Big big thank you

[srv]

I haven't posted much before but have been reading all the pregnancy and childbirth posts since I found out I was pregnant in March. I just wanted to say a huge thank you to everyone but especially to people like Lulumama, Klaw, NoNameToday who post such wise and supportive advice here. I learnt so much and everything I read made me so much more prepared for the birth and first few days with our beautiful son who was born on 28th November.

This really is an invaluable site - I am now off to the sleep section to try and find out how to get some before 2am every morning!!!!

Thanks again

srv

congratulations!

It's a wonderful resource we have here isn't it?

awwwwww

Congratulations!!!

Have you posted a Birth Story? Or have I missed it?

Make sure that family and friends pull their weight when they visit, cooking, cleaning, watching baby while you have a soak in the bath.... but they've not to take baby to give you a rest, they need to do all the other chores to give you a rest and allow you and your son to continue your Babymoon.

I'm glad that you've gained so much from Mumsnet

And good luck with the 2am slot!

Sorry Klaw - I hadn't posted about the birth yet. Not really sure what to say about it.

I had my first contraction at midnight and they came constantly right from the start - none of this gradual build up and time in between each one. I rang the labour ward at half 12 and they said to wait as long as possible before I came in. In the next hour I threw up twice (poor husband had to clean it up!!... twice!), had a bath and my waters broke and we got to the hospital at about 2am. I was already 8 cm dilated and started pushing at 3.15am. No time for any drugs but took full advantage of the gas and air!!! Unfortunately as I was so dehydrated I couldn't push hard enough so beautiful baby wasn't born until 5.15am. He came out with the cord around his neck and had swallowed meconium but was absolutly fine. I had a second degree tear which took ages to stitch up as I wouldn't stop bleeding but it was all fine in the end. Unfortunately I was so bruised inside that I had trouble passing water for a few days afterwards and ended up with a cathetar and had to stay in hospital for four days despite the really straightforward birth. I didn't really mind all that much as I was totally blissed out and just spent the whole time staring at the baby!!

So all very simple and uneventful which is exactly what you wish for isn't it?

Despite that I (and my husband) found it all rather traumatic and shocking and I'm not sure it would be something I would willingly put myself through again. Don't get me worng it was worth every second but I have to admit to feeling rather equivical about it all. I didn't forget the pain straight away and have come away with no great sense of achievement or anything like that. However we have a beatuful, darling perfect baby out of it and that is all we ever wished for. Sorry I can't be more positive about it - I know that there's people here that find the whole experience amazing and empowering etc - just not me I'm afraid!!!

Again - many many thanks for all the advice.

srv

congratulations... isn;t mumsnet a wondeful place! so glad that you are so over the moon with your little boy. enjoy your boy.. make sure you have a babymoon. and rest and replenish yourself whilst you get to know your son

re the birth, give yourself some time to heal, it is ok not to have that sense of empowerement or acheivement, sometimes , it comes later... or not at all.. but being content with things is fine.! if it is still playing on your mind in the next few weeks, see about having a debrief with a midwife or through birth trauma assoiciation or birth crisis... just to talk it through can be very helpful.

lulumama xxxx