Heidi's birth story

En route to Rookery Hall!

At 38 weeks and 6 days pregnant with Heidi, I was chief bridesmaid at my sisters big, posh, country house wedding. I was huge and uncomfortable and despite my bridesmaid dress fitting perfectly a few days earlier, it now dragged on the floor at the front. Heidi had decided that she was ready and had snuggled deeper into my pelvis. I, however, was in a bit of denial that this was ever going to happen so even though I was due in just over a week and staying away from home, I hadn't got my hospital bag with me. In fact, I hadn't even put it together.


12 weeks

I started with really strong pains during the wedding photos. I assumed it was because I was doing too much. I'd not stopped all week! I felt much better once I sat down with a small glass of bubbly. During the evening, while everyone was enjoying a good old knees up, I was sat in the hotel room, with an upset tummy. Again, I put it down to the rich food served at the wedding breakfast rather than mother nature. I knew it was a sign of imminent labour but chose to ignore it. Anyway, everyone was absolutely hammered, including Chris, so it couldn't happen tonight!



20 weeks

Thankfully, Heidi chose to stay put for the next couple of days.  Everything calmed down as I chilled out on the sofa, enjoying the beginning of my maternity leave. Halloween arrived and a few parents of the children out trick or treating joked that they didn't want to 'start me off' by scaring me. I laughed back - as if that would ever happen!

At 3am on 1st November (39 weeks and 2 days) I was woken with a strong pain. I went back to sleep.
I woke again at 5.30am and just a I heard Chris leave for work, I felt a strange little thud and gush. My waters had gone, yet I was STILL in denial and tried to ignore it. I waited until about 7am before calling my mum. I didn't want to call Chris until I was sure it was go, go, go! The pain intensified while talking to my mum so I called Chris, who was home within 10 minutes. He called the hospital who told me to have a bath, breakfast and paraetamol and to begin timing! It was my first baby so I had ages, right?

Wrong! By the time I got in the bath my contractions were 3 mins apart. We got the midwife on the phone who sighed and said "do you want to come in?". That was it. I was straight in the car with half a hospital bag and a strong need to....push!

The midwife who greeted me at the birthing centre was lovely and calm and up for a leisurely stroll as she guided me to my room. I was marching. "We don't have to run!" she told me. Er, yes we do! I was introduced to a second midwife, who immediately recognised my need to push and dashed about finding me some gas and air. A quick examination later and I was 9cm dilated. For the next three hours I pushed and pushed. But it was no good. She was well and truly stuck. I was tired and I had somehow agreed to not one, but two student midwives observing. The pain in my back was excruciating, Heidi was back-to-back. I was vaguely aware of some discussions going on but I was too out of it to concentrate.

It was eventually decided that I needed an episiotomy. One snip and two huge pushes later and I had my beautiful baby girl in my arms, weighing in at 9lb 2oz. No wonder she got bloody stuck, eh?

Love and cuggies,

Alison x

Heidi, born at 12.28pm on 1st Nov 2011