Mellybelle
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On Tuesday (17th dec) evening after dinner I told Rod it was time to step it up a gear. I was still feeling pretty good and labour could still be a couple of weeks away. We would start things off by going for a walk. We got to Aldi and I said we'd keep walking as I still felt pretty good. Thought we'd just do our usual long walk that we hadn't done for weeks. Just over half way I started to get achey and crampy. My round ligaments started to yell at me a bit. A bit further and my pelvis and groin were yelling at me too. Once we got to the cemetery my pelvis and groin and hips were screaming at me and I needed to poo as well. We weren't far from home but it suddenly seemed like a very long way. Finally got home and I headed straight for the loo, but Sethy beat me there! I managed not to poop myself and finally sat down. I was very glad I didn't poop myself whilst out walking because I had beige shorts on this particular poo would have dribbled down my legs, and left a large stain on my shorts. I though maybe this was a 'clean out', but i'd thought that before.
Round ligaments, pelvis and groin were still screaming at me and I was starting to regret having gone for such a long walk. I had done nothing but cause pains that would probably keep me awake all night. I ran a deep bath and lay there for a looong time. When I got out all aches and pains had disappeared and I felt good again. Went to bed and fell asleep almost immediately.
At 1am I woke up needing to pee. Was feeling kinda crampy again. Went to the loo and did a huge wee. Went back to bed. Lay there then felt a tiny trickle. I thought "hang on... I don't think that's wee..". Got up and felt a bit more of a trickle. Headed back to bathroom. Back in the bathroom the tiny trickle became a stream then a gush. My water ad broken. For a second, I almost panicked. I looked at the puddle and my legs. It was lovely and clear. I couldn't feel anything hanging out of my vagina (I read too much on google about too much amiotic fluid), so there was nothing to worry about. I decided to have shower. While in the shower Rod got up. He gave me a puzzled look and I told him my water broke. Then he stepped in the puddle.
Then he cleaned up the puddle. 
I told him he'd better ring the birthing unit and ask them what they wanted us to do. They didn't want us to wait too long. 4th baby, and I don't have very long labours (longest from "active" stage 6 hours).
I wandered about in a towel, about to get things ready, and I felt contractions start. They weren't bad, more like sharp period pain, but I felt a gush of fluid with each one, so I decided to get in the bath. While in the bath I lost my plug. It was clear and slimy, no traces of blood. This made me think that birth was hours and hours away. Didn't matter, I was officially in labour and things were happening. I had a few more contractions in the bath while I called out orders to Rod. I didn't have a bag packed but I had a few things set aside to pack in a bag and I knew what else I needed. Rod packed the bag and put on a load of washing and made me a cuppa. Then he tried ringing my parents. No answer. Tried again. Still no answer. Rang my sister. She answered. Told her we were heading in to the hospital, and we'd leave the little kids with Ceridwen. Just needed someone to know in case she needed someone. I snapped one final bump pic.
Went in and woke Ceridwen and told her we were off to have a baby. She left her bedroom door open in case Jonah woke in the night. She said "Have a nice baby" and we headed off.
I got to the car and said "I don't want to have contractions in the car, it will hurt more", Rod pointed out I really didn't have much choice. I put a towel on the seat just in case of more fluid gushes.
Just like we didn't have a packed bag, we also had no petrol in the car, so we had to stop and get fuel.
Got to the hospital and parked in the hospital car park, walked to the entrance nearest the carpark only to find there was no way in! After hours we're supposed to use the front entrance, which is a fair walk for a woman in labour. Luckily there were a couple of staff members having a cigarette break nearby and the male nurse looked over and said "I can let you in. I guess youre headed up to maternity?". I laughed and said "Wow, how can you tell?". We went up to the birthing unit and they were ready for us. They sent us to an observation room and the midwife told us she'd be with us in about 10 minutes. I went to the loo to change the pad that i'd put on. It was pretty soaked and had some pink to it. I had a couple more contractions while waiting for the mw. She came back and listened to babys heartbeat (I had a brief moment where I was SURE she wouldn't find it), she said it sounded fine. Then she checked me and I was only 3cm. It sounded about right with my pain level.
