Fiona McPhillips is a freelance journalist and academic researcher. Having given birth to her son in 2003, she then faced three rounds of Clomid, three IUIs, two IVFs and suffered six miscarriages before giving birth to her daughter last year. She is currently expecting
another baby.
Anna’s arrival
Here is my short and sweet (and illustrated!) birth story….
Despite being told I was ready to go at any time from my due date, baby was not in any hurry so I was scheduled for an induction at ten days over. My waters were broken at 9am in the hope that that would kickstart labour without the need for any further intervention.
We were left to wander around the hospital grounds for a few hours.
By 12pm I wasn’t the least bit uncomfortable so I was started on the oxytocin drip. It was done in small increments so the pains were completely manageable. By about 2pm I was breathing through the contractions no problem and was surprised when the midwife suggested getting the epidural. She said (and DH wholeheartedly agreed) that there was no point in waiting until I had to get it and I would have to get it eventually – she wanted to crank up the oxytocin and really get things moving. But about two minutes after the epidural went in, I started to have serious contractions in my bum! The midwife examined me and I was fully dilated. Almost instantly I felt the urge to push. She told me to wait two minutes while she got her tray together and called my obs. I panted obediently and as soon as she got back, I had to push. This stage was hard as I had only been given a little bit of epidural and it hadn’t really kicked in yet. But I pushed and I pushed and I pushed and within no time at all a little head popped out. One more push and there she was – the little girl we’d waited over three years to meet.
She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz.
Mum and dad were very proud.
And big brother couldn’t contain his excitement – he arrived while I was still in the labour room!
All in all, a fantastic induction and birth experience. Would do it all again in a heartbeat if I could. Can’t believe I have two children now!
And here she is now – Anna Elizabeth, the sweetest little girl in the world:
June 19th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
She’s stunning all right. What a lovely calm birth story. Am so so happy for you guys!
June 19th, 2008 at 8:40 pm
Awww, love the photo of the two of them all tucked up..
Hope you guys are continuing to do well.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:24 pm
Aaw, she is such a little doll. Congratulations again. I’m very happy for you.
June 19th, 2008 at 9:49 pm
What wonderful photos. She’s gorgeous. Congrats to you all. I especially love the big brother with his wee sister. Enjoy.
June 20th, 2008 at 1:40 am
Fiona, she is the spit of you! she is a dote. I am so happy for you. She is here because you never gave up, I wish I could have the same courage. It’s truly amazing that this little girl made her way to you, she is a miracle. Hope you are having a ball with her. Congrats!!!
June 20th, 2008 at 1:42 am
She’s beautiful. Congrats. I love her name too.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:41 am
She literally looks like a wee doll, perfect.
And the shot of big brother almost exploding with excitement is just downright special.
Congratulations.
June 20th, 2008 at 7:21 pm
She looks so tiny!! but at 8+ lbs (thank you for listing it in pounds!), she’s no preemie-size!
Congrats, again, Feebee. She’s an angel here on earth.
June 20th, 2008 at 9:08 pm
A gorgeous baby. Enjoy the newborn stage – it goes so fast, savour every waking minute. She’s beautiful. Congrats. Lorna
June 22nd, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Oh Feebee she is just beautiful. What an amazing birth story, especially for an induced birth, I’m delighted it all went so well for you. I just love that photo of big brother SO excited!!
June 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 am
So delighted for you. Whats an adorable family you have. I am setting about ttc #2 (#1 took a few years and IVF) and you have certainly shown me that where theres a will theres a way.
June 23rd, 2008 at 12:53 pm
Awwww she’s absolutely gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing your birth story and beautiful photos. I’m on my first cycle of clomid – first follicle tracking was this morning – so you are giving me great hope for this treatment. Congrats again.
June 23rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
A little princess. She is just beautiful.
June 24th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
Congratulations on the arrival of Anna! She truly is a beauty, had tears in my eyes reading your birth story and looking at the photos.
June 25th, 2008 at 10:09 am
So thrilled for you both. she is such a precious angel. thank you for sharing, for your honesty and for giving the rest of us continued hope. Enjoy every minute of your new “gentlemans” family
June 25th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
What a delightful ending to one saga and a beautiful new beginning to another!
