Little Joshua made his entrance into the world a mere 4 days late at 7.36pm on Friday 30th November 2007 weighing 8lb exactly in the MLU at UHW Cardiff.
My due date came and went uneventfully despite MW's telling me "It won't be long!" from about 38wks onwards. I'd been having a show and niggles from this point onwards but with no results.
I'd started taking Raspberry leaf tea capsules from 36wks to help with the second stage as last time i'd really struggled and needed an instrumental delivery. Had also been eating pineapple everyday and curry every other day! The night before i went into labour i enjoyed a Chicken Dhansak and Bhuna from the takeaway followed by half a pineapple but who knows how helpful this was!
On Thursday morning i woke up with back surges like a wave across and inside my lower spine. I knew everything was beginning as this was how it started with Jakey and he was OP too.
My husband went off to work and left Jacob and i at home but by mid morning i was feeling quite uncomfortable and Jakey was poorly needing lots of cuddles which as awful as it sounds i couldn't bear to give. I just wanted to lie down and relax. So i phoned hubby and he came home from work telling me I'd "better go into labour soon" which i thought was hilarious.
Continued quite calmly throughout the day and my show became very bloody so obviously i was really excited at this point even though Jacob took 4 days from the start of labour to arrive!Rang the MLU and they said to wait until the surges were 1 in 5 consistently. Chilled out in the night with a DVD, blew up my ball, checked my bags and phoned my Mum to put them on standby.
Between 12am and 4am the surges were quite close together varying between 10 and 7 minutes but quite inconsistently. At 7am they were between 7 and 5 minutes so phoned Mum and Dad to get them to venture the 2hrs across the bridge.
Then the worst (or so i thought) happened - everything slowed down - and all we could think was 'this is going to be Jacob all over again'. Tried to keep active and cleaned the house before Mum and Dad arrived. We even cooked Steak and Guiness pie!
At 10am Friday morning my folks arrived expecting to see me redfaced and panting. Needless to say they were disappointed and it was at this point that everything STOPPED! I was convinced that my body was like 'Chill out, enjoy a cuppa with your folks, make sure Jake's alright and we'll crack on when you're ready'!
At 11am i disappeared upstairs to concentrate on my labour and got bouncing on my ball using relaxation techniques i'd read about in the Mongan Method and been introduced to by a wonderful lady who had been helping me by email.This is really when it all kicked off.
The surges started coming really close together about every 5 minutes and were lasting a minute. I was coping brilliantly, just arching my back and leaning over the bed counting upwards to 20 and downwards once the surge peaked. Although everything was becoming regular and strong, me and hubby were still both very sceptical thinking we'd be sent home if we went into the MLU too early. But the surges continued like this for an hour and were gradually becoming more powerful so i decided it was time to go.
So we recapped my folks on an A-Z guide of looking after Jakey, loaded the car and set off, dreading the thought of everything ceasing in the car as it can do. Hubby was so calm that he even suggested stopping at McDonalds for food just in case we were in for a long ride! I obviously obliged and sat in the McDonalds car park in Barry enjoying a double cheese burger, pausing for contractions in between mouthfuls!
Arrived at the MLU at 2pm and was shown to my room. The MW came and went through my notes and when she examined me at 3pm she gave me the fantastic news that i was 5-7cm (the latter when stretched) dilated! Woo hoo. I was so chuffed with myself; for coping, for progressing, for everything. At this point i asked for Gas and Air as i needed some help to get to the other side of each surge due to the fact that Joshua was back to back.
MW was lovely - i explained my fears about a repeat performance of Jakey's delivery which was slow to progress, led to foetal distress, ended up being forceps delivery after failed ventouse and left me with a third degree tear. She was really positive and explained that they would do everything to help me achieve a more positive experience this time.
Things progressed really well especially after bouncing on the ball for half an hour or so. Surges became very uncomfortable but i just withdrew into myself and everything kind of merged into one and time passed really quickly. At 6pm my MW had to leave and was replaced by one very matronly and old school figure, or so i thought. She seemed quite cold intially but turned out to be a pillar of strength and support.
Some of my fears about the birth returned when my MW explained that because of the weakness in my perineum, she'd ask me to lie on my back to deliver so she could control the head descent. I was terrified, especially as i'd researched birthing techniques and on your back seemed a big no no. But i trusted my intincts and my MW and just went with the flow.
For the next hour or so i lay on my side and breathed through the surges, hubby found it hysterical as i was gurning and chomping on the entonox tube everytime i felt a surge coming. I also reverted back to my 'moo' cow impression that i'd demonstrated with Jake's labour. I was also starting to feel the urge to wee everytime one came. I actually wet myself completely at one point.
At 7pm after much coaxing on to my back (the tension was horrendous in my back and bum so i had to sit on my fists to release some of the pressure), the MW examined me and revealed that i was 8cm which seemed a bit of a disappointment as i'd progressed so quickly initially but hubby and MW praised me and assured me it wouldn't be long before i met my little boy. And they were right.
