My First Birth

In order to be a well rounded individual I need to let off steam after each exciting thing that happens, a debrief if you like. And something extremely exciting has happened.

I met a lovely lady we will call Lilly and her husband called Tiger. They were expecting baby number four and it was set to be fairly straight forward, the other three were pretty simple. 

I got a phone call from Lilly late thursday saying that she had gone into the hospital for a routine scan (she was 41 weeks) and they discovered she had very low level of waters and so was being kept in for monitoring. I didn't know if I should stay home or if I should go and be with her, but as it was her mum was with the other three kids and Tiger was with her until the end of visiting time. The next day I went to join the two of them. 

After two inductions of labour my wonderful lady started having established proper contractions but due to being induced she had to be on the monitor for about an hour. When the midwife took it off and Lilly could move about she was much happier. At around 9pm I told Lilly I was going to have a bit of a break while she had her waters broken. She was in established labour by this point and I kind of felt a bit like a spare part because Tiger was so in tune with her needs. I guess a Doulas role involves realising when she is not needed.

So, I went downstairs and had something to eat. When I got back up there an hour or so later Lilly and Tiger had a fantastic baby boy, she had had a natural third stage (as apposed to managed) and started breast feeding beautifully. 

I am so glad I wasn't there, Tiger and Lilly are a very strong couple and having this baby, even though it was number four, has made them so much closer. I think even if I was an experienced doula I would have still left when I did, perhaps before.

On the whole, I feel it was a very positive experience!

xxx over and out xxx

Taking the first step

I grew up surrounded by love and warmth. I didn't know that I was special in this respect.
My family has 8 beautiful people in it. My lovely mama and pappy, me, my sisters Laura (18) and Phoebe (14) who always seem to be at loggerheads. Then there's Ethan (11) and Robert (2.5) who are my brothers. And finally Florence (5 months).
If you want to be picky I should count my darling partner in crime here, Christopher, he has been a part of my life for 5 years and the driving force behind my ambitions for at least that long! He truly is my rock (my stinky, hairy, manly rock, but my rock all the same!)
Growing up we didn't have all the latest gadgets, god I remember getting a computer, one of these massive towers, with a HRT monitor, a big clunky mouse and keyboard and all I could do on it was play eggbert! But, that said I was SOOO happy. I'm smiling in all the photos of my childhood, even the ones where I'm trying to be moody! My grandad would bring us these HUGE cardboard boxes that my sisters and I turned into cafe's and vets and schools and all sorts.
I had my first kiss behind a playhouse my dad made. A £99 shed from focus (back in the day!) he cut a window hole and put a piece of perspex in, and the same in the door, we had an offcut of carpet from the living room in there and all our kitchen toys, home-made beanbags and the occasional stash of biscuits.
We had sleds to play with in the snow and an awesome aqua-play system from elc where you could pump water and turn wheels and send boats round and round! it was especially fun if mum put a squirt of washing up liquid in, I think we still have it somewhere.
I always had a bike that was the right size, but only ever had a new one on one christmas. we always got the other bikes from carboot sales. they were perfectly rideable and SO much fun. If they were slightly loved we'd cover them in paint and stickers. I got one that was pink all over! Even the tyres were pink and i loved it so much, Laura went on to have it and then Phoebe, I think Ethan may have had it for a bit before he started school and realised 'pink is for girls'!
The point i'm trying to make (I think) is that kids really dont need much to be happy. I was always happy (except for when I got grounded!) And that is why I am on this journey, because my parents gave me a happy childhood and I want to share my love and warmth with the world, one hug at a time!


Mind the Corners!