Master Olive's arrival

Given that Harrison is almost 1, I wanted to finally post his birth story on the blog. Mostly for me to look back on when my memory gets too foggy from all the lack of sleep.

Marcus and I headed in for our weekly appointment when I was 39w5d. I had been on maternity leave for a week and there was no signs I was having a baby anytime soon. During the appointment our Doctor did a few checks and there were quite a few things weren't ideal for a natural delivery. Namely his size, position and the fact that he hadn't dropped into my pelvis yet. After a lot of discussion with our doctor, Marcus and I went away to chat about our options. We had 3 options; wait for me to go into labor, be induced, or schedule a cesarean. 

 We had no idea what to do, but I really wanted to avoid an emergency cesarean or a traumatic natural birth (forceps, tearing etc). So finally, a call to my mother in law helped us make the decision. She had three boys by cesarean; my husband was the first where he was in distress and it was so urgent she had to have a general anaesthetic to deliver him safely and quickly.

So we went back in to see the doctor and told him we had decided on the cesarean. Then it was all systems go! We thought we might be coming back the next day or something. Nope - be back at 2pm, you are having your baby today!

So we headed home and did some last minute tidying the house and went for a walk. Before we knew it, it was time to head back to the Hospital. I was excited but getting a little shaky - I was so hungry! 

 

I was so relaxed, I think because I felt in control and I would finally not be pregnant anymore. It was nice knowing we would meet our little boy in less than an hour. 

Around 4pm, I was rolled into the anaesthetic bay. The anaesthetist popped in needle in my arm for fluids and some drugs. He was then able to get my spinal block done quickly and easily (well, easily for me) and I started to feel all warm and tingly. I went very quiet when he  did the spinal injection, I didn't want to move any part of me! Then I was all chats again. It didn't hurt at all, the canula in my hand was worse.

Then we headed into the operating room and I could say hi to my Obstetrician - a familiar face! I was getting a little nervous in the waiting area but once we were in theatre I was just excited! Marcus was right next to me the whole time, which was really nice. I realise that not all hospitals allow this though. It was a strange sensation, knowing my legs were being moved around but not being able to feel them at all, actually just feeling like they were straight down as they were when the spinal kicked in.

Then it was baby time. I didn't realise they had even started before I was being told "we can see the head, boy that's a big head". Then, unexpectedly for me, the curtain in front of me was pulled down! I watched our little man be born! 

The sensation of having an almost 4kg and 55cm baby pulled out of your stomach is incredibly strange but the most noticeable was that I could breathe! 

Marcus did an absolutely amazing job with all the photos! We have a whole series of him being lifted out. Then he headed off to have his injections and newborn checks, just right near the table and Marcus was with him. The Anaesthetist was giving me updates "ok, they are just weighing him now", etc. then before I knew it, it was time for a cuddle! 

We then spent some time cuddling and chatting and confirming our decision on a name while I was stitched up. Marcus was then in charge of wheeling our little Harrison around to recovery just behind me on the bed. He had the biggest grin on his face the whole time, Dad was in charge. 

 

Recovery was weird, I was wheeled past all these unconscious people.  They have a special maternity section that was curtained off so we could do skin to skin and first breastfeed!

I will spare you the bare chested photos but he crawled up and latched on like a champ. It took a little while for my spinal to wear off but we were hanging in recovery as our new family of 3 and were in no rush! When we got up to our room about 6pm, I was famished! I had 2 plates of sandwiches and was still hungry. I hadn't eaten all day and now had all this room to actually fit food in. One important thing that I was told was to pace myself with the food, as the spinal can make you feel nauseous and I definitely did not want to throw up. 

That first night, Marcus's parents came up to meet their new grandson. I was surprised they were able to stay away until they did, it was about 8pm by the time they came up. They did bring up some dinner for Marcus which was great. He hadn't eaten since lunch, I wasn't going into labor so we didn't bring any snacks or anything. 

The first night was a little rough, mainly because I kept waking up missing our baby. He wasn't inside me anymore and because I had had a spinal, he was taken to the nursery overnight and brought back in to me for feeds. 

 

I was able to get up and have a shower the next day, assisted by 2 midwives and in a chair. There is no modesty after having a baby regardless of how you deliver. After that though I was fine. I went on lots of walks around the ward to help with my swelling and followed my doctors instructions to keep on my pain relief! My stitches came out on day 5 before I headed home, but I had at most a 1/10 pain while I was in hospital then not even that once I was home. I stopped taking all of my painkillers about 2 days after I got home. 

Harrison is now almost one and such a happy little guy. He is 6 months in this photo and his grin hasn't changed.