I was convinced I wouldn’t go the 2 week stretch without going into labour naturally so spent the majority of that time feeling horrendously paranoid about every twinge and pain. It was nice to have that time to prepare for the baby, and I tried to get ready for baby’s arrival as much as possible by relaxing and cleaning the house.

The night of the 6th July we prepared our bedroom by getting baby’s cot ready; we’re using a BedNest co-sleeper. I didn’t sleep that much and we were up at 6am the next morning, ready to have a baby.

We got to the hospital for 7.30am and were shown our bed at 8.30. It was a 2 person ward but I would have it to myself. We were booked in for the second caesarian of the day and they estimated we’d be going down at around 11am. Time for one last bump photo!

I got given some SEXY support stockings that were to be the worst thing ever on the hottest day of the year…

I actually liked the hospital nighty I was given; it matched my dressing gown!

There was an emergency caesarian happening between c section number one and me so we had to wait longer than expected. Initially I was very frustrated at the long wait but then hunger took over (I hadn’t eaten since 10pm the night before and was nil by mouth) and it really helped take my mind off the wait. After having a final scan to confirm baby was still bum-down we were finally taken down to theatre at 1pm.

I walked myself in to theatre (which I wasn’t expecting!) and Will changed into scrubs whilst I got an IV line in my hand (ouch!). I was super paranoid that they would forget the local anaesthetic before my spinal and I remember reminding both anaesthesiologists quite a few times… I’m sure they loved me for that. I got attached to what felt like a million machines and the spinal was working within minutes. It was the most bizarre feeling, my bum went all hot before my legs started tingling and then went very heavy and numb. They rotated me round onto the bed quicksharp, laid me back and tilted me slightly to the left to take the pressure off my major veins before putting in a catheter. They tested my numbness with a very cold spray before beginning the operation.

I remember them breaking my waters and sucking them out as I asked if somebody was blowing their nose over the operation… it seems that when I’m nervous my sense of humour gets cranked up a notch (not necessarily a good thing).

After 10 minutes of what felt like a very vigorous tummy massage Elfreda Daphne was born (1.35pm) – feet first through the sunroof which Will said was a very bizarre sight to behold. It took her a minute or so to cry and it was wonderful when I heard her. Will trimmed the cord and took video of the midwife doing her initial checks before she was brought to me for photos and kisses.

I couldn’t believe that such a gorgeous little thing was mine, the feeling was so strange. I really couldn’t marry together the fact that before I was pregnant and now there was a baby, and the baby had come from me.

More photos were taken by the wonderful anaesthesiologist and midwife, who were both fantastic the whole way through and really made what could have been a horrible experience wonderful.

Then Elfie was weighed, a petite 6lbs 14oz, 1 oz less than me at birth and the exact same weight as her Uncle Josh.

She pinked up beautifully and had an APGAR score of 8 at one minute and 10 at 5 and 10 minutes.

They put a ridiculously massive terrycloth nappy on her and wrapped her in a blanket.

Meanwhile, I was being stitched up and was very impatient to hold her – Will was busy having lots of cuddles and I was jealous! I asked the midwife repeatedly how long was left. The feeling of my staples going in (15 in total) was a weird one and I was so relieved when this was over and I was transferred back onto a bed so I could finally cuddle my baby. Will was sent away to get changed back into his clothes and we were wheeled through to recovery.

Elfie was sucking her thumb before we got out of the operating theatre, and latched on as soon as we were in recovery. She just LOVES breastfeeding which has been fabulous for the most part.

We were feeding in recovery and having observations taken for around half an hour before being transferred back up to the ward. My mum, dad and brother came for a really quick visit about an hour later before leaving us to get to know each other as a family of three.

We were transferred to a private room the next day and stayed one more night, I was desperate to get home with Will and Elfie really didn’t enjoy sleeping in the hospital crib and would wail every time she was put in it (lots of sleepless fun for mummy…).

She was given her first bath!

And her Grannie H came for a visit.

At home she is fairly chilled out and happy: she still likes breastfeeding a lot but after being in a lot of nipple pain for a couple of days we’ve found out her latch is not quite right. I’m a bit disappointed as I asked the latch to be checked in hospital and again in my first home visit and was told we were feeding perfectly. But at my second home visit today the midwife gave us a real lesson in breastfeeding and it seems her attachment is a bit too shallow. This afternoon we’ve made changes and I can tell it’s getting better but we’ve already given her a couple of lots of formula over the last three days as my nipples have been way too painful to feed from in the evenings. I knew breastfeeding could be tough but I really didn’t realise it would be so painful and by using formula I’ve felt like I’ve let her down. I’ll be working really hard over the next few days to make sure she gets what she needs from me and we’ve been taught a couple of pumping techniques to help. We WILL master breastfeeding!

