William's First Year

Lots of ‘firsts’ this week, this is us about to head out into the wilds of East End in our turbo-charged, four-wheel drive super-pram. It’s fantastic to be out in the fresh air again. I can feel myself getting stronger and can’t wait for the day when Eddie, Will and I will be tramping across the hills together.

For now, though, the post box and back is a good start.

Alas now known as the calm before the storm when Will turns into the Demon Baby From Hell and screams all night…

He’s slept with us the last couple of nights, but tonight we’re going to start training him to sleep in his moses basket. It’s not going to be easy, but basically whenever he falls asleep he’ll go in the basket, and that’s that. Time check – 01.35, only a few hours to go then 🙂

Eddie has been amazing over the course of the past week, doing all the cooking, cleaning, laundry etc around the house; driving up to see Will and I every day, and before that, during the whole induction process he was a rock, always there to keep my flagging spirits going. Every day he makes me the most amazing meals to keep my strength up, I don’t know what I’d do without him.

In a way I’m dreading next week and being all alone, but I was also thinking that I’ll be ready to look after Eddie for a bit too. He’s going to be so tired with Will so difficult to get to sleep at night. It’s going to be a tough few weeks ahead.

Given I spent 5 days in hospital attempting to have Will, I’m afraid I feel obliged to share the gory details with you….

As you know, the midwife came last Monday and couldn’t do a sweep so I was booked for an induction on Thursday 5th January. Eddie and I went in that evening and I was given a pessary to bring on contractions. They started relatively quickly and were pretty painful, lasting for about a minute every 10 minutes. However it wasn’t enough to start labour and I spent a sleepless night on the ward.

In the morning, the midwife examined me and I was only one centimetre, so they gave me another pessary and Eddie and I spent a tortuous day of contractions and trivial pursuit before being told I hadn’t got any further at around 6pm. By this time all the other girls who were due to be induced had gone into labour, and the current midwife on duty felt so sorry for me she let me have a float in the birthing pool for a bit to ease the pains. Not quite how I’d envisaged using it, but at least I can say I had a go 🙂

On Saturday morning they examined me again with a view to trying a third pessary. I’d spent another sleepless night with irregular contractions and was dreading another day of this. Fortunately the doctor thought my waters had broken and decided to put me on a syntocin drip. They asked if I’d like an epidural from the word go and I decided this was the way forward after 2 sleepless nights.

Jan, the aneasthetist put in the epidural which was weird, but fine. It just feels like someone’s pouring cold ice down your back. Then they started the drip….

2 hours in, the midwife decided to double-check that my waters had actually broken, and found that they hadn’t completely. So she had to break them, which dropped the baby’s heartbeat dramatically. Panic ensued but we got it back up again and continued.

Eventually at around 1.00am on Sunday, we got to 9 cms, but were having problems as Will’s heartrate had gone up from 120 bpm to 170, the drip distressed him. But if we turned it off, my contractions stopped. So it was a no win situation and the lovely registrar decided it was time to go for a c-section to get him out.

Eddie scrubbed up and I was wheeled into theatre shaking like a leaf. They topped up the epidural and 5 minutes later, after much pushing and shoving to get Will back up into my womb and out of the sunroof, I heard a scream and everyone converged into one corner.

What seemed like hours later, Will was finally placed into my arms wrapped in a towel, absolutely perfect. Eddie and I both burst into tears of happiness. He was with us at last.

At last!

William David Houghton arrived at 02.07 on Sunday 8th January by caesarean section weighing 8lbs.

Elvis would be proud.

STILL no baby – so the tree’s been hacked into small pieces and Eddie and I have cleaned the house from top to bottom. Not sure if that counts for nesting (possibly the one form of natural induction we haven’t tried), but although it hasn’t worked either, the house is looking spotless.

Very excited about tomorrow, the midwife’s coming to do a stretch and sweep – sounds like some kind of ghastly exercise class – it remains to be seen whether it has any effect on our overly comfortable child.

Christmas has come and gone, and if one more person asks if there’s ‘any news?’ on the baby front I’m going to scream. Five days later and it’s still showing no signs of wanting to come out. Mind you, with the wind and rain howling round the house, it’s hardly surprising. We’re beginning to think that it won’t be with us until next year – what a bizarre concept…

On Monday I’ve got instructions to call the midwife and she’ll come to the house to try to get things moving (won’t go into the details, don’t worry). If that doesn’t work then it’s off to Reading for an induction. Either way, there is light at the end of the tunnel and with a bit of luck and some help from those in the know, our baby should be with us by the end of next week at the latest.

A great week all round what with cat rescuing and Christmas parties. Tilly is Mother’s new charge, she was going to be homeless last weekend as the family she lived with were moving to a place which wouldn’t take cats. Had a sudden flash of inspiration and called Mother who said she’d have her, and now she’s firmly ensconced. Much to Woggles’ (malevolent incumbant) chagrin.

Jane and Ian’s Christmas drinks were fabulously festive and it was wonderful to see everyone before the baby. Was almost hoping it might decide to turn up afterwards as it all started at their wedding, but alas it’s far too comfortable and happy staying put.

Last night we went over to Tim and Anne’s for their do, but at this point I’m afraid I had to give up. Couldn’t stand or sit after about 1/2 an hour due to excrutiating backache. It’s such a shame because they had a band and in normal circumstances we’d have stayed, drunk muchos vin rouge and probably embarressed ourselves on the dancefloor. Next year…..

Tonight we’re heading over the road to Cate and Jim’s for a spot of carol singing and then we batten down the hatches in preparation for Christmas Day!

It’s funny, but over the past couple of weeks I feel like I’ve grown hugely. I have this awful habit of dropping everything on the floor too, I’m sure it’s the body’s way of making you bend over to pick things up and maybe kick-start labour. So far it’s not working, just driving me potty.

Had a lovely meeting with the NCT ladiees, all glowing and happy with their offspring, and Helen, Lisa and I still the weebles of the group. At least I can safely say that at our next meeting we’ll all finally be in the same boat (unless I’m really unlucky and get to 42 weeks).

Talking to them is very reassuring, and they have all had amazingly quick and relatively painless labours. On the minus side, by the law of averages, this makes me worry I’ll be the one to go for 48 hours in excrutiating pain. Although having said that at this stage I feel past caring as long as I’m no longer pregnant by the end of it.

We’re all set for Christmas, although at this rate it’s going to be pretty uneventful – not to mention dry. Lots to do this week to keep my mind occupied – supper with Lowly, drinks with Janie and Ian, Tim and Anne’s Christmas party and then before you know it Christmas Day will be here. The question now is….will our baby?

This cold’s still gripping on for grim death, although I’ve pumped my system full of Ribena, soup, satsumas and honey…There’s nothing like artificial drugs to help you out in these situations. Sigh.

Fortunately, the baby remains blissfully unaware that its Mother’s suffering in the grip of hideous germs and is now so big that its making my tum into all sorts of weird and wonderful shapes. VERY freaky.

Went to see the midwife yesterday and it’s working its way further down, but has a way to go yet. Apparantly it has a boy’s heartbeat, but as it was a girl a few weeks ago it’s anyone’s guess what it’s going to be at the end. I keep trying to tell it that it’s much more fun outside than in, but so far to no avail.

So it’s just a question of waiting now. Next appointment is on 22nd December, so we’ll see how the land lies then.