My Birth Story: The Undiagnosed Breech

Today my beautiful baby boy is 5 weeks old! I can't believe it's going so quickly, he has grown so much already. Motherhood has so far been how I expected and totally not what I expected at the same time; but I'll save that for another blog! 

Today I am sharing my birth story with you, it's taken 5 weeks to find the time to do this but here it is.

I had a textbook pregnancy; didn't suffer with morning sickness, felt great most of the time and loved being pregnant. So I suppose I was due a not so textbook labour.

Thursday 10 July 2014.
11:45pm
I woke up with what I thought was really bad trapped wind! I thought it was one of the signs my body was getting ready for labour to start in a few day's time.

Friday 11 July 2014.
12:15am
Paul arrived home from work to find me in the bathroom, asking him to help me! I wasn't sure if it was wind or labour, either way it hurt and not much was happening!

12:15 - 2:25am
Paul went to bed, if it was labour we assumed it would be a while so he'd better get some sleep after an 8 hour shift. I kept going from sitting on the loo, to trying to go back to bed, to walking around the bedroom, to leaning over the bed or bathroom sink! I didn't know what to do with myself.
In a few of my visits to the loo I had a bowl movement, again I just assumed it was one of the signs my body was getting ready for labour and why I was in so much pain.

2:25am
Finally something happened, I felt/heard a pop then there was a big gush of water, like a water balloon popping (luckily I was on the loo, again!). My waters had broken. This WAS labour.

2:30am
I started timing, what I now knew, were contractions. Paul was telling me to call the birth centre and let them know my waters had broken. With my natal hypnotherapy I didn't want to go too early. But I was uncomfortable and in pain.

The contractions were about 1 and half minutes apart, lasting 20-30 seconds. After timing for about 5 mins I called the birth centre. The midwife guided me through, deep breathing. I needed to go in to be checked over as my waters had broken.

3:00am
We grabbed the bags, in which I'd put the last minute bits on Thursday. Maybe I knew something was happening earlier in the day. I got dressed and off we went.

3:30am
We arrived at the birth centre. The midwife met us and took us into a birth room to check me over. My blood pressure was good, then the examination. That was easier said than done. Between contractions I somehow managed to lay on the couch; but still not long enough for a proper examination. I moved to a position leaning over the birth pool where I felt I needed to be sick; so yet another trip to the bathroom!

4:00am
I started using the gas and air so the midwife can do a proper examination. The baby was breech. An ambulance was called to take me to hospital. At this point I was leaning over the emptying birth pool :( with Paul holding my hand and helping me through my contractions and giving me water. All I could think was I don't want to go to hospital, I want the baby here, I don't want to be in an ambulance, I don't want to lay on a bed and I knew the baby was coming.

The midwife had a visual check (using a torch!). The midwife made the decision, I wouldn't be going to hospital, I wouldn't make it, the baby wanted to come and it would be more dangerous to have the baby in the ambulance than the birth centre. The midwives started to get prepared.

4:16am
Soon after came an overwhelming urge to push, the baby was on its way. The urge took over the feeling of pain and was primal. More midwives came in to help. The baby's heartbeat needed to be checked…Nothing. A heart stopping moment for Paul and I. But then we heard it, baby was just in a position that made it hard to find, it was normal.

Time to start pushing. I did the initial pushing still in a standing position, not wanting to lay down, knowing it would make my pelvis smaller and pushing harder. Initially I was grunting through the contractions but was told by the midwife to use that energy for a bigger push. It was working, the baby was nearly here. For breech delivery laying down is the best position to be in. This was all explained to me; even though I didn't want to be laying down I knew it was best for me and the baby. So I moved to the couch with my bum on the edge ready for delivery.

A few pushes later and the bottom was out, a couple more then the legs and torso. I was nearly there, ready to meet our baby, I was still using the gas and air and had Paul holding my hand encouraging me the whole time. The contractions subsided a little with the head still not delivered so I had to have a small episiotomy. The baby was here. But no crying, Paul went to the midwives to check all was ok…Then there was the cry.

4:56am Harry was born weighing 7lb 2oz

It wasn't quite the labour and delivery I was expecting, no time to use natal hypnotherapy, but I have no doubt that helped me stay calm, focused and take the fact Harry was breech in my stride. I listened to my body. Undiagnosed breeches are rare, it's even rarer to have a midwife delivery, but as a team we did it and I wouldn't change it. The midwives were amazing; for most it was their first breech delivery! After 5 hours of labour our beautiful baby boy was here. Now to start the next chapter. 

