Birth Story No.3

I still can't believe that my third birth has been and gone. After two complicated births with my first two girls I had high hopes for my third to be a good experience. Partly because I wanted to be able to look back at a birth and know that it was a normal, healthy experience and partly because I didn't want no.3 to be our last baby.

Due to being on a high dose of Clexane (to prevent blood clots) throughout pregnancy I was told I would need to be induced three weeks early which meant I was given a 'birth date'. My parents came up at 36 weeks and helped us to do all those last minute things including me having the time to get my hair done!

On the big day we enjoyed a slow morning with Miss 3 & Miss 1 and rocked up at the hospital at 8am and we were told that we would be in surgery at 10.30. At 11am we were still sitting in a small waiting room and hadn't heard from anyone for hours (I thankfully stayed sane by reading some trashy mags + Facebook-ing friends). Then all of a sudden things happened really quickly, within ten minutes we had checked into my single room, changed into the lovely get-up, waved good-bye to hubby (he had to wait in the room even though we were told he could come to recovery and wait there) and was in theatre ready to begin.

In theatre, I waddled in wearing the lovely backless gown trying to remain as modest as possible for as long as possible (I made a few jokes about that), waving to people in theatre that I knew (oh the joys of hubby working in a hospital). As I was going under a general anesthetic they did everything they needed to before putting me 'under' so that the baby was kept as safe as possible (GA can affect a baby). The catheter was unpleasant, the cannula even more so but thankfully the theatre staff were lovely and I felt completely relaxed. The staff asked me what we were naming our daughter as they wanted to call her by name during the time that neither my husband or I could be with her which made me feel like she would be in safe hands.

I remember waking up as they wheeled me into recovery and being told that my daughter was safe, had very strong lungs and was with my husband in my room. A staff member showed me photos and a video that she had taken in theatre of our 'Little Miss' (I had been allowed to give them a camera!) while they worked out how much drugs I needed. My friend who works near recovery came to be with me which helped pass the hour I had to stay there for. I do remember a nurse in recovery informing me that I could go back to my room to meet my daughter when I wasn't in any pain. She then asked me whether I was in any pain. Umm der! I of course said that I wasn't in any pain which meant I finally was taken to meet our Little Miss. I then accepted all kinds of lovely drugs while nursing my new daughter!


Little Miss weighed in at 3.5kg and 54cm long- not too shabby for being three weeks early! She is beautiful in every way and Miss 3 and Miss 1 absolutely LOVE her to bits... not a single bit of resentment of any kind. She is a very quiet, content baby which means I have plenty of time to do things with the older girls and make them feel special. I feel incredibly blessed to have her in our family.

I was up and walking within 14hrs of surgery and went home from hospital after two days. By day 5 I didn't even need panadol (last birth I was still having morphine injections at this stage!). I would call this a very, very easy birth and I'm so thankful to God for this positive experience.