I was booked for induction at 37 weeks. However at 36+4 weeks in the early hours of 17th April 2006, my waters broke! I woke up my husband and got myself sorted whilst waiting for his mum to arrived.
We had to go to Dundee to have them as they were twins and that was where special care was. My contractions were every 3 minutes, lasting a minute. This was 45 minutes after my waters had gone.
At first they weren't going to let me deliver them as special care was full. After a bit of a discussion it was decided that I would be allowed to have them in Dundee as it was too risky to move me.
Was 4cms dilated by myself and started entonox. Was given the dreaded epidural and managed a little sleep. Eventually it was time to start pushing. There were 2 midwives and a medical student at this point. I had a scan to check Jamie's position as he was breech. Not any more!! He'd turned head down. After a while of pushing and having problems feeling where to push due to the epidural, something clicked and Rachel Eve was born. The hormone drip was started to get the contractions started again. It took a while to get Jamie out as I couldn't feel where to push. It got a bit scary as I could hear his heartrate dropping. At this point there were now 12 people in the room. I was threatened with the ventouse if my next push didn't work. Something clicked and out flew Jamie Alexander, 38 minutes after his sister.
After all the worry neither of them needed to go to special care.
Had a lovely wash, tea and toast, cuddles and lots of phonecalls and photos.
Bump to Motherhood
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
A friend's lovely Homebirth Story
"Ok so monday morning woke at 5 (had an hours sleep) and after reading for a bit i had a BH or so i thought. Was different to the ones i had been getting but thought it was the way i was lying.
Went down stairs and had some more. still convinced were BHs as timings were a little off.
By 7 ish i was having to ooh and aah my way through them and couldnt sit down with them so was getting up and practically mounting the computer chair.
I had the runs a few times that morning too but put that down to IBS! I was in such denial for some reason!
Woke tim at 8-30 to say i thought something may be happening but still convinced it would be BHs and would die away as it wasnt really pain just uncomfortable.
At 9 i rang Judith to say i may need her later but didnt need her right then as i thought it may be a false alarm. Sent tim to the chiropractors after he had emptied and cleaned the pool and i filled it while trying to hoover and tidy and get everything together.
Arron woke at about 10 and walked in on me having a contraction. Poor thing didnt know what to do or say. I knew then he wouldnt be able to deal with seeing me in labour so i made arrangements for him to go out for a bit.
That was the point i realised i couldnt talk through them but still didnt think they were painfull. Just before this i had gotten a little emotional and scared as i realised i was really in labour.
Still pottering around and quite happy and feeling pretty painfree really untill about 11-30 when something changed and i knew i had to ring Judith.
She got to us at 12 ish when i was in the shower (i was really conscious of how i smelt for some reason) I lost my plug on the floor as she walked in - nice!!
She did an internal at about 12-15 and i was fully expecting to be told i was 2cms and had ages to go. Before she checked she said my perineum was bulging and she discovered i was 5 cms and the cervix was very thin. She told me to take a couple of paracetamol and she left me to wander round and do what i wanted for a bit.
Within 10 minutes or so she must have noticed a change in me as she started pushing for me to get into the pool if i wanted to use it. I wanted to wait till i couldnt cope with the pain before i got in but she seemed to think that things were moving very quickly.
I think that once Judith arrived i allowed myself to let go if that makes sense.
Got in the pool and almost immediately i noticed a change. Contractions were still pretty spacey and not really regular but although i was fine between contractions, when i had one tim had to be there. He had tried putting the bedding in the dryer 4 times as i kept calling him back.
I was drinking loads of water but i kept lobbing the bottles away from me as soon as a contraction started if no one took it off me quick enough - there were bottles everywhere after i had had her lol
Within about 10 - 15 mins i was getting really awfull pushing urges but this was only half an hour or so after being told i was 5 cms so i was fighting them. Awfull feeling. I knew i was 'going' each time i had one of these and there was nothing i could do about it. But because i had had the runs that morning i got so paranoid and was fighting the pushing urge even more at first.
My waters went at about half one and was so painfull when they did as they stretched me just before they exploded. The noise of them going underwater scared the hell out of me - was like a small bomb.
By about 1-45 i couldnt be in the pool - i was uncomfortable and felt like my legs were going to cramp up so i got out and kneeled over tim as he sat on a chair.
Wasnt comfy like this either and kept saying i just wanted to lie down as i felt so tired. Judith kept trying to get me to squat and change positions but i wasnt being the most co-operative patient by this point! *blush
Eventually at around 2-30 i moved onto the settee and was lay on my left side facing the back of the settee. Now really was the time to push. I was told to hold my leg and pull it up as i was pushing.
