span
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Id really wanted to have a home birth this time around, ideally in a birthing pool, though I was very aware that things can change and was quite happy to go to hospital if needs be. We hired a birthing pool and were waiting for one of the community MWs to come for a home birth assessment. She was due to come the morning of Sunday 23rd December.
Id generally been feeling pretty good until a few days or so before. Id then started to feel very pregnant, feeling like I was starting to waddle, and was having bad nights with discomfort, reflux and constant peeing. On the 23rd, the morning things started, my hubby got home from work very late and got into bed at 6.30am. I told him then that, though Id previously said I wanted baby to wait until a few days after Christmas, Id be quite happy to have her now as I was so uncomfortable.
Half an hour later, while I was lying in bed, I felt a sharp twinge low down and put it down to baby punching me in the cervix. I did briefly wonder if it was my waters as it was a very mild version of what I felt when my waters went in bed with Meg, just over 19 months ago. After a few minutes I felt a slight trickle and, when I checked, it felt wet but not soaked. I popped to the loo and felt more trickle plus my knickers were wet through. I put in a panty liner and that was soaked in minutes so I replaced it with a maternity towel. This got wet pretty quickly, though I was only leaking trickles, not gushing, when I stood up.
As the MW was due that morning I thought Id wait until she came but she phoned at 9am to say she was busy so couldnt make it.
I was advised to call delivery and go in to be checked and I could pick up the home birth kit while there.
We got ourselves ready and went in. I was put on the monitor and had all the usual ante natal checks done. My BP was a bit high but it dropped right down after 10 minutes. Baby was doing fine but I was only having irregular tightenings. I was given a time frame of what needed to/would happen, depending on if/when I went into labour.
1) if I started labouring by 1am that night then a HB was still on
2) if it was after 1am Id need to go in for the birth so they could put me on iv antibiotics during labour
3) if it was after 7am Christmas morning (48 hours) then Id need to go in for an induction.
I was given lots of advice on online groups saying it was my choice still with regards to the HB but I knew Id likely stick to their time frame as hubby was still a bit nervous about the thought of a HB.
The clock was now ticking which was quite stressful in itself. We got home and popped out for a few bits. Tightenings continued throughout the day and, by the evening, I could say they felt like contractions, albeit quite mild. They were around 3-5 minutes apart but only lasting about 30 seconds. I contracted all night, waking each time, and gave up trying to sleep at 4am.
By Monday morning (Christmas Eve), they were uncomfortable enough that we got the inlaws to collect Meg as we were well over the 1am HB cut off. I was leaning on my birthing ball, having a bit of a moan through the contractions so I thought Id call delivery once Meg had left to see if I should pop in. I ended up not bothering though as they started to ease off. I decided to have a snooze on the sofa as I was really tired and worried about the possibility of having another 24 hours of this.
I was still waking during each contraction but they spread out to 10 minutes before sticking at 5-6 minutes apart. Suddenly, mid contraction, I felt a very sharp stabbing pain around my cervix, followed by a gush. I stood up and rushed to the loo to check there was no meconium as it felt thicker than the trickles Id been having. All looked clear but the contractions were suddenly VERY intense and painful.
It was now 10.15 am and I called delivery between contractions to say we were coming in.
The car was parked right outside and the hospital was only 5 minutes up the road, albeit through the town centre. The car ride was AWFUL. I was really struggling to hold it together through each contraction and was writhing, moaning and swearing. It felt like every traffic light was red and, when we got to the hospital, it felt like hubby dithering trying to decide where to park (though he was just trying to find somewhere close to the entrance!) so I said just park ANYWHERE. I had 2 contractions on the way up to delivery and, when I got there, they took one look at me and led me straight to a delivery room, while I told them I REALLY needed gas and air.
We were in the room at 10.30am and I puked due to a dry throat from all the heavy breathing I was doing. I got my gas and air straight away, which made a huge difference and really helped me cope. They held a Doppler to my bump and, after a short, scary, delay, they found bubs heartbeat. I had an urge to start stripping off and said I was feeling a bit of pressure so she asked if I wanted to be checked for dilation.
I managed to get on the bed and she had a feel. She said she couldnt feel my cervix at all and I was fully dilated and ready to push. It was now 10.45am.
The pushing was actually an amazing experience. With my 1st I pushed for 90 minutes and it felt like such hard work - as if I was wasting most of each contraction trying to get it right. This time my body just took over and the one word that springs to mind is primal. I could feel everything - after just one small push I could feel her head was already really low and I started holding my hand in the way as if to stop her. I was really worried that, with the speed things were happening, Id have a really bad tear, perhaps worse than the nasty 2nd degree (was very close to a 3rd degree) I sustained last time. The MW got me to move my hand and just let my body do its thing. Next contraction I started to feel the ring of fire, which wasnt as bad 2nd time around. A couple more pushes and out popped her head. During the pause before the next contraction she was having a good wriggle, which felt very odd! One more push and out came the rest of her at 10.52am, crying straight away. The cord was cut after it had finished pulsating, which only took a few minutes and we had skin to skin during and after. She also had her 1st breastfeed within about 10 minutes. We could tell straight away that she was smaller than her big sister (who was 8lb9oz) and she weighed in at 7lb 10oz and is called Darcey Lauren.
