The day came when we had to enter the building known as hospital. We originally wanted a home birth, as natural as possible, as God intended child birth to be. Doctors had a different plan.
On the Tuesday 26th April we (I mean the Mrs) had been booked in to be induced… We entered this quiet ward where everyone was smiling at us. Lucy had this amazing comfy bed while a green chair in the corner was awaiting me. I thought that this was the room where we would be for the next 4, 8, maybe 12 hours tops….
The midwife/nurse came in and went through the checks with Lucy, all I could think about was this time tomorrow I’ll be a dad! What do I do? How do I be a dad? I had so many questions that were floating around… Before I knew it we were being moved! I just got used to the idea of this lovey green chair that was to be my bed for the rest of the day.
Got moved to a ‘waiting ward’. The first couple of hours were normal. Then it started! I was just about to go and get some food for me when I made Lucy laugh. Can’t remember what I said but the result of the laughter came fluid! Tonnes! It didn’t stop. I thought yes! Only a few more hours to go till I can hold my baby boy.
Once the waters broke, the pain started. Lucy was holding my hand so tight!! Lucy was demanding for gas & air/tens machine/massage… Couple of hours later is what I like to call ‘labour speech’ started. Lucy was doing amazing but the pain was getting to her. This is when she started to scream! I felt like I should have bought some ear defenders!! No one warns you of that. The bath wasn’t successful so gas and air was bought down from upstairs. How I longed for that ward where the staff were smiling and the room was calm and QUIET!!
So proud of Lucy. By this time it must have been 11pm on the Tuesday. We were moved back upstairs to finish this journey off. After being settled into our new room and introduced to the midwives, more drugs were pushed through Lucy’s body. Music! How did we forget about the music! The IPOD went on. By this time I was hungry!
By 8am on Wednesday morning Lucy had become fully dilated! Amazing. It was time to push. I didn’t know what to do so I grabbed her hand along with the midwives and our birthing partner and started to encourage Lucy to push. Went on for about 30mins when our midwife said we should think about c section. A flood of emotion went through me. As Lucy was wheeled out to theatre and me following, I caught a glimpse of Natalie (birthing partner), trying hard to hold back the tears.
I entered the theatre, must have been about 10 medical staff there. Lucy had a spinal block administrated, took 8 attempts before it worked. Then it started. Just like you see on TV when they are cut open the head barrier goes up. I remember just holding Lucy’s hand and stroking her head.
The surgeon said do you want to look? What kind of question is that I was thinking? But I did! I stood up to see this grey, slimy thing appear from Lucy’s body! It was my boy. After he had checks down he came to us for his first cuddle. The emotions just flooded through. Tears just flowed uncontrollable.
We had done it! Lucy had done amazing. I couldn’t stop smiling. I was just so happy that he was finally here and that Lucy was safe & well.
Note: It was funny how through reading this, my illusions of what happened during E's birth were shattered. I don't remember screaming, I remember insisting on certain things. I suppose I now know what to do for baby No2. Things will be different.
