labour Archives - A Baby on Board blog

Express delivery – Florence’s birth story

Gillian — Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:45:00 +0000

“Wake up, I’m having contractions.” I whispered into the darkness at my husband. He sat straight up “So this is it?” “Yes!” I paused “I think…” I’d woken at 12am from a vivid dream with a burning sensation in my stomach. I was four days overdue at that point and had been impatiently waiting for something, anything to happen. But if it was contractions they didn’t seem very regular. Could it be a false alarm? I had a couple more after that, but distracted myself with messaging the only person still awake, my friend in the US. Just before 2am I timed the contractions at six minutes apart, then immediately after at four. Four minutes? That sounded…promising. They were also becoming breathtakingly uncomfortable. So I woke up my sleeping husband. Alex timed a few at just under four minutes apart; we rang the labour ward and on hearing it was a second baby they told us to come straight in. We called for a taxi and got my hospital bag ready, and I woke my parents to be on Eliza alert. It all seemed to be happening quickly. My contractions intensified, and we went from ’20 minutes wait for the taxi is fine’ to ‘Where’s the taxi?!’ pretty fast. And after that? I went to kiss sleeping Eliza goodbye, then the taxi finally turned up and I remember the quiet and rainy ride through the empty streets to the hospital, I remember the radio playing a song I’d heard shortly after Eliza was born, and I remember having a huge contraction and gripping Alex’s hand as tight as I could to avoid shouting out (although it was surely very obvious – what else would be happening to a heavily pregnant woman and her husband, on the way to the hospital in the middle of the night?) The hospital was deserted and we made it up to the maternity ward at 3am, but even at this point I still thought it might not be established labour and they could send us home (looking back I have no idea why). It turned out to be a busy night for babies and the only spare delivery room was being cleaned, so we had to wait in reception. But after a contraction that was so painful I was bent double on the floor, the midwife rushed us in. “I really hope this is it and I’m not wasting your time” I remember saying, which made her laugh. “Don’t worry! You are definitely in labour” she said as examined me “…and 8cm dilated.” I shouted out “Is that ALL?!” Which, of course, everyone thought was hilarious. It was surreal, strange and lovely to think that we’d meet our baby so soon. The lights were dimmed and we put on my labour playlist. The next hour was all at once both blurry and crystal clear, but I remember the following: * Asking for gas and air – ah, lovely lovely gas and air – which made it all better and let me breathe through the rapidly intensifying contractions * Making interim small talk between about the midwife strike, the amount of accidental Coldplay on my playlist, and my previous birth experience * Not giving a single thought to changing into my ‘giving birth’ top, but staying in the one I was already wearing, then just wearing my bra * The midwife leaving the room “She clearly thinks it’ll be ages!” I said to Alex, just before she came back in with a delivery trolley and a second midwife * Thinking it would still be a while before anything happened as my waters hadn’t broken… * My waters immediately breaking (same as with E, right at the end) * The gas and air not working, biting the mouthpiece instead * The contractions piling up and my body starting to push by itself * Being totally consumed by the pain and the moment and telling myself to just get the baby out * The midwife telling me to listen to my body and do whatever felt right * Pushing, the head being out * And then pausing… Then with one final push, Florence was born, opening her mouth with a loud wail as she was placed upon my chest. I’ve been thinking about what made it so much better this time. It wasn’t just that it was quick (although it was quick last time, this time my entire labour was officially timed as an hour and 18 minutes, starting from when we got to hospital) or that this made it any less painful – it really hurt! Especially as she came out with her hand by her face – the stitches, ouch. It helped that I wasn’t induced, that it was a different and less chaotic hospital, and that I didn’t get to 10cm on a ward with bright lights and panic, and there were a couple of other things we did differently. But this time I also knew what was happening, knew I could do it, my body took over and I felt far more in control. Our delivery midwife was also amazing – kind, calm, funny, supportive – said all the right positive things, and was really conscious of what we wanted. Post-birth I had to almost immediately go on a drip for four hours due to the blood-thinning injections I’d been taking, but she delayed cord clamping for as long as possible and gave us the option to delay the baby weighing for an hour so we could have extended skin-to-skin. After the rush of the birth, it felt like the world was on hold just for us. I held the baby, she breastfed, then Alex held her. We chatted about everything and nothing while we watched the dawn creep up and the sky turn golden on Florence’s first morning ever in the world. Afterwards we were taken to the ward where we stayed for the rest of the day, and where Eliza met […]

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37 Weeks Pregnant – Full Term And False Alarms