REN Clarimatte Skincare Review

I have now been using the REN Calrimatte T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel and Clarifying Toner for about a month so thought I would do a review on how I think it's working for me. 

I have combination skin and suffer with the odd breakout. I have had quite a spotty chin throughout pregnancy. My previous skincare, Ganier Pure products, were working fine, but I felt like I needed a change. Reading up on what the REN Clarimatte product range could do for me I thought I'd give them a go (although more expensive than my usual products). REN use 100% plant and mineral ingredients, no synthetic skin un-friendly ones. This is another reason I wanted to try it.

T-Zone Control Cleansing Gel
This is the first cleanser/face wash I have used that you put onto a dry face. This was a bit alien at first, but it really feels like it's getting into your skin and cleaning it, before you rinse it off. The bottle has a pump to 'release' the gel onto your hands; this is great, one pump is enough for each wash and so far I have only used about 2cm of product. I think it will last a good 4-5 months. The product feels like a really light gel when it comes out, you then lather it a little in your hands before applying to your face. It is also really light and has a great lavender smell.

Clarifying Toner
As I am so used to using a toner I wanted to still use a range that had one, so the Clarimatte products were perfect. This toner gets rid of any left over dirt on the face/in the pores that the gel has not been able to remove. It is not oily, or greasy and just feels really refreshing when you put it on. As with the gel it has the lovely lavender smell. The toner is also meant to help with complextion. I think my complexion is a little brighter, but at this time of year I get quite a freckly face (which can make me look grubby!), this doesn't help with my complexion!

In conclusion I am not really sure if the products have done anything more for me than the Garnier products I was using before but my skin feels clean, fresh and seems to not get oily over the course of the day. My main problem when I started using this product (as you'll see from the photos), was that I already had quite a few breakouts on my chin. I have to make a confession and say that I am not the best at leaving spots alone and I therefore delay the healing of my skin. So possibly not the best time to start testing a new product! Once I finally left the spots alone they seemed to clear up quite quickly and I haven't had any new ones breakout since. However, my chin does still look a little pink, I guess very slight scarring. But, I must say, not until I compared the photos did I realise how much better my skin looks!

Below are some pictures of the before and after (WARNING -  I am totally bare-faced and hair tied back to give as best a view of how the product has worked and I have not done any touching up. Proceed with caution!!)

Before                                                                        4 Weeks Later

I have also now bought the Invisible Pores Detox Mask. I love a good face mask and my skin always seems better afterwards. I have only used this once so far but my skin did feel refreshed afterwards. I am to use this on a weekly/two weekly basis.

What skincare products do you use? Do they work?

37/38 Weeks - First Week of Maternity Leave

T-Shirt - H&M
Maternity Chinos - H&M

I am not  a 'sit down and take it easy' kind of person. If there is a job that needs doing I do the job first, then sit down and chill, otherwise I just can't relax! I have two and half weeks maternity leave until my due date, I planned for this first week to be a doing week; housework, last minute sorting and catching up with people. Then the second week will be more chilled. 

I have had a lovely week and the weather has been great too, although Thursday and Friday my hayfever didn't agree! I spent Monday doing a load of batch cooking for freezing, as recommended by apps, websites and other blogs. I did pretty well,will keep us going for a while; lasagne, chicken and green bean curry and fish pie. This was followed by a load of housework!

Tuesday I had my last osteopath appointment before the baby is due. I go every 6-8 weeks anyway (I have a femural nail and also get slight back pain) to keep me moving and ticking over. I really would recommend a visit if you suffer with back pain or aches and pains. I am also going to take the baby when it is a few weeks old for some cranial osteopathy. 

Wednesday I met up with my cousin who is 20 weeks pregnant for lunch. She lives near Bluewater so I popped there first, I needed just a couple more maternity bits of clothing. I know I don't have long to go, but my jeans are now just too tight! Luckily my fave shop, H&M, had a sale on and I got some maternity chinos for £10 (see above) and a maxi dress, not maternity, for £7. I will still be able to wear a few of the maternity bits once baby is here and other bits that are non maternity should fit too. In the evening I got my hair cut, just wanted a trim to make it a bit more manageable plus I don't like my hair once it's longer than shoulder length!

