You cant beat the feeling...of motherhood.... You know it is going to be overwhelming, you know it is a miracle, but nothing can completely prepare you for the unconditional love felt instantly as your newborn is put in your arms. Welcome baby Joshua Lamarina to the big wide world, we already cant imaging our lives without you.
You are almost 2 weeks old already and I can already see that you have grown... no.!..slow down I want you to stay little and not grow too fast.
I gave birth on 24th March 2008 at 07:50am at Panorama Medi Clinic. Murphys Law my Gynae was away for the Easter Weekend and I had an appointment to see her on the 25th at 1pm, to discuss 'final details'. Well little mister couldnt wait evidently, either that or it was the Chilli Chocolate Fillet steak at Madame Zingara's the night before that lured him to come a bit early. After a late night at Madame Z, and then a farewell braai to friends down from JHB on the Sunday, I was exhausted. Clive and I got home at 6ish on Sunday evening and sat down to watch dvd's and relax. After eating a little mini lindt bunny i got for easter, I suddenly felt that something was going to come out 'down there'. I promptly jumped up from the couch and said oh oh, and my waters broke. Not a huge gush as you expect as happens in the movies, but quite a decent trickle (sorry for the gory details). I said to Clive, I think my waters have broken, we both experieced a mild sense of panic, but stayed calm afterward and phoned the hospital, who said take a shower and get here within an hour. We still stopped to get Energade on the way!
At the hospital they booked me in and monitored me and said that I had had a 'high membrane rupture' which explained why the waters hadnt been a bucket load. The monitors showed I was in very early stages, no real contractions and the sister on duty said I was in for the long haul, after doing an internal (horrible those) baby was still high and hadnt engaged. They put me in a Private Room for comfort and to get some sleep. Needless to say the only one who eventually got any sleep was Clive, he was exhausted. I had been booked in at 9:30/10pm and things were taking very long, I exprienced mild period pains but that was it and they said I was not dilating. The sister eventually offered me a Pethadine Injection which I didnt really want as had read that this had an effect on baby, she assured me it would be fine and that it would make me sleep. I think she was lying on purpose, it did nothing for me.. except bring on stronger contractions, which she told me were 'baby contractions' and there was no distinct pattern. When she went off duty at 6:30 they wheeled me into the delivery room and I was still having quite strong pains, to cut a long story short, after telling me that I wasnt dilating and me eventually saying give me the epidural as the pain was now quite bad. I had been having the gas which was fantastic, they did another quick internal to check before contacting the anaethetist, only for the sister then on duty to get a shock and say contact the doctor urgently to come straight away, she is already 9cm dilated, baby's head was starting to show. I of course felt the need to push and she was telling me not to, well Joshua was coming and was born 7:50am, and was the best moment of my life when they put him in my arms. It all seems a bit surreal now, how on earth did that little person fit in my tummy!
I had a fantastic stay at the hospital and am coping well at home, though there is so much to do and the day flies by, anyone who says stay at home moms have it easy, should bite their tounges. It never ends, feed, wind, change, do some washing, have a shower, eat, feed, wind, change etc... it just goes on and on. But there are many moments while feeding I just stare at him and hold his hand and talk to him and drink in every moment as I know that each day is a memory and a moment to treasure.
Will keep you all updated hopefully a bit more often.
Love Nicci, Joshua and Clive
xxx
