It's weird isn't it, I wouldn't describe Lilia's birth as traumatic, but there are big holes in my memory too... My waters broke on my due date but even though I started having tightenings that afternoon, they were easy to deal with, then i woke at 3am the next morning having contractions. I remember timing them and eventually thinking yes this is it! I was going to be induced at 8.30 that morning so it was race on to try and beat the induction so I could do it naturally! I remember having a walk with the dog at about 5am with Wayne, bouncing on my ball and playing guitar hero to pass the time but it doesn't seem like 5 hours worth of 'footage!' I remember being examined on the consultant led ward and them saying I was 3-4 centimetres and being transferred to midwife led ward, I remember the lift stopping full of people but I couldn't get on as I was having a contraction! I remember breathing through and being very very calm and not allowing Wayne to touch me until I was examined again 4 hours later and found to be only 5 cm but fully effaced...I felt so disappointed! In that time I had a bath...which DID NOT HELP!!
At that point I had a tens machine and started gas and air... I remember being sick all down myself and Wayne... a couple of times... I remember being examined and being 7cm... I remember thinking I couldn't do it.... I remember feeling like I had to push at the end of each contraction ... it seemed like 2 mins after she said I was 7cm... I asked for pethadine as i thought I had ages to go.....only to find that the reason it hurt so much was that the batteries had run out in the tens, and the gas an air was empty! then she examined me again and I remember her 'twanging' my cervix to move it, I was 10cm.. seemed like minutes later. (that bloody hurt!) I remember briefly being onall fours against a chair to push as it was best for spd...it turned out this was an hour and nothing happened... I remember the first time I did that extra push into my bum and found that that was actually what i was supposed to be doing the whole time! They manhandled me into a different position as I couldn't do it myself cos it hurt! I was squatting with Wayne behind me , leaning on his arms.. I remember my feet being completely numb... I remember singing Johnny Cash ring of fire during crowning and everyone laughing at me....I remember her saying I could have a minute rest when the head was out, but I remember it being the most awful weird feeling and just wanted it over so carried on pushing for what seemed like 10 minutes and her body was out... weirdly the midwives said she came out in one quick go but felt like forever to me. I don't remember her being placed on me but i remember holding her... and I don't remember any noise she made... wayne said she didn't cry but she snorted, I really wish i remembered that
From waters breaking to birth I was 34 hours in labour, from waking up in the morning with contractions it was 17 hours, but I remember it like a flash... I must have lost so much of it!
I also remember having really bad shakes once I handed Lilia to Wayne, my body telling me to eat as I hadn't had a bite all day because it made me feel sick! Oh and I remember contractions being a lot more painful on the toilet!!
I thought I was being really really noisy during pushing, making lots of loud moans etc but wayne and the midwife said i was really quiet? I know I was quiet up until then...
It's strange, I think I would have liked to have a video of it.. wouldn't at the time! But it would be nice to see all the bits we've forgotten! I wish i'd done a birth story afterwards.
In fact that's a bit of a birth story there! Sorry!!
just had to share x