I did sustain another 2nd degree tear but it was much smaller than my last one so only required a few stitches.
The after pains were evil straight after the birth!
The MW explained that you barely notice them with your 1st but that they get worse with each subsequent baby. They had me writhing around and did detract a bit from the lovely newborn snuggles. They are only now, on day 4, settling down - feeding her has very painful at 1st and the pain went right down from my abdomen to my thighs.
They told us that they advise staying in for 48 hours so baby can be monitored due to my waters leaking for longer than 18 hours, especially as I never had the antibiotics with the speed things went. Both the MW and paed both said they fully understood if I wanted to go home with it being Christmas and they were happy for me to keep an eye on her myself, especially as I wasnt a 1st time mother.
We were in the hospital for only 7 hours from start to finish, which was such a relief, especially as being stuck in hospital waiting ages for a discharge last time was one of the things that attracted me to a home birth. The inlaws brought Meg to the post natal ward for a visit and then took her home to ours for dinner while we waited for the final discharge.
We got home at about 5.45pm and Meg gave her unprompted kisses straight away.
I loved my birth, despite the frustrations of watching my HB window come and go. I honestly wouldnt change a thing about it. With the timings we may have found the MW might not have arrived on time if wed held out for a HB and shed been anywhere other than the hospital - that wouldve been VERY stressful for hubby! I also suspect that we wouldnt have got the pool filled on time! This is our last baby and Im actually sad that Ill never experience it again, especially this one. I really do feel lucky to have had 2 good births.
Day 4: things are going well as a family of 4. Nights havent been great but of course its early days and I suspect this is typical newborn behaviour - Meg was a 3 hourly feeder and a good sleeper from virtually the beginning and spoilt us! Shes a pro booby feeder and lost a shade under 1% of her bodyweight at 3 days.
literally just been born:
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020072_zps6d8c04f0.jpg
start of skin to skin hile cord still pulsing:
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020074_zpsed952850.jpg
pinked up a bit:
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020077_zpsc83ffb94.jpg
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020078_zpse3abfc0d.jpg
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020080_zps82fcdc15.jpg
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020103_zpsfbca7ba6.jpg
Id generally been feeling pretty good until a few days or so before. Id then started to feel very pregnant, feeling like I was starting to waddle, and was having bad nights with discomfort, reflux and constant peeing. On the 23rd, the morning things started, my hubby got home from work very late and got into bed at 6.30am. I told him then that, though Id previously said I wanted baby to wait until a few days after Christmas, Id be quite happy to have her now as I was so uncomfortable.
Half an hour later, while I was lying in bed, I felt a sharp twinge low down and put it down to baby punching me in the cervix. I did briefly wonder if it was my waters as it was a very mild version of what I felt when my waters went in bed with Meg, just over 19 months ago. After a few minutes I felt a slight trickle and, when I checked, it felt wet but not soaked. I popped to the loo and felt more trickle plus my knickers were wet through. I put in a panty liner and that was soaked in minutes so I replaced it with a maternity towel. This got wet pretty quickly, though I was only leaking trickles, not gushing, when I stood up.
As the MW was due that morning I thought Id wait until she came but she phoned at 9am to say she was busy so couldnt make it.
I was advised to call delivery and go in to be checked and I could pick up the home birth kit while there.We got ourselves ready and went in. I was put on the monitor and had all the usual ante natal checks done. My BP was a bit high but it dropped right down after 10 minutes. Baby was doing fine but I was only having irregular tightenings. I was given a time frame of what needed to/would happen, depending on if/when I went into labour.
1) if I started labouring by 1am that night then a HB was still on
2) if it was after 1am Id need to go in for the birth so they could put me on iv antibiotics during labour
3) if it was after 7am Christmas morning (48 hours) then Id need to go in for an induction.
I was given lots of advice on online groups saying it was my choice still with regards to the HB but I knew Id likely stick to their time frame as hubby was still a bit nervous about the thought of a HB.
The clock was now ticking which was quite stressful in itself. We got home and popped out for a few bits. Tightenings continued throughout the day and, by the evening, I could say they felt like contractions, albeit quite mild. They were around 3-5 minutes apart but only lasting about 30 seconds. I contracted all night, waking each time, and gave up trying to sleep at 4am.
By Monday morning (Christmas Eve), they were uncomfortable enough that we got the inlaws to collect Meg as we were well over the 1am HB cut off. I was leaning on my birthing ball, having a bit of a moan through the contractions so I thought Id call delivery once Meg had left to see if I should pop in. I ended up not bothering though as they started to ease off. I decided to have a snooze on the sofa as I was really tired and worried about the possibility of having another 24 hours of this.
