I guess things started with the twinges in my pelvic region on Tuesday night but as I’d had worse last week I’d thought nothing of it; I had actually become accustomed to the idea of having another late baby and had a long list of things to do this week. I went to bed Tues night, but didn’t sleep well… backache had randomly appeared and I was having to get up every 45 mins to pee. I got fed up of tossing and turning at 4:30am so got out of bed, had a cuppa and low and behold started having very mild contractions. It was then I tweeted my first labour tweet #uhoh
I was kept suitably distracted for around an hour by Erin who, despite trolling me in 2010 and signing up to Snark just to spam her crappy contest, had the nerve to ask me to “make her a script like rev.iew.me” for free. I’ll save the hilarity of that one for another day.
Anyway, I eventually woke Karl to tell him he wouldn’t be going to work that day… he responds “I have to”. Well, love, only if you want to miss the birth of your child!
Isabel woke before 6am and while I got her fed and dressed the contractions mostly disappeared — what a clever body.
Around this point I rang the Midwife Led Unit to advise them I was in early labour, mentioned my previous delivery and repeat iron issues. I acknowledged their protocol but told them I was either giving birth at the MLU or at home. They told me to ring back later. I barfed up my breakfast mid-contraction.
Around 7:30am Karl took Isabel off to nursery to try and keep her usual routine, my mum arrived to keep me company. I took some paracetamol (don’t know why, seemed like it might help… it didn’t) as the contractions started getting closer together; about 3-4 minutes apart. I rang the MLU back, they told me to come in straight away.
When I got to the MLU I was told there were two senior midwives on duty, someone suggested that one (Supervisor of Midwives) had been called in specifically because of/for me. The SoM just happened to be a lady I clicked with when I was pregnant with Izz and I couldn’t have asked for a better person to support my labour.
The SoM did a vaginal, said I was 4-5cm dilated and that my ‘membranes were bulging’. Still very manageable pain levels so we decided to go for a walk. Too hot outside, retreat back to labour room to keep up my pacing.
The contractions really started to get intense around 12:30 and so I finally ‘gave in’ to gas & air. The midwife fetched me a birth ball which allowed me to stay in a good position but rest my legs; this really started to speed things up and around 2pm I began to question the sanity of a #2 (last tweet, phone was annoying me again).
At this point (just past 2pm) the contractions started piling on top of one another — despite the pain, I was still laughing/joking between contractions with the midwife and Karl and I think being comfortable in my birth environment was a huge help — the midwife tells me she knows I’m pushing as I am ‘mooing’ (classy). I hadn’t realised what I was doing, I was just letting my body get on with it (albeit vocally it would seem). She asked me if I wanted my waters broken or if I wanted no intervention and although the latter was my original plan, I thought screw that, I’m getting tired – have at it!
The midwife did another VE, tells me there’s a rim, pops my waters and I absolutely flooded the bed. Sudden unbearable urge to push, and I can’t be arsed to get up to change to a better position so I start pushing using the bed as brace. I can’t begin to tell you how much it hurts but the pushing was productive and I quickly feel his head born.
Just as I’m summoning the energy to push with the next contraction, the midwife shouts at me to LISTEN and STOP. The cord was wrapped very tightly round baby’s neck. All of a sudden things are happening… the cord is clamped and cut (there goes my plan to let it stop pulsating) I am pushing again, there’s a purple baby plonked on my chest and it’s a boy! Hands everywhere, warm towels being fetched, SoM is trying to get baby to cry. He makes a half-hearted whinge which isn’t good enough so he’s whisked away from me for oxygen & suction; Karl followed.
I vaguely remember at this point that the midwife assisted delivery of placenta, lost ~400ml blood, had the jab to help with reducing bleeding. It’s all a blur, all I can think is I want my bloody baby back. He was brought back in (gone for just a minute but felt like an hour) and I’m repeating I want my baby, give me my baby, give me my baby, give me my baby. He’s placed back on me, latch him on the breast, phew… calm.
I got my tea and toast this time, but was sick again. I didn’t have pethidine so it must either have been the blood loss or the synto-whatsit jab they use to reduce risk of PPH. I didn’t want it because I wasn’t sure if it made me sick last time, but the SoM wanted to cover her arse (I’d already broken the ‘rules’ by staying at the MLU) and I had already lost my physiological third stage anyway.
Anyway… all in I am quite pleased. I got the birth I wanted (mostly) and think the way I dealt with labour this time reflects my comfort with the surroundings. Baby Oliver is well, with no ill effects from the cord ‘incident’. He has a lip tie like his sister which is contributing to a poor latch and sore nipples, but we’re taking each day one at a time.