As soon as i heard "8cm" my waters went with a huge pop and big gush - hubby was covered - i actually thought that the head had popped out as it was that powerful! Then everything went at the speed of light. The MW was surpised how quickly everything was progressing as i was showing signs of being ready to birth so she got her kit ready.
At this point i was completely taken over by the experience. It was like my body was taken over by a wave of power. I just breathed down into every surge from here on and slowly but surely i could feel Joshua descending. After 2 breaths Joshua's head was out and with the next surge he arrived in the world, perfect and complete.
I cuddled my little boy whilst i delivered the placenta and was so euphoric - i'd done it and the whole experience had been pain free. I still waited, a little unsettled, to hear whether my tear had reopened. And thank God, after much poking around down there, i was given the fantastic news - not even a graze. I was ecstatic and just burst into tears. I couldn't believe how different two births could be!
My MW found it amusing though that i was comlaining that i felt sore. After Jake's birth i was still numb from the spinal and felt nothing for a day, and even then it was pain not soreness like this. I felt amazing. Hopped in the shower, put on a clean nightie ate some toast and had a cup of tea, in complete disbelief that i'd had a baby moments earlier.
Hubby left at about half 9 and i spent the rest of the night just gazing at our little boy, something i really felt i'd missed out on with Jake. The staff were fab, constantly in and out of my room, making me tea, offering help. They even did Joshua's check and discharge at 4am when i asked them so i could go home earlier in the morning.
At 7.30am Saturday morning, hubby and Jake arrived. Jacob gave me a huge cuddle and went straight over to his little brother. It was like he instantly knew that what had been in my tummy was now a little baby. It was gorgoues, he just kept saying 'Joshua'.
We came home at 10am and from there on it's all been amazing. Josh is a little guzzler, after a week sitting on my settee and not even seeing my bed, let alone sleep, i decided to use formula hoping that it would satisfy him and also so i could be there for Jacob more as i'd barely seen him!
Well it didn't satisfy him! He's a whopping 14lb at 10wks and drinks like there's no tommorrow but the good news is that the formula seems to really agree with him, we really suffered with Jake as he had such a sensitive tummy. Jake adores Josh and the way they look at eachother and giggle is breathtaking and beautiful. I thought being a mum to one was awesome enough but this is just magic.
So despite this being a ridiculously long and drawn out birth story - i hope it gives hope to all mums, whether it's your first or last, or if you've had a bad birth experience. This is testament that no two births are the same and it really can be an enjoyable and awe-inspiring experience. Many thanks to Hypnobirthing, all my family and friends and little Joshua.
My due date came and went uneventfully despite MW's telling me "It won't be long!" from about 38wks onwards. I'd been having a show and niggles from this point onwards but with no results.
I'd started taking Raspberry leaf tea capsules from 36wks to help with the second stage as last time i'd really struggled and needed an instrumental delivery. Had also been eating pineapple everyday and curry every other day! The night before i went into labour i enjoyed a Chicken Dhansak and Bhuna from the takeaway followed by half a pineapple but who knows how helpful this was!
On Thursday morning i woke up with back surges like a wave across and inside my lower spine. I knew everything was beginning as this was how it started with Jakey and he was OP too.
My husband went off to work and left Jacob and i at home but by mid morning i was feeling quite uncomfortable and Jakey was poorly needing lots of cuddles which as awful as it sounds i couldn't bear to give. I just wanted to lie down and relax. So i phoned hubby and he came home from work telling me I'd "better go into labour soon" which i thought was hilarious.
Continued quite calmly throughout the day and my show became very bloody so obviously i was really excited at this point even though Jacob took 4 days from the start of labour to arrive!Rang the MLU and they said to wait until the surges were 1 in 5 consistently. Chilled out in the night with a DVD, blew up my ball, checked my bags and phoned my Mum to put them on standby.
Between 12am and 4am the surges were quite close together varying between 10 and 7 minutes but quite inconsistently. At 7am they were between 7 and 5 minutes so phoned Mum and Dad to get them to venture the 2hrs across the bridge.
Then the worst (or so i thought) happened - everything slowed down - and all we could think was 'this is going to be Jacob all over again'. Tried to keep active and cleaned the house before Mum and Dad arrived. We even cooked Steak and Guiness pie!
At 10am Friday morning my folks arrived expecting to see me redfaced and panting. Needless to say they were disappointed and it was at this point that everything STOPPED! I was convinced that my body was like 'Chill out, enjoy a cuppa with your folks, make sure Jake's alright and we'll crack on when you're ready'!
At 11am i disappeared upstairs to concentrate on my labour and got bouncing on my ball using relaxation techniques i'd read about in the Mongan Method and been introduced to by a wonderful lady who had been helping me by email.This is really when it all kicked off.
The surges started coming really close together about every 5 minutes and were lasting a minute. I was coping brilliantly, just arching my back and leaning over the bed counting upwards to 20 and downwards once the surge peaked. Although everything was becoming regular and strong, me and hubby were still both very sceptical thinking we'd be sent home if we went into the MLU too early. But the surges continued like this for an hour and were gradually becoming more powerful so i decided it was time to go.
