Hannah's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 6/21/02 -------------------- 6/10/02 5/29/02 5/8/02 4/26/02 4/13/02 3/28/02 3/18/02 3/8/02 2/28/02 2/15/02 2/3/02 12/18/01 12/7/01 11/25/01 11/19/01 11/7/01 10/31/01 10/14/01 9/20/01 9/12/01 9/5/01 8/28/01 8/16/01 8/9/01 7/31/01 7/22/01 7/11/01 7/7/01 6/29/01 6/17/01 1/13/01 1/4/01 1/1/01 -------------------- Hannah's Introduction

May 29, 2002

Finally I get a chance to post Mitchell's birth story!!! We arrived home from hospital Saturday and of course we've been busy ever since, but I had to tell you all about the speedy delivery of Mitchell. Yes, the name change came as quite a shock for many people as up until Friday last week it was "HUGH". We kept it a secret until he was born. We decided in the end that the little guy would have years of taunting..... Huey Duey & Lewie, Hewie Lewis and the News, etc, etc. We lay in bed looking through baby name books until gone midnight searching for the perfect name and we found it. Louis calls him "Mitchie" which is sooooo sweet and I even like 'Mitch' as an older boys name.

Louis has been an angel and loves his little brother without being suffocating (I'm sure Mitchell appreciates that!!!). Mitchell has been so placid, I can put him in his bed awake after a feed and he goes right off to sleep. I know he's only 5 days old and things can and will change but it's made the transition so much easier.

Let me tell you about the labour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What an amazing and fast experience, allowing Mitchell to proudly wear the label, "CURRIE IN A HURRY" lol. I went for my 40 week appt Tuesday at 12 noon and I was 2cm dilated (a blessing, dilation without knowing it). I had a nap that afternoon only to find my waters break........luckily not a huge gush all over the bed (it was 3.00pm). Louis was at daycare so that was probably a good thing. I rang Cameron at work and said "We're not going out for tea tonight, my waters have just broken," (we were going out for a work function). He came home and I made sure I'd gathered my last minute things, eg toothbrush. I rang the hospital and they said to come in as soon as possible. We packed a bag for Louis to stay over at Mum's and then went to pick him up from daycare. Cameron went in and got him and we took him over to Mum's, I wasn't having any contractions which made things calm and more comfortable.... I did feel weepy when Louis cried as we said goodybye to him.

We arrived at the hospital, me with sopping wet pants - yuk!!! We checked in at admin and then headed on to the maternity unit. They took me to the labour ward and put me in an assessment room where after about 40 mins I was hooked up to the monitor to see what was going on. I was having mild contractions and baby was doing fine. The midwife told me to walk around and eat if I felt like it and that they'd get my Obyn to have a look and see what was going on. He arrived at approx. 5.45pm - I simply said "I bet you didn't expect to see me again today!!!". He told me I was still 2cm dilated and he'd see me in the wee hours of the morning (Huh, I showed him up). At about 6.30pm the contractions started to get stronger though not too bad, but by 7.00pm they were really hurting and coming quite quickly. I was taken to the labour room where I asked for an EPIDURAL!!!!!! There were 2 ladies waiting in line before me as the Dr was at another hospital in theatre. With that I had gas and asked for pethadine. The midwife had to do an internal which was at 7.30pm and I was 4cm. I freaked and kept thinking, "If this is how bad I feel now how am I going to cope with having to dilate 6 more centimetres!!!" The midwife got the pethadine and gave it to me at 7.45pm amidst my moaning through the contractions, they were really bad and on top of each other. I couldn't even get the mouthpiece for the gas to my mouth so I ended up squeezing the damn thing. I was laying on my side on the bed........all I could do at this point, and Cameron was rubbing my back the entire time (that felt good). I distinctly remember feeling a huge 'thud' which was the baby's head dropping ready to come out. I told the midwife that I needed to push and she told me to wait so she could have a look. She said "Looks like we're going to have a baby now!!!" and asked Cameron to push the button to get assistance. A wonderful midwife came in and wiped my face with a wet cloth, total relief as I felt like I was burning up. I saw Mitchell as he was entering the world, well actually a head sticking out of me (very funny sight) which was a nice thing and helped calm me. After 9 minutes and 4 contractions a little person entered the world causing a second degree tear (a minor consolation) and we were thrilled. My Obyn turned up 3 minutes after the birth, looked at me and shook his head.....he was amazed (weren't we all). My records stated that 1st stage labour was 45 minutes and 2nd stage was 9 minutes.....I was going for the world record. Mitchell's APGAR's were 9 and 10...not bad for a baby who RUSHED into the world.

All I could think of was the motto "Be careful what you wish for" as I'd been telling people in the last week that I was soooooo ready - BRING IT ON!!! It certainly came on suddenly but I think, looking back (after the shock subsided), it was the best possible scenario........Cameron could not have rubbed my back constantly for any longer than the 1hour that he did!!! He's my hero.

I had a great stay in hospital, despite wanting to come home after 2 days. I'm pleased I stayed in for 4 days but am certainly so happy to now be home as a little family.

The miracle of birth is over and I just find it amazing the pain you are in and as soon as they're born it's gone, like magic. I'm trying not to think about how sad it is that my PG is all over (despite whinging in the last 6 weeks), I'm trying to focus on how wonderful life really is, which surprisingly, isn't very hard to do.

Sorry for the long labour story (considering it was a short labour). I'm still not sure about continuing with this diary and if I decide not to I'll certainly send personal updates to anyone who would like them.

Love Hannah, Louis & Mitchell