We had two very different birth experiences.
Corey arrived 3 days before his due date. I had no signs of labor that I knew of, but I had no idea what to look out for as I wasnt told. My waters broke 10 minutes after returning home from our first and only antenatal class at 3pm. We went straight into the labor ward in Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Drogheda. I was checked over and moved to the ward to wait for labor to properly kick in. We were lucky we were put into a semi private room that was completely empty.
We sat about in the bed and did nothing for a few hours ( I had no idea walking and moving would help move labor along). I had to request to be checked after about 5 hours to be told that first labors are slow moving and I would probably still be there waiting in the morning. They did the check and I was alot farther along than they expected and after that labor started moving swiftly along.
I started feeling pains at about 9pm so we went walking and even tried to get into a bath (as soon as I was submerged I had a contraction and it made it ten times worse so I got out). At about 10 I requested gas and air, by that point I had bitten poor Nialls shoulder during a particularly bad contraction so we felt it was necessary. We were moved to the pre-lobor ward where I was put on a birthing ball and given the gas and air (of which i took far too much).
By 10:30 I decided enough was enough and I wanted the epidural so we were moved to the labor room with my trusty gas and air at my side to be preped for the epidural. 20 minutes later still no anesthesiologist (it was a busy night for epidurals). I was checked again and we were told I was too far along for the epidural so it was just gas and air for me.
I pushed, I screamed, I screamed and I pushed. I more than likely cursed Niall's name and nearly broke his hand. Most of it was a blur (the result of 2 and a half canisters of gas and air) and I dont fully remember it all.
Corey was born a big 8 pounds 7 ounces of adorable baby at 11:45.
I tore and needed 8 stitches given to me by a Dr I was convinced was singing Kanye West (gas and air again).
Within an hour I was made get up and hobble leaning on my boyfriend for support covered in blood and who knows what else down the corridor to a shower room where poor Niall had to wash me down and dress me, and then request a wheelchair when I nearly collapsed in the shower.
The next morning we were moved to the maternity ward full of new mams and there babies that I hid behind my curtain from. I stayed there for 4 days as I was breastfeeding and didnt feel fully confident and with Corey being jaundiced I was worried he wouldnt get enough milk to clear it.
Then after 4 days we were released into the real world.
Being pregnant at 20 and being pregnant at 28 were two very different experiences. They were so different infact we were convinced I must be having a girl in my second pregnancy! Which just goes to show how every pregnancy can differ drastically.
I suffered morning sickness with both babies. The first time up until the very day I reached the second trimester but the second time around it never fully went away. I suffered badly with it for 20 weeks but it was always there in the background making me feel nauseous unless I ate constantly up until I gave birth.
I suffered with terrible back pain, joint pain and hip pain in my second pregnancy that I dont remember having in my first. I couldnt sit or stand for long periods of time and sleeping was very uncomfortable for me.
I had heart palpitations and found it hard to catch my breath sometimes from around week 20 of my second pregnancy which never happened in my first.
I got very fat both times LOL. Even tho I promised myself I wouldn't in my second pregnancy eating was the only thing to keep the nausea at bay so I ate constantly.
I was tired all the time and napped all day long even though i was sleeping all night too (broken up by the constant trips to the bathroom).
Luckily I never suffered with anything serious in my pregnancy (although I complained like I was going through the worst pregnancy ever and my fiance can vouch for that). Low iron was my only concern towards the end of my second pregnancy.
I put it down to age and I know I wasn't technically old at 28 having Logan but having Corey at 20 seemed alot easier!
So I decided to create this blog to give me something to do between feeds and nappy changes, to keep my brain ticking over and prevent insanity from boredom!
I also thought it would be great to have a different perspective on motherhood from someone who has done it once as a very young mother (at the tender age of 21) and is also a new mother (it feels like starting from scratch having my second baby at 28).
So I have a newborn (6 weeks tomorrow) and a 8 year old and let me tell you its a whole different ball game this time around!!
I may not be the best writer in all the land but I want to write something relate-able to all mammy's out there nothing pretentious (seen as I needed spell check to spell that one for me).
I hope you enjoy this blog!
