Happy birthday Henry!
So here's the story.....
At about 2am on the 22nd May I woke up with mild period pain and was tossing and turning until about 3.30am. Nothing major but I had a feeling that this was it and the next few days would be a world of pain!
After a pee break I got back to bed and slept until 7.30 waking up with hardly any pain at all so I thought it was a false alarm and started thinking about the 'sweep' I was booked in for on the 23rd. So up I got, went to the loo and got my 'show'. Brilliant! This was the beginning after all!
I then started with a few minor aches, like mild period pain, but got in the shower to start my day as I had a lunch date with Caz and Ellie.
During lunch at Caz's the pain was increasing so I arranged for my friend Sara to meet me back at home so she could show me how to work the TENS machine we had all bought.... I hadn't even read the instructions!
Once home the TENS machine was strapped on and contractions were coming four every 11 minutes. It did relieve them somewhat so was a good investment for sure! However sitting on the toilet also relieved the contractions too!
After ringing the antenatal unit I was told to stay at home until the pain was unbearable. This didn't take long! After getting on the bouncing ball twice, and throwing up (not at the same time!) I decided to ring them back and tell them I was coming in. There seemed to be no break between contractions and I had had more of a 'show'.
So in the car we got and what a journey. Red light after red light and road works made the short journey seem sooooo long!
We arrived in the hospital car park at 2.47 and I had to squat down a few times on the kerb as the contractions kicked in. It was sooooo embarrassing as the hospital was fairly busy with the fag ashes smoking outside who got an attractive shot of me crouched down baring my pregnant bum to the world. I was in a mini dress and had removed my tights for more comfort. Not my sexiest moment.
After wincing down the corridor and going up to the 4th floor we got to the antenatal/delivery wards. We were told to wait in the waiting room. Well, by this point I needed to push, no kidding, it came on that strong. So I went to the loo and WHOOSH my waters went! I'm sure I actually heard a pop like a water balloon! After that I felt like I needed to push and was screaming for help. Two midwives ran in, hauled me off the loo and put me in a wheelchair. I didn't even have chance to pull my knickers up. So I'm being whizzed down the corridor in a wheelchair with my Hello Kitty knickers round my thighs. Hilarious. Poor Andrew running behind with all the bags!
Gas and air, about ten pushes and out Henry popped. Didn't even have chance to change into my nightie! 7lbs exactly, born at 3.59. I couldn't believe it. I was in shock. It was so quick and actually not as painful as I'd expected!
Henry was put on me straight away and me and Andrew were just gobsmacked that we had produced such a perfect little boy.
Then the fun began. The placenta had to be delivered and would you believe it? the bugger would not come out. So to cut a long story short... I had a longer placenta birth than baby birth. Had to have a bloody spinal block and go to the operating theatre!!! It took them over an hour in theatre to remove it and the experience was not pleasant.
So, after me giving birth on gas, air and 2 paracetamol I had to basically have an epidural for the placenta. Hideous. I was so tearful in theatre as I've never had an operation, I've hardly even been to hospital apart from the maternity ward!
It's now 1.30 in the morning, Andrew's gone home and Henry is asleep. I really should get some sleep too but I can't stop staring at our new baby. I'm paranoid about sleeping in case he stops breathing. Plus I'm sharing a room with a girl who snores!
I know every mum says this about their own baby but Henry really is perfect. He is just gorgeous and seems very chilled out like his dad. Breast feeding is going well so far and he seems to love his sleep as much as his mum.
I just love him and can't wait for him to meet all his family and friends including Captain Jack. Now that little meeting will be interesting....
