And then there were 3!

10th November 2015 - Welcome to the world Lucy Evin Thom! 

Adam arrived at the hospital early that morning following a good night sleep and fresh as a daisy! I on the other hand was exhausted and a little worse for wear! I only just had the chance to have a quick sink wash before we were taken down to the Labour Ward. So much for the clean hair!!

In the Labour Ward we were introduced to our Midwife, Aileen. She was so lovely! She had a great sense of humour and put me right at ease. I felt safe in her hands.

Across the hall we could hear the screams of another woman in the throws of birth which made me slightly nervous but Aileen rolled her eyes at me and told me it wasn't going to be that bad! She got me all hooked up to the drip that would administer the medication to induce my labour. I went for a pee while she held all the cables and tubes out the way and that was the point where I dropped my dignity along with my knickers!! 

We chatted away for a while as the meds were started and Aileen began completing her paperwork including the pink card that would sit at the end of our baby girls crib! She asked if we had a name for her and although we had 2 in mind, it was always going to be Lucy! And so that was it! She completed the card and the decision was made!

Around 11.30am the drugs were starting to do their job and the contractions started. If this was as bad as it would get, I was going to be fine!! 

To be honest, after this point, my concept of time is a little hazy but we continued at a good rate and everything was going to plan. Smooth Radio was belting out all the classics and spirits were high!

Aileen went for her break I think around 2 30-3.00 pm and another midwife came to sit with us. She wasn't as chatty and at that point I was starting to realise I had had it easy so far! By the time Aileen came back, I was struggling a little on just gas and air so she gave me a Pethidine injection to take the edge off! It didn't!! And neither did Michael Buble crooning from the radio!

I had a bit of a wobble at that point telling Adam that I couldn't so this anymore but he assured me I was doing great and I got back in the zone!

I had been on the bed since we arrived and desperately needed to get up so I sat on a chair. I kept crying to Adam that I was peeing myself and was mortified all the while Aileen was trying to assure me it was just my waters!

Around 3.45 pm I felt something really push down and actually felt like the baby's head had hit the chair!  I panicked and told Aileen I needed to push to which she told me I was still hours away from having the baby and in fact she would probably wouldn't even be here by the time she finished her shift at 8pm!! She said she would examine me around 6pm! 

I insisted though that this baby was coming and that I could feel her head and so to pacify me she got me back up on the bed to examine me.

She took one look and said "Adam, see that buzzer there" pointing just above my head; "push it now"!!!

Seconds later a whole host of medical people arrived in the room including Cardiologists, Paediatricians and god knows who else! Of course I had no idea who was there because now I was pushing and Lucy was on her way! 

Adam thought this was the perfect time to ask if he could go for a pee!!!

Aileen asked me if I wanted to reach down and touch her head as she came out and I panicked like never before!! Suddenly I was so nervous! I couldn't do it! She also "encouraged" Adam to get down the business end, a decision he would come to regret!!

At 4.09 pm, Lucy Evin Thom made her way into the world! All 6lbs 8oz of perfection! All I could say was "is she ok though, is she ok??"!

The medical team checked her over in the room and lucky for us she was breathing fine on her own and she was placed in my arms for a cuddle! I had never let myself imagine this moment as we knew the chances of her being whisked away were high! She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen! She was looking at me like she had known me forever and of course she had! We had made it! A family of 3! Adam, Lynn and Lucy Thom! A dream come true!

We phoned our parents and my granny but I have absolutely no recollection of what was said! I was exhausted.

While they were checking Lucy over, the Midwife and a Consultant Obstetrician were assessing the damage to my lady bits! I heard them argue about whether or not I would need to go to theatre and the Consultant eventually decided I would!  Fantastic!! After all that, I was going to end up with a spinal anaesthetic after all!!! 

Lucy was taken to the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit and I was taken to theatre.  I was so sleepy that once they administered the spinal, I actually fell asleep and the next thing I remember was waking up in recovery.

Both sets of grandparents arrived and the Midwife managed to sneak them in the side door for a quick visit. Adam took them to PICU to meet their new granddaughter while the Midwife fed me and basically milked me!!! 

We had been undecided about a middle name but I had found the name Evin when I was looking and the Greek meaning was Little Fighter. The welsh version was Evan which was also a variation of John, my dad's name and Aileen was actually the one to decide that we should definitely go with it.  My dad was over the moon! And I love it!

Eventually at 9 pm, still numb from the waist down, they wheeled me into the PICU to see my baby girl.  She had been cleaned up and all her tests were complete. The room had 4 babies in it, each with a named Nurse. It was later at night and it struck me how quiet and peaceful it was. 

Lucy was settled and looked the picture of health. She had a pink hospital hat on and a nappy and was in a tiny incubator. She had bruised hands where they had tried to insert the cannula and she was hooked up to a heart monitor and oxygen monitor. There were so many machines around her but already she was taking it in all her stride. 

My heart was bursting. I loved her more than I could have imagined and was so unbelievably proud of her already; holding her own and proving that her name was apt - she was indeed a little fighter.

Parents can't stay overnight in PICU and so I was taken back to the Maternity Ward and once I was settled, Adam headed back to his nice cosy hotel. Upon his arrival, the Receptionist asked what he had been up to that day. He told her he had just become a dad! He had had nothing to eat all day so they headed into the buffet where the Scotland Under 21 Football Team had been and fed him!! He had had a long day after all!!

Even though I was exhausted, I struggled to sleep. I was in a ward with 3 other new mums and their babies (something the Ward Sister the next day was disgusted by). They were up all night crying, feeding and hugging their babies and mine was in another place, with a stranger, fighting for her life. I have never felt so alone. 

I lasted till 5am before I buzzed the Nurse in hysterics. I needed to be with my baby. I needed to feel like a mummy. I had just given birth but felt so far removed from that. The Nurse said she would get someone to come and take me to PICU but they didn't arrive till 7am by which time, I was truly heartbroken, angry, and minutes away from crawling there myself!

I arrived in PICU, not having had a shower since Monday morning, having given birth the day before, my hair tied up and my PJ's on. My catheter was strapped to my leg and I was doubled padded up! I have never been more glamorous lol!!  

I didn't care a bit though! There was my beautiful girl. 

Lucy. 

My life and my heart had never been so full.