I was still waking during each contraction but they spread out to 10 minutes before sticking at 5-6 minutes apart. Suddenly, mid contraction, I felt a very sharp stabbing pain around my cervix, followed by a gush. I stood up and rushed to the loo to check there was no meconium as it felt thicker than the trickles Id been having. All looked clear but the contractions were suddenly VERY intense and painful.
It was now 10.15 am and I called delivery between contractions to say we were coming in. The car was parked right outside and the hospital was only 5 minutes up the road, albeit through the town centre. The car ride was AWFUL. I was really struggling to hold it together through each contraction and was writhing, moaning and swearing. It felt like every traffic light was red and, when we got to the hospital, it felt like hubby dithering trying to decide where to park (though he was just trying to find somewhere close to the entrance!) so I said just park ANYWHERE. I had 2 contractions on the way up to delivery and, when I got there, they took one look at me and led me straight to a delivery room, while I told them I REALLY needed gas and air.
We were in the room at 10.30am and I puked due to a dry throat from all the heavy breathing I was doing. I got my gas and air straight away, which made a huge difference and really helped me cope. They held a Doppler to my bump and, after a short, scary, delay, they found bubs heartbeat. I had an urge to start stripping off and said I was feeling a bit of pressure so she asked if I wanted to be checked for dilation.
I managed to get on the bed and she had a feel. She said she couldnt feel my cervix at all and I was fully dilated and ready to push. It was now 10.45am.
The pushing was actually an amazing experience. With my 1st I pushed for 90 minutes and it felt like such hard work - as if I was wasting most of each contraction trying to get it right. This time my body just took over and the one word that springs to mind is primal. I could feel everything - after just one small push I could feel her head was already really low and I started holding my hand in the way as if to stop her. I was really worried that, with the speed things were happening, Id have a really bad tear, perhaps worse than the nasty 2nd degree (was very close to a 3rd degree) I sustained last time. The MW got me to move my hand and just let my body do its thing. Next contraction I started to feel the ring of fire, which wasnt as bad 2nd time around. A couple more pushes and out popped her head. During the pause before the next contraction she was having a good wriggle, which felt very odd! One more push and out came the rest of her at 10.52am, crying straight away. The cord was cut after it had finished pulsating, which only took a few minutes and we had skin to skin during and after. She also had her 1st breastfeed within about 10 minutes. We could tell straight away that she was smaller than her big sister (who was 8lb9oz) and she weighed in at 7lb 10oz and is called Darcey Lauren.
I did sustain another 2nd degree tear but it was much smaller than my last one so only required a few stitches.
The after pains were evil straight after the birth!
The MW explained that you barely notice them with your 1st but that they get worse with each subsequent baby. They had me writhing around and did detract a bit from the lovely newborn snuggles. They are only now, on day 4, settling down - feeding her has very painful at 1st and the pain went right down from my abdomen to my thighs.They told us that they advise staying in for 48 hours so baby can be monitored due to my waters leaking for longer than 18 hours, especially as I never had the antibiotics with the speed things went. Both the MW and paed both said they fully understood if I wanted to go home with it being Christmas and they were happy for me to keep an eye on her myself, especially as I wasnt a 1st time mother.
We were in the hospital for only 7 hours from start to finish, which was such a relief, especially as being stuck in hospital waiting ages for a discharge last time was one of the things that attracted me to a home birth. The inlaws brought Meg to the post natal ward for a visit and then took her home to ours for dinner while we waited for the final discharge.
We got home at about 5.45pm and Meg gave her unprompted kisses straight away.
I loved my birth, despite the frustrations of watching my HB window come and go. I honestly wouldnt change a thing about it. With the timings we may have found the MW might not have arrived on time if wed held out for a HB and shed been anywhere other than the hospital - that wouldve been VERY stressful for hubby! I also suspect that we wouldnt have got the pool filled on time! This is our last baby and Im actually sad that Ill never experience it again, especially this one. I really do feel lucky to have had 2 good births.
Day 4: things are going well as a family of 4. Nights havent been great but of course its early days and I suspect this is typical newborn behaviour - Meg was a 3 hourly feeder and a good sleeper from virtually the beginning and spoilt us! Shes a pro booby feeder and lost a shade under 1% of her bodyweight at 3 days.
literally just been born:
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020072_zps6d8c04f0.jpg
start of skin to skin hile cord still pulsing:
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020074_zpsed952850.jpg
pinked up a bit:
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020077_zpsc83ffb94.jpg
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020078_zpse3abfc0d.jpg
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020080_zps82fcdc15.jpg
https://i1080.photobucket.com/albums/j328/HannahB78/P1020103_zpsfbca7ba6.jpg
Thank you for sharing!!!
