AMELIA ROSE BRIDDON

She's arrived!!! Finally, 9 days late, after all my whinging, the joint 1st most beautiful baby in the world was born!!
It all happened in the early hours of Sunday 27th January, I had got up to go to the loo at about 2:45, after, I heard 2 weird ripping/bursting sounds followed a stream of fluid! Knowing full well that this wasn't wee! I sat back down on the loo & called out that old familiar phrase, "Christian, I think my waters have just broken" - fortunately Alice was staying at my Mum's as we suspected something would happen this weekend.

I phoned the hospital, who advised me to "hang on until the morning before coming in" - from previous experience Christian & I knew that wasn't going to happen - then as the fluids kept on flowing, the contractions started. The 1st wasn't too bad, 15 mins later the 2nd was more uncomfortable, another 7 mins this time & Christian began his very important job of counting out loud for the length of the contraction. This gives me something to concentrate on & an idea that by 25ish it should start calming down a bit.

Anyway, we got in the car & thus began the most horrible car journey! The contractions were coming every 3 mins & lasting 40 - 50 seconds. I feel really sorry for the poor receptionist at Jessops hospital, I walked in, gave her my name & as she was starting to tell us where to go, I started staggering around saying "count Christian, count" & moaning "oh no...pant, pant, deep breaths" & a few seconds later then said "Sorry, which room did you say"!
After my rather dramatic entrance, I was examined straight away, bunged in to a wheelchair & raced down the corridor to a delivery room - I was fully dilated & ready to push (an action which cannot stop once you're ready to go!)

6 pushes later & no pain relief at all may I add, the very beautiful Amelia was handed to me, all 8lbs & 5ozs of her, aahhh!

Christian cut the cord & photographed the placenta, like all proud fathers do! Then we sat back, ate toast & drank tea, listened to the poor cow in the next room screaming, & laughed about the most ridiculous 100mins we had just spent, since I had got up in the night for a quick wee!!!

All pictures are here.

THE END IS NIGH

I think this will be my final pregnancy update! I am now 8 days late, the same as I was with Alice so fingers crossed. I saw the midwife yesterday & had an internal sweep, think latex gloves & James Herriot! She felt the baby's head & told me I was 3cm dilated, so something is happening. She also booked me in at Jessops Hospital to be induced if still no sign by next Friday & was laughing with the woman on the phone about me not making it that far anyway, she said she was 100% certain I will be delivering before then!

We thought the baby was coming last night as I was having light (10-15 second) contractions about every 30 mins - we were very excited, Alice slept at my Mum's, we went to bed to grab some sleep before lift off but these contractions had stopped when I woke up for my 12:30 wee -bugger!

Oh well, we'll see what today brings! I might also add that the final weight gain has been 2.5 stone! & my waist currently measures 49 & 3/4 inches!!! Get on that cross trainer Chunky!!!!

MY GOD WOMAN, CHEER UP!

I am such a miserable cow at the moment! All I seem to do is moan & complain. Believe me, I do know just how fortunate I am to be 39 & a half weeks pregnant, although we have the very perfect Alice, we were 2 years trying for her, with a rather cruel miscarriage just before her, then another year of trying & 2 more miscarriages before this baby (teenage chavs seem to just get pregnant by thinking about it), SO WHY AREN'T I ELATED?

Poor old Christian & Alice don't know where they are with me, I'm a fluffy bunny one minute & a pit bull the next, everything is too much trouble, walking upstairs leaves me breathless, sitting makes my pelvic bones ache, standing gives me backache, lying down is too much hassle for the amount of time it takes to get up, etc......
I don't remember feeling like this the last time. When I listen to myself it really upsets me because I think "You ungrateful cow!"

It won't be long now (I hope) & I'm actually looking forward to the giving birth part! I just want to hold our new baby in my arms & know that all is well. As for me, I will return to my usual old self & be able to run & jump up & sleep on my front & use my new cross trainer &.......