690
edits
Changes
no edit summary
He was certainly born around or on his due date.
I remember waking quite suddenly at 1am with appalling pain in my back. I had never been in labour before so it seemed probable that this was it. I timed the pains and they were coming quickly, every 6 mins or so. As the next 20 minutes passed, they became closer, until they were just 3 minutes apart. The hospital didn't seem too interested, but said I should come in.
I have no idea how I managed to get through the gruelling 9 hours or so, but I managed to be ready to push. And push I did. But nothing was happening. Everyone was telling me to push harder, but still the little so and so would not come out. Over an hour of this and the nurses, sensing something was not right, got an obstetrician to take a look. He declared that James was in the posterior position, so his spine was against mine and he probably would not be able to get out without help. At which point, out came the dreaded stirrups and I was given a J cut (don't ask) and a Keillands Rotation. It was the stuff of nightmares and I had no idea that any human could remain conscious through such appalling pain. After the rotation he was pulled out with forceps (as was common practice 25 years ago - nowadays it would be a caesarian). He was a beautiful and perfect, healthy little boy. They took a while to stitch me back together (28 stitches, the gentleman told me) and a very, very long time before I was well again.
==Second born's Birth==
This time it was easier and more natural. The pains started around 9 in the morning and were a bit like period pains. As the morning moved on the midwives popped in and said, yes, labour is going well. The pains became closer and stronger. I had to go upstairs so as not to frighten my toddler. My exhusband lay on the bed while I was on all fours on the floor and sweetly said "Can't you keep the noise down?" He was not the happiest of people that day. I resolved there and then that if I did have more children he would not be my birthing partner.
We arrived at the hospital, with the midwives, and I was given gas and air. But that was all I had as the pain was never very terrible. I remember having a massive contraction as the MW was head down in the business end, which broke my waters, which exploded all over her and the room. Most impressive! After about an hour or so at the hospital out popped a big baby and as the nurse held him up to me with "It's a boy!" I said "My God, he's ugly." She was not amused. He of course turned out to be a gorgeous pudding of a child and is now a handsome young man!
==Daughter's Birth==
===13.2.95===
I was still married to my now ex, but things were far from well between us. When I found out I was pregnant again (another miracle conception) it went down like a ton of sick. It was the unhappiest of pregnancies and my dear friend stepped in as birthing partner. Again, I woke with normal mild labour pains and spent the day working them off as best I could. The bigger problem was that my birthing partner was about to go on holiday and I could not get in touch with her at all. After a day of worry, she finally got back to me and agreed to meet me at the hospital.