Oh jees here it goes. Haven’t been able to post my labour story for a while my boy is currently 4 months old.

Here’s how it went:

A few days before it started I was freaking out thinking it’s it with every Braxton hicks. I was done being pregnant and wanted this baby out now. I was almost 42 weeks pregnant when he was born.

So on the night of his coming I had the worst nightmare of being tortured in some dungeon. It was such a vivid dream that I could feel the pain. Little did I know it wasn’t the dream hurting but the start of the contractions.

I woke up at 1 am on the 27th September thinking it was too real of a dream. I went downstairs had a drink went back to bed and felt the same pain as in the dream. First thought: He’s coming!

All excited I downloaded the contraction app and with the next couple of contraction I recorder saw they were 20 to 30 minutes apart only lasting 30 seconds and less. At about 3 am I got so tired I fell back to sleep as my excitement went down. Two hours later I woke up again. This time contractions were a little stronger but not yet unbearable.

I got up and while walking around the house started to time them again. It was only 15 minutes apart still about 20-30 seconds long. This went on until 8 am. Walking around then trying to nap or clean the house(obviously what else is a woman in labour at home to do with the fella asleep peacefully).

When my partner finally woke up I told him the news and he called his boss. As labour is long he decided to work from home. I had no problem with this as I know it could take a whole day or more until he is here.

At 10 the contractions started to slow down. And I took this as an opportunity to do my assignment for college. It was due the following week. No better time to finish college work than in labour. 😂

So the day went by with contractions every 15 minutes not so strong not very long. Until 1pm. At that time I have sent the assignment to the lecturer called my mum and shared the news. Called the midwifes to let them know too.

At 1 I couldn’t concentrate on anything but getting trough the pain. I was leaning on the chair while kneeling. I called up my midwifes again telling them that the contractions at em every 10 minutes and last about 40 seconds and are getting harder to deal with. She told me that it was probably still couple hours away as I was a FTM it usually took longer but if I want I could come down there and she can check me. I decided not to go. Didn’t want to be disappointed if I was only a couple cm.

She gave me a couple of tips on how to relax at home. So I went up and had a bath in lukewarm water. It helped for a bit but as it picked up again I couldn’t tv be comfy there so I got out and the contractions started to be quite painful to the point I couldn’t breathe. It was only an hour from the last call to my midwife but I rang them again. And as she said if I can’t cope at home I should come in they have a room ready for me here. I started crying. It was getting very real.

I wasn’t planning on getting an epidural. I was attending MLU (midwife led unit) where there was no doctors unless there had to be for any complications. BIG MISTAKE.

I wish someone have told me I was insane for not getting it. But I thought my mum did it 3 times naturally I can do it too.

When we got to the hospital I went straight to the MLU unit and into the room they got for me. The usual urine test heart beat check and my blood pressure. All good.

At 2.30 pm my midwife decided it’s time to check how dialated I was. I asked her not to tell me. Again I didn’t want to be annoyed that it’s taking forever. As she was checking my waters broke. Weirdest feeling ever!

From then on my contractions got so close together that I had nearly tun no break in between. Maybe like 20 seconds of a break. I got the tens machine at this point bounced on a ball and still smiling as my midwife kept saying. I was smiling until the last two hours of labour.

So here came 5 pm. Ohhh jees. The contractions were back to back with sometimes 5-10 seconds break. I got the gas and air as I asked for epidural knowing it was way too late. My midwife checked me again and said it’s just a little more to dialate.

At this point I regretted my choice of labour but time! Being on the bed was the worst but once I got on it I couldn’t get up as my legs felt so weak the tens machine annoyed the crap out of me at this point.

I started to talk in my native language which I don’t remember too well. But I’ve been told I was saying a lot.

Just remembering it as I wrote this is surreal that a woman can get through so much pain and forget it so quickly after.

Continuing with the story:

At 6pm I got checked again and was told it’s nearly time she got everything ready to deliver my little angel. And Calle din two more midwifes to help out. 30 minutes later I told her I had to push she’s checked me again and told me not to. She got the other midwifes to get me on a birthing stool it didn’t go well. I couldn’t relax my back was in bits. So they got me back on the bed still telling me not to push. She checked me again and got me to lay on my right side two contractions later got me to lay on my left side. Then checked me again and I was back to laying on my back. Which was the worst as my back was so incredibly painful.

I kept saying I need to push. She kept saying not to. When finally I got permission at about 6.40pm I felt like half way to heaven! I started pushing and the contractions weren’t half as bad although still bad. Somewhere in between my pushes a doctor came in gave me a shot to take the edge of the pain out although at this point I didn’t need it. I still didn’t deny it.

I pushed until 7.50 and that’s when my boy was born into my arms.

I’ll spare the gory details of how I felt right after.

I got his straight on my chest and breast fed right away after a couple of cries. As they were cleaning up they called in a doctor again who checked me down there and delivered the bad news of a 4 degree tear. And the need to be taken to the theatre. So that’s what we did.

After almost 3 hours of being stitched up, a spinal, blood pressure drop and feeling like I’m frozen I got my angel back next to me. Of course he had a bottle while I was in the surgery but still breastfed well for months after.

Looking back on the experience I wouldn’t change it for the world. All that work I did and pushing for two hours I felt and still feel i well deserved my little bundle of joy. Love him too much.

Oh an my partner was there holding my hand through it all and took care of little angel for his first 3 hours of life as I was away.

Sorry for such a long post but I felt it only appropriate as it was the best night of my life. (And the worst at the same time).

That’s right before I was wheeled to surgery room:

Weight 9.8 pounds

Height 52 cm

(His hat being too small at 0-3 size no wonder I tore so much)