The contractions were slowing down now they still werent massively painfull though, but the pushing urge was getting unbearable. The time between the contractions was fantastic - i lay there with my eyes closed and withdrew into myself preparing for the next one and feeling what my body was doing. Tim thought i was asleep but i was super aware of every little noise around me.
Eventually the head started to crown this was the most agony i have felt in my life. I could feel every little bit of her squeezing through from her ears to her nose and chin. I felt like i couldnt possibly stretch any further. Whilst i was pushing the head out i remember thinking if i ever do this again im going to hospital to demand all the drugs going. lol Of course things are different now and i would definately have a home birth if we were to have any more and would not want any drugs again.
Her head was born at 3-17 and i had a minute to compose myself before the body started to come. During this lull i could feel my body gently turning her and ever so slightly pushing her. Was an odd feeling.
Once i got the next contraction and started pushing the intense pain started again and i wasnt stopping pushing for anyone! I was getting her out NOW!!
She was born and passed through my legs onto my stomach and i was in awe of her immeadiately. She was so perfect and beautifull.
Unfortunately as my contractions were a little spacey a few minutes after the cord had stopped pulsing Judith decided that it would be better to give me the synto rather than wait and as everything had gone so well i agreed. The placenta came away within a couple of minutes.
So there you go. Sorry its so long but my memory of it is so clear and so unlike Arrons birth. It felt amazing to feel every part of my daughter being born. I have the most amazing pictures and video of the birth and everyone is going to hear about this till they are sick to the back teeth of it! lol
I am so proud of myself and my body and still cant quite beleive i did it."
Went down stairs and had some more. still convinced were BHs as timings were a little off.
By 7 ish i was having to ooh and aah my way through them and couldnt sit down with them so was getting up and practically mounting the computer chair.
I had the runs a few times that morning too but put that down to IBS! I was in such denial for some reason!
Woke tim at 8-30 to say i thought something may be happening but still convinced it would be BHs and would die away as it wasnt really pain just uncomfortable.
At 9 i rang Judith to say i may need her later but didnt need her right then as i thought it may be a false alarm. Sent tim to the chiropractors after he had emptied and cleaned the pool and i filled it while trying to hoover and tidy and get everything together.
Arron woke at about 10 and walked in on me having a contraction. Poor thing didnt know what to do or say. I knew then he wouldnt be able to deal with seeing me in labour so i made arrangements for him to go out for a bit.
That was the point i realised i couldnt talk through them but still didnt think they were painfull. Just before this i had gotten a little emotional and scared as i realised i was really in labour.
Still pottering around and quite happy and feeling pretty painfree really untill about 11-30 when something changed and i knew i had to ring Judith.
She got to us at 12 ish when i was in the shower (i was really conscious of how i smelt for some reason) I lost my plug on the floor as she walked in - nice!!
She did an internal at about 12-15 and i was fully expecting to be told i was 2cms and had ages to go. Before she checked she said my perineum was bulging and she discovered i was 5 cms and the cervix was very thin. She told me to take a couple of paracetamol and she left me to wander round and do what i wanted for a bit.
Within 10 minutes or so she must have noticed a change in me as she started pushing for me to get into the pool if i wanted to use it. I wanted to wait till i couldnt cope with the pain before i got in but she seemed to think that things were moving very quickly.
I think that once Judith arrived i allowed myself to let go if that makes sense.
Got in the pool and almost immediately i noticed a change. Contractions were still pretty spacey and not really regular but although i was fine between contractions, when i had one tim had to be there. He had tried putting the bedding in the dryer 4 times as i kept calling him back.
I was drinking loads of water but i kept lobbing the bottles away from me as soon as a contraction started if no one took it off me quick enough - there were bottles everywhere after i had had her lol
Within about 10 - 15 mins i was getting really awfull pushing urges but this was only half an hour or so after being told i was 5 cms so i was fighting them. Awfull feeling. I knew i was 'going' each time i had one of these and there was nothing i could do about it. But because i had had the runs that morning i got so paranoid and was fighting the pushing urge even more at first.
My waters went at about half one and was so painfull when they did as they stretched me just before they exploded. The noise of them going underwater scared the hell out of me - was like a small bomb.
By about 1-45 i couldnt be in the pool - i was uncomfortable and felt like my legs were going to cramp up so i got out and kneeled over tim as he sat on a chair.
Wasnt comfy like this either and kept saying i just wanted to lie down as i felt so tired. Judith kept trying to get me to squat and change positions but i wasnt being the most co-operative patient by this point! *blush
Eventually at around 2-30 i moved onto the settee and was lay on my left side facing the back of the settee. Now really was the time to push. I was told to hold my leg and pull it up as i was pushing.
