"Giving Birth & Aftercare"

When I went into labour with my second child, I was nervous as it was almost 8 years since I'd had my first, and that had been a long, difficult labour with a 9lb baby!

When I got to the hospital, they checked me over and were going to send me home as I wasn't far enough along, but they recognised how much pain I was in and got me a room in the home from home unit. I had been wanting an epidural (I'd had one with my first and it was the only pain relief that was effective), but there wasn't enough space in the delivery suite. I was so upset and convinced I couldn't do it otherwise.

The midwives were so lovely, supportive and reassuring even though I was crying and screaming and begging them to knock me out! They monitored the baby and I throughout, which helped - I was worried about the baby but hearing the heartbeat regularly put my mind at ease. They and my partner got me through it and I ended up giving birth to an 8lb baby girl in the pool with only gas and air. From the time I entered the hospital until she was born was less than 4 hours - this was surprising as my last labour had lasted 3 days even with medication to try speed it up; I'm glad they didn't send me home! 

Despite having quite a bit of blood loss after, they looked after me and kept me in for monitoring until my iron levels were satisfactory, which was just as well as my baby developed jaundice, which was quickly noticed and addressed.

When we got home, the midwives that came out were so helpful. Our health visitor has been out several times and has been so helpful and friendly, reassuring and supporting us. I feel that I recovered very quickly from the birth compared to the first time, and I'm convinced it was because of how it went - I'm now glad I didn't get the epidural! My baby is also healthy and doing well and again I'm convinced it is partially due to the birth! I feel so grateful to the staff at the hospital and the midwife/health visitor that have looked after us afterwards. It has been such a positive experience!