[ The Waiting Game ]

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:

I’m still here!!!  Baby’s head is engaged, cervix is soft and favourable, bags are packed, work is finished, house is clean and we’re just about ready to go.  I had some pains last night but nothing today.  My acupuncturist reckons I’ll have a baby by the end of the week.  I am not so convinced – DS had to be sucked out of me after a long induction at 42 weeks.  I don’t mind though – I am feeling fine and would be happy enough to spend a week or so reading books and going to the cinema or having a laugh with DS.  This is one waiting game I can handle.