as requested, for those that do not already know, my birth story

[StrandedBear]

This crops up a lot on various threads, and I feel terrible for hi-jacking threads.

I didn't know I was pregnant until I had DD. That sounds absurd, and I still don't really believe it myself.

I was a first year uni student so you can only begin to imagine my lifestyle, kebabs every week, binge drinking, weed, fags, the lot. I'm sure I don't have to spell it out to you.
I have ibs and was on the pill, and whilst on the pill when you have a break from the pill you have what is called a 'ghost bleed' this is not an actual period.

This may be the time to mention that I left my XP when I started uni and met my current DP (had DD after 4 months of being with DP)

I gave birth on the Friday, I was out clubbing on the Wednesday, had what I thought a horrible hang over on the Thursday morning with chronic stomach pain and vomiting (not the first time I've had a hangover like this) anyway the pain didn't stop all day so I had an early night. Friday morning my pain was still there, so thinking my ibs was playing up I rang for a doctor's appointment but there were non till Monday, fine I'll wait. It got to 6pm and I curled up for a sleep with a hot water bottle and popped 2 paracetamol, I woke at 9 grabbed my car keys to drive to a&e but was in too much pain to make it past the front door. Dropped keys and went to the toilet, it was about 9.55 and DP turns up for no reason at all.

When he arrived I was doubled over my bed, unable to move or speak, he asks me what's wrong and I said something like call an ambulane I'm dying. He says what? Then suddenly my pain changes from all down my back to round my fanjo and something inside me screams 'you are having a baby' DP calls 999 and is told to 'look' he yanks my bottoms down and shouts FUCK IT'S THE TOP OF A HEAD!! so he is on loudspeaker to paramedics, tells me to lie on my back and push, he the delivers dd, and I will remember to this day they asked on the phone 'is it breathing' his response 'no its blue' he then for a couple of minutes rubbed and patted her, and she took her first breaths just as the ambulance arrived to cut her cord.

I am strapped to a chair and carried downstairs with DP by my side and my friend, who had emerged just as the ambulance arrived carrying DD, they whisked me to hospital where they examined me and found no tearing and a perfect baby. She was born 6lbs 10ozs back to back with no pain relief.

DP stayed with me, didn't leave my side for 2 days until I sent him home to shower and tell his parents, and he has stayed ever since. He delivered, revived and has bought up a child that is not biologically his. And without him she wouldn't be here now.

I didn't look pregnant at all, I am a size 10 now and a stone fatter than I was when 9months pregnant.

What did all your friends and family say?

You most definitely do not look at all pregnant in the photo's!

Fuck me sideways.

Your DD was meant to be here, you know. For a reason

Friends again thought it was a joke, until they saw status's/congrats/photos on my wall. Even when I told them in person they were about it.

My mum and dad, I don't know I didn't ring them, the midwife did. It took her over 5 minutes to convince my mum that 1) it was actually me and 2) that I had had a live baby. My mum and dad arrived at hospital the next evening after being called in the morning with EVERYTHING, it looked like they had raided mothercare and toysrus, cot, clothes, travel system, nappies, wipes, bath everything I shudder to think how much it all cost

DP's parents, he went home and told them. His mum cried, they are excellent grandparents and dote on DD :)

It did all work out for the best in the end really!

Thank you Robin

Pinot that has made me giggle. I love the expression 'fuck me sideways' but that seems to be what got me in this position in the first place I've had all that woo shite said to me before, I'd like to think she is as stubborn as me and nothing was going to stop her being here.

Wow Stranded. Amazing story. Im welling up a bit here. Incredible.

Can I ask you, how did your parents react when you phoned to tell them?

Well done for getting through it Stranded. That first year must've been surreal.

oops x post!

Yep I think she was gonna be born whether you liked it or not!! I think the same about my DS2. I bled all the way through the pregnancy, in and out of hospital, but he came out healthy - all blue eyes and ginger hair, blinking at me as if to say "well hello there mother dear". and he's a stubborn mule now just like me

Luffly :) :)

Surreal yes, like a nightmare dream. It helped that she was a VERY easy baby, exactly 4 hours between feeds, slept through at 8weeks. God knows how I would have coped with a non-sleeping velro baby!

I would like to say though to anyone reading this that has PND, there is an end to it, it might take a very long time and a lot of tears and talking but you will come out the end of it. And feeling the way you do does not make you a bad person :) It took me a very long time to work that out.

I've just looked at your photos Stranded, you're very cute and look about 12.

I am, believe it or not 22. Looking more haggard the older DD gets. All of this is the main reason I get so annoyed when posters say are you young in a condescending way. It blows my fuse!

Stranded I've read it again, and I'm no less 'wow' than the first time. I've been diagnosed with ptsd and pnd after having my DS, and it feels like it's never going to end. Thanks for telling me it does :)

You're amazing. You know that, don't you?

Hobs it will end, it does feel that way but trust me when I say you will come through it :) thank you I don't really think I am and that anyone else would have done the same in my position

Yeah, but, stranded we can't know for sure what other people would do. We can't know for sure how we ourselves would react... what is known, however, is how you've taken it all on the chin, so to speak, have come out the other side with a beautiful little girl and now have the tenacity to offer hope to others who may be struggling with some of the issues you endured (albeit they will have arrived at theirs from a different angle ). That does make you a little bit special, acktully!

It's the way you've coped with it stranded I can't say what I would have done if I'd had a baby in your circumstances in my 1st year at uni, but I do know I wouldn't have coped with it as well as you have.

I'd probably still be in the hospital 2 years later saying "a baby? What do you mean I've had a baby? .... Yes, I know what a baby is, but how the fuck did it happen?" etc etc, over and over again In fact, I do that sometimes now, and I knew BabyHobs was coming!!!!

Thanks stranded

Amazing story.

You are very pretty Stranded!

Wow, great story Stranded. Wonderful how you have coped with everything

My (very fit, petite, martial arts champion) nineteen yo cousin was playing netball one Sunday morning and gave birth to her unexpected DS by lunchtime. Her Dad delivered him in her bedroom after she complained of indigestion. It was really sweet because apparently he had delivered her when she was born.

I love your birth story, not the first time I've heard it. It's amazing.

I worked with a girl who was off one day because she had had a baby, didn't even know she was pregnant. And another one, someone had a baby in the toilets at school, again never knew she was pregnant.

I love your parents. I mean I don't know them but theirs were the actions of good parents

I find it easy to believe. I had dd at 27+ weeks and friends hadn't even realised I was pregnant. Now I know it wasn't the same as 40 weeks but I wasn't as toned as you and had torn my stomach muscles when I had ds2. So yes I find it very believeable and unbelievable at the same time, just because it's so amazing.
i am slightly jealous of the no symptons though. Not even any stretch marks after (hopes )

Amazing, Stranded. You are blooming amazing. So is your DP.

Oh that's lovely, you are lovely.

I met my dp when we were 18, when we were at uni, we often think what if we'd had a baby then, I'm 38 now and have a 6 month old. I would have the rest of your chiildren now and then you can carry on partying when you are 40ish.

What are you studying, Stranded?

Stranded - wow!

Will second that PND does end - it took me 18 months before I could bond with DD. She was cared for, clean, fed etc but she could have been someone else's child and then all of a sudden it fell into place.