The midwife then showed us to a birthing room (room 4) and said its basically a waiting game now. She asked if i'd planned on pain relief and I told her I would like to avoid an epidural, but im not a hero and I'll definitely ask for one if I need it. I also told her that I wanted a birth similar to Seths and as she was the midwife who delivered him, then surely she could make it happen again! She didn't remember us but had a laugh and said she'd do what she could.
The midwifes name was Dudge. Its a nickname but she says her first name is hard to pronounce and remember and her surname is harder, lol.
She left us alone and said she'd be back soon and to just call out if we needed anything in the meantime. I could tell it was a busy night. Rod went to make us a cup of tea and I got in the shower. The hot water felt good on my back. I got out and drank my tea and the pain started to step it up a bit more. I leaned over the bed so Rod could massage my back. I kept walking laps around the room as each contraction came. I got back in the shower to see if that would help again. Rod came with me to hold the shower against my back. I started to hold on to the bar in the shower with each contraction and i was trying to lift myself up off my feet each time. It felt better to have no weight on my feet, so i told Rod to go and find Dudge and ask if I could have a bath. She said that they were waiting on a cleaner to come and clean the bathtub but it should be ready in about 15 minutes. 15 minutes might as well be 5 hours when your in labour. I got out of the shower again and tried laying on the bed on my side while Rod massaged my feet and back. When that didnt help anymore, i'd get off the bed and walk around, then get back in the shower. The bath was finally ready, and once i sat down in there i felt soooo much better. It was such relief! Rod got a cold flannel for my face and a cold drink of water. It felt really good to be in the hot bath with cold water on my face. I rested one foot on the side of the tub and Rod massaged my feet. The contractions were getting LOTS stronger and i could feel the pressure in my lower back and could feel myself pushing. I hoped that it wouldnt be much longer at this pain level, but i still felt very much in control. Rod said it wont be much longer and i told him i could do this for hours! Things started to get a big tougher and we hit the nurse assist button and asked for gas. She hooked up the gas and handed me the hose. I started to suck it in and WHOA! I was suddenly completely off my face! I asked if it was stronger and she said they do tend to have it at a higher level in the ones in the bathroom. It really, really helped. I felt a bit sick at first but i could handle that. I'd start sucking on the gas with each contraction, taking big deep breaths. Dudge asked if i was ready to start pushing and i told her i could feel myself starting to push involuntarily. She told me she'd have to empty the tub when i start pushing as i couldnt give birth in the water. I'm not sure of the reasons why, but i'm guessing there are some insurance reasons around this. I told her there was no way i was getting out of the tub. I decided that i was giving birth in the bath and that i just wouldnt call out to her once i started pushing. Easier said than done. I could hear another woman in another room start to scream. It was definitely the screams of someone pushing out a baby. I sucked down some more gas and said "I hear ya sister!"
Dudge came back in with a trolley, with all the things needed for when a baby first arrives. I told her i felt like i'd drank a bottle and half of vodka and that the gas even leaves an aftertaste of vodka! Great stuff!!