I’m trying to remember that I’ve had a major operation and need to relax but it’s difficult as it feels like there’s so much that needs doing. I’ve been making sure I take a nap with the baby in the afternoon to get extra sleep though she’s only waking up once in the night at the moment for a feed and change, long may it last.

]]> http://www.thealice.co.uk/2010/07/happy-birthday-elfie/feed/ 18 http://www.thealice.co.uk/2010/07/its-time/ http://www.thealice.co.uk/2010/07/its-time/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 18:14:50 +0000 Alice http://www.thealice.co.uk/?p=516 I write this on my last day as a childless person. The last day Will and I are a couple, rather than a family of three. It’s been a weird day.

Tomorrow we will be arriving at the hospital at 7.30am to book onto the post-natal ward, and then we will relax for a couple of hours before my caesarian section. We’re second on the list so I’m hoping we won’t be left hanging too long.

I am ending this pregnancy at 11 stone and 11 lbs, having started it at 9st 2 lbs. I’m in a different city and Will is in a totally different situation work-wise. We’ve had the worst scenarios thrown at us in the last nine months, and have ended up in a place I never thought we’d be. Yet our future looks even more promising than I had hoped and bar my hormones and the stresses of starting a new business we are very happy.

I want to say thank you so much to the friends I have made through this blog since October – I have had such great support from you all and I’ve appreciated each and every email and comment. Though I didn’t get to hang out with you all at CyberMummy this year there is always next.

I will be back in a few days with baby, and the next chapter will begin.

- I have never had Acid Reflux before in my whole life but it turns out that’s what the weird feeling in my throat is. I’ve had it a few times over the last fortnight and thought it might have been something to do with the fact I’m still averaging 2 bags of ice a week, but after a nasty 12 hours of near-vomiting and a Google of my symptoms I have discovered I have the reflux. And reflux sucks.

- I’m tired. I feel like I will always be tired. It doesn’t help when people say “make the most of your sleep, it’ll be a distant memory soon, hur hur hur”.

- On that note, the unsolicited advice I seem to be receiving off anyone and everyone was fine at first – almost welcome. But now I’m hot, tired, and uncomfortable I’m feeling pretty antisocial and just would like people to back off. My body, my baby. Get lost*

- While we’re at it, don’t touch the belly. It’s especially annoying if I don’t know you.

- We bought a car! A fairly new Renault Laguna, nice and safe for baby. However, what initially seemed to be a great bargain from the car auction turned out to be a bit of a money drain to get it into shape (£600 garage bill, £135 for 6 months tax… ouch). I need to keep reminding myself that between us Will and I used to spend £260 a month on public transport in London, not including taxis, so in the big scheme of things it’ll work itself out. And it feels brilliant to be able to hop in the car whenever we like… especially as it’s a fancy automatic.

- I’m still having contractions on and off, not enough to get excited about but enough to make me go “oof” occasionally.

- I’ve given up on my swollen hands and taken my rings off, they were getting uncomfortably tight. I can still wear my wedding ring on a chain around my neck but I’m looking forward to getting both rings back on my finger where they belong.

- Similarly, I’ve given up on wearing anything that isn’t stretchy as even my arms and legs are swelling up in this heat. I can’t get either pair of my maternity jeans over my calves without wincing so it’s jersey only.

- Make-up is also a thing of the past. Who can be bothered in this heat? Ditto contact lenses.

- We’re definitely going to have a baby this week. How crazy is that?

* of course I am far too polite to say any of this in real life and instead choose to seethe inwardly at all the ‘helpful’ comments I’ve been receiving..

(Baby’s birth calls for posh luggage, I feel. Though there is too much stuff in the weekend bag and I can’t get the damned zip to close)

Needless to say I was absolutely gutted to hear the news – I’m sure nobody wants to go through a C section unless absolutely necessary, but I’m pleased we’re doing the safest thing for baby and the safest thing for me. It feels very strange indeed to know that by a certain date we will DEFINITELY have a baby, if not before.

My hospital has been absolutely brilliant and I’ve been so impressed with the level of care I’ve received at Nottingham City over UCLH. UCLH I believe is the number one ranking maternity hospital in the whole of the UK but everything there always felt so sterile and robotic – in contrast each midwife I’ve met over the last week has made me feel so cared for and important. I had an overnight stay last Thursday (my Braxton Hicks have been insane and they want me at the hospital as soon as I start in established labour) and everyone was fantastic.

Air conditioning would be a bonus, though!

- Baby is still breech, so last week I went for an acupuncture session to see if this would help encourage her to turn. Unfortunately the needles were in a mere 3 minutes before I passed out… according tot he acupuncturist my low ‘chi’ was to blame for this. I was amazed the acupuncture had such an effect on my body, I felt tingles from the tiny needles and then boom – gone. I don’t want to attempt the acupuncture again while still pregnant as I definitely felt there was an effect on the baby when I was feeling so poorly but I’d definitely look at it after baby’s born.

