stacie-leigh
Expecting a baby girl
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- Apr 15, 2010
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Hi ladies. I hope you are all well. Here is my story of how my beautiful baby girl came in to the world on my birthday 
Saturday 15th January
During Saturday night I had barely any sleep at all, getting comfortable was impossible. I spent all night trying every sleeping position possible. Horizontal, diagonal, upside down, curled in a ball, laid across Mark.... You name it, I tried it in hope of getting any sleep. All that crossed my mind all night was 'arghhhh, what is our baby doing to me?' At around 6am I suddenly started to get quite painful period sort of pains. I figured that my baby was pushing on my bladder again so I still laid in bed sulking to myself and thinking that my baby would never make her appearence. 7.30 came around so it was time for me to get up for work, what a relief that was, I thought Saturday night would never end. I mentioned to Mark that I had these strange sort of period pains and he said that they could be contractions. Well that can't be true I replied, contractions hurt high in the belly, not the pelvis where I was feeling this odd pain. We then decided it may be a good idea to do the naughty deed in hope that it could induce labour. I only got this pain once during sex but after it seemed to increase quite a bit. Mark told me that he didn't think I should go to work but I was determined that I was going, I love my job and there was no real reason for me not being there, I was sure the pains would ease.*
After a lot of wiggling of my hips and concentrating on trying not to let these pains get to me too much I arrived at work. I hadn't seen my boss and friend Julie for a while so walked in with a huge smile on my face. I was hoping that I wasn't going to get the pain again as I knew Julie would tell me I should go home. But no such luck, I got the pain again and it hurt. I told Julie that my visit today might turn in to more of a social call rather than work because it was hurting me quite a bit quite now. I explained the pains to Julie and she said I bet they are contractions, so again I explained that the pains were in my pelvis so they couldn't be. After about 15 minutes Mark walked in to my work asking if I was coming home? He hadn't left after dropping me off because he thought I wouldn't be staying. I told him that I was fine but we decided to ring the midwife just to make sure that what I was feeling was normal. We did time the distance between the pains and it was around 3 minutes every time. Complete coincidence I thought.
The midwife explained that it sounds like early labour and that contractions can be in the pelvis. Yay!*
Now that it was quite likely that I was in labour, although there was still doubt in my mind, I decided it probably was best to go home. I wasn't expecting to go in to labour yet, my due date was the 16th and everybody told me that I would be very likely to go overdue. Mark mentioned that we still needed to buy me some knickers for the hospital so he suggested going to Mothercare to get some, which to me was a good idea, but Julie thought we were mad as my contractions were really quite painful. On our way home we did decide to call in at Meadowhall to get some knickers, which was quite amusing as I kept doing a dance in the middle of Mothercare. We finally got home and pottered about the house a little. I had a bounce on my ball which made my pains considerably worse so kicking that across the room became much more helpful. I then decided that I would quite like a bath, typical considering that we only have a shower. So then we went to my mums so I could have a bath and try to relax a little. My pains by this stage hurt, but were very much bearable. They were coming every 3 minutes and lasting around 40 seconds.*
Me and Mark had a cuddle after my bath then thought it might be a good idea to go back home. But on our way back I had another great idea, now I wanted to go and feed the ducks. Walking is supposed to hurry labour along I read so I thought going for a walk would be really good. We walked for around an hour and then decided to call to get some chips on our way home. Then by the time we got home my contractions seemed a lot stronger and were lasting a minute now which is when I was told I should go to hospital.
We arrived at the hospital at around 6.30pm. There were only me and one other woman waiting but I was waiting for at least an hour in triage. The other woman had apparently come in because she was itchy, now what was itchy I don't know, but can you believe that they took her through before me???? I was in labour, surely I was priority. That really annoyed me but Mark and me were still having a laugh about it all. Eventually I was given a room where they wanted to check how dilated I was, we were all expecting that I was about 4cm's as my pains hurt, but I was still happy, smiling and able to cope with the contractions. Once I was examined we were shocked to hear that I was in fact already 8cm's! There was no doubt in my mind now, Keira was coming and she was coming quite soon.
