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It all took us a bit by surprise (yes, I knew I was pregnant) but events just seemed to take over and this is the first chance I've had to email anyone!
Want to know the details - nothing too gory I promise.
Friday 4th October (day after due date). 6.45 ish I got home and bought in the washing, thinking oh, funny tummy ache twinge as I took washing down. M was ringing Indian and said I was prob hungry or just 'practise' Braxton Hicks pains, hadn't had any before.
7pm Walked round corner to get food, on and off cramps but not painful really so this couldn't be it.
7.15 Start eating curry yum.
7.30 Pop to loo, Crickey, Blood!!! panic. Rang Labour ward who said it was my 'show' and things would start happening over the next few hours , might be sometime yet so eat a snack, have some water and rest. I went back to my curry and fanta.
7.45, pains getting uncomfortable and I can't sit down - try standing kneeling, bouncing on birth ball etc. making it hard to eat curry so I chomp on my naan thinking - they're every 3 or 4 minutes but only lasting 15 or 20 seconds. 'Breath' through pain. Mark eating his Vindaloo and trying to appear calm - start watching the video of 'the Office'.
8.15 Stand up to lean against wall, 'cramps' every minute or 2 and lasting 30 odd seconds. woosh - waters break but carpet is saved but the industrial strength Boots maternity pad I'd put on! Eeeek. Sat on loo to 'clean up' a little and change into something else. Pains every minute, now MUCH stronger. Breath through them as Mark sprints round house putting bags in car and telling me to ring labour ward. I manage to stand up from loo, put on clean trousers and t shirt and take out contact lenses
8.45 - eventually make it to phone and tell ward about the water and pains. Hard, as I kept stopping to breath and groan every minute. They say come in straight away - but it still may be some time.
9pm I manage to get down the stairs - not easy. Whilst M has had a got changed and sprayed himself with deoderant. Saying 'keep calm - but hurry up' as I take 10 mins to get to the car and sit down. ouch.
9.30 - reach Hospital after opting for mini roundabout exit from Grays rather than the speed bump route. Pains VERY strong. Every other minute, lasting about 1 minute. Mark - encourages me out of the car but I really don't want to stand up and walk. Bully that he is and thinking I was near to drugs, I somehow managed to reach ward door to buzz in.
9.45 lean on labour ward corridor wall waiting for midwife to greet us, I decide I want to push and tell everyone loudly! People appear from nowhere and get me on a bed to see how far along I am. Expecting to be told I had hours to go, They had a feel and said, crickey - get her to delivery, she's 9cm and ready to deliver. Eh? A bit dazed they wheel me to a room, ask me to get onto the bed, which I manged to do with Mark lifting my legs up.
10pm, Midwife says PUSH! when you can, Breath! Push etc.
10.19pm - Out comes Anna!!! 7lb 4oz. lots of dark hair.
No drugs - didn't offer me any as their wasn't time and I was preoccupied with pushing and breathing anyway. Was offered some gas and air during stitches but I was passed caring by then and there were only a few. Completely dazed we sat there for a few hours. It was all so fast it didn't seem real!
Was stuck in hospital until Monday. They found she had a heart murmur and we had to have blood saturation, Blood pressure, ECG, x rays and echo scans done. It showed she has a hole in her heart but it is very small and they will continue to see how it goes as she grows. Hopefully, it won't be any problem for her. She is in great health otherwise - just a little jaundice. I am fine - just bloody sore boobs and having some breastfeeding probs as she doesn't have Marks appetite and I have enough milk for the whole street. Mark has been my hero - I couldn't have done it without his support, and he is great at home too, don't know how I'll manage when he goes back to work... WE are totally smitten with her.