Boo2's arrival (20 Oct-07 7.41pm)

7am: woke up in panic... late!! have to get Boo to childminder. She offered to look after Boo for whole weekend while we go into hospital to have no.2 (so sweet of her!!) Boo thought we going out... but is quite happy to go to her childminder as well... and even kissed me goodbye!



8am: Managed to get onto the train and tube on time!! Smelly AM was carrying 2 bags and the car seat and i'm waddling along... people looked at us wondering what these 2 people doing, so early in the morning??!! Very excited...



9am: At the Portland hospital... is assigned to midwife Joan Pryce who told us she got to make the first choice of room today and she chose the one with the balcony and best view so we are the lucky couple who got to enjoy it!! lovely room with lots of sunlight coming in... today is looking to be a nice sunny day! Now waiting impatiently for my Obs to come..



9.30am: Obs came in, looking as chic as ever... gave us both kisses and say "let's get the show on the way!" Did an internal exam, cervix is soft and abt 1cm dilated, but still long. So she gave me the tablet to dissolve under the tongue. She says the tablet should trigger off the labour contractions and water bag may/may not burst on its own... but best is to let it work for a while and go for a walk... Very happy 'coz can finally get to eat breaky... by then was STARVING!!!went out with smelly AM for breaky... went to Villalaundry down the road... posh deli/restaurant... and had FULL english breakfast! i deserve it! Then we walked all the way down Great Portland Street to Oxford Street. Slowly and having a great chat along the way which was really v nice. Smelly AM went into Urban Outfitters to shop around while i went to Miss Selfridges...By then, beginning to get quite strong tightenings... not really contractions yet but when they come, must stop walking to catch breathe. Happy that the tablet is working! but water bag still intact. On way back, stopped at ladbrokes to make a £10 bet on football match... Arsenal to win Bolten by 2-1... hoping that Boo no.2 will be the lucky pig and bring us winnings!!popped into a convenient shop to get magazines and crisps and i picked up a £10 note on the floor!!! Boo no.2 is lucky already!!



12.30pm: Back in hospital delivery suite. Joan put me on the monitor to measure the contractions and baby's heartbeat... baby doing well, my contractions are still more like tightenings... waiting for Obs to come back to check me out.1.30pm: Off the monitors and doing my yoga poses... to try to get baby to move into position and to encourage progress of labour. then got onto the birthing ball 'coz getting tired... Obs came in at close to 2pm. Did another internal and found that i'm still about 2cm dilated but cervix is now flat. She says, she's only to burst my waters now and then put me on the drip to progress the labour. Suggested to me that i take epidural now. I wanted to put off having epi this time but after listening to Obs and smelly AM, decided to have epi.



2.15pm: Waters is burst!! so much water, the bed was soaked!! Obs panicked a bit 'coz she thot she felt the cord coming out... but then she says the cord has slipped back in. So she told me to stay on bed to be monitored for an hr to make sure baby is ok... she says it means the cord is v close to baby's head and might be over it...So stayed in bed and contractions started proper... thank goodness baby's heartbeat strong throughout...



3.15pm: Had the epi jab in back and then Joan started me on the drip... had to have blood pressure taken every 5min 'coz of epi and be monitored again so still stuck on bed!!4pm: Finally taken off monitors and allowed to walk around... went to toilet and went on birthing ball and listened to meditation CD... contractions are stronger but not painful at all, only feel pressure, thanks to epi! Obs came back and check me out... ooohhh almost 8cm dilated... told to increase strength of drip... mobile epi not enough to take the pain away so asked for stronger dose... stronger epi made legs really weak... cannot stand anymore... was told to go to toilet again but cannot walk so Joan rolled me there on birth ball... v funny!



5pm: Obs checked and say i'm almost fully dilated. But baby is still quite high... so she told me to lie on my left side, flat, so encourage baby to move down... by then pressure to push is very strong!!6ishpm: Obs did another internal... baby is sort of downish... and need to push v strong so she say we can try pushing... she went out to change into the hospital gear... came back and had me holding my legs and trying to push...oohhh!!! pushing part is the WORST!! pressure is strong but quite tired already so not much strength to push...and everytime i push, and can see abit of baby's head, i lose breathe and strength and baby went back in...after 1/2hr or so, Obs says baby not liking the pushing and position so changed back into lying flat on left side with one leg inthe air!pushed and pushed again... but still head cannot come out 'coz perineum is too thick... Obs say, sorry, have to give me a cut... by then i was in the zone!! i will agree to anything to get the process over with... i was holding smelly AM's hand over my face and screaming tat i want boo!!obs gave me a cut and then when next contraction came, pushed again and this time... BABY CAME OUT!!! it was such an incredible feeling and then obs put Boo no.2 on my chest... he came out screaming and crying and looking pink... and sooo cute (but slimy ) i put him on my chest and he quickly found the nipple and started suckling!!Obs stitched me up and then gave us big hugs and kisses... Joan told baby to be checked out and then gave him back... he is sooo lovely!!



Our Boo2 has arrived!!