the reluctant baby is here

It's a boy

Toby Thomas made a hurried entrance into the world on Thursday afternoon, weighing an eye watering 4.43kg (9lb 7oz).

Well it seems the best way to bring on an overdue baby is to write a long ranty post about everything you've tried already, because after I wrote the last post late on Wednesday night I woke up at 5.30am on Thursday morning with a very mild contraction.  Since my contractions at that stage were quite mild and well spaced out I told my husband to go to work thinking that this could go on for days.  I even started to do some washing and housework that's how sure I was that it would take some time!

But they certainly became more frequent and painful very quickly, and when we got to the hospital at lunchtime the first thing I asked for was an epidural.  When the midwife told me that I was fully dilated and that it was too late for any pain relief other than some gas I bawled my eyes out like the baby I was about to deliver a la naturale.  I totally respect those who choose to deliver naturally but I never expected to be one of them - I knew how much it was going to hurt even with an epidural! And I was right, it was the most excruciating pain of my life, especially when his shoulders got stuck and I suffered a third degree tear getting the rest of his buddha body out.

So I am still a little shellshocked to be honest.  Shocked that I had a spontaneous labour, one that was so quick, and that I did it with no drugs.  And I'm really surprised at how big he is - where was all that baby hiding?

Anna is delighted with her new baby brother, even if he's not the little girl she predicted.  In fact she's already told me that next year I can have a girl baby - not likely!

Anyway the painful part is now behind me and its time to enjoy our new baby.    So please excuse me for a little while - I'm busy sitting on a doughnut cushion feeding a ravenous baby and eating easter eggs!