Don't Know
HalfMumHalfBiscuit - 15/10/09 Don't Know
Flamesparrow - 16/10/09 Don't Know
Mossop - 21/10/09 Don't Know
NewbeeMummy - 21/10/09 Girl
Jellytotz - 21/10/09 Girl
Dizzytrout - 21/10/09 Girl
MrsHappy - 23/10/09 Girl
Ronniemummy- 24/10/09
MeHimCatBlob - 25/10/09 Girl
Lal123 - 26/10/09 Girl
Peachespaige - 26/10/09 Don't Know
Hattie05 - 30/10/09 Girl

theboob - Madison Rose born 14/09/09
Devilsadvocaat - Charlie born 25/09/09
LittleMissBliss - Marley born 25/09/09
Mrs Kitty - Eliza born 26/09/09
CalypsoFLame - Annalise Francoise born 28/09/09
Ohmani - Patrick David born 29/09/09
Wibblydibs - Louis Dashiell born 29/09/09
KleineMaus - Magnus born 30/09/09
Twinklegreen - Amelie Eva born 30/09/09
Fidelma - Connor Ben born 30/09/09
Treats - Isabel Rose born 30/09/09
HumphreysCorner - Matthew John born 01/10/09
Willmouse - Henry John born 02/10/09
Rubyslippers- Ruby Francesca born 02/10/09
JamesDavidsMum - Alexander Ngawaka born 03/10/09
Neon - Thomas (Thom) Laurence born 03/10/09
Lix - Phoenix Tabitha born 05/10/09
BellaCullen - Nathaniel Alexander born 05/10/09
HappyTangerine - Joseph Richard born 05/10/09
Smallone - George Robert born 5/10/09
KKKKaty - Hamish William born 06/10/09
Sammysam- Zoe Isla born 06/10/09....9 days late
Littlepea72 - Faith Scarlett born 07/10/09
Sugarkane - Aiden Riley 8/10/09
Jules88 - Artemis Arte born 10/10/09

I'm sorry for the length of that!

HT-please complain-I had a similar thing with dd1 in hospital about feeding but I was alsom rudely woken and shouted at because dd whod been asleep all night had pooed and wet through all her clothes-I was made to feel like the worst person in the world-it really upset me and as a first time mum it could do some serious damage. Complain and then hopefully you'll save anyone else getting the same treatment.

Hi. ht Thats awful, you have to wonder what goes through their heads!!
Im copying a post I just posted on Childbirth I hope you can advise, Im quite worried

Ive had a show on and off all day and just felt a pop and had a trickle of waters. I have now put a pad in and its covered in watery blood (pinky not bright). I know you get blood in a show but is it normal to have it in your waters too. It looks like watered down blood. Mw doesnt seem worried. Ive never had this before.

Thanks in advance

Peaches - my waters were consistently a bright pink colour - the midwives checked them and said they were normal, so don't worry about it.

Just a quick message to let you know there's another on the way!!
My waters broke when I was in hospital this afternoon for monitoring. I'm at home now with tens machine waiting for things to get more painful (just started thread in childbirth re not sure when to go back in)
peaches - when my waters went this afternoon they were a pinky colour, midwife said some of mucous plug was in there too so it was ok x

Oooh how exciting dizzy and Peaches, hope you're both doing OK and LO's don't keep you waiting too long

I don't know how I'm going to sleep the next two nights, knowing that I've got the induction on Sunday morning

HT - Glad you felt able to tell us your midwife (madwife?) story, its a real shocker, but at least if anyone else comes across an idiot another like her, we can be kind of prepared with some retorts, although of course, I hope to goodness no-one is.

What an utterly ridiculous, insensitive, cruel thing to say, regardless of her personal life at the time. And she definately needs reporting, there are some pretty vulnerable people out there and they don't need to hear that kind of crap. You can go via PALS (Patient Advisory Liason Service) if you don't want to talk to anyone on the midwife team.

Glad to hear that you're settling at home now, can't wait to get my cuddles too .