The contractions were slowing down now they still werent massively painfull though, but the pushing urge was getting unbearable. The time between the contractions was fantastic - i lay there with my eyes closed and withdrew into myself preparing for the next one and feeling what my body was doing. Tim thought i was asleep but i was super aware of every little noise around me.
Eventually the head started to crown this was the most agony i have felt in my life. I could feel every little bit of her squeezing through from her ears to her nose and chin. I felt like i couldnt possibly stretch any further. Whilst i was pushing the head out i remember thinking if i ever do this again im going to hospital to demand all the drugs going. lol Of course things are different now and i would definately have a home birth if we were to have any more and would not want any drugs again.
Her head was born at 3-17 and i had a minute to compose myself before the body started to come. During this lull i could feel my body gently turning her and ever so slightly pushing her. Was an odd feeling.
Once i got the next contraction and started pushing the intense pain started again and i wasnt stopping pushing for anyone! I was getting her out NOW!!
She was born and passed through my legs onto my stomach and i was in awe of her immeadiately. She was so perfect and beautifull.
Unfortunately as my contractions were a little spacey a few minutes after the cord had stopped pulsing Judith decided that it would be better to give me the synto rather than wait and as everything had gone so well i agreed. The placenta came away within a couple of minutes.
So there you go. Sorry its so long but my memory of it is so clear and so unlike Arrons birth. It felt amazing to feel every part of my daughter being born. I have the most amazing pictures and video of the birth and everyone is going to hear about this till they are sick to the back teeth of it! lol
I am so proud of myself and my body and still cant quite beleive i did it."
Labels:
Birth Story,
Birthing Pool,
Homebirth,
Natural Birth,
Vaginal Birth
Monday, August 13, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Breastfeeding & Formula on BBC
Not sure if anyone saw it this morning on the BBC News but it was very interesting to see.
They are campaigning for fomula adverts to be banned as currently they are able to advertise for babies from 6 months. I thought it was 12 months so was a bit shocked to hear it!
There was a lady representing the NCT and a midwife that is doing a study into breastfeeding and why 3 in 4 women start off BF but give up in the first few weeks. Interesting that the MW discovered, although not set out to examine positioning of bf mothers, that most could not position correctly, therefore uncomfortable, tired and often caused the babies not to latch on.
Sian Williams does go down in my estimations each time they do a report on babies and parenting. There was that awful talk on Baby Led Weaning that made me shout at the tv and now she is arguing against the NCT woman about breastfeeding. Yes we do all know that breast is best and yes a lot of us couldn't do it. The point is, most of us couldn't do it because we didn't get the support we needed not like Sian was saying because we weren't physically able. The NCT lady pointed out very very little women can actually physically not bf, she said something like 1% can't.
I thought I couldn't BF with Erin but on reflection I now know that with some guidance and support I could have got there in the end. I wasn't even asked why I switched to formula by my mw or hv or whether they could help.
Instead of fluffing up the fact that so many of us give up (and yes I am one of them) and putting it down to not being "able" why not help, show and support us how to bf efficiently. As natural as it is, it doesn't always come naturally and it's a shame that in today's society people are more scared of making women feel like a failure by showing them the right way (formula is offered far to easily in hospitals) that the mothers and babies are both missing out in the long run. Why is advice taken as a critism these days?
They are campaigning for fomula adverts to be banned as currently they are able to advertise for babies from 6 months. I thought it was 12 months so was a bit shocked to hear it!
There was a lady representing the NCT and a midwife that is doing a study into breastfeeding and why 3 in 4 women start off BF but give up in the first few weeks. Interesting that the MW discovered, although not set out to examine positioning of bf mothers, that most could not position correctly, therefore uncomfortable, tired and often caused the babies not to latch on.
Sian Williams does go down in my estimations each time they do a report on babies and parenting. There was that awful talk on Baby Led Weaning that made me shout at the tv and now she is arguing against the NCT woman about breastfeeding. Yes we do all know that breast is best and yes a lot of us couldn't do it. The point is, most of us couldn't do it because we didn't get the support we needed not like Sian was saying because we weren't physically able. The NCT lady pointed out very very little women can actually physically not bf, she said something like 1% can't.
I thought I couldn't BF with Erin but on reflection I now know that with some guidance and support I could have got there in the end. I wasn't even asked why I switched to formula by my mw or hv or whether they could help.
Instead of fluffing up the fact that so many of us give up (and yes I am one of them) and putting it down to not being "able" why not help, show and support us how to bf efficiently. As natural as it is, it doesn't always come naturally and it's a shame that in today's society people are more scared of making women feel like a failure by showing them the right way (formula is offered far to easily in hospitals) that the mothers and babies are both missing out in the long run. Why is advice taken as a critism these days?
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