Early Labour

Thursday 13th December
6 pm to 7pm
So, I think it has all started. Last night as I was cooking dinner I had one particularly bad contraction. I had been having stronger ones all day, but still didn’t want to get my hopes up. Arcris was just outside the kitchen on the phone (we received several bogus tax invoices for advertising and he was following them up) and I was making chicken and asparagus risotto – note: don’t make risotto while in labour as it takes a lot of standing up (back ache) and constant stirring (difficult while having a contraction).
I just leant over the kitchen bench and tried my best not to panic. Arcris was on the phone for ages and my risotto was getting gluggy, flies kept coming in from outside and I was in pain. I believe it was me screaming “Get out of here!” at a fly which landed on our dinner which brought it to Arcris’ attention that I wasn’t coping. I then kept yelling and chasing the fly to get it out until I began to get hysterical. I calmed down a bit and we managed to eat dinner – although the risotto was a bit gluggy.

I then went to the bathroom and noticed some blood – yay! – bloody show. Never was I so happy to be bleeding from down there. For the next hour or so I kept returning to the bathroom so I could check for more. I didn’t have too much blood, it was a bit red and mixed with mucous.

7pm to 9.30pm
After calling the hospital to let them know about the blood, I kept timing the contractions and checking on the baby’s movements. I was a bit confused to see that the contractions were 5 minutes apart and lasted about 45 seconds; however, they were not very painful. I know 5 minutes apart is when the hospital said to come in, but I wasn’t in too much pain and still felt I could be ‘crying wolf’.

I called them back and spoke to mum, everyone thought it best to stay at home and wait and see. At 9.30, I decided to get some rest. I thought I might be in for a long night.

9.30pm to 6.00am
Through the night I slept well enough, but would have 5 minute contractions when I woke. Arcris finally came to bed at about 2am, he hadn’t wanted to before in case he was needed to drive me to hospital.

Friday 14th December
6.00am to 8.00am
When I woke up at 6am, I was starving but remembered we didn’t have any bread and not much milk. I wasn’t having many contractions and was disappointed… so I made pancakes! I figured moving around and being upright suited labour more than lying down.

So then, my challenge was to stay upright and active until labour really takes hold.

Was having stronger contractions at this point but at 10 minutes apart.

It's a boy!

At 5.56am on Saturday the 15th December 2007, we welcomed baby boy Xavier into the world. 14 hour labour, natural birth... (will fill in details when I have the chance)

no drugs at all!!!

He's a gorgeous boy (aren't they always the apple of our eyes) and we're smitten already. After a brief stint in special care, he's doing very well at home with mum and dad.

Photos to come.

Bump not yet a baby

OK, today is the day... I am 40 weeks pregnant... did you hear that baby? Time is up, out you come now...

Sure I know that 40 weeks is an approximate measure, but surely bubs will arrive on time, no?

I have risked a visit into the library to check email and check every one's blogs, maybe that will tempt fate and bubs will decide that breaking waters on library floor would be hilarious!

I have spent the last 4 weeks of maternity leave gearing down, it has been great and I am so happy to have had this time. I thought I was ready soon after leaving work, but it has been great to just have down time before I know life will be turned on its head.

The only downside is the waiting (and of course the endless phone calls and messages inquiring if I have popped yet!). Each night I ensure the house is 'visitor' clean before going to bed; I go to bed at a decent hour each night just in case it happens through the night and I want to be properly rested; each day I wait, and wait.

Mondays I change the bed sheet (each time thinking 'These will probably be the sheets my waters will break on to'); Tuesdays I do a load of washing ('Hope the weather holds while I am in hospital'); Wednesdays I fold the wash ('Thank goodness I got them in before all the visitors arrive to see the baby'); Thursdays I scrub the bathroom ('Phew, thank goodness the post-baby visitors won't have to see that mess'); Fridays I vacuum ('That will be lovely for the the visitors who visit the baby'); Saturdays we grocery shop ('Better stock up before bubs arrives, but not too much perishable in case it goes off while we are hospital').

However, the baby hasn't come yet, the visitors aren't coming until bubs is here, and my house just keeps getting cleaner!