The First Birth

My pregnancy was long awaited for, and TBH, I had given up hope of children. however, although long awaited, it took me 8 weeks to realise I was pregnant, as was having severe probs with gallbladder, and v unwell. In fact, I ended up having my gallbladder removed by keyhole surgery when I was 18 weeks pregnant – not fun!
i started to feel better at around 24 weeks, when I was back at work. unfortunately by 28 weeks I had severe symphysis pubis dysfunction and on crutches, by 32 weeks barely walking and by 28 weeks bedbound. It was a lesson in humility.
At my due date, I eventually, reluctantly, agreed to an induction, as i was in a bad way. Didn’t think much was going to happen so sent Chris home after the gel at about 10pm. i started contracting pretty uch straight away, but thought they were ‘prostin pains’ and that i was being a wimp. Was very annoyed by incapacity to read a book. It had started to snow heavily, so I leant against the window watching the flakes come down to settle – this was v relaxing! All the pains were in my back, and v uncomfortable/painful.
At about 2am, I decided to come clean as a wimp, and ask for some painkillers. The midwife [whom I like and have worked with on and off for many years] inisited on examining me, and I was delighted to find I was 6 cm- so not a wimp! Labour ward was full though so was told I may have to have baby on ward – OK. Chris was called in. Typically he had only just gone to bed, so was exhausted.
A bed became available on d suite before he got there, and I was whisked round to find an anaesthetist had een called to give me an epidural. To my eternal shame, I was so embarrassed that she had been got out of bed, I let her, even though I didn’t want one [what was I thinking of????]
By 8am I was fully dilated, but OP position [back to back] and the contractions had died off. I then had a row with the midwife about getting a drip to get them back again and breaking my waters – she didn’t want to, but I did. Eventually, after threatening to call the consultant, she rang consultant who said yes. took them 45 mins to find the pump though! We got pushing in the end, and 3 hours later, with nothing doing I asked them to call the consultant for an operative delivery. Emma came, but no anaesth to top up epidural for trial of forceps rotational delivery. While waiting, i felt something give, and then pushing had more effect, so at 12.30 Elinor was born. Unfortunately I also had a 3rd degree tear.
She was gorgeous, and cried straightaway. At 8lb 1 she was one of the smaller babies for our family. She was covered in vernix and looked a bit like a snowman – matching the weather. Chris and I were overjoyed to see her. The birth wasn’t what we wanted, but the result was. Breastfeeding took about 3 weeks to get right, though she gained weight in all that time. Sleeping took about 2 years!
typed 4 years later, and look what a gorgeous girl we have!! She has sent us down a path of discovery that we had never considered. Thankyou Elinor