Babies Born July 1st - 15th 2008

[Ells]

Our gorgeous baby Etta arrived on July 6, two days after her due date. She weighed in at 3.57kg (7lb 14oz) and 51cm long.

We had a dream birth after a 4 hour labour. We called the hospital after 2 hours of contractions at 5 minutes apart. We were told that as it was our first that I probably wasn't dilated enough and that they'd send me home. So I stayed home until I was 3 minutes apart which happened within ten minutes. The car ride was just awful. At the hospital everything went in slow motion as they didn't think I was very close. After faffing about they finally examined me to find I was 8cms dilated. Off to the labour room and into the shower. Everything in me was saying push ... the midwife threatened to put me on gas and she just wanted me to breath through it. I was 10cms before the bath had filled and next thing Etta is coming through. The obstetrician made it for the third stage without syntocin which he didn't endorse. Still after it all and with no intervention Etta and I were calm, alert and of course incredibly happy.

We did a fair bit of preparation which included doing Calmbirth - the midwives were amazed at how in control I was and how the baby was just simply breathed out.

I feel so lucky to have had a great birth ... She's been a joy to date and we are looking forward to seeing her grow up before us.