21st July 2008 - The arrival of Veygas Jakobi Phoenix - long

[mountain mummy]

To start a little way back, I had an appointment with a specialist OB at around 34 weeks because my platelet and haemoglobin counts had been going down (they had actually started to come back up, but then dropped again). He did an ultrasound, because I also have a history of polyhydramnious, but surprisingly, this time around, my bump was alot more baby than fluid.

Based on these factors, and the fact that I have had early (and quick) labours previously, we made the decision that, either way, this baby would be born at 38 weeks.

At 37+2 weeks (a Wednesday), I had another appointment with him, and after doing an internal, he decided that the best thing would be for me to stay in hospital until bubs was born. My cervix was quite soft and favourable, yet only 2cm dilated, but since my 3rd baby had been born in 8 minutes, and we live about 1.5 - 2 hrs away from the hospital (depending on traffic and weather conditions!), he didn't want to take any chances.

I had been having niggles, cramps and pains for some weeks, so as hard as the decision was to spend time away from my family, I knew the best thing would be to stay. I was having irregular contractions, and my OB said that if they didn't pick up and labour start progressing, that he would induce me the following Monday.

My inlaws came to look after our other kids, and my DP came down to the hospital to visit every day. It was actually nice to have time together alone - something we hadn't done for ages! We walked around the hospital, day in, day out, and on the Friday, I started losing my plug.

So, we got to Sunday, and still not a heck of a lot happening, except for the irregular contractions getting stronger and VERY uncomfortable. So the booked induction was going ahead.

Monday morning was quite exciting, as we knew our baby would be here very soon. At 7.30am, the midwife took me down to the delivery suite, and on the way, I had to call DP to let him know what was happening.

After getting changed, getting comfortable and having the monitor put on, the doctor came in to break my waters at 8.47am. After this was done, the doctor did a quick internal to make sure everythig was fine, and I had immediately thinned and dilated to 5cm! She said my body was definitely ready to labour, it just needed a kick start!

The doctor and midwife left it up to me whether I wanted the pitocin started straight away, or whether I wanted to wait. Nah, lets get this show on the road! So they started it at the lowest dose at 9am. We joked that because of the last one being so quick, we'd have this one by lunch time, after 5 minutes of pushing!

Contractions started to intensify around 10am, so they turned the drip up a little, but by 10.30am, I asked them to turn it down again - it's not that the contractions were unbearable, my body just didn't feel ready yet.

By 11.30am, contractions were regular and strong, and at 12pm, I chickened out and asked for pethidine! At 12.30pm I told the midwife it felt like I needed to push, but I wasn't sure that I was ready, and she asked if I wanted an internal done ... I didn't get a chance to answer straight away, as another contraction occurred, but then she looked and said an internal wasn't necessary. I could already feel the baby's head crowning and instinctively started to push.

Our little man, Veygas Jakobi Phoenix entered the world at 12.45pm on Monday 21st July. Labour established at 11.30am, 1st stage labour 1hr 10 minutes, 2nd stage 5 minutes! 8lb 5oz, 50cm long, HC 36cm. No tears, no episiotomy, no stitches!

We were home the next day.

[*Beema*]

Great to hear your story MountainMummy, sounds like all you needed was a little kickstart!!! Great you didn't get slices and diced like me

Congratulations on the safe and speedy arrival of Veygas

[New Dawn]

Congratulations on your 4 th baby well done to you and your whole family....

You have to let me know how you all get on as I would LOVE a 4th but just the thought scares the life out of me lol....

[aussienic]

congrats!! Welcome to the world little man

4 isn't so bad.. Life is becoming good now ..

[mountain mummy]

Great you didn't get slices and diced like me

But with my first I did - 3rd degree tears and an episiotomy! They spent an hour stitching me up!

You have to let me know how you all get on as I would LOVE a 4th but just the thought scares the life out of me lol....

2.5 weeks into it and it's not so bad ... DP is even hinting to his coworkers that there may be more to come yet!! Not that I mind, of course, just not right away!! The thing I found most true was that lots of people said going from 2 to 3 was the biggest adjustment, anything after that is easy, and I had a really hard time adjusting to life with 3 - I was constantly on the phone with DP in tears telling him I couldn't do it! But 4 so far is OK (not exactly a walk in the park, but routines are easier to establish) Plus my other kids are very helpful - the eldest has chores which helps around the house, whereas when #3 was born, the other 2 were only 5yo and 2yo, which meant I was still pretty much doing everything! But I wouldn't change it at all!

[kristi14]

Hi,

What a quick labour

CONGRATULATIONS

Well done

[2girlz]

Well done MM!!!!!! Thats great you didn't have any tearing or episiotomy and had a big bubba

[KimB]

congrats Mountain Mummy on the safe arrival of Veygas. Glad that your family is settling well. Will have to let you all know how it goes from baby #4 to baby #5 lol

[mountain mummy]

he he he Kim, I'd be very interested to know how it goes!!