****He's here, he's finally here****

My gorgeous baby boy is finally here. I can't believe I love him so much, I just sit and look at him for hours. He's such a good boy, he sleeps for hours at a time, even at night time!!

<--Totally perfect.

Proud parents

Birth Story.

I went in on Friday 24th to start the induction process. They were short staffed so we waited for ages. When they finally examined me they decided that I didn't need the pessary to soften my cervix and sent me home. I was gutted, I didn't realise that getting sent home was an option.

We went back in on Saturday morning at 8 a.m. The plan was to break my waters so the contractions would start on their own. After 3 attempts they decided that they wouldn't be able to break my waters because Jamie's head was basically plugging everything up to tightly. At 1 p.m. I got a drip of oxyticin put into my hand. It took 3 attempts too, and was bl00dy agony getting it in. Basically, they try to shove a thick silver tube up your veins. It was a junior midwife who tried at first but she just managed to torture me without getting the drip in properly. She gave up and called a Dr who finally managed to get it in. Ouch ouch ouch! Because of the drip Jamie had to be monitored so they put a clip on the top of his scalp and wired it up to a thing that was strapped onto my leg.

At 3p.m. I had my first contraction, and by 3:15 they were starting to get really strong and were only a minute apart!! I got gas and air at about 3:30 and straight away starting asking for the diamorphine. After what seemed like an age the midwife finally gave me the shot. Diamorphine is wierd, it didn't seem to take any of the pain away, it just made me sleepy between contractions - probably great if you have time to appreciate it but by this time they were coming thick and fast. It wore off after about an hour. Through the whole thing I had the contraction monitor thing strapped to my stomach as well. The midwife kept saying the reading didn't look that high whenever I asked for an epidural. She said the Dr and anesthetist would be in at 5 p.m. but by the time they got there it was 5:45. The Dr examined me and said I was already 10cm dilated so it was too late for any pain relief!!! At this point I was REALLY scared and kept saying I couldn't do it. I remember also saying something along the lines of "I told you it was painful" (only perhaps not quite so politely!!!). Then I had no choice but to start pushing without any pain relief at all, they even took my gas and air away so it didn't distract me from pushing. After another excruiciating hour Jamie was born at 6:45 p.m, weighing 8lbs 13oz and measuring 52cm long.

People who tell you that you forget the pain are liars. You don't forget it, but pretty much as soon as they put your baby onto your chest you don't mind any more.

I had to have quite a lot of stitches which are still pretty sore. I even have a tear that was too tricky to stitch so it's been left open! This is probably too much information, but for the first 3 days passing urine was so painful that I saw stars and had to hold on to the towel rail to stop from passing out. It's still pretty sore but starting to be more bearable. I can't wait for it to feel better so I can get out with the pram to show my beautiful Jamie off.

Anyway, that's my birth story. It was horrendous at the time, but I suppose the 3 and a half hour labour kind of makes up for the intensity of the pain.

29th July

I'm so bored being pregnant now!! I'm 38 weeks today and this baby is showing no signs of going anywhere soon! Where I live they won't induce you until you're 41wks + 5 so I could still be pregnant for almost 4 more weeks. The UK attitude to pregnancy is very much one of non-intervention. We get either one or two scans, and see the midwive every 4 weeks, every 2 in the last 6 weeks, but midwive visits are just to check blood pressure and urine. No internals or membrane sweeps for us. I'd really like to know if I'm dilated or effaced at all - a bit of good news would be so welcome right now! I feel like all I do is complain to my husband, family and friends about how tired/sore/grumpy/insane I'm feeling - they must be getting sooooooooooooo bored of me by now! Also, all I do is lie on the sofa - I'm so boring I even bore myself.

30th July

Feeling a bit cheerier today. Had my 38 week check up and my baby boy is strong and healthy. Hearing that heart pumping away kind of reminded me why I'm doing all this. I can put up with all of this for a few weeks more for the sake of my boy.

5th August

These pictures are of the bedding and toyswe've chosen for Jamie. Isn't it gorgeous? His bedroom is painted light blue with white woodwork and white furniture. It's beautiful. Don't think I'll be able to let Jamie in his room - he might mess it up too much!!

11th August So, one day to go until my official due date, and no signs of this baby going anywhere. Typical male, must take after his lazy daddy! He probably won't be moving until he's forced out! Got a midwife appointment tomorrow so I'm going to ask her if she'll sweep my membranes. Not sure if they do that at the local clinic or if you have to make an appointment at the hospital, but it's worth asking anyway I suppose. Every day for the last 3 weeks has been like Groundhog Day, I seem to do the exact same things over and over and over and over again (these things are mainly sleeping, reading, lying on the sofa and watching TV). I'm so dull!! Can't wait for my wee baby to arrive and give me some purpose!! 15th August Well, I'm now 40 weeks + 3 days and something definitely feels 'different'. I lost my mucus plug this morning (yeugh) and feel really heavy and lots of pressure. I'm willing the baby to break his waters. I've been sitting talking to him, trying to coach him into using his fingernails to scratch at the sack. Don't think he's been listening so far but I'll keep at him! I would much rather my waters break before contractions start. The hospital is 45 minutes away so I'm scared that I'll leave it too late and end up not making it to the hospital. I know that if your waters have broken then they don't send you home. Come on baby! Flex those fingers, get those nails dug in!!! 21st August Still here with no sign of baby. 41 wks + 2 days. I never thought I'd make it this far. My mum had 4 children and we were all born between 1 and 2 weeks early. I REALLY thought I'd go early too. Saw the midwife yesterday and she said there was no change. I'm still just dilated to 2cm. I'm booked in for an induction this Friday. Am actually looking forward to being in hospital and being in pain! Me at 4 months . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Me at 9 months (40 weeks and 2 days to be precise!) Can't believe that I felt like I had a big bump at 4 months!!!!!
About You
Name?:	Sarah
Age?:	28
Height?:	5ft 6
Pre-pregnancy weight?:	150
About The Father
Name?:	John
Age?:	30
Height?:	6ft
Are you still together?:	YES, married for just over 2 years.
About Your Pregnancy
Is this your first pregnancy?:	Yes
When did you find out you were pregnant?:	4th December
Was it planned?:	Yes . . . but had only been trying 2 weeks!!
What was your first reaction?:	Oh. . .My. . .God!!! How can it be this easy??
Who was with you when you found out?:	No-one.
Who was the first person you told?:	Husband.
How did your parents react?:	Delighted - first grandchild.
How far along are you?:	38 weeks.
What was your first symptom?:	Nausea
What is your due date?:	12th Aug.
Do you know the sex of the baby?:	Yes.
If so, what is it?:	Boy.
Have you picked out names?:	Yes.
If so, what are they?:	Jamie.
How much weight have you gained?:	40lbs!
Do you have stretch marks?:	Yes :0(
Have you felt the baby move?:	Oh yes! He loves to stretch his legs out.
Have you heard the heartbeat?:	Yes.
About the birth
Will you keep the baby?:	Of course!!!
Home or hospital birth?:	Hospital.
Natural or medicated birth?:	Drugs, drugs, drugs!
Who will be in the delivery room with you?:	Husband.
Will you breastfeed?:	Yes.
Do you think you'll need a c-section?:	Hope not.
Will you cry when you hold the baby for the first time?:	Most likely.
What's the first thing you might say to him/her?:	Hello baby?
Would you let someone videotape the birth?:	No way!.
Are you excited about the birth, or scared?:	Both.