Hello. We are Louise and Lee. Louise works as a corporate governance professional in the finance sector and Lee is a service engineer in food/ pharmaceutical manufacturing. We are also parents to our first born feline, Norris. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Fleet.
Despite being an IVF pregnancy, it was otherwise a dream with no morning sickness. I felt fit and healthy throughout, just general physical aches towards the end. I was able to keep active throughout – both at the gym and on our activity holidays. HPHB did however educate me on birthing options and realities, for which I had limited prior understanding. I went from being quite scared of birth to quite excited! As we neared the end, we were both also excited to meet the little one as we had the added surprise of not knowing if it was a boy or girl.
Labour ward of our local hospital. Couldn’t fault the midwives and doctors at all- so supportive and communicative the whole way through, despite the challenges of the birth. They also work hard to ensure your birth plan is adhered to- asking for a copy on arrival. Despite being on the hospital side, the rooms are also comfortable with mood lighting already in-situ, birthing balls available and the like.
My birth didn’t go to plan, in that my waters broke before contractions started. Contractions started about 6 hours before my scheduled induction- on arriving at the hospital, I was given a pessary gel. This ramped up contractions quickly- both in intensity and frequency. I was still only 2cm dilated after nearly 12 hours so we proceeded with an epidural and oxytocin drip. Overnight there was a risk of needing a section due to the heart rate of the baby, but that calmed down when they stopped the drip. They were able to re-start it and I got to 10cm the following morning. I got my passive hour, at which time my epidural was starting to wear off in my left groin area.
Once that was topped up, I could start to push. After a false start where contractions stopped for about 30 minutes, we were back on. I pushed for an hour, through the continued wearing off of the epidural. Baby was slightly crooked heading into the pelvis, so it was deemed required to take me for a forceps delivery in theatre. After a slight rush to get my partner and the midwife team ready, I was off to theatre. Given the epidural was wearing off I had a full spinal block. Once the spinal was in, effectively one push and they turned the baby’s head the right way into the canal, one push to get her head out and one and baby boy was born!!! I was overcome with emotion when the head was out and then so happy when he was born!
Breathing technique – 4/5
TENS – 5/5 – distraction but also a different sensation to focus on.
Gas & air – 5/5 – loved the stuff. Took a while to get the dose right at peak contraction so I had to start using right at the slightest twinge of the contraction starting.
Comb – 4/5 – another good distraction, used in conjunction with TENS and Gas/ air.
Bent over forwards position – this helped massively and was the most comfortable position I found myself in most of the labouring (before epidural) – sitting on chair leaning over end of bed.
Epidural – 4/5 – was amazing as removed all feeling which was bizarre knowing I was contracting the whole time. Only downside was it started to wear off after 12 hours. Had to go therefore for a spinal (as was headed for an assisted delivery anyway).
Elated, so many surreal feelings he was finally here, but a lot of love. We didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl, so I ended up announcing to Lee as I saw first, that he was a boy. We laughed as everyone had said boy and we had started leaning towards girl!
Finn was born at 4pm and we were back on the postnatal ward by 6:30pm. Given my physical limitations, Lee was required to step up straight away and change his nappy and dress him- firsts for both despite practice at HPHB classes! As Lee was unable to stay the night, I had to pick up the same overnight, including feeding solo. Thankfully I was clear from the classes on correct positioning and latching and we had no issues navigating the breastfeeding the first night without the midwives.
Once getting home, reality kicked in, with cluster feeding day 4 kicking in, which I don’t think anyone could have prepared me for. It suddenly felt bizarre being home and having this little person relying on Lee and I for their every need, whilst also trying to manage my own physical recovery.
Breastfeeding from the outset with no issues. Both Finn and I seemed to take to it naturally.
Cluster feeding and evening witching hour.
Realising we made this little guy, that he is ours and showing him off proudly to friends and family and even just curious locals in the street or shops.
How hard burping can be at times!!
Reassurance that the things I am going through are normal.
Music playlist/ speaker and my own pillow!
Glass of Prosecco, and having someone else cook dinner for us!
Blankets (for day time napping).
Love to dream swaddle and Cotababy flip light.
Trust your instinct. It’s wild how much you naturally just work out without any prior experience.
Free downloadable resources and weekly guides for your pregnancy.
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