After discovering that I was 8cm the midwife said that it was a good idea to get in the pool at this stage. Whilst we were waiting for the pool to be filled up they suggested that I have a bath, so that is what I did. I laid in the bath very relaxed whilst Mark splashed water on to my belly. I asked Mark if he could sing to me during my contractions and it really did help me, Mark was absolutely wonderful at helping me cope. Throughout all this stage it was just me and Mark together which we both really liked. We were in the room after I got out of the bath and just danced in a circle, I was so relaxing and that helped me in so many ways.
At 10.45pm I got in the pool. By this time my contractions were strong and coming fast. At around 11 I then decided that it was gas and air time in hope that it would make the pains a little better. I really didn't find the gas and air did much for me apart from make me feel like I was drunk! The only plus side to having the gas and air was that I was able to bite the end of it rather than Mark. The poor man got bitten twice.*
At 11.45 I was in a lot of pain and not enjoying labour so much.
I got out of the pool at 12.20 to check how dilated I was. At first I refused to get out of the pool but was soon encouraged to get out. It really hurt me to get out and I can remember shaking, but I managed it somehow. I was examined and I was fully engaged but my waters were still intact. I don't remember much after this point but I got my waters broken and then was asked whether I wanted to get back in to the pool to deliver. I said no as I really didn't want to have to climb in to the pool again after all the pain I had to get out of it. Eventually the midwife managed to convince me to get back in to the pool.*
Soon after it was time to push, my most dreaded part of the whole process. I really didn't want to do this part. Again I don't remember much but I do remember being told to push. In my mind I was telling myself that there was no way I was pushing, I completely refused. After a lot of persuasion I figured that I had better start doing as I was told and finally meet my beautiful baby girl. Mark was incredible, if it wasn't for him I don't know how I would of managed it.
At 1.39am on Sunday 16th January our beautiful baby girl, Keira Isla Grace Hardy was born. Weighing 5lb 10oz.*
Keira came out so calmly, she laid on my chest and just stared at me. It was undoubtably the most wonderful and precious moment of my life. What a perfect birthday present.*
We got out of the pool about 10 minutes later after Mark had cut the cord so I could be checked incase I needed stitches and so I could give Keira her first feed. I didn't need any stitches, had no grazes or cuts and Keira took her first feed wonderfully. My labour was perfect and I truly believe that it was because I had so much support from my husband, he was brilliant, he cuddled and comforted me all the way through it.*
Keira is home now and is absolutely beautiful, I feel so lucky to be her mummy*
Saturday 15th January
During Saturday night I had barely any sleep at all, getting comfortable was impossible. I spent all night trying every sleeping position possible. Horizontal, diagonal, upside down, curled in a ball, laid across Mark.... You name it, I tried it in hope of getting any sleep. All that crossed my mind all night was 'arghhhh, what is our baby doing to me?' At around 6am I suddenly started to get quite painful period sort of pains. I figured that my baby was pushing on my bladder again so I still laid in bed sulking to myself and thinking that my baby would never make her appearence. 7.30 came around so it was time for me to get up for work, what a relief that was, I thought Saturday night would never end. I mentioned to Mark that I had these strange sort of period pains and he said that they could be contractions. Well that can't be true I replied, contractions hurt high in the belly, not the pelvis where I was feeling this odd pain. We then decided it may be a good idea to do the naughty deed in hope that it could induce labour. I only got this pain once during sex but after it seemed to increase quite a bit. Mark told me that he didn't think I should go to work but I was determined that I was going, I love my job and there was no real reason for me not being there, I was sure the pains would ease.*
After a lot of wiggling of my hips and concentrating on trying not to let these pains get to me too much I arrived at work. I hadn't seen my boss and friend Julie for a while so walked in with a huge smile on my face. I was hoping that I wasn't going to get the pain again as I knew Julie would tell me I should go home. But no such luck, I got the pain again and it hurt. I told Julie that my visit today might turn in to more of a social call rather than work because it was hurting me quite a bit quite now. I explained the pains to Julie and she said I bet they are contractions, so again I explained that the pains were in my pelvis so they couldn't be. After about 15 minutes Mark walked in to my work asking if I was coming home? He hadn't left after dropping me off because he thought I wouldn't be staying. I told him that I was fine but we decided to ring the midwife just to make sure that what I was feeling was normal. We did time the distance between the pains and it was around 3 minutes every time. Complete coincidence I thought.