The involuntary pushing turned to very painful pressure and i gave a bit of a push. I knew it was time and the pain had become unbearable. I started sucking hard on the gas, no more big deep breaths but shorter faster breaths and lots of moaning in between. Dudge pulled the plug on the bath and the feeling of the water draining was horrible. As it got lower there was more and more pressure on my lower back, it was awful and i started to panic a little bit knowing that the best pain relief I had (ie the bath water) was gone. I took control of myself again, telling myself to get over it and carry on. We were sooo close to the end. Another midwife came in and with the next contraction i gave an almighty push. Babys head had started to crown. I sucked and sucked on the gas and gave another push with the next contraction. The pain was amazing (in a bad way). Dudge told me to lay off the gas with the next one and push again. I knew i needed to do this and the next one i gave another huge push, and i kept it going. Rod told me later that he thought i'd held my breath for about a minute. I could feel something was wrong or different this time. The pushing was hard, really, really hard. I called out "help me!" meaning that i wanted the midwives to help pull the baby out. They told me to stop pushing a moment. Years ago a girlfriend of mine explained to always listen to the midwives, especially when they say stop pushing. It usually means they are trying to stop you from tearing. I later found out that Julian had decided to enter the world with one arm raised over his head and the cord wrapped around his neck. I pushed again with the next contraction and then there he was. It was 5.56am. They passed him straight to me and he was beautiful. He was covered in the white creamy substance and they put a towel over him. He was opening and closing his mouth and struggling to get all the fluid out of his mouth, then he gave a little cough and a lovely little sqwarky cry. He wasnt screwed up or wrinkly, he was chubby and perfect. I said to Rod, "My god, we make such beautiful babies" and he agreed. Dudge had a look at my lady bits and said i was lucky and managed to have got away with just a few grazes.
Next came the fun part of getting out the placenta. The midwives gave me a shot of sintocinon which causes the uterus to contract. No placenta. She asked me to push a bit. Still no placenta. The cord was only attached by a sinew so she couldnt pull on that. I told her that this is exactly what happened last time. She pushed down on my stomach at the top of my uterus and my body finally gave up. I was getting worried again about needing surgery, so i was happy when it came out. I had a good look at it and she showed me where it had been attached to the wall of my uterus and where the cord was attached. She also showed me the part that had started to thicken and turn hard where it had started to deteriorate and that where the cord was attached it was only just attached and had started to break away from the placenta. My beautiful rainbow boy had arrived just in time. If he had waited a few days later, it could have been disasterous.
Rod took Julian and Dudge helped me out of the bath. I stood up and looked down at where my bump used to be and believe it or not, i missed it immediately!!
We went back to our room and Rod snuggled his new son while i took a shower. Dudge returned and i fed my beautiful baby for the first time. He latched on like a pro, and i had forgotten how wonderful it is to breastfeed a newborn.
We sent out messages, made some phone calls and Rpd couldnt wait to post it on facebook.
He weighed in at 7lb 12 and a half oz. 52cm long (i think).
The paediatrician came just after 10am and we went home!! I really felt like i'd had the exact birth i wanted.
Round ligaments, pelvis and groin were still screaming at me and I was starting to regret having gone for such a long walk. I had done nothing but cause pains that would probably keep me awake all night. I ran a deep bath and lay there for a looong time. When I got out all aches and pains had disappeared and I felt good again. Went to bed and fell asleep almost immediately.
At 1am I woke up needing to pee. Was feeling kinda crampy again. Went to the loo and did a huge wee. Went back to bed. Lay there then felt a tiny trickle. I thought "hang on... I don't think that's wee..". Got up and felt a bit more of a trickle. Headed back to bathroom. Back in the bathroom the tiny trickle became a stream then a gush. My water ad broken. For a second, I almost panicked. I looked at the puddle and my legs. It was lovely and clear. I couldn't feel anything hanging out of my vagina (I read too much on google about too much amiotic fluid), so there was nothing to worry about. I decided to have shower. While in the shower Rod got up. He gave me a puzzled look and I told him my water broke. Then he stepped in the puddle.
Then he cleaned up the puddle. I told him he'd better ring the birthing unit and ask them what they wanted us to do. They didn't want us to wait too long. 4th baby, and I don't have very long labours (longest from "active" stage 6 hours). I wandered about in a towel, about to get things ready, and I felt contractions start. They weren't bad, more like sharp period pain, but I felt a gush of fluid with each one, so I decided to get in the bath. While in the bath I lost my plug. It was clear and slimy, no traces of blood. This made me think that birth was hours and hours away. Didn't matter, I was officially in labour and things were happening. I had a few more contractions in the bath while I called out orders to Rod. I didn't have a bag packed but I had a few things set aside to pack in a bag and I knew what else I needed. Rod packed the bag and put on a load of washing and made me a cuppa. Then he tried ringing my parents. No answer. Tried again. Still no answer. Rang my sister. She answered. Told her we were heading in to the hospital, and we'd leave the little kids with Ceridwen. Just needed someone to know in case she needed someone. I snapped one final bump pic.