Gillian — Thu, 25 Sep 2014 06:18:32 +0000

Here’s my latest pregnancy update at 37 weeks pregnant (full term!) Here’s my 37 weeks But first My Baby Bump At 37 Weeks: Here#s my 37 weeks pregnant bump (the 37 weeks bump is a big one, isn’t it?) I feel huge at 37 weeks! It’s such a big bump at this stage. 37 Weeks Pregnant… “How will I know?” boomed a certain 90’s songstress some time in the last century. “How will I knooooow if HE really loves me?” Of course, she was singing about relationships and love, and I’m talking about another big L here – the one that happens at the end of pregnancy – but it’s the same premise. Braxton Hicks Contractions And False Labour At 37 Weeks The song popped into my head last week, when I was woken up by strong Braxton Hicks contractions, the type that uncomfortably turn your womb into oddly pointed sheet metal. Luckily it wasn’t a work or nursery day, so Eliza and I pottered around having breakfast. And then I realised the Braxton Hicks were happening with some regularity, and were getting much stronger. We decamped to the sofa and CBeebies. It wasn’t the best time or circumstances – Alex had gone to a work meeting, Eliza and I were in pyjamas, we still haven’t painted the dining room yet – hardly the best situation for any quick dashes up to hospital. And I just didn’t know. Was I in labour, or was it a false labour? Was it nothing, or was it…something? I’m 37 Weeks Pregnant But When Will The Baby Arrive? It may sound strange coming from someone who already has a child, but last time I was induced, which is a completely different experience. I have no idea what natural labour is like (and it’s worth pointing out that a ward of hospital staff seemed pretty clueless about what labour was first time, too). I messaged my friend Emily, mum of two, who said very reassuring things about how she’d had exactly the same in the run-up to the big event at around 37 weeks pregnant. And indeed, it did calm down after a while. So false alarm, but pregnancy, like a Bush-era Donald Rumsfeld speech, is full of the known knowns and known unknowns. I know labour is going to happen – as no-one’s pregnant forever, right? – but I don’t know when. And I don’t know what it’s going to be like, but suspect my theory about just having to cough to make the baby come out is fairly wide of the mark. I’ve read a lot about the speed of second labours, and that mums generally leave it as long as possible before going to hospital – hence lots of unexpected home births (not ideal as I’d have to chose between hard wooden floors or our new pale grey carpets, the horror!) But we’ll just have to wait and see. 37 Weeks – Full Term And Finishing Work And yes, 37 weeks pregnant and full term! I finish work today and everything is now ready. But bizarrely for someone who’s so impatient, I’m in absolutely no hurry at all. I can’t wait to meet the baby, just…not…yet. Ask me again at 40 weeks though, and I’m sure it’ll be a different story. You can read all of my second pregnancy updates over here and follow me on Instagram. Also read my post – when’s the best time to go on maternity leave?

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Fantasy hospital bags; what would you really pack in yours?

Gillian — Wed, 03 Sep 2014 12:50:51 +0000

Last night I had Braxton Hicks of such intense ferocity that they woke me up at 4am and jolted my brain into thinking about getting ready for the baby. So this morning, in the style of all panicking procrastinaters, I made some more lists. And top of these was ‘pack hospital bag.’ Ah, what to pack in the the humble hospital bag. The source of much thought and deliberation for mums-to-be worldwide (see also: what shall I wear in labour?) First-time-round we were given a list of things to pack by our NCT course leader. It was a full side of A4 of everything we might need. And I do mean everything. Cushions, a lamp, and photos featured, alongside the absolute must-haves of lip balm, bendy straws and Arnica tablets. Like everyone in our group, I took it pretty much as verbatim – apart from the home furnishings – and didn’t really rest until I’d procured it all in a pre-natal version of The Apprentice shopping challenge. I cross-checked it all off my own list and packed it in my bag several times. And then packed and re-packed some more. I think it’s the focus of such attention because it’s a tangible thing in light of all the great unknowns about labour (what will it be like? How much will it hurt? Will I…you know…that really embarrassing thing?) The knowledge that you’ll have your hairbands and ten tiny baby hats within reach is the control in face of the uncontrollable. But to be honest, how much of it will you ever use? I recently found my Arnica tablets – unopened like most things in my bag were – and laughed. Reading about the rapid and too-early hospital discharge of 40% of new mums didn’t surprise me either. While I had a – relatively luxurious, in hindsight – two night stay, a friend who gave birth down the corridor from me had her bed swiped during her post-delivery shower and was home a few hours later, and another was ushered out of the swinging doors shortly after having had her baby, only four hours after she got to hospital, in the middle of the night. Pretty shocking. So how much stuff will you ever really need? You need nappies and a few changes of outfits for the baby. Things for you to wear and to keep you comfortable. Toiletries and snacks. But not much else and as little as possible. And a going home outfit? Even Billie Faiers from Towie left hospital in her pyjamas. But what I think would be more handy – and certainly more used – would be a hospital bag containing all the things you want after the nine month no booze, no good cheese, no fun drought of pregnancy. You know, all the things you really, really want. Mine would be along the following lines: Portable and refreshing gin in a tin Sushi, non-pasteurised cheese, pate Eggs Benedict with smoked salmon About ten packs of really posh salami (who am I kidding? Even the cheap stuff would do) A round of cocktails Biggest bottle of prosecco in the world Giant pack of maternity pads A good night’s sleep All in a tiny, impractical, swanky designer clutch It’s a fantasy bag, so we’re nearly sidestepping any practical, breastfeeding, alcohol consumption and responsible parenting issues here. But what would be in yours? (PS – proper, serious suggestions and a hospital bag checklist over on TalkMum. I’m packing my make-up bag and phone charger first after baby stuff. Priorities).

