Santa arrived early!
So all of the waiting finally paid off and baby 2 has arrived!! It all started on Tuesday the 8th of December when I got the 1am poke in the ribs from Jenny, “It’s happening” she says.
“what’s happening?” I reply.
“IT! It, is happening!”
“Oh.”
So I rang my Mum and Dad and they got round pronto considering the time and we left to go to Southmead once more. This time the place was packed with future mums and dads and there was plenty of howling coming from behind closed doors which was pretty unnerving! We were checked in and Jen was 4cm dilated and the waters were breaking, so we were admitted. After a few questions about how well the last birth went with Molly and how well the pregnancy had been, they deemed us low risk thankfully and were transferred to the Mendip Ward and into a massive corner suite with a double bed, aromatherapy oils, music and nice Jacuzzi spa for me.
We had the newly appointed head midwife Rachel and her 4th year medical student, Harriett, to help us along but Jen didn’t need much help – we all just sat and watched her have contractions on some special birthing mat on the floor with nothing but a very hot water bottle on her back for pain relief. At 5:40am Jen decided that she need to ‘get up’ and got to the bed. The experienced midwife realised that it was time and rushed out to get some more sheets for the bed leaving Jen standing leaning on the bed with just the medical student and me for company. Jen reliably (forcibly) told the medical student that this was “It”. I knew what she meant and from the look of horror on her face, so did the student. After 4 years of medical training I could see what was going through her mind, “Is it my duty to deliver this baby? Should I do this? Can I do this?”
Harriett promptly ran out of the room citing that she would get help leaving me on my own standing behind Jen like a pro quarter back ready to receive the ball. With all my own medical training all I could think was “hut, hut”. Seriously what’s wrong with me? I should be concentrating – I can do this!
Luckily after what seemed like hours, the midwife ran back in and took control. I have to say that I was slightly disappointed. Two pushes later and I saw what ‘it’ was.
“It’s a boy!” Harrison Michael Button was born with a healthy scream and a squished face at 5:50am. He was 8 lbs exactly. I didn’t realise how much I wanted a boy until that point. I am so happy, my perfect little boy, ready to captain the England rugby team and be Prime Minister one day. No problem.
Jenny was fine after the birth and we were moved to a nice quiet room and were discharged to go home later that day. We have been living as a family with Harry, Molly, Mummy and Me for a week now and all is going well. He is feeding and sleeping well and has already regained and overtaken his birth weight. Next week we shall bring him in to see our chiropractor Hannah for a ‘baby check’ to see if after the trauma of childbirth that he is all in one piece. I’m so lucky that I have access to Hannah to run a simple check on Harry. I would happily advise that any baby can be checked by your local baby chiropractor specialist. It’s such a gentle treatment and it gives you peace of mind that your baby is ok. Just give the clinic a ring if you think Hannah can help you.
Anyway, Baby Harry, Toddler Molly, everybody at Cleve Chiropractic and Next Step wish you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy New Year!