Went in and woke Ceridwen and told her we were off to have a baby. She left her bedroom door open in case Jonah woke in the night. She said "Have a nice baby" and we headed off.
I got to the car and said "I don't want to have contractions in the car, it will hurt more", Rod pointed out I really didn't have much choice. I put a towel on the seat just in case of more fluid gushes.
Just like we didn't have a packed bag, we also had no petrol in the car, so we had to stop and get fuel.
Got to the hospital and parked in the hospital car park, walked to the entrance nearest the carpark only to find there was no way in! After hours we're supposed to use the front entrance, which is a fair walk for a woman in labour. Luckily there were a couple of staff members having a cigarette break nearby and the male nurse looked over and said "I can let you in. I guess youre headed up to maternity?". I laughed and said "Wow, how can you tell?". We went up to the birthing unit and they were ready for us. They sent us to an observation room and the midwife told us she'd be with us in about 10 minutes. I went to the loo to change the pad that i'd put on. It was pretty soaked and had some pink to it. I had a couple more contractions while waiting for the mw. She came back and listened to babys heartbeat (I had a brief moment where I was SURE she wouldn't find it), she said it sounded fine. Then she checked me and I was only 3cm. It sounded about right with my pain level.
The midwife then showed us to a birthing room (room 4) and said its basically a waiting game now. She asked if i'd planned on pain relief and I told her I would like to avoid an epidural, but im not a hero and I'll definitely ask for one if I need it. I also told her that I wanted a birth similar to Seths and as she was the midwife who delivered him, then surely she could make it happen again! She didn't remember us but had a laugh and said she'd do what she could.
The midwifes name was Dudge. Its a nickname but she says her first name is hard to pronounce and remember and her surname is harder, lol.
She left us alone and said she'd be back soon and to just call out if we needed anything in the meantime. I could tell it was a busy night. Rod went to make us a cup of tea and I got in the shower. The hot water felt good on my back. I got out and drank my tea and the pain started to step it up a bit more. I leaned over the bed so Rod could massage my back. I kept walking laps around the room as each contraction came. I got back in the shower to see if that would help again. Rod came with me to hold the shower against my back. I started to hold on to the bar in the shower with each contraction and i was trying to lift myself up off my feet each time. It felt better to have no weight on my feet, so i told Rod to go and find Dudge and ask if I could have a bath. She said that they were waiting on a cleaner to come and clean the bathtub but it should be ready in about 15 minutes. 15 minutes might as well be 5 hours when your in labour. I got out of the shower again and tried laying on the bed on my side while Rod massaged my feet and back. When that didnt help anymore, i'd get off the bed and walk around, then get back in the shower. The bath was finally ready, and once i sat down in there i felt soooo much better. It was such relief! Rod got a cold flannel for my face and a cold drink of water. It felt really good to be in the hot bath with cold water on my face. I rested one foot on the side of the tub and Rod massaged my feet. The contractions were getting LOTS stronger and i could feel the pressure in my lower back and could feel myself pushing. I hoped that it wouldnt be much longer at this pain level, but i still felt very much in control. Rod said it wont be much longer and i told him i could do this for hours! Things started to get a big tougher and we hit the nurse assist button and asked for gas. She hooked up the gas and handed me the hose. I started to suck it in and WHOA! I was suddenly completely off my face! I asked if it was stronger and she said they do tend to have it at a higher level in the ones in the bathroom. It really, really helped. I felt a bit sick at first but i could handle that. I'd start sucking on the gas with each contraction, taking big deep breaths. Dudge asked if i was ready to start pushing and i told her i could feel myself starting to push involuntarily. She told me she'd have to empty the tub when i start pushing as i couldnt give birth in the water. I'm not sure of the reasons why, but i'm guessing there are some insurance reasons around this. I told her there was no way i was getting out of the tub. I decided that i was giving birth in the bath and that i just wouldnt call out to her once i started pushing. Easier said than done. I could hear another woman in another room start to scream. It was definitely the screams of someone pushing out a baby. I sucked down some more gas and said "I hear ya sister!"