Congrats also on your Sunday Indo coverage. Making Babies can now become what it’s always meant to be… fun!
June 26th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I am so happy for you, Anna is adorable and her bother lookks so proud. Enjoy every minute……
Congrats on the life magazine article, you give so much hope to us all.
June 26th, 2008 at 10:02 pm
Congrats, F!! She is beautiful!
June 30th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Thank you so much everyone, your congratulations mean so much to me, especially from those who haven’t got there yet.
Valerie – best of luck with TTC #2.
Jane – how are you getting on?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
Fiona, I got a BFP today……………here I go again. This is number 7 pregnancy and 1 kid to show for it. Let’s hope I get as lucky as you. Please start praying to whatever you were praying to, I need it!!! Hope my egg was up to par.
How is sweet baby Anna?
July 5th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
Oh Deno, that is fantastic news, I hope this is it for you! I will hope and pray and keep everything crossed for you. Have you got a bucketload of support meds?
July 5th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
Anna is fantastic thanks. There’s a lot more crying and a lot less sleeping than with James but she seems to be getting a bit better now.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:32 am
Ahh thanks Fiona. No I have no meds, should I??????? jaysus now I am nervous, LOL. The minute I stopped being careful I got pregnant. But ye know my history, it’s the egg quality more than anything. So every month is a toss up of what I produce. I hope this is my time, I truly do. Any advice is welcome.
As for little Miss Anna..she’s keeping ye up eh? knew that would happen. Acting like the true princess that she is. You will have to put your foot down and don’t get too suckered in. Ye know they are great manipulator’s, even at this young age. Hope you are loving every minute of her.
July 8th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Deno – the standard support for someone who has had recurrent miscarriages is progesterone supplements and baby aspirin. I also did Heparin injections. But I did all of that on 4 or 5 of my miscarriages too so I have no idea if any of it ever made any difference. I suspect not but will never know for sure. If you’re worried, ask your doc for progesterone and baby aspirin – it doesn’t do any harm.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
You’re right. My doctor is high risk fertility specialist, yet he has NEVER offered meds, he has never drawn a vile a blood from me. This has never sat right with me. I convinced myself he was better than anyone I could ever find, he has won awards etc. But I remember on my last loss asking him if he had come across anyone in the same boat as me. His answer was NO. So, I feel in my gut he has neglected my case. I have found someone at Ohio State University, a group of docs. I figure if anything they will be interested in my case for research. Maybe my story can help someone else. I go see them July 31st, I should be around 7 weeks by then. I usually see a heartbeat by then, it is between 9 and 11 that we lose it. Their office could not believe I have had no blood drawn for testing. I think I wasted some precious time, but it is what it is. I am hoping for the best. I just turned 39 so my time is limited. Mind you a genetic counselor agreed with my doc that the main cause of all my losses is “bad eggs” and “bad luck”, they never drew any blood from me either. They referred to family history on both sides and the fact that all my pregnancies were Trisomy, a key indication of egg quality.
July 10th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Ah yes, I forgot that all your losses were trisomies. So progesterone or blood clotting is probably not an issue with you. It must be unbearable to keep losing at 9-11 weeks. Good luck with the new team on the 31st.
And happy birthday!
July 12th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
I don’t know what’s better…not being able to get pregnant or getting pregnant without a hitch, seeing a heartbeat and then losing it. It is slow torture, like a chinese wrist burn….except my heart is being tortured. No one has an answer for me, all I get is Bad Luck. I wish I had a bloody physical issue, like low progesterone or hyper thyroid. At least if I was taking meds I would feel like I was in for a chance. I am 5 weeks and have minor symptoms. Although I have had the extreme sickness and the outcome was still bad. I have no control over the outcome, the only bad part is that it has uprooted all the depressed feelings I worked so hard to remove.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:11 am
It’s a horrible waiting game. All you can do is set yourself milestones and work towards each one. Sorry to hear those feelings have come flooding back – it is going to be a very tough few weeks for you xxx
July 24th, 2008 at 9:13 am
Aw, she is just gorgeous. Much love and congratulations to all of you.
September 11th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Hi Fiona
I followed your link from Magic Mums. I am 13 weeks and have found your story really inspiring. Your 2 children are really beautiful. All the best
September 15th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Thanks H – best of luck with the rest of your pregnancy.