I left for work as usual as I was lucky enough to have a healthy pregnancy and continued right to the end working. At work we had had a sweep to see who could be the closest at guessing the day that I would give birth. This was done months previously and since I wasn't due until 14th March according to the dates, it was funny that most of us had in fact guessed dates towards the end of February. Anyway, that morning we were joking, as Alison, my sister's, guess was indeed the 19th February. We were joking that there was still another 13 hours of the day left! We settled back down to work when I stood up to look for a vehicle document and I felt a very warm sensation on the inside of my leg. My first thought was had I had an "accident?" but then this warm sensation kept flowing so to speak! I just gave out a nervous giggle; I was so excited, it was happening!

I spent what seems like ages convincing Alison and Colin, they really thought I was just winding them up! But they soon realised this was for real.

Luckily I only live next door to the office so Ali and I rushed home. I stood in the bath and tried to compose myself. Alison flapped around panicking and I had to calm her down! I rang Gareth and told him that he'd better come home, not to rush, but things were beginning to happen. We also called Mum and she came and took over - much to Alison's relief! We headed to Ludlow maternity unit. The midwife monitored my blood pressure and the baby's. She was quite concerned, as my blood pressure was high (not surprised really!) and the baby's irregular. She told us to make our way to Shrewsbury and she would ring to let them know we were on our way. We called for my bags; I was going to meet my precious baby within 24 hours!

Gareth drove mum's car the 30 miles up to Shrewsbury. I sat in the back on a towel(!) waffling away about how I was feeling, giggling as we went too fast over the rail crossing at Onibury!

We arrived in Shrewsbury at 2pm and waited in a consultation room. Baby and I were monitored for a further hour until the midwife got a reading that she liked. We were then admitted on to Ward 19. Gareth and mum had to leave as it was teatime, but they returned again for evening visiting. I asked if they could stay, but they were told not. After more monitoring I was told that the cramps were mild contractions and labour would probably commence at 3 or 4 am!

After Gareth and Mum left I felt so alone. Nobody on the ward really spoke, I was nervous, it was dark and I felt lonely. They gave me codeine to try and ease the pains and a medicine to make me sleep, but the contractions were becoming stronger. I took a bath at 2am and just relaxed in the warm water, then I got a stabbing cramp like pain which made me retch. I felt like I needed the toilet so I sat on the loo, I felt really queer, so I waddled up wet, wrapped in my towel to the nurse's room, she was so friendly and laughed "Whatever you do, do not push on the loo!" She examined me and at last I was 4cm and in established labour. We phoned Mum, who in turn collected Gareth and they came to my aid at about 3am. I was moved down to the labour ward and was so pleased to see Gareth and Mum arrive.

I tried to keep pacing through my contractions, which were all in my lower back as baby was posterior. Every time the first Midwife came in I was having a contraction and leaning over the sink, she would moan at me to keep walking!?! Mum and Gareth kept on about holidays and bl**dy dolphins! Bless them - I told them to talk to me, then to shut up, I didn't know what I wanted!

Midwife No1 changed shifts and the new Midwife - Lorna Deacon - examined me and I was STILL 4cms. I wanted to cry, I thought I'd be at least 7cm, I was scared of how much worse the pain was going to get. The decision was then made to induce me with the syntocin drip. This was all so different to my birth plan, but I just wanted it all over with. I was connected to the drip and monitor and within 15 mins or so the contractions had begun to speed up. At this point I started on the gas & air but I was afraid of using it, and the pipe was positioned awkwardly to get to. As Lorna turned up the dose things got really heavy and she kept offering me epidurals and pethidine. I knew I didn't want the first, so I opted for pethidine. It went in my thigh and worked really quickly. It made me feel really spaced, until a contraction that is! She told me she had to turn up the dose once more, and I just whimpered and begged her not to - needless to say she had to and did!!

After the pethidine my memory's a little jaded. Apparently at about 11.30am on the 20th, Lorna started to check her equipment and put her apron on. I asked if she thought it was soon and she said yes. She left the room to fill out more reports and I felt this overwhelming urge to push. I remember being told not to until told to do so, so mum called for help! Lorna told me to hold off until she examined me, I was 9 1/2cm, the urge came again - so strong I felt sick! She told me it looked OK and to go with my feelings! Everybody was so brilliant, Mum and Gareth held my hand (I bit my Mum's!), and Lorna encouraged my breathing and pushed in threes with me. She asked if I wanted to feel the baby's head, but I just wanted to get on with it! About 30 mins later at six minutes past one Isabella Amber entered into this world. (I'm welling up as I write this!) It was the most amazing experience of my entire life.

Lorna took her and bought her to me, hiding her genitals with her thumb from mum and Gareth, and she revealed to me my baby daughter. I took her in my arms and was still out there somewhere! Gareth cried, and I felt just so amazed with it all. Another Midwife came and put her to my left breast whilst I delivered the placenta. Isabella weighed - 6lb 5 1/2 oz - 30cm head circumference, she was dressed whilst I was wheeled off to have a hot shower, and numerous telephone calls made!

Eventually we got back to the Ward - 19 again as Isabella was still classed as a premature baby. I didn't sleep for 5 nights; I couldn't take my eyes off this little miracle! The words to the Bangles song, Eternal Flame, kept coming in to my head and I would just stare at Isabella and cry my heart out! (cheesy or what!) Needless to say that's our song, and our lullaby!

Gareth was brilliant, he visited every visiting slot, changed her first nappy, drove us home and was and still is, totally captivated by our beautiful daughter!

We spent until Friday in Shrewsbury as Isabella's blood sugars were up and down and she had to be given supplements in a bottle-feed. I still breastfeed along side the bottle and she took to both brilliantly. On the Thursday Gareth and I where shown how to bath her and Friday morning we came back to Ludlow maternity unit. We spent a further three nights in Ludlow, eating well and getting to know each other. We came home on Monday and thats when the really family life began.

Life after Birth -
Izzi is so much fun, and parenthood is better then I ever could have imagined!! Izzi has started on solids and chatters and jibbers away!!

I would love to have brothers and sisters for Izzi in the future. Next time thought I would prefer to get over 37 weeks so that I could give birth at home or in Ludlow Maternity Unit and go home with in 48 hours. Also I would like to try without pethidine another time, but who knows! I've been told though that next time I should be prepared after 32 weeks, and I will probably be refererred to Shrewsbury anyway - but who cares as long as baby and mother are healthy!


What Father says -
I am the proudest father and husband in the world. My girls are my world and seeing Isabella's smile makes all those sleepless nights worth it!!