- I’ve met my new local midwife in Nottingham (lovely lady) and have my booking in appointment at the hospital tomorrow. Fingers crossed we’ll be able to find out more tomorrow about the possibility of an ECV.

- I’m on maternity leave! It still feels a little like I’m on holiday and today was the first day I started feeling a little bored. I’ve been filling my days with getting things ready for the baby, buying last minute bits and pieces and making sure the house is spotless but I really need to take it down a notch because I’m starting to feel it.

- I’m knackered – sleeping loads (2 naps a day? Yes please…), my pelvis is aching more and more, I’m starving, I’m having braxton hicks and period-pain type cramps, achey lower back and bump has definitely dropped. I’m hoping all these things are signs baby’s arrival is imminent.

- My nipples are leaking!!! Weirdest thing ever, I described it last night as like squeezing a gigantic zit.

- Baby has hiccups all the time now – a really weird feeling.

- I miss work… something I thought I’d never say. I miss the mental stimulation and the people, I haven’t yet resorted to daytime TV to fill the gap but this might be the next step…

(No photo today as I can’t find my camera cable!)

- ICE. Oh god, ice. I love it so much. Current daily intake: 3 pints. YUM. Thinking about ice makes my mouth water.

- I put on my maternity jeans (Topshop Baxters, the type with stretchy pockets, size 10) this morning and it was a lot tougher to get them over my thighs. I think pregnancy weight is finally catching up with me…

- I have not ‘done’ my hair since I left for Greece (i.e. blow-dried/straightened). Instead I’ve been leaving it au naturel, which means curly. It’s nice for a change but I wish I had the energy to dry my hair properly. I’m thinking this is good practice for when the baby gets here, I’m sure blow-drying will be the last thing I’ll want to do.

- Work is now officially a drag. I worked from home twice last week and once the week before as my SPD was just horrendous, it goes away fairly swiftly with a good rest but comes back when I walk. Because of this I’ve brought my maternity leave forward by a week, meaning I will leave on 11th June. That’s 8 working days! I can’t wait.

- …because of this we have brought our moving date forward to 13th June. Which means we have less than a fortnight to pack up our London lives. Eek.

- I no longer have ankles. I have cankles.

- Baby is still breech which is not only worrying but really uncomfy – I’m going to Argos this evening to purchase a gym ball and will do my best to bounce her the right way up.

- I think we’re all ready for the arrival of baby, with the exception of being in the right city (let alone the right house). This weekend we went shopping for all the final bits; hospital essentials, bottles and steriliser (I will be breastfeeding but want Will to do one feed a day), baby monitor, newborn sleepsuits….

- I bought a pack of 2 breastfeeding bras from M&S. They are possibly the least sexiest item of clothing I’ve ever laid my eyes on, but BOY are they comfortable.

I’m just going to my office’s local pub to request another pint. I can’t crunch enough of the stuff…

We have lots of decisions to make over the next few days – including whether or not to leave London. If I’m not tied here for my job (as of June 18th), and Will can work from anywhere in the country it seems silly to shell out £1,200 a month in rent when we can be paying a lot less, plus we have a lovely three bedroom house in Nottingham currently empty as the tenants vacated a month ago… We shall see.

In other news:
- My ankles are still swollen – not in the mornings, but always by the end of the day. They are not attractive!

- I can’t eat enough ice! I love the stuff and have taken to bringing a Tuppaware container of it into work with me every morning. I also really love the feel of the shower on my tongue at the moment and have been drinking stacks of icy cold water, I think I have some sort of oral fixation.

- Work has been very busy over the last couple of weeks with the launch of a big project (which is why I was unable to attend the Huggies Mummies meetup on Tuesday, though in hindsight I wouldn’t have been very good company with the news of Will’s job!). I have 19 working days left until maternity leave and I can’t wait.

- Still tired

- I weigh 11 stone 2 lb, oh my goodness! I pacify myself with the fact that I have no stretchmarks and I still don’t look pregnant from behind.

- Naughty baby has gone from being head-down to being in the breech position; I’m going to give her until my next checkup and then I’ll start the yoga moves to try and turn her.

- I’ve had a couple of cramps in my calf (never happened before, very weird). The last one woke me up at 4am and I screamed in agony, Will thought I was giving birth.

- It makes me so angry how rude Londoners are – a woman pushed past me yesterday to get the last seat in a circle line carriage, as did a man on my train into Old Street yesterday. This really didn’t bother me before but I’m feeling more and more like I NEED to sit down.

- I have bad wind. Oops.