I decided to wait for a while before I wrote in here. Its taking a while to get into the 3 hourly routine of nappy, eating and sleeping.... and that's just me!!!
We can't believe that we have this little person with us. He's so perfect! I can't believe that he's a little bit of me and little bit of J and that together we've created this new life!!!
We can't believe that we have this little person with us. He's so perfect! I can't believe that he's a little bit of me and little bit of J and that together we've created this new life!!!
So you wanted to know what happened!
As you know from my last blog, my mum and sister came out to visit and were due to go home on the 30th May (the day before the due date). We had thought about what we would do if it all happened while they were here, but I never really thought it was possible. I was expecting the birth to be at least a week late. We all decided (after praying about it!) that if my labour started before they got on the train back to the airport, that they would extend their stay here but that if something happened after they got on the train that they would carry on going home. So at 7pm on the 30th we said good bye to mum and Nic at the train station - nothing had happened!!
It's a 10 minute walk back to our house from the station and as soon as J opened the door to our flat my waters broke!!!! Hows that for timing. The midwife came over and said that everything was fine but that because my contractions hadn't started I shouldn't have a shower or bath.. bummer! Apparently only about 10% of labour actually start with the waters breaking...... take no notice of the movies!!! We had called mum and Nic by this time but all decided that it was meant to be and that they should carry on with their journey home.
J and I tried to sleep for a bit. We knew that things would happen soon so had an early night. At about 11.30pm I was woken up with a definite contraction. J timed them and we decided at about 2.30am to call the midwife because my contractions were about 3 - 4 mins apart. The midwife came out and said that I was 2cm dilated - I remembered from one of the courses that we took that if you call out the midwife and she says 'you're 1 or 2 cm dilated', that you should be sad about it because your body has already had to do a lot of work to get to that point; so I wasn't too fazed by it. She said that it was now ok for me to bath and shower and that J should now set up the bath. She also said that she was off duty at 9am that morning and that I would most probably see the next midwife on call.
My contractions got pretty intense at that point. I took a shower and a bath while J set up the pool. For all those people that one day may consider using a birthing pool here is a little advise.... Set it up before hand - even if it's a few weeks before (except for the plastic lining). As my contractions got more intense poor J was running between setting up the pool and me screaming the place down! I was getting contractions in my back and so couldn't find any relieving position at all. At about 4.00am I got into the bath. dangling my arms over the side with J rubbing my back was the best position for me. A little later I started getting the feeling that I needed to push but that was only after about an hour and a half. I didn't believe that that could be a real feeling so I tried to ignore it!! Until a really intense one came and I 'instructed' J to call the midwife. She got to us at about 5.30am and said that believe it or not, if I needed to push then I should. She got me into the right position and after 3 pushes his head was half way out................ ohh that hurt!! 1 more push and his head and all his body flew out!! MY BABY!!!!
I'd spent 9 months pregnant but something in me can't have expected it to actually be a baby in there - when she put him on me all I could say was "it's a baby!". We didn't even think of asking what sex he was!! It was the midwife that reminded us to look!!!
So In all, from the start of my contractions to his birth it was about 6 and a half hours!!!!!!!!! I have nothing to complain about!! 2 stitches & a beautiful baby boy!!! Apparently only about 2% of babies are born on their due date - our boy is special!!
There are more details but I figure not everyone will want to know them...... I'm happy to talk about them though if you really want to know anything else!!!
More soon i hope!! got to bath a baby!!
baby Josiah!!!
