When Three Became Four

On the 12th November 2015 we woke up bright and early, packed ourselves in the car and headed to the hospital for the arrival of our youngest. After a not so straight forward birth with our eldest we had decided (after much discussion and many hospital appointments) to have a planned caesarean.

When we arrived at the hospital we were placed in a private room to relax and get ourselves prepared for the birth. They told us we were third on the list and to expect to be going in around 11am- it was 7am at this point, and after being nil by mouth from 10pm I was feeling particularly shakey and hungry (pregnancy and hunger are not a good mix!) After about an hour of doctors and nurses visiting, and final belly prodding, hubby was desperate for caffeine so nipped out to get a coffee. When he returned he was shocked to find me in my hospital gown ready for surgery and a nurse telling him to get into some scrubs. We’d been bumped up the list and were now second!!

Before we knew it, I was being taken through to theatre to meet our little girl. I was shocked by the amount of people in the room however very relaxed by the atmosphere and smiling faces. I like to be in control so the nurses were brilliant at telling me exactly what they were doing at all times as well as having me giggling away with their silly comments and jokes. We were also lucky enough that our hospital have Bluetooth iPod docking stations in each of their maternity theatres so I was able to have my phone with me and pick which music I wanted to listen to.

Due to a previous failed spinal block after my labour with our eldest and a slight curve in my spine, I was feeling very nervous about this part of the operation. However I was lucky to have one the hospital’s most senior Anaesthesiologists administer both the spinal anaesthetic and pain relief. And he succeeded in the first attempt!!! I felt so relieved and was then able to relax (well as much as I could when I knew what was about to happen). Once the spinal block was done, they laid me back on the bed and began preparing for the birth, the assistant Anaesthesiologist talked me through everything and after a few minutes, it was all under way.

And within 10 minutes, at 10.52am they were lowering the screen to introduce me to our beautiful 7lb 14oz bundle of joy.

Our little Allana was here, and arrived in a more relaxed way than I could ever have imagined a caesarean would or could be. Most importantly both her and I were healthy and there were no complications. As they keep the theatre at a low temperature to help with blood loss, they suggested baby and Daddy left after a while to warm up and have her second round of checks. Even after her birth the nurses kept me informed with everything that was happening and made me feel involved, even making me laugh whilst I was being ‘put back together.’

 

I was wheeled up to the ward for recovery and finally got to have my long awaited cuddles with my Tiny Tot Allana. Unfortunately I was slightly poorly from all the medication and had a slight case of the shakes but it didn’t last too long and I was able to enjoy some rest before one of the best moments of my entire life.

My Mum bought Willow up to the hospital to meet her baby sister, and it couldn’t have gone any more perfectly.

An instant love between a Big and Little sister.

And my Mum, a very proud Grandmother with her two Granddaughters.

I loved having my Big Baby come to visit even if she didn’t fully understand how to be gentle with Mummy after an operation.

After a wonderful visit from my beautiful daughter, Mum, Grandma and friend I was ready to try to rest for the night before the madness would fully begin at home. Alana was a complete angel for me and whilst I was unable to get out of bed, the hospital staff were amazing, nothing was ever too much and they were always happy to help.

After a slightly traumatic birth with Willow, I was so pleased to have had a calm, relaxed delivery, even if it was via a caesarean. I was thankful to have had a wonderful midwife throughout my pregnancy who reassured me when I was trying to make a decision and had a million questions. Deciding to have a caesarean was one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make, but also the bravest. I could have tried for a natural delivery but it may have caused life long health problems for myself which could have resulted in it also affecting my children’s lives. I was worried I would feel like a failure but it was the complete opposite, I felt proud and relieved by the decision I had made for both my baby and I.

There is still a stigma attached to caesareans and it needs to longer exist. Whether your baby is born via planned or emergency caesarean, natural birth, water birth, ventouse or forceps, we all have one thing in common. We are all Mothers and we all love our children, surely that is what matters most.

Thank you for reading, see you in my next post.