So we recapped my folks on an A-Z guide of looking after Jakey, loaded the car and set off, dreading the thought of everything ceasing in the car as it can do. Hubby was so calm that he even suggested stopping at McDonalds for food just in case we were in for a long ride! I obviously obliged and sat in the McDonalds car park in Barry enjoying a double cheese burger, pausing for contractions in between mouthfuls!
Arrived at the MLU at 2pm and was shown to my room. The MW came and went through my notes and when she examined me at 3pm she gave me the fantastic news that i was 5-7cm (the latter when stretched) dilated! Woo hoo. I was so chuffed with myself; for coping, for progressing, for everything. At this point i asked for Gas and Air as i needed some help to get to the other side of each surge due to the fact that Joshua was back to back.
MW was lovely - i explained my fears about a repeat performance of Jakey's delivery which was slow to progress, led to foetal distress, ended up being forceps delivery after failed ventouse and left me with a third degree tear. She was really positive and explained that they would do everything to help me achieve a more positive experience this time.
Things progressed really well especially after bouncing on the ball for half an hour or so. Surges became very uncomfortable but i just withdrew into myself and everything kind of merged into one and time passed really quickly. At 6pm my MW had to leave and was replaced by one very matronly and old school figure, or so i thought. She seemed quite cold intially but turned out to be a pillar of strength and support.
Some of my fears about the birth returned when my MW explained that because of the weakness in my perineum, she'd ask me to lie on my back to deliver so she could control the head descent. I was terrified, especially as i'd researched birthing techniques and on your back seemed a big no no. But i trusted my intincts and my MW and just went with the flow.
For the next hour or so i lay on my side and breathed through the surges, hubby found it hysterical as i was gurning and chomping on the entonox tube everytime i felt a surge coming. I also reverted back to my 'moo' cow impression that i'd demonstrated with Jake's labour. I was also starting to feel the urge to wee everytime one came. I actually wet myself completely at one point.
At 7pm after much coaxing on to my back (the tension was horrendous in my back and bum so i had to sit on my fists to release some of the pressure), the MW examined me and revealed that i was 8cm which seemed a bit of a disappointment as i'd progressed so quickly initially but hubby and MW praised me and assured me it wouldn't be long before i met my little boy. And they were right.
As soon as i heard "8cm" my waters went with a huge pop and big gush - hubby was covered - i actually thought that the head had popped out as it was that powerful! Then everything went at the speed of light. The MW was surpised how quickly everything was progressing as i was showing signs of being ready to birth so she got her kit ready.
At this point i was completely taken over by the experience. It was like my body was taken over by a wave of power. I just breathed down into every surge from here on and slowly but surely i could feel Joshua descending. After 2 breaths Joshua's head was out and with the next surge he arrived in the world, perfect and complete.
I cuddled my little boy whilst i delivered the placenta and was so euphoric - i'd done it and the whole experience had been pain free. I still waited, a little unsettled, to hear whether my tear had reopened. And thank God, after much poking around down there, i was given the fantastic news - not even a graze. I was ecstatic and just burst into tears. I couldn't believe how different two births could be!
My MW found it amusing though that i was comlaining that i felt sore. After Jake's birth i was still numb from the spinal and felt nothing for a day, and even then it was pain not soreness like this. I felt amazing. Hopped in the shower, put on a clean nightie ate some toast and had a cup of tea, in complete disbelief that i'd had a baby moments earlier.
Hubby left at about half 9 and i spent the rest of the night just gazing at our little boy, something i really felt i'd missed out on with Jake. The staff were fab, constantly in and out of my room, making me tea, offering help. They even did Joshua's check and discharge at 4am when i asked them so i could go home earlier in the morning.
At 7.30am Saturday morning, hubby and Jake arrived. Jacob gave me a huge cuddle and went straight over to his little brother. It was like he instantly knew that what had been in my tummy was now a little baby. It was gorgoues, he just kept saying 'Joshua'.
We came home at 10am and from there on it's all been amazing. Josh is a little guzzler, after a week sitting on my settee and not even seeing my bed, let alone sleep, i decided to use formula hoping that it would satisfy him and also so i could be there for Jacob more as i'd barely seen him!
Well it didn't satisfy him! He's a whopping 14lb at 10wks and drinks like there's no tommorrow but the good news is that the formula seems to really agree with him, we really suffered with Jake as he had such a sensitive tummy. Jake adores Josh and the way they look at eachother and giggle is breathtaking and beautiful. I thought being a mum to one was awesome enough but this is just magic.
So despite this being a ridiculously long and drawn out birth story - i hope it gives hope to all mums, whether it's your first or last, or if you've had a bad birth experience. This is testament that no two births are the same and it really can be an enjoyable and awe-inspiring experience. Many thanks to Hypnobirthing, all my family and friends and little Joshua.
I hope I have an experiance like that. Well done 
