Anna birth story

Annabelle Mary  7/08/11

My pregnancy with Anna was pretty good really. I put on about 20kg, probably due to the fact that ate pretty much non stop- especially if there was cream involved :) By the time my due date was reached, I had the biggest thighs, my stomach was severely stretched and I had quite the waddle (attractive). Anna's due date was actually 30/07/09, Alex's second birthday. I had set up a party for our immediate family as I was sure that this baby would be overdue, like Alex was, and then it happened...

No, I didn't go into labour- my husband had gone to play footy and within the first ten minutes he had broken his ankle. My brother kindly offered to take him to hospital because I was busy looking after Alex. We cancelled the birthday party, had cake at my in laws, then at my parents and got our stuff packed... My well meaning brother had forced me to accept the fact that until this baby was born, I had to stay at my parents because Sam was unable to drive- so the three of us moved in...

The following week was filled with contractions, which all amounted to nothing. Finally, 7 days later, I went to bed with Alex, (Sam was on the single cos his leg still wasn't properly immobilised) and my little brother Nick was lying on the mattress between the two beds. I was having contractions and my darling two year old was kicking me in the back (really not cool). I was kind of over it all and so yelled at my boy- nick could no longer handle his hormonal psychopathic sister, so he left the room. Eventually I fell asleep, convinced that my baby was at least getting ready.

The next day was a Sunday, so I went to Mass with my family. Sam went to his folks for the morning. All through Mass, I was having contractions- my dad asked me if I wanted to go to the hospital every five minutes or so. I was really trying to avoid going to hospital too early, and I realised that since I was still in control of my emotions I still had time. After Mass, we went back to my parents' house- they had invited my Uncle and Aunty over for a BBQ. I had something to eat, all the while I was rocking and breathing through contractions. At about 1pm, I called Sam and said that now might be a good time to go to hospital.

Mum drove us to hospital, over numerous speed bumps, and we arrived at around 2pm. Once I got into the examination room, a midwife checked me... 4cm... Huh? You have got to be kidding me!?! She suggested that maybe we could go for a walk... Did she see Sam's crutches? I asked if we could please just stay where we were... She agreed. At about 3, I went to the toilet, and after I came out, I decided that jeans were no longer necessary as I paced out a circuit, bed to sink, sink to bed... It wasn't long before this circuit was too much to bear, I pressed the call button and told Sam that I was going to get an epidural- the pain was just too much and I couldn't last anymore. When the midwife came in, I told her the deal and she asked if I needed a wheelchair and if I could put my jeans back on- I just looked at her (good thing my husband was there to answer for me). So, after a couple of minutes, I was in a wheelchair with a blanket, being wheeled up to delivery...

I arrived in the delivery room at 4pm- the baby was coming... I just cried, because I was scared, got on the bed, and pushed out a baby... She was born at 4:12. Once again, I asked, boy or girl? And once again, it was a formality- I was sure I was having a girl :) Anna was about 8 pound, and we made it home by 8:30pm... Just in time for the Masterchef finale (but I was on too much of an adrenaline high to watch it til the next day).