| Joseph's Birth Story Joseph was actually due on the 8 th of December but we like to think he was so cosy in his mummy's tummy that he didnt want to leave in any hurry!! So at a hospital appointment two days after his due date the doctors decided that if he didn't arrive by his own doing he would be induced on the 18 th. After all the old wives tales of kick starting labour still he wouldn't budge!! So early on the dark morning of the 18 th we slowly drove through peak time traffic to the maternity hospital. Not sure what to expect we check in and i got myself settled in the ward and Steven got himself settled in a nice comfy chair only to promptly fall asleep!! They decided the method of induction would be by an oral pill. Not too bad i thought but two doses and many hours later i was still waiting for things to kick off so Steven went home and i went to bed. After a very uneasy night (dont think the dads understand how hard it is to sleep through on and off contractions, especially when there are four other women in the ward having them too!!) i was examined to be dilated enough (just) to have my waters broken. "It will be after the midwife shift change" i was told so i had plenty time to have a bath, some sleep and some lunch before i would be moved. Just as i was dozing off about 10:30 ish i was woken and told it was time to go so sitting on the edge of my bed waiting for the wheelchair the other women got (they had all gone into fully established labour before me - typical) to push them through to the labour ward off goes Steven and my midwife with all my many belongings (i had so over prepared for labour - all the books exaggerate) walked off leaving me sitting there!! Me and my 9 and a half month gone bump had to waddle behind them and find my own way there!! So once settled in my bed in the labour ward, listening to christmas carols on the radio and Steven complaining that he was too hot and very hungry my waters were broken and a pair of socks were ruined!! How is there room for the baby in there with all that water? So still having to listen to Steven complaing of lack of food the midwife sent him off to the staff canteen to get some food and we got on with coaxing this baby out of there. When he arrived back raving about their 'pink custard like you got in school' he decided he needed a sleep!! Things were happening very slowly so we thought he might as well sleep than get in the way. Four o clock came and i was only four centimetres, five came and i was only five centimetres so, a hour a centimetre i was looking at a very long night - again. But by six i was on the gas and air and struggling and although i swore i never wanted an epidural i was seriously considering one. The midwife woke Steven for me and he came over to try and be of some help. At this point my body was pushing all by itself and i told the midwife and Steven that i had to push but they both yelled at me that i couldn't and that if i did it would make thing harder but i couldn't stop. So at six thirty the midwife examined me and realised i was nine and a half centimetres dilated she couldn't believe things had speeded up so quickly. I was only relieved, now i knew why i was struggling so quickly after doing so well. So at 18:35 with no time for that epidural (thank goodness!!) i started pushing properly and after only three (yes - three) pushes and only eleven minutes at 18:46 Joseph was born and put on my tummy. We couldn't believe we had finally done it. Things seemed to be going too well, and they were. As soon as the cord was cut the midwife wrapped Joseph up and ran out of the room with him. I panicked straight away. Another midwife came in to see to me and told me everything was ok and he would be back soon. Some fifteen minutes later she came back with our precious little bundle, he had needed some oxygen to bring him round as he had arrived so quickly but he was just perfect now. It was then i got the chance to have my first proper cuddle with our beautiful, much wanted newborn son. Joseph was put in to the neo natal unit when he was only a day and a half old. He couldn't get the hang of breast feeding and had lost of weight and was having difficulties regulating his breathing. So we had to stay in hospital longer than originally planned. He was in an incubator and on a drip for two days but thankfully there was nothing wrong. Apparently some babies just struggle to get used to the outside world We had many visitors while we were still in hospital who brought lots of lovely presents. Eventually Joseph was well enough to be allowed home on the 24 th of December. A very special christmas eve and one that will never be forgotten. A thorougly tremendous christmas followed. Joseph was the best gift we could ever have hoped for. Thanks SANTA!!!! This story was written by Katy |