Birth stories

As the arrival of baby Ashcroft #2 quickly approaches and friends and family are retelling birth stories, I am spending my very little 'free' time reminiscing my own birth story. As 4 and a half years have past I am feeling the need to put it to paper as it becomes more sketchy as times passes. So here it is:

Baby Ashcroft #1 was due on 22nd December 2008. The due date came and passed with no signs of a Christmas baby. I was fed up, hormonal and quite honestly felt like I was going to be pregnant forever and wondered if in fact it was all a cruel joke and there was actually no baby in there.

Then on 31st December (yes New Years Eve) I was woken with the sudden urge to jump out of bed in anticipation of my water breaking. After much confusion over whether they had actually gone or I'd just had a long wee, we got back into bed & decided that maybe it was a false alarm. As I laid in bed the contractions started. I watched the clock and after an hour or so of pains at about 10 minute intervals, decided to get Marc up then we could prepare for what was going to be the biggest day if our lives! So we phoned parents, organised dog walkers and got to hospital; stopping regularly as waters continued to 'go'.

We spent all morning on the triage ward being monitored, poked, prodded and examined to then be told to go home, get a rest and a bath and they would expect to see us the following day.

At home, the pain intensified. I was in and out of the bath like a yoyo. My mum came to help out and was clearly upset to see how much pain I was beginning to be in. By 6 o'clock I was exhausted and just wanted to sleep but with contractions every 3 minutes, that wasn't an option. I remember saying to myself that I had to get to 8 pm before phoning the hospital. Marc was getting more and more agitated with each contraction but I put him off by saying 'after the next one I will phone'. At 8 pm I did!

As we arrived on delivery suite, we were sent to a room and told to get comfy! Our midwife 'kathy' came in shortly after and first impressions were 'is she for real'! Being NYE she was in good spirits, had just arrived in shift and had NYE dangly boppers on her head!!!! I kid you not! But she soon became my favourite person after examining me and giving me the good news I was 7cm dilated and could have the water birth I had desired.

After spending several hours in the pool and the New Year passing as I watched the fireworks out of the window, it became clear that things were not going to plan. So out of the pool I came, onto a drip, onto a monitor then the real pain started. Back to back contractions with only gas and air for comfort are no fun. This seemed to go on for hours!!

Things swiftly became a blur as it was decided something wasn't quite right and baby wasn't too happy. As my calm quiet, twinkly lighted room suddenly became filled with about 10 members of staff I looked over at Marc who was sat in the corner of the room with his head in his hands clearly not having a clue what to do or what was going on, I thought this wasn't going to plan anymore!

I was whisked down to surgery, given a spinal block ( the best feeling in the world as that tingling feeling made its way to my toes) contractions.....what contractions?! Were told they were heading straight for a c- section! In that theatre I met some of the loveliest, nicest people. As we chatted about all manner if things until it was time to feel that tugging then heard the words we had been waiting for for 10 months as Kathy announced at 5:45am 'its a Freya Mae'! Our Nordic goddess of love weighing 8lb 12 oz had entered the world safely if not how we had planned!

My first words were 'she looks like my dad' but my heart filled with love for this beautiful baby that we had created. Marc got the first cuddle as I was stitched but as skin to skin was made I knew what a special relationship we would grow to have!

The day was filled with visits from family and friends and cuddles. I would stare at her and honestly could not believe she was mine all mine! What an amazing start to the new year 2009!