Thursday I met a work friend and her two boys. She goes back to work from maternity leave next week, so was great to have a catch up. We went to Leeds Castle and had a wander through the grounds and had a pic nic. Then took her lovely boys to the play area. It's been quite breezy here so out and about the heat wasn't too bad for me. My hayfever also stayed at bay until the evening, then made me feel crap. I literally have to sit with tissues up my nose to stop the constant blowing and wear sunglasses to stop my eyes watering. Very glamorous! 

Friday I spent the day at home, doing bits of housework and again with tissues up my nose! I've also now started listening to my natal hypnotherapy CDs daily. 

And after all of that, still no sign of baby! Here's to a more chilled week next week.

Have a good week, Amy xx

Week 36/37 - Last Week at Work

Cardigan - H&M
Top - H&M

Last week was my last at work. It was pretty busy! I think it was a combination of the time of year and the fact there were jobs that needed doing before I left. I nearly had a melt down on Thursday, didn't know whether to get mad or have a cry. So I took myself off to calm down and felt much better! I was hoping the stress wouldn't bring on an early labour, it didn't :)

Friday was my last day, a lovely sunny day. It felt like the last day of term before the Summer holidays. My friends treated me to a yummy pic-nic lunch and some lovely presents for Baby Bond; a door bouncer and cot mobile. Baby also got a little bear comforter and a sleep suit and I got a little box of chocolates from some students and a Sanctuary bath set.

I will miss everyone, but I know I will see them often. Any excuse for coffee and a catch up and I'm sure I'll be there!

Mine and Baby's lovely leaving gifts

On Tuesday I had a midwife appointment. All is still good; head down, but not yet engaged and heart beat strong. Although I think Thursday night baby may have shifted a bit and moved back up a little as felt a bit uncomfortable, but seems OK today! I am feeling generally a little more uncomfortable as the baby has less and less room to move. But I think I have 'got away' with things pretty easy (so far; famous last words...)

I now have 2 and half weeks until my due date - let the nesting begin!!

Have a lovely weekend.

Amy xx

Week 35/36 - Sleep!

Dress - Primark

This week I turned 36 weeks pregnant, just a few days until I can give birth at the birth centre. So baby just needs to stay put a few more days! I also only have one week left at work now. I can't believe how quickly it has all gone the past few weeks.

Starting to get a bit more uncomfortable now. The bump doesn't seem to grow, but I can definitely feel the baby getting bigger as the bump is feeling a lot tighter. I am pretty good at work during the day. Just waddling down the corridors slower, sitting when I need to and getting others to bend for me if I need to pick things up!

In the afternoons I am feeling a little tired, but by the time I'm home I feel pretty good again and at 10pm-ish I'm not really feeling tired, until the end of the week. It's the evenings when I start to feel more uncomfortable. The bump feels pretty heavy and tight. It feels like my skin is stretching and needs moisture, so I whack on some moisturiser and it feels a little better. The baby is still trying to move quite a bit but now it has less room to move I can feel each movement and sometimes when you get a foot in the side, or bum under the ribs it can be uncomfortable, that only lasts a few moments. I am still fascinated watching my belly move!

Sleep
Most things I am reading about this stage of pregnancy say how you should be getting as much sleep as possible. I am not finding this particularly easy. As I said above, I feel a little tired at work in the afternoons, but I can't just have a nap! This may change once I'm on maternity leave but I am not a 'nap lover', I tend to feel worse afterwards, we will see how that one goes! 

Once I am home I no longer feel tired and there are things to do; dinner to be made, housework to be done and showers to be taken. Don't get me wrong, Paul and I share most jobs as we are both at work during the day, so neither of us want to be doing all the jobs. But I just can't sit still when things need to be done. Having said that, I am doing things slower and resting when I need to. But all the talk about resting and sleeping just seems a waste of time. I'd rather stay as active as possible; I think that's why I am still feeling good and have good energy levels.

When it gets to bed time I am not particularly tired, so have maybe been staying up 'later than I should'. Once in bed though I drop off quickly, only waking to go to the loo about 2-3 times a night!

I know once the baby is here I will need to try and nap when the baby does and I will probably be begging for sleep, but my thoughts are; I can't stock up on it now for when I need it so, for now, I will continue to go with the flow and sleep when it feels right to do so. Even if I went to bed early, I wouldn't sleep anyway so what's the point!!

Weddings
Over the next few months we have few weddings/receptions to go to. One before the baby, this weekend, 1 when I don't know if I'll have had the baby and 2 quite soon after baby is born in August.

