Welcome to the world

Welcome to the world Baby L. Born February 2021, weighing 8lbs 2.5oz. 

It’s taken two months for me to get around to writing again, having two kids definitely takes up a lot of energy, but I’m absolutely loving being a family of four now. Z isn’t so keen on it just yet, but that’s ok, no pressure here. It’s a big adjustment for all of us but especially him, all he’s known is just the three of us until now. There's definitely some anxiety around Baby L for him just now, not surprisingly really! We’re giving him the time and space to feel comfortable with his baby brother, he does give him a kiss on the head at bedtime but that’s the closest he’ll get for now.

Giving birth this time was a very different experience compared to when I had Z. Not only because of the pandemic but delivery too. If reading about birth isn't your thing, skip ahead (Dad - I’ll try not to go into too much detail). 

Birth Story

Z keeping me company
through early contractions

My waters broke at around 3am, I called MAU, went in to be checked and monitored. Everything was fine, I had a COVID test, they confirmed my waters had broken and I was starting to have a few contractions. I was sent on my way to labour at home for a while. I’d only been at home for a couple of hours when I decided to start timing the contractions. They were getting closer and closer together. Luckily my parents are in our support bubble, so they came down to look after Z while me and Daddy Z headed up to the hospital. 

I was checked over and was only 4cm dilated, there was a debate whether to send me home or keep me in. They decided to keep me in because I’d previously had an emergency C-section and would be delivering on the high dependency unit, but it meant that I had to wait on a ward until a room became available for me. Because of COVID restrictions this meant I had to wait alone, which was horrible. They couldn't tell me how long I might be waiting to get transferred to the delivery unit so Daddy Z decided to wait in the car, it could have been 10 minutes or as it turned out 6 hours. 6 LONG hours in a room on my own with no pain relief apart from some paracetamol - which really didn't make a difference. 

Just as I thought I couldn't take any more pacing the little room, reading the same sign over and over, my incredible midwife appeared - Mel. Good lord was I glad to see her. She loaded me up in a wheelchair and I could finally call Daddy Z to come and meet me.

I was hooked up to the heart rate monitor and given gas and air - I was really nervous about having it as I didn't do well on it when I had Z. Luckily this time it was fine and it really helped take the edge off. Mel was amazing, explaining what she was doing or just chatting about bands with us, she really helped relax me. At this point my contractions had gone all over the place, some were really close together and others were much longer apart and I wasn't progressing much at all, so they decided to put me on a drip to help get things moving along. Boy did that work! Within half an hour my contractions were getting much closer and soon I couldn't bear the pain. I tried to hold off for as long as possible but I had to ask for an epidural, I couldn't cope any longer. Mel made a call for the anaesthetist to come and she started prepping me for the epidural. This included a glamorous gown (which at this point I couldn't even put on by myself) and some stunning compression stockings which poor Daddy Z had to try to squeeze me into. My midwife had to quickly leave the room to fetch something and literally within a few minutes I was screaming, the contractions had seriously picked up.

Turned out I didn't even have time to get the epidural, I was quickly checked over and they told me to push. Baby was coming right then. I wont go into the details but I did apologise after in case I'd scared anyone else on the ward with my screaming. I swear midwives were popping their heads in the door to see who was making all the racket!

Baby L was born at 1.50am (to the sound of some dodgy 80’s tunes playing on the radio) and we were stunned by his beautiful blonde head of hair. We were instantly in love and always will be. I'm not sure if it's genius timing or really bad timing that he was born the day before Z's birthday...either way I was just really glad to be home in time to be able to celebrate with Z on his 5th birthday!

Tiny toes!

So, now I'm totally outnumbered but I couldn't be happier, or more proud of my two amazing little boys. 

Sarah x