Friday, March 2, 2012

Welcome Sesame!

Sesame is here!
Thank you so much for your well wishes, blessings, congratulations and love. I am so grateful to everyone who sent the above. I cannot begin to explain it, words just aren't enough. Soppy to start with... great!
Tiny!
Lucy arrived at 11:21am on February 29th 2012.
Nothing fit her, this is a 00 top
We thought she was coming on the 28th. I woke to pains low around my back, bum and pelvis. As the day progressed the pains got worse. They were never regular and we know now it was sesame getting into position.
Getting ready to walk around the shops
My mum came up to look after lufflump and the mister called in sick to work just in case. We had a pretty lazy day with family naps but included a long walk in the shopping centre to try and move things along.
Family naps
Nothing happened so mum and lufflump went back down to the Gold Coast while the mister and I chilled watching movies. I went to bed around 10ish and had a relatively good sleep, only waking up a couple of times during the night.

For some stupid reason 5:30am seemed a good time to wake and get up. I told the mister that it looked like it was all a false alarm as I wasn't feeling any pains. 6:06am I recorded the first contraction. It went for thirty-two seconds but wasn't very strong. Contractions started coming every seven minutes for about thirty seconds each time.
Not long before we left for the hospital
I called the midwife who said to call her back when a really strong, long contraction came that felt different from the rest. I had a shower and made sure we had everything. The mister and I hung around listening to music and checking the road reports before a strong fifty second contraction hit. The midwife was called and just after 9am we started heading into the hospital.

I was petrified of the car trip because you are just stuck and can't move around when a contraction hits. I'd decided to try and use music as my focus point to get through the contractions. I didn't know whether it would work but anything was worth a try. The car trip wasn't very bad at all. I listened to the 500 Days of Summer soundtrack and Regina Spektor while we were held up in traffic. I remember three contractions being very painful but focusing on the music, singing and rocking my head definitely helped.

Of course we couldn't get a car park easily and I had two contractions while walking from there to the birth centre but nothing too bad. We got into our room at 9:30am and immediately got settled, the mister with TV and me with my music, by this stage I was onto Florence and the Machine. She actually arrived to Florence's 'Drumming Song' live version.
Birthing room - RBWH Birth Centre
I tried many different positions while contracting but the best was on all fours with my head buried in the beanbag. I had entered a different world. My midwife, Carolanne, wanted me to move around to try and pop the waters but there was no way I was moving for anyone.

The mister began tickling my back and I had a sudden urge to push. We hadn't checked to see how dilated I was so had no idea whether it was time or not. It was decided that hopping into the bath was the best way to go just in case.

OMG the water was AMAZING! At first I thought that it had slowed down the contractions as I couldn't really feel them any longer but when the next one burst my waters I knew it was time. The next contraction 10 cent piece of her head showed. The pressure on my bum was intense. Next contraction her head came out. Next her arm then her. It was so quick.

There was no burning sensation as such. It hurt of course but it was more pressure than anything. I don't know what factors contributed to that but I'm definitely not complaining.

She was perfect from the very start. Her perfect little features and SO tiny! I couldn't stop staring at her amazed that her birth was so quick and easy. She also took to breastfeeding like a little pro. Damn cracked nipples though - she won't stop feeding! I'm not complaining though, I'm so grateful she's doing so well.
Just out of the water
My last blood test had shown I had low iron levels so we couldn't stay in the bath for long just in case I bled too much. Also because I'd previously had an episiotomy they needed to check whether I had a tear and needed stitches again. Thankfully, I only have a minor tear that didn't need stitches.
Happy!!
They sat me down on the floor and my placenta popped out spontaneously, no pushing or anything. We had delayed cord clamping which I highly recommend. It means that they don't clamp or cut the cord until it has stopped pulsating reducing wastage of such important blood for the baby. The cord doesn't appear as gross as lufflump's did who didn't have delayed cord clamping (I wish we had choice back then for him too).
Cutting the cord
After I got up and dressed, which included the sexiest fishnet undies with a big nappy underneath, we had visitors. Lufflump, my mum and the mister's mum came to see sesame and lufflump was ADORABLE! He was so excited shown off sesame and his baby. Sesame got lovely kisses and cuddles straight away. The grandparents were, of course, smitten.
Family time
After they left we had a little nap before more tests. The paediatrician was very pleased with sesame especially the big poo she did just for her. The physio pretty much just ran through what is in the booklet and we discussed what exercises are best to get me on track to training for roller derby. We were then discharged.
Car ride home. Everything's so big!
We got home at 4:30pm. Almost a typical work day - in at 9:30am, out at 4pm. It was lovely coming home straight away, we could settle in and relax with no worries. Go to bed, eat, laze around, watch TV - all at our own pace. The mister did have to go to work so his mum and my dad came to visit.

I highly recommend the birth centre. Not only are the midwives lovely, it was the best experience I could imagine and my recovery is bliss. It honestly doesn't feel like I have given birth a couple of days ago. Yesterday, we even went shopping as we had no clothes to fit her.
Daddy's little princess
For the next couple of weeks while I get used to having a toddler and a newborn (not yet experienced as lufflump has been away or at daycare) I'll be featuring some wonderful bloggers and their baby stories. I'm so excited and have really enjoyed reading these posts. I hope you will too.

