A new adventure begins

Claire chillin in Labour watching Sex & The City DVD Boxset
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We're about to start a more challenging and longer lasting adventure than our round the world honeymoon. Parenthood.

Our baby has been stubbornly refusing to join us in the real world. In fact when Claire finally persuaded Daisy to get out, she was 17 days overdue, 8lb 7oz and a bit confused.

We had planned a homebirth, but you just can't plan anything about a birth. We almost got lucky and came very close to having a homebirth.

Claire went into labour at 5am on Wednesday 5th November 2008. Her contractions were infrequent and relatively mild until 4pm then the intensity stepped up a notch and we had to cut short our long walk around the lake at Roundhay park.

The birthing ball, a valuable tool in labour. Comfortable watching position of boxset.
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Excited, we returned home to chill and prepare. Claire's waters broke at 7pm and we followed our midwifes instructions and rang delivery suite at 10pm. We were told to come in for a brief checkup/monitoring. This led to being kept in overnight. No sleep and lots of painful contractions on a hospital bed were a big downer. In addition they insisted on booking in an induction appointment. We had until 7am Friday to have a natural birth.

At home again at midday on Friday, we could focus on labour in a chilled supportive environment. Great! By Friday 2am Claire was having contractions continuously and the midwifes were called out to our house. With no pain relief apart from a tens machine, Claire had made it to 8cm dilation.

Spending Wednesday night at the hospital for monitoring. Fun fun fun.
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The midwifes were amazed but also concerned by the facts: 17 days overdue & 31 hours since waters had broken. They monitored Claire and found that she had unacceptably high blood pressure. Sadly this meant no homebirth. So we were whisked into hospital by ambulance.

Things then went pear shaped. Claire was monitored continuously and the contractions slowed right down. After an hour or so they insisted on inducing the baby and Claire was put on a drip. The baby showed signs of tiring as contractions increased in intensity. After 2 invasive procedures to take blood samples from the babys head, showed fetal oxygen levels dropping, the natural birth was called off.

The final phase, back in hospital, Friday 5:25 am induction the only option.
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Luckily Claire had reached full dilation so forceps were an option. Otherwise it would have been a C-section. The gas & air really didn't touch the intensity of forceps delivery. But Claire struggled through with injections of local anesthetic. The baby was delivered after an episiotemy at 9:41am.

Beautiful Daisy was born with the umbilical cord wrapped twice around her neck, explaining her stressed state. The delivery was rapid enough to ensure no harm to her and we have a healthy, beautiful baby as you will see from the pictures! (The forcep marks will fade within days) Claire went through unimaginable pain, yet she is the first to say it was worth it. A strong, strong woman. I am in awe!

The very first contact! Hello Daisy!
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It was a shame that our planned homebirth did not happen but the end result was the same and we are very very happy with our Daisy! We are looking forward to our new Daisy adventure!!!! Now I'm going to get some sleep. Cheers Callum xxx11:30 pm Friday 7th Nov