The Speedy arrival of my big beautiful little man....19/09/09
Thought I might share my story......
Found out in March we were expecting bubs no.4.....at 11 weeks! Had a feeling I was UTD but wasnt too sure as I had experienced 2 bleeds when AF was due, but they were light and it was itermittent, so that was my first clue that I had another little jelly bean growing away in there...sure enough, had a scan and there it was! I was very apprehensive at first..I had intended to stop at 3! But once over the shock of it all, we were all very excited at the impending arrival. Morning sickness wasnt too bad and stopped by 16 weeks. Had my 20 week scan to find out we were having another boy....2 of each, couldnt ask for better :)
EDD was 22/09, but as I had never had any of my other babies on their DD's, figured I would go over with this one as well....all I knew was that I couldnt have him before the 19th! My eldest daughter had calisthenics competitions during August and September and I had to be there for her to help with hair and costumes. The last one was scheduled for the 19th, and was on the other side of the city, 75km from home, and we had to be there at 8am for a 9am start, which meant leaving home at 6.30am! Anyways, I knew that bubs would have to wait til after that comp was over, so I was getting a bit anxious about it all, but thankfully I had some other mums at the club offer to take her if the need arose, so I figured I would just relax and whatever would be, would be.
Pregnancy was progressing swimmingly, had no problems and felt great throughout, although would get exhausted at night....it was at the 35 week stage that it started to go a little pear shaped....my ankles and feet swelled up to mammoth proportions, so much so that I had to wear thongs in the middle of Melbourne winter, and at 38 weeks, my BP elevated, 155/80, and a +protein reading in urine....was put on twice weekly monitoring with my OB and the hosp, and there was talk of induction.....LAST THING I WANTED!!! Had an induction with my third baby and it was an horrendous experience...I had no plans for this birth and was happy to just go with the flow with it all, but the only thing I was adament on NOT wanting was an induction, and here I was being confronted with that possibility! However, if my BP went down, they were at least happy to let me go to my due date, so there was hope! I had a chance to get myself into labour by then......... after the 19th!! lol!! Bubs was happily floating round in there, but was constantly engaging and un-engaging, which was VERY uncomfortable, but all was well.
Started having all those delightful pre-labour symptoms at about 38 weeks, period like cramping in the back, nausea, the runs, wasnt getting too excited about it though, as I knew that THAT could be a long drawn out process, so I just rode through them all, but I was pretty glad it was happening, as it meant there was a chance that labour would happen on its own.
Friday 18th, was feeling very out of sorts for the whole day, like I had a feeling that things were out of whack...I just put it down to the fact that I got woken up with a start by my teenage stepson that morning at 5am, (long story there!), and that the kids were home for school holidays so I didnt have that morning rush hour thing happening, therefore my daily routine was out of whack. I continued on for the day, but I just couldnt shake that feeling that something was different about that day.
Watched the footy that night, kids tucked up in bed, had a shower, and had settled on the couch for a movie, when bang on midnight, my waters broke with a gush....NOOOOO!!!!! It was the 19th!!! Told DP that my waters had broken, he got on the phone to his brother, who lives 5 mins away, to come over and stay with the kids, I rang the hospital and told them that my waters had broken and should I come in, as I had no contractions yet...they said yes as they wanted to check everything out, and if need be, they would either keep me in or send me home again...I only live about 10 minutes away from the hospital so I was happy with that. Packed a few last minute items, waited for my BIL to turn up, DP made himself a coffee to wake up, as he'd had a long day at work, 25 minutes after my waters broke, had first contraction....was pretty mild but enough to make me stop. 12.45, headed off to hossy, 3 more contractions and another gush during the trip there. Got up to maternity, contractions now getting more intense and about 2-3 minutes apart...got moved to a birthing room, climbed onto the beautiful double bed with its 6 pillows, just sank into them on all fours and it was so comfy!!! I wanted to stay off pain relief for as long as I could because, although the gas does help with my pains, it does tend to make me loopy and emotional!! lol!! Midwife suggested I take off my track pants to get comfy, as I had by now gushed out some more waters and everything was quite wet, but it was during this that I had the BIGGEST gush of all, and in DP's words, it looked like an elephant taking a p**s!! It just kept on coming, and I was sitting there waiting for it to stop so I could take off my pants!! Midwife was having a chuckle and I have to admit so was I!
After another half hour, I was starting to reach transition stage, so everything was bearing down with a HUGE pressure in between my legs and I was really feeling it in my hips by now, so it was at this time that I asked for gas, midwife got it hooked up straight away. She took the opportunity to insert a canulla as Id had low iron readings in this pregnancy so it was there in case I need a transfusion....used the gas to gett hrough that one!! I breathed as much oxygen as I could in between so that I could keep a level head about it all, but I just could believe how quickly things had ramped up since midnight, and I was starting to get a bit anxious about it all....all my other labours had gone for 22 hours, 8 hours and 6 hours, but this was so quick!! I wasnt sure I was ready!
I was on all fours when I vaguely heard the midwife tell me she was going to do a VE (the only one Id had since I got there) who told us that she could even feel my cervix anymore! As soon as she said that I got the urge to push...tried to do it on all fours but it just wasnt going to happen, so I got onto my back, with great difficulty I might add, as bubs was sitting right in my pelvis by then, but I got there eventually, and started pushing....although I was doing more screaming and grunting than pushing! Midwife was great though, she told me to get al those grunts and direct them towards my buttocks, and her saying that worked a treat, cos I was able to do it!! Before I knew it, bubs was moving down the canal, and I could feel him right at the end....the burning sensation was happening and as I was worried about tearing I panicked and wanted to stop, but I was nearly there, so I kept going, then it happened....shoulders, and the rest of his body came out....I did it! After having so many interventions in my last births (forceps, synto, prosti gels, pethidine, stiches, 2 epi's)....I had done it with only a few puffs of gas, and for someone with a low pain threshold, I was wrapt!! (NOt that I had much of a choice, it all happened so fast!!lol!!) THe whole thing from go to whoa was 3 hours, 20 mins, and my beautiful little boy was placed on my chest, had a little
cry then looked about the room as if to say `What the hell just happened then?"...think he was surprised at how quick it was too!! lol! Only had a tiny little graze to worry about too, so was wrapt with it all...couldnt have asked for better!
So my little man, David Benjamin Dean, arrived at 3.20am, on the 19th of Sept, weighing in at a whopping 4450g (9 pound, 13 ounces), 53cm long, 37cm head circumfrence and is absolutely perfect! And thriving!
Sorry for the long read!!
