Hi Ladies,

I had the most beautiful little girl on Monday 12th May @ 6.34pm. She was born with a full head of dark hair. Her name is Ketti Alana and we are both smitten.

Birth story - not straightforward!! I'd posted on here a few weeks ago about itching which was really getting on my nerves. Sunday morning midwife phoned to say it was Cholestasis. I had to go straight to hospital for monitoring as my ALT count (liver enzyme count that indicates Cholestasis was 190 - normal levels are 6 - 32). Cholestasis is serious and can cause stillbirth.

At hospital they'd risen even further so had to be imediately induced and continually monitored. They gave me the gel and I had the whole night in the ward alone )OH not allowed to stay) having contractions and in total pain. More gel Monday morning and OH and I spent the day walking around the hospital in the hope it would dilate me enough for them to break my waters. They'd warned me of possible C Section if I didn't go into labour on my own. By this time my ALT count was 303! That evening they sent me to labour ward as my contractions were really established. I was just 2 cm so they broke my waters. Then wow - contractions went through the roof instantly! I got on gas and air and the midwife told me dilation was usually 1cm an hour. I thought there was no way I could manage for another 8 hours, the pain was so intense. But I also thought it felt too intense to take that long and sure enough - I went from 2cm to 10cm in about 45 mins and could feel urge to push. No time for any other pain relief - I pushed the baby out in 10 mins. Had slight tear and grazes but no need for stitches.

So despite worst start for me it was the best possible outcome. They thought because of induction I'd need an epidural or diamorphine but there was just no time thankfully!.

I was really scared of labour and birth and I actually in a weird way enjoyed it. It's a different kind of pain and an amazing experience. And my little girl is worth every single minute!!!

Cherry + Ketti (3 days old). xxx

Aww you did really well Cherry...it must have been very worrying for you at the time. Little Ketti came on fast at the end...bet it was all worth it now to be holding your little baby girl in your arms!

tc Sharon 24+3wk pink bump xx

So pleased that you managed to have the birth pretty much as you'd wanted it despite the induction.

Sounds incredible. Hope you and your little girl are doing well xxx

Congrats on birth of your little girl.

Take care

Sarah

xx

Congrats on birth of your little girl.

Take care

Sarah

xx

huge congrats an well done! look foward to seeing some pics.

tc shell&32+4 girl bump x

I'm glad she was born safe and sound!

Take Care

Rachael & Eleanor (8 weeks, 1 day old)
xxxx

So glad everything turned out so well for you, must have been scary to start with though. Beautiful name too, well done hun,

lotsa love,
Clare xxx