Ellies Birth Story...

I started losing my plug/show on the weekend before I had Ellie. On the 27th September I was having quite regular pains so called the ADU and was told to put up and shut up. On the morning of the 28th I called my midwives asking for a home visit as was still having pains and had not felt Ellie move. I was told that as I was only 39 weeks it was normal what I was feeling and no one would come out to me. On the evening of the 28th after Dave came home I started timing my pains at 6pm. They were coming every 8-12 minutes lasting 60-90 seconds. I went for a bath but that did not ease the pains so at 8pm I called the labour ward who said to go in.

When I got there I was strapped to a monitor to record Ellies heart rate. Thats all they were going to do until I started contracting every 5 minutes. They examined me and I was 4cm dilated. I was moved up to the labour ward where I was offered pain relief but I turned it down as I was coping. After a while my midwife came in to say that they needed the room and I was offered 2 options. First was to have some pethedine to help me sleep and go to the antenatal ward on my own or go home without pain relief. I opted to go home.

When I got home I put my TENS machine on  my back (I suffered with SPD/PGP while pregnant) and was getting some respite from the pain when the biggest contraction hit me. I couldn't breathe or anything. Dave rang the labour ward who wanted me back in. My Mum raced us to the hospital and when I got there I was given pethedine to help me get some sleep. Not long after I fell asleep the midwife came in and said they needed the room again so I was moved to the antenatal ward by myself (was early hours of the morning.) I stayed there until 2pm the next day when they said I was 5cm dilated.

When I got back up to the labour ward I was given gas & air (good stuff!) and left to it. After 4 hours I was examined and was only 6cm dilated so the midwife Sue broke my waters for me. 2 hours later I was ready to push. It was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. My g&a was took off me so I was pushing with no pain relief. I was pushing for 2 hours (I didnt realise this until the next day) and Ellies head was out but the rest of her was stuck. Emma the midwife said that if after my next lot of contractions if she wasnt here then she was going to press the emergency button. I was then laid flat and my next contraction came. I pushed with all my might and little (not so little) Ellie entered the world. She was placed direct on my chest for skin to skin as I delivered my placenta and was stitched up (midwife had to make a little cut to help Ellie out). Needed my gas and air back for that. Ouchie!! and she was wrapped up and given to Dave for cuddles.

Ellie Grace Nimmo - 29/9/2011 - 22.43 - 9lb 2oz