The midwife explained that it sounds like early labour and that contractions can be in the pelvis. Yay!*
Now that it was quite likely that I was in labour, although there was still doubt in my mind, I decided it probably was best to go home. I wasn't expecting to go in to labour yet, my due date was the 16th and everybody told me that I would be very likely to go overdue. Mark mentioned that we still needed to buy me some knickers for the hospital so he suggested going to Mothercare to get some, which to me was a good idea, but Julie thought we were mad as my contractions were really quite painful. On our way home we did decide to call in at Meadowhall to get some knickers, which was quite amusing as I kept doing a dance in the middle of Mothercare. We finally got home and pottered about the house a little. I had a bounce on my ball which made my pains considerably worse so kicking that across the room became much more helpful. I then decided that I would quite like a bath, typical considering that we only have a shower. So then we went to my mums so I could have a bath and try to relax a little. My pains by this stage hurt, but were very much bearable. They were coming every 3 minutes and lasting around 40 seconds.*
Me and Mark had a cuddle after my bath then thought it might be a good idea to go back home. But on our way back I had another great idea, now I wanted to go and feed the ducks. Walking is supposed to hurry labour along I read so I thought going for a walk would be really good. We walked for around an hour and then decided to call to get some chips on our way home. Then by the time we got home my contractions seemed a lot stronger and were lasting a minute now which is when I was told I should go to hospital.
We arrived at the hospital at around 6.30pm. There were only me and one other woman waiting but I was waiting for at least an hour in triage. The other woman had apparently come in because she was itchy, now what was itchy I don't know, but can you believe that they took her through before me???? I was in labour, surely I was priority. That really annoyed me but Mark and me were still having a laugh about it all. Eventually I was given a room where they wanted to check how dilated I was, we were all expecting that I was about 4cm's as my pains hurt, but I was still happy, smiling and able to cope with the contractions. Once I was examined we were shocked to hear that I was in fact already 8cm's! There was no doubt in my mind now, Keira was coming and she was coming quite soon.
After discovering that I was 8cm the midwife said that it was a good idea to get in the pool at this stage. Whilst we were waiting for the pool to be filled up they suggested that I have a bath, so that is what I did. I laid in the bath very relaxed whilst Mark splashed water on to my belly. I asked Mark if he could sing to me during my contractions and it really did help me, Mark was absolutely wonderful at helping me cope. Throughout all this stage it was just me and Mark together which we both really liked. We were in the room after I got out of the bath and just danced in a circle, I was so relaxing and that helped me in so many ways.
At 10.45pm I got in the pool. By this time my contractions were strong and coming fast. At around 11 I then decided that it was gas and air time in hope that it would make the pains a little better. I really didn't find the gas and air did much for me apart from make me feel like I was drunk! The only plus side to having the gas and air was that I was able to bite the end of it rather than Mark. The poor man got bitten twice.*
At 11.45 I was in a lot of pain and not enjoying labour so much.
I got out of the pool at 12.20 to check how dilated I was. At first I refused to get out of the pool but was soon encouraged to get out. It really hurt me to get out and I can remember shaking, but I managed it somehow. I was examined and I was fully engaged but my waters were still intact. I don't remember much after this point but I got my waters broken and then was asked whether I wanted to get back in to the pool to deliver. I said no as I really didn't want to have to climb in to the pool again after all the pain I had to get out of it. Eventually the midwife managed to convince me to get back in to the pool.*
Soon after it was time to push, my most dreaded part of the whole process. I really didn't want to do this part. Again I don't remember much but I do remember being told to push. In my mind I was telling myself that there was no way I was pushing, I completely refused. After a lot of persuasion I figured that I had better start doing as I was told and finally meet my beautiful baby girl. Mark was incredible, if it wasn't for him I don't know how I would of managed it.
At 1.39am on Sunday 16th January our beautiful baby girl, Keira Isla Grace Hardy was born. Weighing 5lb 10oz.*
Keira came out so calmly, she laid on my chest and just stared at me. It was undoubtably the most wonderful and precious moment of my life. What a perfect birthday present.*
We got out of the pool about 10 minutes later after Mark had cut the cord so I could be checked incase I needed stitches and so I could give Keira her first feed. I didn't need any stitches, had no grazes or cuts and Keira took her first feed wonderfully. My labour was perfect and I truly believe that it was because I had so much support from my husband, he was brilliant, he cuddled and comforted me all the way through it.*
Keira is home now and is absolutely beautiful, I feel so lucky to be her mummy
*
