Announcing....

the final, safe arrival of Jonathan Luke at 9.15pm last night, weighing in at 7lb 5!

Brief version of birth story: had gel on the ward at 9.55. By 4pm still only 2-3cm, but moved anyway to labour suite. They broke my waters - the most painful thing that has ever happened to me as cervix was still posterior and it took some 3/4 minutes and involved almost having to bend the "hook" to get it in...

Contractions then got quite serious, went on the gas and air at 7.30. Examined at 8.30ish and STILL only 3cm. However, by then I was feeling as if I was close to needing to push and it was very distressing.

It then all got a bit hazy for me (WAY too much gas and air by that point, and the mouth piece had the bite marks to prove it!).

I remember hearing a doctor coming in and being told I was only 3cm at 8.45. But apparently my heart rate was dropping and so was Jonathan's. Now had dr and 2 midwives in attendance. Re-examing at 9.10 as I was yelling at them that I was going ot push whatever they said, and they were yelling at me not too! they attached a FSM to Jonathan's head as they had lost his heartbeat altogether. Suddenly, I gave a little push, and midwife said I went to 7 cm! Dr then took over, told me to stop pushing, but I pushed again and suddenly cervix opened, so he said PUSH and Jonathan was born! So "established" labour (eg 4cm+) only officially 30 minutes, and almost instant delivery from 10cm!

Reason for Jonathan's distress - and maybe some of my pain over the past weeks - was that he had a cord over 2 1/2 ft long (which midwives/doctors agreed they'd never seen before), which was wrapped around his neck and twice around his body! poor little tike.

Anyway, all is well now. I had to discharge myself at 11 this morning as they wouldn't let me out (fast pulse and quite dizzy) but its the same symptoms I've had in the past 3 weeks of pregnancy and no one cared, so I wasn't going to let them use that as a reason to suddenly keep me in!

Roarke was BRILLIANT. He took advantage of me being on the gas and air to use some hypnotism on me, and I have to say it all helped. could never have kept focused without him.

Poor sod thought he was going to lose us both when our heart rates dropped, and I still think he's a bit shaken.

Jonathan is currently asleep, having got the hang of feeding and looking cute already, and his 3 brothers are suitably besotted!

thanks everyone for the thoughts, prayers, vibes and emails over the past (long!) pregnancy. your friendship has meant a lot.

Have borrowed a digital camera and am going to try to get some shots and post them here later.

Having usually been a "get on with it, it was only labour" kinda person, I have to say I feel more of the "oh my goodness I'm an invalid" kinda post-natal woman at the moment, and will be trying to take it easy (to Roarke's relief) over the next few days. Even I'd be stupid to ignore the signals my body is so loudly sending me!