The time's in this are approx.. Everything has sort of merged together and some of it I dont remember...

So...

Wednesday 29th Feb.

The decision was made to induce me and I was given steroids and antibiotics. I was moved to Delivery at 1pm.. I then had a propess (sp?) inserted at 4:55pm.. Contractions started becoming regular at around 20 mins apart soon after..

Thursday 1st March.

Around 10am I got a gush of water and my propess came out It was re-inserted and I started contracting every 5mins.
I then had another gush at around 1pm and was 1-2cm.
They took me down to the room I would delivered in at around 4pm and hooked me up to a drip to get contractions going and I started on gas and air.

Now it gets a bit .. hazey!

Between contractions I was still getting alot of pain. I felt like I needed to pee but I couldnt. I had a temporary catheter inserted and filled a bedpan to the brim! lol. It was so stingy to have it put in and taken out

I remember a doctor coming to see me (I was still in bad pain with my bladder) he told me my contraction had finished so to take the gas and air out of my mouth.. I did.. momentarily.. To flick him the V's and tell him to fuck off.. He promptly left the room

I spent alot of time on my side as Elsie's heart rate went down to 90 during a contraction
My midwife then suggested an epidural to me, because I wasnt progressing very well and Elsie could be distressed and if I had to have a c-section she didnt want to have to knock me out.
They checked me at 9:30pm and I was 3cm!!!
They warned me being induced was more intense but I honestly have never felt pain like it! I thought my legs were being pulled off lol.
There was alot of swearing during contractions and I eventually, after 28.5hours of labour, agreed to speak to the anaesthetist. He was lovely. He crouched down at the side of the bed and talk to me.. not down on me like the doctor before. I agree'd to a epi and by 10pm it was in and I was a little more calm and ready to Marry the guy for easing the pain!
(I know I always said I was more scared of an epi than giving birth but I didnt want to have to be knocked out and miss my daughters birth.. and I couldnt relax to dilate..)
My tummy pain was numbed and the outside of my legs but I could still feel the pain in my nunny and bum.
At 11pm I said I felt like I had a brick in my bum! My midwife went to check me but honestly didnt think I had progressed much from the 3cm as it had only been an hour and a half...
Well her eyes looked like they were about to pop out of her head when she said.. 'Oh I can see her head!'..
I then invited Ross and my mum to look up my nun to see Elsie's head

After 5 pushes her head came out at 11:15pm .. 2 more pushes and she was born at 11:17pm weighing 5lb 3oz



Although I had an Epidural I felt EVERYTHING!! It was amazing!!

We were taken to the Transitional Care Unit after getting the all clear.. But at 3:30am I asked to see the doctor as I thought she was breathing too fast.
They hooked her up to a machine and agreed her lungs were working too hard.
She was taken for a chest Xray and put onto Neonatal. I went to see her at 6:30am.. It was so upsetting
She was hooked up to a drip and they gave her a feeding tube and put into an incubator with Oxygen and heat.




She spent 5days in Neonatal.. By the end she didnt need to be there but they didnt have a bed for us on TCU

She started breastfeeding on Tuesday.. And I was topping her up with expressed milk through her tube. At 3pm She fed really well so I decided not to use her tube as she seemed satisfied by the feed



We moved to TCU on Tuesday evening. And she fed more or less every hour through the night.
Her weight went down to 4lb 12oz but due to the fact I was miserable and not eating properly doctors agreed to let me come home yesterday.
She needs to be weighed tomorrow and we're hoping she has put on some weight so we can avoid her having to go back into hospital (FX'd)



Here's her first bath with her Daddy (I know I neglected shaving during pregnancy but no.. These are not my legs )

Oh my goodness! She is so beautiful. I'm so happy that you both are doing good! She is truly really beautiful. Congrats on your baby girl! Keep us posted about her weight gain! I'm sure she will plump up soon

She's absolutely gorgeous Nade, congrats I'm really happy for you

she's gorgeous! congratulations mummy x

She's gorgeous! Congratulations mummy
I honestly say, you don't know what pain relief you'll have until your in that much pain. And you done so long without an epi, you mst of been shattered! Well done

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

She is so perfect and you did an amazing job, mummy!!!!

Awe! Cuuute girl, congrats!

Sounds like a bit of an ordeal, but I'm glad everything's turned out well for you two.

What a doll!!! Congrats

Shes gorgeous!

Shes absolutely perfect hunny