This presented me with a fashion dilemma; what to wear?! I didn't want to buy a 'posh' maternity dress as the likelihood would be I'd only need it once so the hunt for a suitable outfit began. I thought maxi dress was probably the way to go so concentrated my shopping in that area. After visiting a few shops I found a lovely maxi in Forever 21. It has an 'elasticated' waist with a tie belt to cover this up and is an olive green colour. Not normally a colour I'd go for, but thought a change would be good. 

With this dress I can wear it again after the baby is here, so may be a good outfit for some of the other weddings. With the other weddings I think I will just have to see what size I am at the time and what I feel most comfortable in. I have a few maxi skirts and dresses that I can wear.

The key will be the accessorising! What did you wear to special occasions when you were pregnant?

Dress - Forever 21
Necklace and Earrings - H&M
Bag - New Look
Shoes - H&M

Have a good week, thanks for reading.

Week 34/35 - Friday the 13th!!!

Maternity Top - H&M

The end of this week saw Friday the 13th! I was a little worried that, even though 5 weeks early, Baby Bond may have decided to make an appearance. Not because of any traditional Friday 13th superstitions, but, for Paul and I it is a lucky day. A few of our milestones have happened on this date, so I wasn't putting it passed our baby not to turn up. This feeling was heightened by the fact that Thursday afternoon I had some persistent 'stitches' and twinges at the bottom of the bump. Luckily all passed without Baby Bond making an appearance. I can put the twinges down to being at work, on one of the hottest days of the year, and just needing to take it easier. Possibly Braxton Hicks? I've had twinges and stitches on the days since, normally around a similar time in the afternoon.

Overall this week has been quite tiring. Monday started off with me feeling stressed about work; just wanting to make sure all loose ends are tied and I get get my hand-over done. I don't want to be leaving earlier than expected without things being left in a good position. But I need to remind myself that if that happens, there isn't much I can do about it and I just need to do the best I can, my priorities now need to shift. Only two weeks to go.

On Tuesday I had a midwife appointment. Everything is going well and baby's head is currently down; so it's a bum I keep getting shoved under my ribs! The baby could change position but with 5 weeks to go that's fine, it still has time to move back, that is probably unlikely to happen.

I am now feeling a lot more connected to the baby and really feeling the bond growing. I guess a new batch of hormones has been released to prepare me for the imminent arrival! It's wriggling lots still, although sometimes uncomfortably so, but I am loving that. Now getting really excited to meet it, see what it looks like and find out what it is!

Yesterday my wonderful friends threw me a lovely afternoon tea baby shower, which was held at my mum's house. We had a few games; pin the dummy on the baby, baby bingo and guess the baby food flavour (which were all quite gross!) I didn't really want presents as I wanted the shower to be more of a get together before the baby arrives. But the girls got me a sterilising kit and my mum and sister got a cute owl piggy bank and owl cushion for the baby's room, Baby Bon'd cousin Emelia got some lovely little books. There was also lots of yummy cake!

Thanks for reading, hope you all have a lovely week.

Amy x

Week 33/34: What's in My Hospital Bags?

I can't quite believe my due date is now only 6 weeks away, and only 3 weeks left at work! This week has been a bit quiet on the baby front. Just feeling heavy and more worn out. Being back at work has tired me out, but it's the weekend and I survived! I just can't get in the habit of getting more sleep yet, I know that needs to change so I can stock up!

Yesterday I had my risk assessment at the birth centre. As the centre is midwife led they only take women who have had no complications in pregnancy and are considered low risk. It's basically a look through my notes and a couple of swabs to see if I have MRSA! Sounds worse than it is, literally a couple of cotton buds up the nose! I 'passed' the risk assessment and so can go to the birth centre, but only if I go into labour when I am full term; between 37 and 42 weeks.

As this week has been rather quiet I thought it was the perfect opportunity to share with you what I have packed in my hospital bags...

I think I was kidding myself with the thought of only needing to pack a few essentials for myself and baby for when the time comes to head off to hospital! I feel like I've had to pack for a weekend away, or short break! Not only have I got a bag for me and a bag for baby, but Paul also has a bag (as dads can stay at the birth centre) and a 'spares' bag for the car. Along with car seat, pillows, food etc!

I seem to have done this early, but as I had a week off for half term it seemed a good opportunity to get organised. Most of the lists of what to pack that I found online, in magazines and leaflets from the birth centre had pretty much the same thing on them. Below is what I personally have and will be packing. What have you got in your bags?

Have a great week 

Amy xx