We are Matt and Kay. Kay owns a hair salon and Matt is a software engineer – we have 2 French bulldogs Cilla and Norman and now we have baby Dallas after years of IVF and loss. We took the Happy Parents Happy Baby antenatal classes in Knutsford.
The first two trimesters were a breeze! The third trimester was very humbling! Gestational diabetes, polyhydramnios, pregnancy rash, GERD, pelvic pain and so much swelling! Anterior placenta meant I couldn’t feel movements very well, HPHB made me realise it was absolutely fine to go to triage to get checked out.
I went into triage with reduced movements 3 weeks before my due date. I had been a few times due to having anterior placenta so I went alone this time, fully expecting to be popped on a monitor and then sent home. However the team at the hospital confirmed that the baby needed to be born immediately! They started to prep me and I called Matt who made it to the hospital just as they were wheeling me to theatre. HPHB had previously emphasised the importance of getting any reduced movements checked out and I had Lindsey our HPHB host’s voice ringing in my ears about always checking.
As the C-section was happening so quickly there wasn’t much time to talk me through what was going on. Luckily during our HPHB classes, Lindsey had gone through abdominal birth and what happens at every step, so nothing felt like a surprise other than the emergency of it. I went into surgery at 2.15pm and Dallas was born at 2.33pm. The cord had been wrapped around his neck – I was very grateful for the reassurance from Lindsay and her reminding me to always go and get checked out.
I was scared but my husband reminded me of the breathing technique we had learnt in class and we did that together during our C-section.
Relief. Relief that he was ok and healthy. I couldn’t hold him straight away as I was very shaky but as soon as we got to recovery he was passed to me and he latched on to feed straight away – I had never felt anything more euphoric.
HPHB talked us through tips for a C-section recovery and the importance of staying on top of pain meds and listening to your body- which I did! Dallas had jaundice so we had to go back into hospital on day 3; luckily we had discussed jaundice in our classes and knew it was common and required only a little non invasive therapy.
Recovering fairly quickly from my C-section.
Anterior placenta and questioning movements.
Holding Dallas and that euphoric, overwhelming feeling of happiness and pride at our resilient, little bundle.
Our emergency C-section; Dallas had not only wrapped the cord around his neck but was breech with his head firmly wedged under my ribs.
None at all- I would do it all again in a heartbeat for our sunshine boy.
We have the most wonderful and supportive little group, constantly sharing recommendations and milestones- we have even had a few meet ups.
Disposable maternity knickers- I could tear them to take them off which saved a lot of bending post C-section.
A full fat coke after the gestational diabetes.
A hamper of every day baby things gifted by my sister- baby toys for developing grip, a Rockit and a coffee cup holder for our pram!
Always trust your gut and never second guess getting your movements checked out during pregnancy.
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