Welcome my angel!

Well sorry I haven't updated for ages but Toto has arrived!


Our 'welcome to baby' started on the evening of the 6th August with some cramping pains and a 'show'. I sent Nic to work on the Thursday (7th) morning as I was sure Baby was still at least a week away.
At about 12.30pm when my waters broke at home I called Nic and despite my arguments he insisted on coming home. By the time he got back I was having contractions fairly reguarly about 3mins apart.
We called the hospital and were told to wait a few hours until the contractions were stronger. I popped on my TENS machine and concentrated on breathing using my gym ball to lean on.
Two hours later the contractions were painful enough that I couldnt talk through them and we left for the hospial. I was also being really sick- nice eh!
I arrived at assesment unit in the hospital where they checked Totos heartbeat and examined me. I was 3cm dilated but they were worried about the colour of the waters.
They told us that I would be taken in, and hooked up and monitored as there was meconium in the waters and this can be detrimental to baby.
Two hours later and my contractions still werent regular enough to be moving the labour forward fast enough. Due to the concerns for baby they decided to pop me onto a Synotocin drip to induce the contractions.
At this point I knew that the induction would be a shock and that my contractions would come faster and stronger so I asked for Gas and Air to help dull the senses. COOL! This stuff is fab and although it doesnt get rid of the pain, it dulls the senses enough and refocuses you. It also helped with my breathing :) Nic got in a few sneaky puffs when the midwife left the room.
As time went on I finally decided I needed and epidural. The midwife checked and told me I was already 9cm dilated! Not much point in an epidural this far gone so I decided to stick with gas and air.
At the pushing stage Totos heartbeat started to drop and the midwife told me my baby was in distress. If he didn't arrive by 2am they would have to C-Section me. The race was on!

Finally at 1.22am on his due date 08.08.08 our baby boy was born weighing 7lbs 3oz. For anyone who hasnt experienced childbirth nothing can describe or explain the feeling of holding your baby for the first time. It really was amazing, awesome, and totally consuming. I suggested the name Ethan as he just didn't suit the others we had thought of. Nic would have agreed to anything I asked right now which he did. Toto became Ethan!

After health checks for mum and baby we left hospital at 1.30pm (they have to keep you in for 12 hrs after baby is born because of the meconium). Nic has been just amazing, he has been looking after and changing Ethan, walking the dogs, cleaning the house, doing washing, shopping and cooking for me, bringing me drinks etc. He really is Superman and I cannot believe what an amazing husband I have and how lucky Ethan is to have Nic for a father.

Our first few days home have been magical. I ache like anything and can't do much before feeling really drained but It's so worth it. Ethan sleeps, eats and poops but he is angelic. There is no feeling like your baby sleeping soundly hugged to your chest. He LOVES milk time and has fed and latched on really well right from the start. He HATES nappy changes with a passion. Saves all his wees for when his nappy is off mid-change and burps for england but he is ours and he is perfect!

Ethan also met his grandparents for the first time this week and they all fell in love with him. The adoration on both Mum and Dads faces when they looked down at him was just incredible and I hope I remember that always.

The midwife came today and weighed him etc. He has just lost 10g which is totally fantastic and they expect babies to loose up to 14% of their birth weight in the first few days so he is miles ahead already. He also had blood taken. Babies have their heels pricked then the blood squeezed out for this- poor sausage had a good cry and wasnt impressed with this at all!

I am loving our babymoon with Nic, Ethan and myself closeted away, making the odd car journey and coffee outing and just enjoying being a family. I am however already dreading Nic going back to work as I know how much he has spoiled me. I am going to miss him so much :( Ah well, over a week left still so I will make the most of it.

I am laying in bed using the laptop to type this so I don't have access to any photos here. I will however try to get on the main PC in the next day or two and add some photos of Ethan Nicholaas Hanekom!