Annabelle's Birth Story (very long!!!)
Have finally got a few minutes so thought I'd write Annabelle's birth story for you all. Got to the hospital at 7.05 am on Thursday morning - had to be there for 7.30am but I didn't want to be late - lol. We were shown to our bed (no amenity room available as I'd booked as they were all being cleaned). Within half an hour I'd been booked on to the ward and had been given the delightful gown to get changed into. I was seen by all the relevant people and was told I was 2nd on the list for the day so we could expect to go down to the theatre atabout 10.30am. This was quite good really as it was already starting to heat up on the ward with it being such a sunny day and I wasn't allowed anything to eat or drink since midnight the night before. 10.30am came and went, the ward got hotter and hotter - Dh got himself plenty of drinks but I wasn't allowed anything :sad1: 11.30 came and went, 12.30 came and went, 1.30 came and went - we kept asking when we were likely to be taken down but the labour ward was manic with emergencies. No problem with this but I needed a small mouthful of water as I was parched!!! A lovely MW allowed me 30ml of water to swill my mouth out with and that really helped. We eventually got taken down to the theatre at 4pm. They went through all the prep stuff and then started on my spinal block. The whole day before I was realy nervous about the whole op but the waiting around in hospital helped quash any nerves and was just looking forward to meeting our LO. The block was put in and I was put onto the table and they were about to start when I asked where DH was and they had forgotton about him!!!!! They went and got him gowned up as they started the OP. Dh came and sat next to me and we were chatting away. Dh asked the anaesthetists (sp!) if they had started yet as I couldn't tell what was going on and she was lovely and said Oh yes...baby will be here any minute now and she was right, after what seemed only a few seconds we heard her first cry. Dh and I just looked at each other and cried. They then bought her round to show us. She was beautiful with lots of dark hair(albeit very purply pink skin colour). Dh and I were both expecting quite a small baby (no bigger than 6lbs max) so we were both suprised at how big she looked and we both commented that she looked bigger than Henry. They weighed her and she was 7lbs exactly. They let Dh hold her first for the skin to skin bit whilst they stitched me back up. We were wheeled through to recovery were I continued with skin to skin and tried to BF. She took a bit of milk but just had to keep trying until she and I got the hang of it. We went back up to the ward at about 6.45pm and my folks were waiting in the reception with Henry. I'd really missed him all day and it was such an emotional moment having Ben, Henry and Annabelle all together - My family. I was on my feet the next morning and felt fantastic and haven't felt any differnet since. On the Saturday morning I jokingly asked the MW if I could get out that day as the other 3 ladies in our room were all getting out or asking to. The MW straight away said no, as I knew she would but then half heartedly said she'd ask the Doctors. I honestly didn't think she'd bother but about 2 hours later she came back with one of the Doctors who I'd seen walking around the wards earlier. The dr asked me a few questions, had a look at my blood results etc, etc and said that she'd seen me walking around the ward too and didn't realise I'd had a c-section less than 48 hors ago for how well I was moving around! :happyspin: She then said as long as I was happy to go she was :mexicanwave: I left the hospital at 6pm on the Saturday (48 hours since op!!!). My whole planned C-section experience was FANTASTIC. It really helped Dh get over a lot of the trauma of Henry's birth which effected him far more than me. I'm recovering really well - Annabelle is being a little angel (time for that to change though!!!) and only waking twice in the night for booby juice and then getting up at 7am. Henry has taken to his little sis quite well - in that he doesn't really bother with her - just looks over occasionally and tries to hold her hand. As you can probably tell - I'm a very happy Whitey!!!! :rainbowsmile: and now want to get started on NUMBER 3!!!!!

ahhh fab news Whitey what a really positive story... I'm actually going to show it to a friend as she had a horrid emergency section 24 mths ago and is scraed of having another because she has to have another section but that's so positive I'm showing her :-) You're as bad as me with roll on number 3 ;-)

what a great experience, really pleased it went so well. enjoy you're new family member xxx

Awwww Whitey after a long wait it sounds like it went very well and you sound very positive about it all, I'm glad DH found the experience (not sure what word to put here lol) erm... better than the last one?!?!?! Sounds like Henry is gonna be a fab big brother - at least he has't poked her in the eye yet ;o) lol Soooo you want me to put you on the ttc list for tomorrow ;o) lol xxxxx

Congrats again Whitey - Glad that you had such a positive experience and well done on getting discharged in 48 hours!! Fingers crossed Annabelle continues to be such a good girl!! Take care Alex

Aww what a lovely birth story, I'mso pleased it went well for you - you deserve it after the scare you had with Henry! :congratulations: again xx

How positive is that story. The bit about your family together made me well up. Well done Whitey and hope that you, Dh, Henry and Annabelle enjoy your first few weeks together as an expanded family. Deakie xxx

Aww that was a lovely read. Glad your all well :congratulations: again Holly & Ethan xx

What a wonderful c section birth story - especially after Henry's arrival You sound a very happy Whitey and your new little lady sounds adorable Take care and enjoy your family xxxx

That is wonderful, I am glad everyone is safe and well. My hospital starts walking you to the door after 48hrs unless there are problems. Rubyru

That's such a lovely and inspirational birth story - I'm so glad everything went so well for you and your family. Em xxx

This is lovely to read Whitey, I'm so emotional for you, your birth story has brought back tonnes of lovely memories for me. I never wrote down mine after my planned sections as I didn't think there was much to say, but after reading yours I now remember how eventful a planned section actually is, and of course all births are amazing to hear about. Thankyou. Sounds like you're doing fantastically well, but hey, your a woman of many strengths and talents and I expect nothing less! :0) Enjoy these precious early days, they are definately my favourite time, I'm addicted to bringing new babies home and really am quite envious in the nicest possible way!! :0) dolly x ds x 4

So glad it all went well and you are feeling good! Congratulations :)

Massive massive congratulations to all of you! Thanks for sharing :) xxxxxxxx

Now Now Linzi! Whitey does not need any encouragement! She needs to let her body rest for at least a few months first!!! Congrats again Becky! So pleased for you all Good to hear how the planned on went as thats what I guess I would have to go for next time! x