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D woke up at 6.30am. Managed to drift back to sleep. D got up with Mr W at some point. I stayed in bed. Got up at 10.00am. Had a show. Had first contraction at 11.00am. Wasn't sure if it was really a contraction as I don't feel braxton hicks normally so thought it may have been just a BH. They came every half an hour, but every other one had an extra little contraction that followed it. I didn't time the length of the contractions, but guessed that they were lasting only 30 seconds (when I spoke to my sister afterwards she said she did this, but then her partner timed them and they were lasting over a minute).
Went for a walk with friends that were staying and the dogs. Contractions were still every half an hour, sometimes 20 minutes. Began to think that this could be for real! Our friends got ready to go. Had a stronger contraction, wouldn't have been able to hide it if anyone had been in the room. As our friends left the contractions suddenly changed pace. Got stronger and started coming every 10 minutes and then every 5 minutes in a short space of time. Think it was around 3.00pm by this stage. Mr W called hospital to see if we should go in. By the time he got off the phone I was screaming at him that we needed to go now.
Dylan was overtired as he'd missed his sleep slot earlier in the day and didn't want to stay at home with Mr W's brother so we all headed off for the hospital. D fell asleep in the car and Mr W's brother stayed with him.
The journey was not comfortable! But Mr W was happy as he always complains that t.v. never portrays going into labour as it happens in real life - i.e. it's always a mad dash to the hospital, waters breaking and going all over the supermarket floor etc rather than the slow build up of contractions that lots of us have. But, he got to do the mad dash bit!
All I could think about at this point was how on earth did I manage to get to 10cm with gas and air alone last time.
We checked in and got shown to a room and was told that a midwife was on the way. They'd had to call someone in as there were already tow other women in labour (The hospital in Aberystwyth only averages 2 births a day)
Coped for a while but then sent Mr W to get some gas and air. Dylan woke up quite soon and was a bit upset. I was quite worried at this point as I really didn't want to go through labour without Mr W. Mr W suggested that his brother take him for a drive. Wasn't convinced that Dylan would go, but thank goodness he did. The Bag full of Xmas presents that we'd held back helped a little bit. They went off for a long drive and then D had his first Macdonalds - well Fillet of fish.
Spent a lot of time leaning over the metal bar attached to the gas and air cannister (have bruises on my chest to prove it!).
The midwife asked if she could examine me - I think it was about 4.00 at this point , about half an hour after we arrived at the hospital. I wanted to know how far gone I was but was dreading her saying that I was only 2cm. Couldn't believe it when she said that I was fully dilated. She left us to it for a short while and then came back and started talking about breaking my waters. I really didn't understand why as everything seemed to be going at a fair pace as far as I was concerned! Couldn't get my brain to connect with my mouth to voice this though so I sort of ignored her for a few contractions and then gave a tiny push on one and my goodness the floodgates opened! ... and it kept coming out for ages.
Mr W said afterwards that he was going to say to her that we didn't want the waters broken, but that he could see that I was going to try and sort it out myself!
Moved to the proper labour room at this point with a towel wrapped round me as I was still trickling water everywhere. Got up onto the bed and sort of hung over the back of it an then knelt during the contractions. Sort of got an urge to push, wouldn't say it was overwhelming but felt pressure. Pushed for about an hour I think. Contractions seemed to slow down so Mr W suggested working the reflexology point on my big toe. (We had only played around with this for a few days as a way of bringing on labour). Seemed to work though as the contractions visibly lengthened on the monitor. (Forgot to add that I was monitored from when I got onto the bed) I was really tired at this point and after a few contractions with Mr W helping out by using the reflexology I refused his help- just wanted to rest and didn't want the increased pain. (He later accused me of being too controlling and said that he was annoyed with me for not trying harder. Can see his point but boy was I mad when he said that - it was a few days later when we were arguing about something else!) At this point the midwife noticed that the baby's heartbeat wasn't picking up as much as it should be between contractions. We had also had some meconium staining. She mentioned intervention and I assumed she meant a c-section. I wasn't too bothered (despite really not wanting one) as I'd given things a go and I just wanted my baby safe. So, when she said they'd try a ventouse I was over the moon!
In the meantime Mr W suggested that I rubbed my tummy and talked to the baby to see if it helped sort his heartbeat out. He also made me get up from the kneeling/squatting position and lean over the back of the bed again between contractions - the heartbeat picked up more quickly if I did this.
The ventouse was then ready. The gas and air had been taken away from me at somepoint so that I could 'concentrate on contractions' (their words not mine!). Thought I'd get it back for the ventouse, but no they said that it wasn't worth it. The ventouse going in was not pleasant. It was very much shoved in! Not saying that he was doing it wrong - it's just a bit of a shock the way they pull you about down there!
I have to say that I can honestly not believe how painful the first pull on the ventouse was. Told the Dr that I hated him. Mr W said that my face was a picure. It was a complete shock and I felt sort of like a startled rabbit caught in a car's headlights and not knowing if I should go backwards or forwards. Thank goodness the next contraction was the baby's head crowning. I found this fine, felt as I expected it to. Then his body just slipped out (It really did feel like it literally slipped out) and he was plonked on my tummy within seconds. OMG what a feeling. (I didn't get to see Dylan for about half an hour after the c-section). I was on such a high.
Turns out that the cord was round his neck - hence the heartbeat not picking up properly between contractions.
Mr W then got to hold him while I was stitched up (2nd degree tear). Told the Dr that I hated him again when the anaethetic needle went iin.
Realised that I was starving. Midwife told Mr W that he could pop into a room down the corridor and get some tea. Mr W was v happy as he was allowed to make one for himself too (Last hospital didn't offer anything to partners). I got given two ham rolls too - I've never eaten anything so quickly!
Mr W called his brother to tell him that it was all over and that they could come to see us, so Dylan was with us just over an hour after Tally was born.
The midwife suggested a bath so Mr W and Dylan came with me (so lovely to have Dylan there too) whilst Mr W's brother kept an eye on Tal.
Booked a single room, didn't get much sleep though as Tal decided that he wanted to feed on and off until about 2.15am.
Escaped from hospital the next day. Didn't get out until the afternoon as they'd had 5 births in the space of 12 hours (that's a lot for them!) so had to wait for the paperwork to be sorted.
Dylan has been great with Tal. Not at all shocked by his arrival. And very loving towards him.
Full name - Taliesin Rhys Weight - 8lb5 Arrived 18.45pm January 2nd 2005
p.s. Those of you thinking of trying for a vbac - go for it. It hurts, but it's worth it!