43 comments:

  1. OMG she looks adorable. So glad you had a great birth experience - congrats and enjoy your bigger family!

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    1. Thank you. It didn't feel like I'd given birth which is so awesome :)

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  2. Ohhh so beautiful! Warmest congrats Amy! Sesame is gorgeous and I am so pleased everything worked out so perfectly for you!

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  3. What a wonderful birth story. So glad everything is great for all of you.
    Congratulations again. She is just adorable.

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    1. Thank you lovely. She is pretty special :)

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  4. I'm a big believer that we choose our parents and you guys have been more calm and approached this in a different state of mind. I'm not sure if its maturity, life experience or just because you guys are simply awesome but its been great to see.

    I really am proud of you guys. You've come a really long way and I'm fortunate to be able to share this with you guys, albeit from Melbourne.

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    1. Aww.. wow thank you Jodie. That is just so lovely. Cannot wait to see you again xxx

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  5. Congratulations!! So happy it all went well - Sesame is gorgeous! I am due in 4 weeks at the Birth Centre and hope my birth goes just as smoothly! I'll take half as smoothly, even!

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    1. Thank you! I hope it does too. The birth centre is just amazing :)
      I'm now following your blog and can't wait to read all about your journey!

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  6. This is the first birthing story that I have read that hasn't filled me with terror or fright or fear. It was simply gorgeous, and I'm glad that you are both doing well. Seasame is so very beautiful <3

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  7. Oh honey she is just adorable. Welcome earthside little one....gorgeous name. I just love the second pic of you holding her and smiling, you are glowing. Makes me all clucky for number three even more.

    Enjoy those fresh newbie cuddles and babymoon.

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    1. Thank you!
      I'm sure she made a lot of ladies clucky at the Hello Events workshop :)

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  8. Oh Amy how special!!! Loved reading this!! I had goosebumps! Congratulations on your special girl!

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  9. Congrats again and wow, i loved reading your post Ames - makes it sound all so easy but amazing at the same time - i hope if the day comes for me it's as great as yours sounds lol :-) Beautiful name too :-) xo ClaireT

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  10. Congratulations! So glad you had such a great birth!! And thanks for sharing your story. :-)

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  11. Congrats! Little girls are so awesome (biased as I only have a girl!!). And how spesh being born on the 29th Feb. She is divine x

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    1. I'm very much enjoying buying little girl clothes. So pretty!!
      Thank you :)

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  12. Amazing birth story. Im stunned you were home the same day! Congrats! It felt great when we became a family of four. Hope you feel thrilled too.

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    1. Thank you. It was wonderful being home a few hours later, it didn't even feel like I'd given birth :)
      Definitely thrilled, our family is complete.

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  13. That sounds like the perfect birth story, well done Ames! You are amazing. And your gorgeous little family is just beautiful!
    xx

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    1. It was pretty amazing, still a bit surreal :)
      Thank you lovely!

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  14. It was such a thrilling ride following you and your pics & tweets... Thanks so much Amy! Miss Sesame's birth is testament to your fab Mr & supporters at the hospital but mostly to you, the mummy who knew what she wanted & would be best for her baby.
    Congratulations you have created another miracle here on earth! Love Denyse xx

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    1. Thank you so much Denyse. Such lovely words :)

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  15. Aww! I know i already said it but congrats again - and i just showed Flynn the picture of Sesame on the scales and he goes " aww mum - a little baby! ". I think she's already got an admirer!

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    1. Thank you.
      I think Flynn is going to be an awesome big brother :)

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  16. Congratulations - she is beautiful!

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  17. Love it! I love that second time around you can be more bossy about it and have things more your own way.
    From wht I was told the 'ring of fire' burning sensation is when you tear and need stitches, if you didn't then thats awesome!
    love xx

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    1. Yep definitely, you know what you want and don't want!
      I'm so glad I didn't feel it, last time it was so very painful.

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  18. congratulations on your beautiful family Amy. What a lovely birth story.

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  19. She is just gorgeous Ames, but you already knew that :-P

    Sounds like you had a really great birth too.

    xx

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  20. Congratulations!! She is just divine. And I'm so happy you had such a beautiful birth.

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  21. Congratulations!! I've been hanging out to actually be able to get some time to get on the computer and leave a comment after reading your story on my phone. Such a beautiful birth! Such a beautiful little family! She is just devine and I'm so, so happy for you!! I'm so excited to have my little one at the birth centre sometime in the next few weeks (well, anytime from today actually!). I think we have the same midwife team - Carolanne is one of my midwives :D

    Enjoy your newborn cuddles xx

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    1. Thank you so much.
      Caseload one is an awesome midwife team. Such wonderful ladies :)
      Good luck with your upcoming birth!!
      xxx

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  22. Well done to you! I've been stalking your Instagram photos and enjoying your happy 'newborn' times along with you. Best wishes for the next few weeks of settling in and getting to know each other. x

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    1. Thank you lovely.
      It's been wonderful watching us all grow as a family.

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