Friday 16 September 2011

new arrival ...

On Friday 9th September 2011 we welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Benjamin John Davies, into the world. He is absolutely perfect and we are totally besotted, I just cant stop looking at him and drinking in every little detail.



The delivery wasn't as straight forward as I would have liked but I would go through it all over again, ten times and more for our little man! After a strange day where I seemed to cry at everything and didn't feel 'quite right' my waters broke at 3.15am on Thursday 8th. I wasn't experiencing any contractions but was advised to go into hospital to be checked, they confirmed that the membranes had ruptured and advised me to go home where labour would hopefully follow and to return the next morning to be induced if it had not. Sure enough at home the contractions started, they were somewhat mild (in comparison to what was to follow) and irregular. I had some concerns over the colour of the fluids, mainly clear with some green flecks, so was advised to return to hospital. The midwifes assured me that they were not concerned about this but would progress with the induction as I was already there, so at 4.15pm I was induced. I hadn't really mentioned my thoughts on induction here before, but it was one of the things that ideally I would have liked to have avoided as rather than build gradually the drugs progress you well into labour quickly, not allowing much time for your body to produce it's own pain killers, however I wanted the baby to arrive the safest way possible

I progressed from 1cm to 6cm very quickly, but the pain was unbearable. I had been given diamorphine which had no effect and the gas and air provided more of a distraction rather than any relief. My hubby was wonderful and supportive throughout the whole thing. I cant imagine what it is like to watch someone you love go through so much pain when there is nothing you can do to help. When I was told I was 6cm dilated I quickly opted for an epidural, which thankfully didn't take that long to arrange. The difference that this made was like night and day, very quickly I couldn't feel the contractions which was marvellous. Following the epidural I progressed to 8cm slowly and unfortunately that is as far as I got, they think that this is down to the position of the little tinker. At first the consultant said that they would give it another two hours to see if I had progressed any further, if not then we would be looking at a section. I think it was at this point that I realised, even if I made it to 10cm I didn't have the energy to push, I asked to be examined after an hour when they did this I was still at 8cm so the epidural was topped up and I was prepped for surgery.

What follows is a bit of a blur, I was very nervous and trying to keep my mind off what was happening! Mark joined us when they were ready and it started, no pain just as strange feeling and then a tiny cry! The next thing I heard was Mark telling me that we had had a boy "a beautiful baby boy". We were both so emotional! Words can't describe how I felt when I saw him for the very first time. After I was put back together again, we spent the rest of the day getting to know each other, having lots and lots of cuddles!

A week later and we're at home, adjusting to new surroundings and new roles. I thought my pregnancy went fast but this week has gone by so quickly! We're getting there with breastfeeding, thanks to lots of support and encouragement from family, friends and professionals. And I hear that eventually you do get into more of a routine, but hey - sleep is overrated when you have something this special!

Cx

Monday 5 September 2011

39 weeks!

Today I'm 39 weeks through my pregnancy, looking back it's been such an amazing time and that is what I need to keep in my mind as I'm growing (still!) more uncomfortable as the days go on!!

This week I got fitted for some nursing bras at good old M&S. I thought I would go now and get some basic ones and then go back a few weeks after the baby has arrived to be fitted again and pick up some prettier ones ... who says functional has to be boring?! I know my body has changed a lot throughout the pregnancy but I wasn't quite expecting to have gone up three whole cup sizes, with the possibility of these increasing again! My new bras are so comfy ... now I just need to get the hang of these clip things at the top! I also bought some basic nursing tops which I thought would be great for around the house, I hadn't planned on getting any but H&M has a pack of two in for £20, not bad! Upon recommendations of mums I've been stockpiling cheap vest tops to wear under normal tops, just as good as nursing tops for modesty and you don't feel like you still have a restricted wardrobe apparently.

In the interest of science, last week I posted that I was going to be trying some of the old wives tales of how to induce labour ... well, as you can tell by this post none were successful! I did have two 'false starts' last week but I think that they were a sign that I really need to start taking things a bit easier and get as much rest as possible!!

Both were with the same symptoms, increased moisture (sorry!), intense back ache, hip pain and accompanying tightenings. I was so convinced that the second time was the start of things that I timed the contractions, they were 9 mins apart and each lasted just over a minute. When I called the labour ward for advice they recommended that I take paracetamol and rest and to head in when the contractions got more intense, closer together (around three in ten minutes) and longer. All symptoms seemed to disappear within an hour and a half ... very frustrating at the time BUT at least I know what to look out for, and when to contact the hospital and head in!! Also on the positive, my body is certainly preparing itself for the main event ... I just hope that it all happens naturally and I don't need to be induced in three weeks time!

Not in the interest of taking it easy, me and the hubby have been making the most of our last few weeks as a twosome. On Saturday we went out for breakfast and had a lovely meander around Durham, you forget how nice places are when you live there. Yesterday we went to the seaside for a walk, the weather was great and we were talking excitedly about how nice it will be when we can bring the little one for a plodge in the sea! We then went for lunch (scientifically spicy chicken!) and had a look round the shops.

In the nicest possible way, I hope the next post is a birth announcement rather than a countdown update!
Cx