Birth Details:
Date of Birth: 28th August 2006 (Monday)
Time of birth: 9.30pm
Birth Weight: 9 pounds 8 ounces (4.3kg)
Head Circumference: 37cm
Length: 53cm

Note: this is remembered through a haze of drugs so detail is be lacking

Cooper was due on or around the 17th August. As labour had not commenced and Cooper showed no sign of wanting to be born, I was booked in to be induced on the 28th August. DH and I went to Toowoomba Base Hospital at 1.30pm. I was examined by Dr Amy and Ros (the midwife who stayed with me throughout my entire labour). They broke my waters to try and induce labour. DH almost passed out and Ros opened the window and told him to stick his head out the window or put his head between his legs. She also bought him a bottle of water to try and settle him down . Ros then inserted the drip in my left hand to induce the contractions.

Labour commenced at about 2.30pm. DH was fabulous. I couldn?t have done it without him. He was very supportive and didn?t leave my side at all. The time passed so quickly that I had no idea when things started happening. I went into a world of my own where I concentrated completely on me and my baby. It was awesome!! I requested gas after about 2 hours (I think!) as the contractions were getting very painful. I LOVE gas!

I vomited on DH at about 7.30pm. We hadn't thought about DH at all so he didn't have a change of clothes. Poor thing. He coped so well considering he hates hospitals and faints when he has needles! At about 9pm, there were 3 midwives in the birthing suite (Ros, Jenny the head midwife and another lady to assist) as my body was starting to push. Dr Anna was also there and she called in Dr Victor from home after awhile as Cooper was stuck and showing distress. They advised me that if Cooper did not arrive within 10 minutes, they would have to suction him out. Ros also advised DH that the theatre had been advised to prepare for an emergency caesarean. I didn't know about this. They tried to tell me but I wasn't listening and they couldn't get my attention.

Cooper decided that he had enough and finally was born without medical assistance at exactly 9.30pm. Good boy! He was placed on my chest. He was perfect. DH and I were ecstatic! We hadn't found out whether we were having a girl or boy as we wanted a surprise though I was positve from about 20 weeks that I was having a boy. DH was given Cooper to hold while I had stitches inserted for a second degree tear.

DH and I stayed in the birthing suite with Cooper until midnight. He was weighed and given his first immunisation (hep B) and vitamin k injection while we were there. I was then taken to the maternity ward where I stayed until Thursday (31st August). I was due to leave on Wednesday but Cooper had a slight temperature and the doctors also wanted to watch his jaundice to confirm that it was only mild.

Thank you for reading!