Dudge came back in with a trolley, with all the things needed for when a baby first arrives. I told her i felt like i'd drank a bottle and half of vodka and that the gas even leaves an aftertaste of vodka! Great stuff!!
The involuntary pushing turned to very painful pressure and i gave a bit of a push. I knew it was time and the pain had become unbearable. I started sucking hard on the gas, no more big deep breaths but shorter faster breaths and lots of moaning in between. Dudge pulled the plug on the bath and the feeling of the water draining was horrible. As it got lower there was more and more pressure on my lower back, it was awful and i started to panic a little bit knowing that the best pain relief I had (ie the bath water) was gone. I took control of myself again, telling myself to get over it and carry on. We were sooo close to the end. Another midwife came in and with the next contraction i gave an almighty push. Babys head had started to crown. I sucked and sucked on the gas and gave another push with the next contraction. The pain was amazing (in a bad way). Dudge told me to lay off the gas with the next one and push again. I knew i needed to do this and the next one i gave another huge push, and i kept it going. Rod told me later that he thought i'd held my breath for about a minute. I could feel something was wrong or different this time. The pushing was hard, really, really hard. I called out "help me!" meaning that i wanted the midwives to help pull the baby out. They told me to stop pushing a moment. Years ago a girlfriend of mine explained to always listen to the midwives, especially when they say stop pushing. It usually means they are trying to stop you from tearing. I later found out that Julian had decided to enter the world with one arm raised over his head and the cord wrapped around his neck. I pushed again with the next contraction and then there he was. It was 5.56am. They passed him straight to me and he was beautiful. He was covered in the white creamy substance and they put a towel over him. He was opening and closing his mouth and struggling to get all the fluid out of his mouth, then he gave a little cough and a lovely little sqwarky cry. He wasnt screwed up or wrinkly, he was chubby and perfect. I said to Rod, "My god, we make such beautiful babies" and he agreed. Dudge had a look at my lady bits and said i was lucky and managed to have got away with just a few grazes.
Next came the fun part of getting out the placenta. The midwives gave me a shot of sintocinon which causes the uterus to contract. No placenta. She asked me to push a bit. Still no placenta. The cord was only attached by a sinew so she couldnt pull on that. I told her that this is exactly what happened last time. She pushed down on my stomach at the top of my uterus and my body finally gave up. I was getting worried again about needing surgery, so i was happy when it came out. I had a good look at it and she showed me where it had been attached to the wall of my uterus and where the cord was attached. She also showed me the part that had started to thicken and turn hard where it had started to deteriorate and that where the cord was attached it was only just attached and had started to break away from the placenta. My beautiful rainbow boy had arrived just in time. If he had waited a few days later, it could have been disasterous.
Rod took Julian and Dudge helped me out of the bath. I stood up and looked down at where my bump used to be and believe it or not, i missed it immediately!!
We went back to our room and Rod snuggled his new son while i took a shower. Dudge returned and i fed my beautiful baby for the first time. He latched on like a pro, and i had forgotten how wonderful it is to breastfeed a newborn.
We sent out messages, made some phone calls and Rpd couldnt wait to post it on facebook.
He weighed in at 7lb 12 and a half oz. 52cm long (i think).
The paediatrician came just after 10am and we went home!! I really felt like i'd had the exact birth i wanted.
congratulations xx
