Wednesday 22nd DEC - part 2. Welcome to the World, Alexander William

The first thing I see is DH holding our baby boy.  I remember feeling amazingly happy and smiling up at them both. Another immediate thought that came to mind is "Thank God I made it".  I feel no pain.  DH later told me I was talking a load of gibberish - just an after effect of the GA.  We already had decided on his name, months earlier. Alexander just becuase we like it and can shorten it to Alex and William was my Grandads name even though he prefered to be known as Arthur and also after DH's Uncle Bill who we lost to Cancer.

Apparently they made the first incision at 3.21pm and he was born 3 mins later at 3.24pm

After a short time in recovery we go to HDU where the three of us spent the next few hours. I have fond memories of this time, felt so relaxed and relieved that everything went well. I lost only a minimal amount of blood - 600mls which is normal for a Standard C-Section. So all those precautions put in place werent needed. I will be eternally grateful for the skill of the Consultant and the staff in theatre that day.

Cannot help but stare at the little boy, he is so cute and perfect and blissfully unaware of the weeks leading to his birth - and so he should be.  He had a formula feed when he was first born, DH gave this to him and I do try to feed him myself in HDU but theres no milk yet.

I get given a jug of iced water which DH lets me have with a straw and it tastes like the best drink I have ever had. I had been nil by mouth since midnight the night before and have never known thirst like it. I also get toast and jam which is just perfect.  BP is taken by a machine every 15 mins, seems okay. I have a catheter in so least dont worry about having to go for a wee.

Alexander is in the bed with me for cuddles. He looks like his big sister did when she was first born. He pulls some funny faces and he just seems so small.  Actually for 36weeks +6 days he is a good size at 7lbs 1oz.

I have access to a morphine trigger shot but I dont use it. I cant feel any pain at all.  I get a lovely wash and freshen up and get to brush my teeth helped by a lovely maternity nurse and get my own nightshirt on which feels lovely.   At about 10pm they decide I can be transferred back to the ward. A porter comes to take me in a wheelchair - I am able to edge over the side of the bed and sit up with help slowly.  I dont feel dizzy or anything which is great. A midwife pushes Alex in his cot, DH carries my bag and off we go to the ward. I am taken back to the same one thank goodness but am put in a 4 bedded room with other mums and newborns.  I am so happy, I just cannot believe I am here with my baby after all these weeks.

Its about 11.15pm when DH goes home for some much needed sleep.

I dont sleep much that night. Me and baby have skin to skin contact to bring his temp up a little bit as he is a little bit cool. Its lovely - his little head is poking out of the top of my night shirt and we stare at each other, his eyes blinking up at me. I doze off in the early hours and so does he.  His temp reaches the right level and he sleeps in his cot next to me.

Welcome to the world Alexander.

On the home straight...........

As I type this its Saturday am and for some reason have been awake since 5am.  its my 5th weekend in hospital and hopefully my last. A week today its Christmas Day.  4 more days until baby is born and I am praying for a straight forward C-Section to get him out and that we are both well enough to go home on Christmas Eve. I have already prepared myself for the fact that I may not get out on Christmas Eve though and may still be here a day or 2 afterwards. This will be hard but better to be fit and well than go home too soon. DH will have to do the ritual of carrot, mince pie and sherry for DD and have presents etc. Mum is doing the xmas dinner so they will have to eat together and then they will join me here in the afternoon.

Send me your positive thoughts and love because I really will need them if that is the case.

Anyway, less of the what ifs, Whatever happens we will cope.  I wont be on my own - I will have my son with me and some of my favourite staff are here xmas day.

Yesterday morning my nice room-mate has a raging headache and throws up before breakfast. Her BP is through the roof and I know whats coming - induction.  The doc comes round and says - I think we will induce you. See, I am getting good at this diagnosis lark. She is not taken to labour ward til the afternoon though as apparently they have a rush on.

I trot off to the eye clinic and my eyes are behaving themselves for now. More black humour between me and the consultant.......and the junior in the room observing looks quite perplexed, talk of pelvic floors, bleeding and baby stuff probably doesnt come up in the normal eye consultations she observes.  People are wierd - before I go in, I sit in the waiting room and this old dear just stares at me - I am dressed obviously but in slippers and with bandaged ventlon sticking out of arm and hospital name tag. I stare back but she wins. I want to say "want a photo, love?  I dont though and actually as I now type this, I am thinking praps she couldnt actually see me that well - It is an eye clinic after all.

See the ward manager today - aka favourite midwife.  We have a chat for a bit - she says my bump is massive, bigger than a few days ago when she saw me.  I ask her about shaving down below........I have no shame in here so fast forward if you are of sensitive nature. I havent seen my lady bits in a while as I have a huge bump in the way. But for the op, obviously need to be free of foliage other wise he will spend the first 5 mins with a hedge trimmer. Paula says they are happy to shave me before hand  but that that is a step too far. I will have to rope in the services of DH.  I tell him to bring in the bikini line hair remover from home. Date night will be interesting as its the only time he is here without DD. So - chinese takeaway followed by lady gardening - cant wait !

Lovely visit with him, DD and mum. She is over the bug and is back to herself and its a good visit.  The floor fitters came today and I see pics of the gorgeous new bathroom floor - black with silver glitter- love it.

BP has come down thanks to the pills - get in bed, nothing on TV really but do watch a bit of Graham Norton before sleep - v funny.

Another day done.