Kerry's Birth Stories

Jake's Birth

It was the 9th December and I had my final midwife's appointment before getting transferred to Consultant led care at the Hospital due to it been a IVF pregnancy. All was well at the appointment; I was measuring beyond my dates and the baby seemed very happy.

Over the weekend following this appointment all was well. We had just come home from my mum's house after having a lovely Sunday dinner with her and a few friends. I felt so tired, as you do in late pregnancy, so I went to run a bath to have a nice soak before going to bed. But I noticed a strange type of discharge (sorry to much info) and thought to myself I will give the Doctors a ring in the morning. When I went to bed I was out like a light - until bloody midnight. What was it with midnight and this baby? He always woke me up at the same time. So, as I did every other night, I went down stairs for a drink and to lay on the settee.

I was just dozing off to sleep when I had this funny sensation across my tummy. I knew straight away I was in labour. I paced up and down the living room before waking up Paul, who, bless him, had only had two hours sleep since the day before, due to working nights.

He drove me crazy when he finally got up. Do I want a bath? NO! Do I want my back rubbing? NO! Do I want to walk? NO! Would he just leave me alone? YES, please! I was 34 weeks gone so knew it was early, but worry didn't even cross my mind. I don't know why, it just didn't, and it didn't seem to worry the Hospital either. They said to make my way in when I was ready and if I wanted a bath before I came that was fine too.

The first fourteen hours passed quickly with just paracetamol. I then had an Epidural and slept right up to the point of needing to push! So that is what I did next. He was born very quickly, in just two pushes. My son was finally here. He was crying and screaming no end and it was the best sound I had ever heard in my life. It then hit that he was premature! I remember asking if he was ok as they put him in a Incubator and took him out of the room. "He is just fine. We have just taken him to be checked out by our neonatal team," the midwife replied.

A couple of hours later my husband and I were taken to see our son for the first real time. Emotion soon hit us both and we were overwhelmed with tears of joy. We were finally parents and our dreams had been answered. This little 5lb 9oz beautiful baby boy was ours.