A week ago today...

...I woke up with back ache.

I didn’t really think too much of it and carried on with my plans to re-seal the bath and head to lunch with TB and LD, I also took a stroll round Haskins and Hobbycraft (where I  spotted someone I knew and joked that bubs was unlikely to arrive tomorrow).  I’d kept Pip posted that the back ache had continued all day and mentioned that it might be the start of something or that it might not. I called mum at around 5 to have a moan about said back ache and following her advice I sat in my armchair with a hot water bottle down my back and let the evening continue, at 7 I said to Pip that perhaps we should take a note how often the twinges I was feeling were happening. They were every 15 mins, on the nail.

I continued to twinge away until we bedded in for the night where I whole heartedly expected things to die off and hopefully kick off properly Thursday day-time.

Wrong.

Roll on mid-night and I had 3 hum-dingers 5 mins apart, which spooked me a bit so I decided to put the TENS machine one (a device sent from heaven for women in labour, I cannot recommend it highly enough), move downstairs and watch a bit of tele.  Pip, being the legend he is decided to head down with me, wrapped in our duvet!  After about an hour or so of me not being comfy and my “twinges” getting stonger and more regular Pip decided to record the contractions to see how long they were and how far apart.  Needless to say they were definitely contractions by now.  I recall moving around a lot to try and get comfy; bouncing on the ball, leant over the coffee table, rocking from side to side and then about 2am Pip was starting to ask me if we should call one of the birth centres as I was 3 mins apart and they were lasting about 40 secs.  I fairly vague about doing this as I was worried about heading in somewhere to be told we were 2cm gone and to go back home – motifying first time mum syndrome!

By half 2 I’d caved and Pip had called Ashurst where they had told us to come on in – I think the midwife could probably hear me huffing and puffing my way through contractions!  I had previously spent some time thinking about my breathing and worked out i could breathe in for 5 and out for 10 which I reckoned took me 15 secs and thus in my head I had broken down contractions into 15sec slots.  A lot of this went out the window on Wed evening but the in and out part did remain – which I like to think is the most important part ;o)

 

Taken on the way home on Saturday not on the way in!

On arrival at Ashurst – by arrival, I mean a slow and steady “oh crap here comes another one” walk – I was quickly checked over; blood pressure, baby’s movements and then an internal exam, at which point the midwife confirmed I was 6cm dilated – HUZZAH!!!!  I was so happy to hear that!

We shuffled round to the pool room where I rocked myself (with Pip) through a few more contractions while they filled the pool.  We popped on a Keane album and I got into the pool.   My memories from here on in for the next 6 hours or so are a little hazy as I was otherwise engaged. 

I can recall not liking the gas and air, drinking (revolting) pink lucozade and eating a biscuit – which at 4am even I found a bit wrong.  We had been handed over to 2 midwives; Lucinda and Olivia and at one point one of them decided to call me sweetheart – really?! One of Pips more amusing memories is me shooting him a look (for those that know me I shall leave that one to your imagination) as she did so, and my retort involving the words “you’re not the one in labour sweetheart” later in the process.

By 6am I think both midwives thought I was good to move onto the next stage and I can assure you from my point of view it certainly felt that way but they needed to hoink me out the pool to give me the once over and allow me to use the facilities!

Sadly at this point we discovered I hadn’t budged from the 6cm.  Gutted does not cover the emotion I felt.  Lucinda decided to assist and broke my waters.  At this point the word “plan” started to appear.  The plan at this stage was to pop me back in the pool for 2 hours and see how I got on then if thigns still hadn’t progressed it would be a trip up to Princess Anne to move things along with more intervention.

I think hearing the disappointing news I mentally crossed the line and almost subconsciously decided I wanted more pain relief and to get out the pool and move to Princess Anne sooner rather than later.  Unfortunately for Pip I tried to communicate this to Pip with a look.  Clearly he didn’t get all this information from my eyes, mid-contraction huffing into the gas and air tube!

So having found my voice I said I wanted to go to P Anne and have an epidural.

I do remembering apologising to Pip – as this hadn’t been part of my preferred “plan” – but also knowing I wasn’t going to change my mind.

The midwives and Pip were fantastic and I was told several times how well I had done and that the ambulance was on it’s way.  Another memory that is quite clear in my mind – while clutching the side of the pool still with the g&a hanging out my mouth – is one of the paramedics asking if I was walking out or would like a bed.  Walking? Seriously, I know you are a guy but do I look to be in a fit state to walk out to an ambulance, if nothing else I am wearing nothing but a hospital gown and a bikini top – men, the same in all situations it seems :o)

 As 2 midwives and I headed off to the labour ward (it turns out Lucinda had also grabbed a delivery bag as she was still unsure that I wasn’t about to deliver en route) poor Pip was left to drive up on his own, half leading then following the ambulance.   

Now in a different moment I would have been having a OMGawd I am in an ambulance with the nee-nahs going, clearly at the time the moment was completely lost on me!

On arrival at labour ward I recall thanking the paramedics and then the rest is a blur involving a lot of heavy breathing on the gas and air tube and trying to keep still while the (slightly obnoxious anaesthetist) put in my epidural.  At some point someone asked if I was happy to have a medical student in for the duration to which I think my reply was “Sure, no problem, more the merrier” and that was that really until the pain subsided and I returned to normal Jill, as Pip puts it.  And we said cheerio to Lucinda and Olivia and hello to Carly the midwife...