Kerry's Birth Stories

Jake's Birth

It was the 9th December and I had my final midwife's appointment before getting transferred to Consultant led care at the Hospital due to it being a IVF pregnancy. All was well at the appointment; I was measuring beyond my dates and the baby seemed very happy.

Over the weekend following this appointment all was well. We had just come home from my mum's house after having a lovely Sunday dinner with her and a few friends. I felt so tired, as you do in late pregnancy, so I went to run a bath to have a nice soak before going to bed. But I noticed a strange type of discharge (sorry to much info) and thought to myself I will give the Doctors a ring in the morning I later realised it was my plug. When I went to bed I was out like a light - until bloody midnight. What was it with midnight and this baby? He always woke me up at the same time. So, as I did every other night, I went down stairs for a drink and to lay on the settee.

I was just dozing off to sleep when I had this funny sensation across my tummy. I knew straight away I was in labour. I paced up and down the living room before waking up Paul, who, bless him, had only had two hours sleep since the day before, due to working nights.

He drove me crazy when he finally got up. Do I want a bath? NO! Do I want my back rubbing? NO! Do I want to walk? NO! Would he just leave me alone? YES, please! I was 34 weeks gone so knew it was early, but worry didn't even cross my mind. I don't know why, it just didn't, and it didn't seem to worry the Hospital either. They said to make my way in when I was ready and if I wanted a bath before I came that was fine too.

The first fourteen hours passed quickly with just paracetamol. I then had an Epidural and slept right up to the point of needing to push! So that is what I did next. He was born very quickly, in just two pushes. My son was finally here. He was crying and screaming no end and it was the best sound I had ever heard in my life. It then hit that he was premature! I remember asking if he was ok as they put him in a Incubator and took him out of the room. "He is just fine. We have just taken him to be checked out by our neonatal team," the midwife replied.

A couple of hours later my husband and I were taken to see our son for the first real time. Emotion soon hit us both and we were overwhelmed with tears of joy. We were finally parents and our dreams had been answered. This little 5lb 9oz beautiful baby boy was ours.

Jessica's Birth

My second labour was very different to my first, at least this time I was full term at 39 weeks gestation. I had been to see my consultant on the Thursday to be booked in for an induction on my due date. This was due to having an IVF pregnancy and also a premature birth. They wanted to make sure all was ok with a doppler scan, to check for reduction in blood flow to the placenta. All the tests came back fine and I was having a healthy full term baby, who also looked very big for her dates.

Before the end of this appointment the consultant asked if I wanted a stretch and sweep. I said yes and soon found myself on the bed having the procedure. He said I was already 2-3cm dilated and he had managed a very good sweep of the babies head which was very low in my pelvis and said I was fully engaged.

The following day I felt very uncomfortable down there, but no pain or contractions. Paul and I went to bingo on the Friday night and again just felt uncomfy and battered. She was kicking hell out of my ribs. Sadly, we didn't win, but you win some you loose some. I went straight to bed when we got home as I was exhausted, but woke up very suddenly with itchy legs. They itched like I've never known before. I later found out I was suffering with PUPPPs ( pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy ).

A couple of minutes later one pain, one gush and one labour began just like that! It was 3.26am Saturday morning and the contractions were two minutes apart, lasting 30-40 seconds and I can tell you they really hurt. Within forty minutes I was at the hospital and was 6cm dilated and ready for my epidural. I suppose I'm a bit of whimp when it comes to pain.

With every contraction I did this funny thing with my hands, where I slapped my fingers into the palms. My mum and husband found this very amusing, as did the midwives and anybody else that came into the room to see what we were laughing at! With every contraction they sang the bloody Birdy Song to me, " with a little bit of this and a little bit of that, now shake your bum."

So after all the laughter and giggles it was finally time to do another check to see how I was progressing. The midwife put her gloves on and lifted the sheet and said, "Don't laugh, I mean it. Kerry, you've crowned." She quickly got the birth pack open and I gave a couple of short pushes and plonk! This wet sticky screaming thing was dumped onto my belly. I had given birth once again and the tears came flooding in. My beautiful baby girl was here, weighing in at 7lbs 11oz and was nuzzling already for a feed.

She was fed and dressed and I was in the bath within twenty minuets of having her. We were soon moved to a ward and our dear son, her big brother, came to see her. He loved his little sister lots as did we all. xx

--Kerryflump (talk) 21:26, 28 April 2013 (UTC)