Friday's Child

We arrived at the hospital at 7.50am on Friday 1st June. I had had a C-Section previously as an emergency in 2001, but had very much wanted a VBAC. The hospital had agreed, but were keen for me not to go too far over. At nine days late, I went in for my elective C-Section - even at this stage, the hospital had been okay for me to go further if I wanted to, but by Friday I was happier to get it over with, as a fear of history repeating itself from the first birth - 12 days late, 3 inductions, 2 day labour, emergency C-section - was looming. The midwife who met us was absolutely lovely, and explained that we were the only people on the Delivery suite (this of a big, teaching hospital, how bizarre!) so could get on straight away. This had the effect of bringing all my pent up emotions to the forefront, and when she went to get the paperwork, I started to sob all over poor M. Midwife was fabulous when she came back in and really reassuring.

We went through all the paperwork, and the anaesthetist came to talk about the contraindications (major advantage of the emergency was no time for all of that). Then it was time to get changed and go down to the Theatre. It is an especially surreal feeling walking down to have a baby.

Then we had to wait for various personnel to arrive, but we chatted to the two midwives (ours and the Scrub midwife) who were lovely. Once we got into theatre we met some other participants - the Anaesthetics assistant in particular was fab - and because it was quiet, there were some bigwigs around: the anaesthetic consultant did some on the job training/support with the Reg (I have to say the anaesthetic consultant was gawjus!) and the on-call obstetric consultant had a nosy as well. The Obs Reg was the doctor we had seen at our last antenatal and was really nice. So all in all it was a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere, especially when they put my favourite radio station Xfm on.

The spinal took 42 minutes to put in, and it was a really stressful time. I pointed out to the Anaesthtist that the "too posh to push" brigade could do with being in the roon at that point to see that CS isn't an "easy" option. I am bruised to b*******y on my back, and of course the whole 42 minutes thought of all the things that could go wrong. Anyway eventually it was in - what an odd feeling! I had had a topped up epidural for my previous section, and there was a marked difference - my legs were heavy, tingly and then: lifeless. The screens went up, and dh and I held hands very tight and the anaesthetist and assistant distracted us by chatting. I could feel stuff happenening and there was a particularly gruesome bit where they were really shoving the top of my bump down, which was uncomfortable rather than painful. And then - the baby was out!

A was a biggie 9lb 11oz, but all the way through, the midwives and doctors had told us that this one wasn't going to be as big, that was one of the reasons the VBAC had been a go-er. So when the midwife said "It's a biggun!", we both said "oh, but not as big as our other child"...until she brought him (for it is HE) around the screen, and he was HUGE. We both went "Bloodyhell!" When she popped him onto the scales he was 10lbs and 7oz! He is 57cm long and has a 38.5 cm head circumference. M cut the cord, and supervised the clean up etc, and then the lovley midwife brought him over to me and we had skin to skin and lovely cuddles whilst the surgeons did thier jobs.

When it was all over, we went to recovery, and the midwife set me up like the Queen of Sheba, with pillows and supports and towels and blankets for our first feed. The feeding has been a worry for me as I had to use shields with A as my nipples were inverted and flat. This time, however, we tok to it really well, and it was a lovely time for the three of us and the midwife in recovery, and then M popped to call our parents.

We were up on the ward by about 12. M stayed with me all afternoon and my Mum brought A to see his new brother at 3. I have to say, it was a lovely positive experience, given that it was so different from what I had hoped, and DS2 is yummy, really scrumptious - I'm quite in love!

We've called him Ted Patrick Fergus, and it suits him very well. He's still feeding well(no shields! It's amazing what a bit of second time around confidence will do for you!) and so far (x) sleeping well. M, A and I love him to bits! I had a very nice postnatal experience, with lovely midwives who really promoted breastfeeding and supported all the women on the ward. The women I shared with were great, and we've exchanged numbers, so hoping for a couple of new mummy get together opportunities. I feel very well post operatively (arnica, I swear) and we came home today. Ted's already been out for a quick trip to Boots and for a coffee.

We seem to be doing ok at home - it's early days, but we're more relaxed than we were 6 years ago. He's lovely, and I'm so, so glad that we have had him.