Four years and 17 days ago (reposted with a few additions)
Lucas came into the world.
31st August 2006, 7:30am I was sitting at the computer (on bellybelly of course) and DH was just about to leave for work, I was 40 weeks +2. I got up and there was a slight gush, I went to the loo & said to DH, perhaps you shouldn't go in today as I was leaking and it was a very pale green. Rang the hospital, they said come in to get checked out, but no hurry. I had a shower, washed my hair, puttered about a bit then put a garbage bag & a beach towel on the car seat and we drove to the hospital. When we got there they out us in a room, midwife checked out my pad, said it was slightly meconium stained and could we wait for my Ob to come in. Eventually he arrived and said that if I hadn't gone into labor by the next morning, he'd induce, but don't worry induced labor isn't any harder than natural. I'm thinking "That's not what I've heard" but we settled into our room waiting for labor. We watched a TV show on the invention of the electric light and a movie about Mohammad Ali (not the Will Smith one) I remember that more clearly than the birth!
We spent the whole day in that room, except for one short walk and at about 9pm we settled down to go to sleep. About 9:30 I started to get contractions! I was glad I wouldn't have to be induced. I have no idea about times from now on. We let the midwives know and got a heat pack. DH was kept busy reheating them. Contractions started getting stronger and DH was getting anxious wanting to be moved into the birth suite. I remember sitting on the toilet having a contraction and needing to vomit and being unable to get up so I threw up into the shower . And thinking at the time “I hope this is transition, ‘cause I don’t think I can cope with much more.” It wasn’t transition and I’m not sure I was even officially in established labour.
Eventually we were moved to the birth suite and the put a cannula in my hand in case I needed AB's if the birth went over the time limit from waters breaking. I was thinking it was like a drip so I took my t-shirt off 'cause I thought it'd be more difficult later. The Ob came and asked if I wanted a VE to see how far I was. The midwife said I didn’t have to if I didn’t want, and I wished I listened to her. DH tells me I didn’t try to kick the Ob in the head, but I know I wanted to! It bloody hurt. (I think DH wanted to kick him in the head too, ‘cause I was screaming so much). According to Ob I was 8cm at that time. He left to attend to his scheduled surgery patients & said he’d check back on me later. They asked if I'd like to get in the bath, I said no 'cause I didn't know how I'd be able to get out if I needed to (silly in hindsight as they are very experienced in that) so I got my gear off & hopped into the shower. I loved the warmth & it helped with the pain (I really don't do well being in pain when I'm cold) DH was holding the hand-held shower on my back & I roused on him if he turned it in himself to warm up. The asked if I wanted the gas & I said yes. I don't know if it did much for the pain, but it gave me something to concentrate on & I was apparently out of it when DH talked to me.
Eventually the midwife said it was time to push & moved me out of the bathroom into the main room & got me to squat with DH behind me supporting me. As I pushed I leaned back. I felt like ages I was pushing, but I think it was 15 mins. The crowning was so painful and when his body slithered out it was such a relief. And he was gorgeous!
My ob missed the birth as he was in surgery, which I didn't mind at all (my Mum was horrified though :P), so it was just DH & 2 midwives in the room with me. They got me up on the bed and Lucas & I cuddled while they checked me out. I needed stitches so I was on that bed until about 2pm until Ob came and stitched me up. They found some lunch trays and we ate while the measured DS. He attached to the breast like he'd been doing it for ages. (Subsequent feeds were not as easy, but we got the hang of it after a few weeks and I weaned him at 2y 5mths)
Now he's still gorgeous and knows so much about cars & Star Wars!
When I went to midwives clinic with DS2 I asked & officially labour was 7 hours.
