The Birth of Jamie Boo

My pregnancy was not particularly straight forward with you as I had awful piles throughout where at one point I drove myself to A&E as I was in so much agony and I also had the condition pubis dysfunction where the ligaments in my pelvis went soft and my pelvis was dodgy and very painful, it used to take me half an hour to turn over in bed as the pain was so bad and I also got varicose veins! After being through labour once before I knew what to expect and because of this I was scared of the pain but also very excited as I knew that it would be one of the best days of my life, welcoming you into the world. I've written this account of that day before my memories start to fade too much and so you can recall on my experience when/if you decide to have a child of your own.

16 February 2006 - day before due date

Throughout the day I took Taylor to Pirates in the Park at Happy Mount Park and willing you to come as I was wanting you to come a few days before Taylor's 2nd birthday and then we could be home and out of hospital for her birthday! In the afternoon your dad, me and Taylor went to Asda to get the weekly shop and every so often I got a twinge - i thought it was just with pushing the trolley which was really heavy. We bumped into dad's friend Annie and she said she couldn't believe that we were in Asda the day before you were due and I should be at home with my feet up - anyway all the time we were talking I kept getting twinges and secretly thought that this might be it!!! Anyway we finished the shopping, we went home for tea and sorted Taylor and put her to bed. After that the twinges were getting slightly less frequent so i thought it might be a false alarm and your dad said, 'what does this mean? Will the baby come tonight or tomorrow?' I said 'I don't know!!!' I wondered about ringing my mum to warn her as she was going to come round to look after Taylor but decided to just go to bed and see what happened. I texted Claire who was due before me to tell her I had twinges but didn't tell anyone else in case it was a false alarm and I would look really silly!

17 February 2006 - your due date and birthday

I woke around 2.00am with a pain in my tummy and decided to get up and have a cup of tea and watch a bit of tele. The pains were definitely contractions but they weren't regular but were getting stronger. Anyway by 3am I woke your dad as I didn't want to be on my own anymore. I rang the maternity ward and described how long the pains had been going on and that as you were my second baby I didn't know if I should go in yet or not. Anyway they advised for me to go in straight away. Then we rang your nanna at about 4am and she came around to look after Taylor.

We got to the hospital just after 4am and got taken into a small room with en-suite. The pains were quite mild for a while and then I needed to get on the gas and air so asked the midwife, Janice, if I could start using it. I also had in my labour bag a big supply of fruit pastilles as they would help with the dry mouth from the gas and air. I had 6 packets and Janice said I probably wouldn't need two!

The pains started getting quite severe and I asked for a pain releif injection in my bum. Janice said that you'd be here soon and we would be home for lunch! We couldn't believe it as we were in labour so long with Taylor that we couldn't quite beleive you'd be here in a couple of hours!

At 8am the midwives changed shifts (which was annoying as I would have preferred to stay with the same midwife) they also managed to change as things were really starting to happen. Up until this point I had been pacing the room, wiggling my hips and sucking the gas and air but now my legs were going weak and I wanted to get on the bed! I could hear the midwives asking if my waters had gone and I said, 'no, but i think they are about to!' I could see spots of blood on the floor and my legs were getting very shaky and I asked if I could go on the bed. The midwife said, 'you don't want to do that!', I said, 'I do!' I want to kneel on the bed!' I knew you were coming soon and I wanted to be in a comfortable position, the same position that I had given birth to Taylor in as it had worked for me before. So they got me up on the bed and I just said, 'No, it's all wrong!' in between contractions trying to explain how I wanted the bed arranged with the back up nice and straight so I could hang on it and kneel up - but there were cushions and bean bags and all sorts - it was so frustrating!

I finally got the bed as I wanted it - just in time - the pressue was building and my waters just popped and gushed everywhere! The next thing I said I wanted to push and your head crowned. I kept saying I needed to push but they kept telling me to pant through it, i was oblivious to this but your cord was wrapped tightly around your neck and they needed to free your neck before I pushed anymore! Your dad was telling me to listen to them and one of the midwives actually came up and looked me in the eye and said I need you to breathe and not push. It was awful coz all I wanted to do was push and I kept saying' I want to push I want to push'. Then I pushed! At 8.20am you flew out so quickly!! It was a shock! I said to your dad, 'What is it?', he said, 'What are you on about? You haven't had it yet!' and I said, 'I have! It's out!'. We asked what you were and they said you were a girl, 7lb 6oz and cleaned you up and wrapped you in a blanket. Your dad kissed me and said well done and the midwife brought you to the head of the bed but I just said, 'I can't!'. I was shaking and in shock from the fast labour. I had to compose myself and be helped round so that I could hold you properly. When they passed you to me you were so beautiful and not hairy like Taylor was!

I tried feeding you and you took to it straight away. They then said you had a low temperature and wrapped you up in loads of clothes, a hat and blanket and put you in a heated incubator to warm you up.

Your dad rang family to let them know although we couldn't decide on a name for you. I was then stitched up whilst your dad fell asleep on the chair!!!! We finally decided on Jamie in memory of your dads best friend.

We then had tea and toast (always lovely after giving birth!) and I had a bath and got changed. When you first cried we both said that you sounded exactly like Taylor! Your dad went to collect Taylor so she could meet you.

We hung around for half the day in that room as they didn't have a bed on the ward for us! So after lunch we decided to go home. My legs were still shaky from your quick entrance into the world - but we all got home safely, our family complete. That first night felt like Christmas again, but the following weeks were hard work with a new born who didn't sleep at night and a toddler who wanted to potty train! I also had the baby blues a couple of days after giving birth and had one day when I just couldn't stop crying! That was awful - I felt so helpless. But it was all worth it to have you!

I was now a mummy to two beautiful little angels.

I had trouble getting breastfeeding established, I persevered to give you the best start in life that I could and I fed you until you were 17 months old - and you would have carried on! You didn't want to give up!

And that Jamie Boo is my story of the day you came into our lives.

Click here to read the birth story of Taylor Jayne, Jamie's big sister