03 Jun at 3:51 pm
I am really glad you and Oliver are okay, I’m glad I got to see you both before I go, it would’ve been awful to leave without seeing either of you. I’m glad things went well and you have your lovely happy family together <3
03 Jun at 4:05 pm
Great to hear mother and baby are doing well, lovely news :)
03 Jun at 4:07 pm
Whoooo I made it through the story without vomiting this time!! :D I can’t wait to meet him (but I have to wait almost year, torture!) and I am trying to exercise control over buying and shipping 100 gifts. I’m glad things seem to have gone better this time and that, for the most part, it was a good experience. The part when they took the baby away really terrifies me because of my mom’s description when they took me away and didn’t give me back because I had to go to NICU. So I’m glad you got him back right away (even if it didn’t feel like it) because I find the idea of it to be so traumatizing for the mom. D:
Anyway, YES, I am SO happy for you guys. I gathered from Karl’s FB status that Izzy was doing okay, but I’d love to hear more about her reaction to the whole thing! (You know how much of a fan of hers I am. I just rave about her all the time.) Very exciting week around the interwebs with the babies. I’m already getting stoked for your third! ;)
03 Jun at 4:12 pm
So glad everything went ok and your both doing well!!
will you post photos of tiny fingers and toes for us!? I just love them!
03 Jun at 5:17 pm
Congrats on baby Oliver! So glad to hear that he recovered nicely from the cord incident. Best wishes to all!
03 Jun at 6:01 pm
I’m very glad is all well for you and Oliver, and a huge congrats to you and Karl! This has been such an exciting week.
03 Jun at 6:13 pm
LOL re: Erin because she asked me exactly the same thing.
Anyway, congrats on the birth of Oliver. <3 I'm glad everything went well!
03 Jun at 6:54 pm
Congrats on baby Oliver!!!!
How’s the big sis doing?
03 Jun at 7:54 pm
Congratulations on the new addition to your family.
03 Jun at 8:47 pm
Congrats Jem! Glad you hear you and baby are doing well. :)
03 Jun at 9:28 pm
Congratulations, hope you’re all doing well :)
03 Jun at 9:40 pm
Wow sounds like an intense birth! Congrats on your new baby boy!
03 Jun at 9:52 pm
Congrats, Jem! I love his name!
03 Jun at 10:34 pm
Congratulations, Jem! I’m glad to hear that little Oliver is alive and well and that the cord didn’t kill him. When I read that his face was purple, you had me scared for a bit!
03 Jun at 10:56 pm
Yay! Congrats! I am so happy for you both.
04 Jun at 12:02 am
Congratulations Jem, not only on the birth of Oliver but on actually finding the time to write about the experience within days of having a newborn and a toddler at home with you!
04 Jun at 1:46 am
Yay! Welcome, Oliver!
04 Jun at 11:22 am
I did say baby #2 would be a lot faster :) I’m just glad he made his way into the world with relatively few hiccups and that you are both safe and sound. Also glad, bearing in mind all these ‘horrendous birth leading to disaster’ stories that we hear so ofen these days was not the case and that Oliver is healthy and happy.
04 Jun at 11:42 am
Hahaha, Erin is STILL around?! Bloody hell. XD Like a bad stink.
Welcome, Oliver! :’) That’s a beautiful name. ^^ I’m so glad both mummy and baby are ok!
04 Jun at 12:56 pm
Congratulations Jem, glad you and baby are okay!
Oliver is a beautiful name. :)
04 Jun at 3:13 pm
Congratulations!!! So very excited for you guys! His birth sounds like a positive experience for you and I’m glad you got to deliver at the MLU despite the iron issues!
Oliver is a great name – it was on our shortlist before we had Wesley. :)
04 Jun at 4:18 pm
Congrats on your little baby boy!
04 Jun at 8:15 pm
Congrats again!! :D <3
04 Jun at 10:25 pm
CONGRATS on the baby boy! I bet he is beautiful! Glad to hear the experience was positive and that you got the delivery that you wanted. Oliver is such a cute name. :3
05 Jun at 3:15 am
Congratulations! TWO CHILDREN JEM. I can’t believe how much everyone’s lives have changed.
I’m excited to hear more about what it’s like being a mother of two & how they interact with one another as Oliver grows….
06 Jun at 2:03 pm
Dude, congratulations! I’m glad everything went (mostly) smoothly for you and baby Oliver, and that there weren’t any complications. Giving birth sounds stressful as hell, I don’t think I want to participate anytime soon.
06 Jun at 8:49 pm
Congratulations again, you are awesome!
06 Jun at 8:54 pm
Sophie was born with the cord wrapped round her neck and needed oxygen. She was a pain in the ass through pregnancy, a pain in the ass when she was born and she’s still a pain in the ass now! I love her dearly though.
Anyway, congrats to you and Karl. Will pop in when you’ve had time to settle in with Oliver, the first couple of weeks of constant visitors are hell. :o)
06 Jun at 9:51 pm
Congrats on having baby Oliver! Glad you’re both fine. :)
I laughed out loud at the e-drama moment. I can totally picture my own self doing something like that in your place. XD
27 Jun at 2:13 pm
AWwwwwww a belated congratulations on the birth of your little boy!!!