Hello Livejournal
It's been a long time since my last post, but I've just had a monumental life event that I would like to record.
I'm doing this for me, as a record for future me to look back on, but if anyone wants to read all the details then so be it.
So, with a due date of 25th September and with no signs of movement we were expected an overdue baby, first babies usually are. On Friday 20th from about 9pm Sharon started feeling pains, but didn't know whether or not they were contractions. Eventually they got stronger and more frequent so we knew she was starting labor, she also got her show.
By the time we decided that she was in labor it was about 11:30pm. A quick check with the mid wives and they agreed that it was still a little early to go in, so Sharon suggested we go to bed. I managed to get some sleep, she didn't... Her contractions got stronger to the point where she woke me up about 3:30am and we decided to go in. Long wait in the waiting room, followed by long wait in Triage led to an examination at 6am. At this point Sharon was 3cm dilated, but Nathan's heartbeat was a little off so they decided to admit us anyway, they put an IV needle in her hand and we went to the delivery room. During the examination the midwife accidentally broke her waters, so that was another good sign.
4 hours later the second examination (expected dilation 4 - 5 cm) showed that she was, in fact, fully dilated and in full labor! Not sure who was most shocked, us or the midwife! Too late for any other pain relief, Sharon could only use gas and air. For the next hour not much happened, Sharon didn't get many urges to push and the midwife was happy to let nature take it's course. Sharon used the gas and air and coped amazingly well, totally blew me away how composed she was an how well she coped with the pain.
At 11am the midwife took away the gas and air and told her that she needed to start pushing. So, that's what she did for the next hour and I did it with her! Felt that I needed to support her however I could, so held her hand throughout and breathed with her, pushed with her and gave what encouragement I could. Was an amazing time, such an experience that is so hard to describe.
After an hour Nathan was at the end of here he needed to be, but wasn't coming out. Next thing the alarm has been pushed and the room is filled with people. Up until this point it was just one midwife, now there were two consultants and 4 midwives and I must admit I was beginning to get worried. Sharon was a trooper, she didn't get phased and carried on breathing and pushing as before. Apparently the stress had caused Nathan's heart beat to slow so they were worried and decided to assist the birth. Thankfully the ante-natal classes had prepared us for the suction cup which was what they used. With much pulling, pushing and tearing Nathan was born at 12:19am. Sharon lost 1.7 litres of blood and needed stitching up. Nathan got put on Sharon for a moment, then got checked and left as everyone sorted Sharon out.
Was very difficult and emotional, I wanted to look after Sharon, but also wanted to meet my son who was yards away, but i couldn't get near. he was crying and all I wanted to do was pick him up, but Sharon needed me more. Again, she was stalwart and unphased, couldn't have been more proud of her than I was that day.
After far too long we finally got to hold him, such an amazing experience that I'll never forget. Sharon had to stay overnight, I left at 11:30pm and it was so hard to leave them both behind that night, but when I got home I slept like a log! Poor cats were starving of course, so sorted them out first.
Sharon finally allowed to go at 6pm the following day and now we're home with our son. Its very surreal, but totally wonderful. Even though I've only known this little man for just over 48 hours I know I'd die for him already, I'm so looking forward to the rest of our time seeing him grow up.
I'm doing this for me, as a record for future me to look back on, but if anyone wants to read all the details then so be it.
So, with a due date of 25th September and with no signs of movement we were expected an overdue baby, first babies usually are. On Friday 20th from about 9pm Sharon started feeling pains, but didn't know whether or not they were contractions. Eventually they got stronger and more frequent so we knew she was starting labor, she also got her show.
By the time we decided that she was in labor it was about 11:30pm. A quick check with the mid wives and they agreed that it was still a little early to go in, so Sharon suggested we go to bed. I managed to get some sleep, she didn't... Her contractions got stronger to the point where she woke me up about 3:30am and we decided to go in. Long wait in the waiting room, followed by long wait in Triage led to an examination at 6am. At this point Sharon was 3cm dilated, but Nathan's heartbeat was a little off so they decided to admit us anyway, they put an IV needle in her hand and we went to the delivery room. During the examination the midwife accidentally broke her waters, so that was another good sign.
4 hours later the second examination (expected dilation 4 - 5 cm) showed that she was, in fact, fully dilated and in full labor! Not sure who was most shocked, us or the midwife! Too late for any other pain relief, Sharon could only use gas and air. For the next hour not much happened, Sharon didn't get many urges to push and the midwife was happy to let nature take it's course. Sharon used the gas and air and coped amazingly well, totally blew me away how composed she was an how well she coped with the pain.
At 11am the midwife took away the gas and air and told her that she needed to start pushing. So, that's what she did for the next hour and I did it with her! Felt that I needed to support her however I could, so held her hand throughout and breathed with her, pushed with her and gave what encouragement I could. Was an amazing time, such an experience that is so hard to describe.
After an hour Nathan was at the end of here he needed to be, but wasn't coming out. Next thing the alarm has been pushed and the room is filled with people. Up until this point it was just one midwife, now there were two consultants and 4 midwives and I must admit I was beginning to get worried. Sharon was a trooper, she didn't get phased and carried on breathing and pushing as before. Apparently the stress had caused Nathan's heart beat to slow so they were worried and decided to assist the birth. Thankfully the ante-natal classes had prepared us for the suction cup which was what they used. With much pulling, pushing and tearing Nathan was born at 12:19am. Sharon lost 1.7 litres of blood and needed stitching up. Nathan got put on Sharon for a moment, then got checked and left as everyone sorted Sharon out.
Was very difficult and emotional, I wanted to look after Sharon, but also wanted to meet my son who was yards away, but i couldn't get near. he was crying and all I wanted to do was pick him up, but Sharon needed me more. Again, she was stalwart and unphased, couldn't have been more proud of her than I was that day.
After far too long we finally got to hold him, such an amazing experience that I'll never forget. Sharon had to stay overnight, I left at 11:30pm and it was so hard to leave them both behind that night, but when I got home I slept like a log! Poor cats were starving of course, so sorted them out first.
Sharon finally allowed to go at 6pm the following day and now we're home with our son. Its very surreal, but totally wonderful. Even though I've only known this little man for just over 48 hours I know I'd die for him already, I'm so looking forward to the rest of our time seeing him grow up.