My Pregnancy & Birth Experiences

I feel so blessed to have two happy and healthy children and I'm glad that I got to experience both pregnancies and births differently.

I experienced having pre-eclampsia, a condition that could well have killed us both. I was very lucky I got to the hospital when I did.

I experienced a Caesarean section.

I experienced having a premature baby.

I experienced not being able to hold my baby as soon as he was born.

I experienced a two week hospital stay as they tried to regulate my blood pressure.

I experienced visiting my baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and only being able to touch him through the holes in the incubator.

I experienced getting discharged from hospital without him and having to travel back to see him every day.

We were told that if we were to have another that I would be at risk of developing pre-eclampsia again but I didn't care.

I experienced taking aspirin every day from 6 weeks to 36 weeks pregnant to try and keep it at bay.

I experienced weekly hospital/midwife check ups so they could keep a close eye on me.

I experienced countless blood pressure checks and God knows how many urine samples I did.

I experienced a Monofer infusion as my iron levels were so low.

I experienced cervix checks.

I experienced countless blood tests and cannulas (me - who hates needles!). The pre-eclampsia symptoms eventually did appear so I experienced an induction.

I experienced having my waters broken.

I experienced contractions.

I experienced a natural birth.

I experienced having ragged membranes and a retained placenta and I experienced needing to go to theatre to have it manually removed.

I experienced a 2nd degree tear and needing perineal stitches.

I experienced having to lean forward when I went for a wee because it stung so bad.

I experienced being scared to go for a poo for weeks after pushing a baby out.

I experienced not being able to sit down properly for a few weeks.

I told Chris that it had put me off. It was too sore. And no doubt all my subsequent pregnancies would be equally as 'under the microscope' and I didn't think I could do it again.

But I look at both of my children and the love I have for them is immense.