Thursday 3 November 2011

My Birth Story

I can hardly believe my baby girl is already a month old! I now understand what my mum means when she said she blinked and suddenly we were all grown up. Time just goes so fast it's frightening. People told me how hard the first weeks would be with a newborn but I can honestly say that I've had an easy time so far. Of course there are some moments which are more trying than others but on the whole I'm finding motherhood to be a complete joy. I'm blessed with a very good baby who already is showing a beautifully peaceful nature. I also have a wonderful husband who allows me to rest and take care of the baby while he takes care of everything else. 

I wanted to share with you all the story of little Alba's arrival in the world. I had a very easy, problem free pregnancy and it ended with a very easy, problem free birth. On Saturday 1st October I woke up in the morning with my first contractions. At first I wasn't sure if they were contractions as they weren't very painful but after a while I started timing them and they were coming regularly at around 7 minutes apart. I wasn't totally convinced that it was the real thing as I was expecting to be in a bit more pain. Nonetheless, I spent the morning making last minute preparations, finishing packing my bag, cleaning up the kitchen etc. I then sat down to watch Scotland play England in the rugby world cup which took my mind off things for a couple of hours.

Throughout the afternoon the contractions were still coming regularly but not getting any more painful. By the evening I suddenly realised that they were 3 minutes apart. I still wasn't sure that it was time to go to the hospital but my husband convinced me that we should. By the time I was ready to go the contractions were starting to get a bit stronger and quite close together. At that point I started to worry that we'd maybe left it a bit late to get to the hospital, a 40 minute drive away!

However, at around 10pm we arrived at the hospital in time and I was examined. I still half expected that they'd tell me it wasn't time and to go home again. I was surprised when they told me I was already 5cm dilated! The midwife left me to get settled into my room where I stayed for about half an hour before I felt like I was ready to push. They took me to the delivery room where I laboured for another 30 minutes or so before being examined again. I was 10cm dilated and ready to go. Another 20 minutes or so of pushing and my little girl was born at half past midnight. 

I am still quite amazed at what the human body is capable of. I managed the whole labour without any kind of pain medication, not even gas and air. I didn't use any particular birthing method or breathing techniques. I let my body take over and do what it had to do. I feel extremely proud of myself!! The whole experience was quite incredible and I'm so grateful to the doctors and the midwives who helped me through it. I must admit I was worried about giving birth in an Italian hospital but my fears were unfounded. I had the natural birth I wanted and the hospital staff were really supportive. 

I want to thank you all for your kind words of welcome for Alba May on my last post. It means a lot to us that there are people all over the world wishing us well. For those of you wondering about our name choice, Alba is the Gaelic name for Scotland and it is also an Italian name meaning 'dawn'. It's the perfect name for our little half Scottish half Italian girl. 





For obvious reasons my posts in the next weeks might be few and far between. I apologise for this and also for not being such a regular visitor to your blogs. I'm still reading but don't always manage to comment (I'm still mastering one-handed typing!!) Thank you all once again for your kind wishes and for your support throughout my pregnancy, it means a lot x x x 




24 comments:

Sarah said...

Such a sweet and wonderful story!!! What an amazing experience. That's excellent that you didn't need any medication!!!! I hope it's like that for me the 2nd time around =)


-Sarah
http://agirlintransit.blogspot.com

Loree said...

What a wonderful experience. I wish I could have had a medication-free birth but the pain was too much for me to endure. But everyone is different and the most important thing is the little bundle of joy that emerges into the world.

Sarah B said...

Wow, it sounds like things went as perfectly as they could have. That's so great. What a wonderful experience x

Fay said...

How magical the birth sounds! No pain relief! Just goes to show that being relaxed goes a long way. Wee Alba is just adorable! X

The Southland Life said...

What a beautiful baby! Congrats on your adorable new addition! Enjoy this special time!

Amanda said...

Have been thinking of you lots lately Sarah, wondering if we're both sitting in our homes nursing our newborns at the same time :) I'm so glad Alba's birth went so smoothly for you. It sounds like it was a wonderful, calm experience for you which I am so pleased about. It sounds like you have one content little girl. Things here are starting to settle down, although life with two little ones has been much, much harder than I'd anticipated. Grace has been adjusting well and is starting to show lots of affection for her new little sister now.

I think you have chosen a perfect name for your new bub, I love it's meaning. Take care of yourself my friend and I look forward to your future posts about life with your wee one. Big hugs xx

Sarah said...

I'm so pleased it went well for you, and you now have a lovely little girl who's a sweetie.

I'm sure a lot of it is because you are such a calm and peaceful person yourself.

Olga said...

She is gorgeous in that red hat :)
I'm glad everything went well with you. I was concerned for you, but now it's time to get used to your new life as a supermom :)

Travel With Lulu said...

Sounds like the ideal birth story :) Botanically speaking, anything 'alba' is white (Latin, I imagine). Congratulations! Best wishes, Laura

LindyLouMac said...

Thanks for sharing your delightful birth story with us Sarah Elizabeth and telling us the origins of the name Alba, certainly the perfect choice. Take Care and enjoy your daughter.

Tina said...

Thank you for sharing your beautiful birth story, Sarah! Your sweet little Alba is just perfect and has such a perfect name. Enjoy those snuggles and don't even think of apologising to anybody.....just enjoy these moments, they are to be treasured forever. Much love to you, as always ~ Tina x

Boho Farm and Home said...

Congratulations on the birth of this beaufitul little girl! What a blessing!

Daydream Living said...

Ooh, how sweet is this! And you where lucky to have such little pain, you should be proud of yourself indeed, way to go! I had two natural births, one in our bathtub in Amsterdam, and one in a special bad here in Switzerland, both different both not too difficult, thank goodness.
You relax about blogging, just enjoy your new girl, and I have to say, I LOVE her name choice, really lovely.
All the best, Maureen xx

Daydream Living said...

btw, do you know this site?
thezerowastehome.com, I thought you might find this interesting, bye! Maureen x

Mrs D. said...

I'm a new blogger, I'm on the web looking around, and I found y.
I joined y hoping to see your littel baby growing up!
All the best from Apulia...ciao

Beth said...

Hi Sarah, how lovely to read that you are enjoying motherhood. It sounds like your birth story was a good experience for you too. As I said in my last comment I love the name Alba, and just for a bit of extra information Scotland in Welsh is "Alban" - ties in with the Gaelic.
Keep enjoying these very precious times.
x

Julia R. Dominguez Lawrence said...

So sweet and what a beautiful name. Congratulations!

Tina said...

Hi Sarah. Just wanted to wish you and your sweet family a truly wonderful Christmas. Enjoy this first Xmas with your beautiful little princess. Xmas hugs to you ~ Tina x

Olga said...

Have a wonderful Christmas and a wonderful start to the New Year!

lily joy said...

hi I just happened by your blog. what an amazing birth story! So glad you were able to have a birth without medications! What a beautiful girl you have!

siniann said...

Happy New Year lovely! I hope all the best for you and your husband, and for little Alba May! :) Hope to hear from you soon.

flowers on my table said...

Dear Sarah, I hope you had a lovely Christmas, you and your little family. I hope 2012 is good to you and look forward to seeing some new baby photos. With love, Linda x

Martina said...

Happy New Year to you and your little family! I hope Alba enjoyed her first Christmas!

laura may said...

What a treasure! thankyou for sharing your story with us doll. She is amazing.. and shares my middle name!

love laura may. xx