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Week by Week

Alexander David

Alexander David was our surprise baby. My partner and I had decided that we would not have any children as I have a very demanding career as a journalist and he had a very high-pressured job in sales management. We had just bought a new house and were settling in when I discovered that I was pregnant. I knew immediately that this was the best thing that could have happened to me and I really enjoyed being pregnant.

Around 37 weeks my blood pressure suddenly shot up and at my regular Friday apppointment the gynae found that I was about 1cm dilated. He told me that I might go into labour over the weekend, but I didn't and on the Monday we decided in consultation with him that an induction was probably a good idea as my blood pressure was still rising. Earlier in the morning I had sent a telegram to my newspaper wishing them well on the massive redesign and relaunch they were putting together for the next day and I kept on phoning them throughout the day to tell them how I was doing and to find out how they were doing.

I was admitted to the labour ward around 12 noon and they gave me prostaglandin pessaries. I started having light contractions but they kept on stopping. I was still prowling around the halls and phoning friends and family. In the evening Stan went home to have a shower and a meal and then returned. My doctor came back and decided that if nothing had happened by 9 they would give me more prostaglandin, they were the tablet form and they hurt like hell. Around 8 my bp really soared and they gave me Aterax to bring it down before giving me more prostaglandin. Then the doctor arrived and while he was doing an internal asked if I minded if he ruptured the membranes. Hell what do you say when you have a hand up inside you. He got a really good gush of water and the only thing I was fed up about was that I still had my dressing gown on and it got good and soaked. He told me that I could get in a bath if I wanted to and that I should walk as much as I could. Minutes after he did the AROM I started having the most immense and scary contractions. At which point I started yelling that I wanted PAIN RELIEF, both my doctor and partner were great in reminding me that I wanted as natural a birth as possible. Later on I had a small shot of Pethidine but it was really minute. I can honestly say that I lost it a bit in the first stage I was rushing around the ward like a demented woman. Then I got up on the bed and clouted Stan a few times for not bringing a damp washcloth to wipe my fevered brow fast enough. Then I started to shake and I told the doctor that there must be something wrong with my blood sugar (not that I have a problem with it). He asked the midwife to get me some orange squash. I never realised I was in transition I was just pissed at the whole thing.

Then the midwife did an exam and told me that if I wanted to I could start pushing and my whole mood changed. At last I had something to do. My partner and doctor were great, they were so supportive and the doctor made it feel like our birth, not his medical intervention. Suddenly he told me that on the next contraction I should pant and not push because the baby's head was right there. I was stunned it seemed so soon. It felt as if the world had stopped and I realised that this was the last minute that I would ever not be a mother. Then Alex was half out and shouting, not crying it was a real shout. We were all laughing and crying and then he was in my arms and then nestled at my breast.

I needed a few stitches and lost quite a bit of blood and was very woozy afterwards, the next day I looked like a total spook. It was, however, the very best experience of my life.

We are expecting another baby in May. I can hardly wait. Alex has been the greatest joy in our lives together. I am enjoying being pregnant again, although I am quite tired what with working full time again and having a toddler and a pregnancy. Oh Stanley gave up his job and stays at home with Alex and they both love it.

Here are a few things I will do differently this time:

I will try not to take pain relief just because I am panicking

I hope to be able to use the birthing pool that the hospital has put in since Alex was born

After the baby is born I will not allow them to take it to the nursery to be weighed and cleaned, they can bring the scale to us.

I will rest more after the birth and try not to be wonder woman the day after the birth (all this of course assumes that all goes well)