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28 weeks pregnant: Is there a (birth) plan B?

Gillian — Sun, 27 Jul 2014 19:46:56 +0000

A pregnancy update at 28 weeks pregnant… “So…” the antenatal consultant said to me this week. “there’s been a change of plan in your birth plan…” More on that shortly. But firstly, who wrote a birth plan, and who actually had any of it it followed? I’m struggling to think of a single person I know or know of who actually did with a hospital birth. Most people will probably say ‘it never came out of the bag.’ Mine was an incredibly short and pretty relaxed set of ticks and instructions on a form the midwife filled out for me. I didn’t see an awful lot of point in writing anything lengthy as I knew I was willing to change my mind about what I wanted if circumstances dictated. I didn’t think I wanted pain relief, unless it hurt so much I wanted all the pain relief. I didn’t want a forceps delivery, unless a forceps delivery was necessary, and so on. And in the end? Due to the speedy nature of Eliza’s birth, I seriously doubt anyone did even look at it. I was lucky to even have a room to give birth in. And only about one of the only things I wanted – delayed cord clamping – happened, but not really due to anyone knowing this is what I wanted. It really depends on the hospital and circumstances you’re in, doesn’t it? Medical staff are brilliant but busy, city hospitals are beyond packed, it’s very overwhelming, circumstances change constantly. One of the first elements in a birth plan tends to be where you actually give birth. I’d touched upon how I wanted to go to a midwife-lead unit this time, even though I’m high risk. So this week, at 28 weeks pregnant, I saw the consultant and ran this idea by him. And somewhat predictably, the consultant said no. To be fair, he did consider it for about a quarter of a second. The main reason being I’ll need to be monitored by a doctor. Which makes sense, and is clearly the safest route, so I’m happy taking that. However, there is a change of plan. Last time I was induced on my due date. But this time, all being well with the baby, they see no reason for that to happen this time. In some ways, it would have been easier to have a definite date (so we can make fixed arrangements for the wider plan, of who looks after Eliza). But that aside, I’m pretty pleased I’ll be allowed to progress naturally as I think it’ll be easier on my body and much less intense and painful. I hope! However, if I go way overdue I’m going to be unbearable, especially with the uncertainty. So good luck, Alex. Natural ways of bringing about labour that actually work, anyone? P.S. my 28 weeks pregnant photo is brought to you on behalf of bad bathroom selfies, as my photographer temporarily went on strike due to someone being far too picky… As well as my 28 weeks pregnant update I’ve compiled all my baby 2 blog posts into one page. You can also read more maternity updates at 27 weeks, 26 weeks, 25 weeks, 24 weeks, 22 weeks, 21 weeks, 20 weeks, 19 weeks, 18 weeks, week 17, week 16, week 15, week 14, and the first trimester.

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A guide to the maternity services at King’s College Hospital

Gillian — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 18:47:08 +0000

One of the mums-to-be from our NCT group sent round a link to a video that’s a guide to the maternity services at King’s College Hospital – where we’ll all be giving birth shortly – that explains all about the labour and birth facilites there. The video covers a variety of topics including having your baby at the hospital, signs and symptoms of labour – as well as the all-important question of when to go in once contractions start! – established labour, monitoring, pain relief options and post-birth care. There’s also feedback from lots of midwives, and some new mums with their incredibly cute and tiny newborn babies. It’s such a simple idea to produce a clip like this for future parents, but it’s so effective; it answers loads of questions, especially as it’s not always convenient for people to visit ahead of the main event. Alex and I are quite lucky in the respect that we’ve seen the labour wards there and covered lots of the information during our NCT classes, but still found the video really useful to watch. So here you go, here’s a guide to the maternity services at King’s College Hospital. If you found this useful, read my pregnancy diaries week by week with baby 1 and baby 2, what they DON’T tell you in NCT classes and everything I was clueless about with babies

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