Things I don't want to forget (part one)...

Not long ago, I was having a conversation with a friend about our labour experiences and I was surprised as I struggled to remember some of the details. Considering that the birth of my two children are no doubt, the BIGGEST and most life changing  moments of my life, I always thought that I would be able to remember all the details so clearly. Unfortunately and unlike Elena, I have not been blessed with the memory of an elephant, mine is rather more like 'Dory's' from 'Finding Nemo'- not kidding.

Therefore, I decided I would document (with Joe's help) the things I don't want to forget about the two most momentous events in my life. This is part one...

Elena
Birth details:

• Elena Esperanza Dunbar,
• born Sunday 11th March, 2007- 7 days past her due date.
• arrived at 10:09 pm
• weighing 3.25 kg or 7.1 pounds, 33cm head circumference, 49 cm long.

Actual Birth:

•  39 hrs (this was from start to finish, not sure how much of that was actual 'active labour'?)
• arrived at Redlands Hospital at around 11pm. I was 1cm dilated. How embarrassing (rookie's mistake).
• I was told the following morning by a midwife, after  9hrs had passed, that I had only dilated 2 more cms... this little news caused a little breakdown.
• I had my water's broken around midday... that got things started... but still not enough for my liking.
• I had the works- gas, pethadine, epidural, forceps, vacuum and episiotomy (too much info?)
• What did speed things up was the epidural, oh how I loved that epidural! I took it in the afternoon, and finally got to 10cm within 2-3 hours and all while having an awesome nap... best decision ever!
• At 7pm, I started to push for around 3hrs- she did not want to come out. This was to be the first sign of  her stubbornness!
• She was born with the umbilical cord wrapped around an arm, a leg and her neck. This was to be the first sign of her great flexibility (no wonder she's so good at dancing ;) 

 Memorable moments:

• Getting cranky at Joe for 'ruining' his face for photos (he walked into something at work and got sliced across his nose) days before Elly was born- clearly, I was a hormonal wreck at this point.
• Joe unable to function during the 7 days we waited for her (think young child asking parent every 2mins, "are we there yet?" replace that with non-functional adult asking expectant mother every 2 mins, "is she here yet?"= Joe.).
•  Thinking gas and pethadine were pointless inventions!
• Thinking the Epidural is the best invention ever!
• Joe laughing at my silly 'high on gas' talk.
• Thinking a whole hour had passed after receiving the pethadine, only to be told by Joe it had only been 1min...
• ...verbally abusing Joe for telling me it had only been 1 min.
• Abusing the anaesthetist for taking too long with my epidural! In my defence, I had no concept of time at this point. 
• Falling in and out of sleep during pushing and sharing my dreams (about a carrot garden?!?!) to the midwives in between... did I mention I had the 'works?'
• I remember thinking about my mother and what on earth persuaded her to go through it 5 times?!
• Noticing Elly's dimples as she was placed on my chest for the first time...  

• ...thinking "what is happening?" as she instinctively had her first chichita.
• Inspecting and taking in every inch of her, from the top of her head to the tips of her toes.
• That wonderful relief of it all being over and thinking "this precious girl is all mine!" and "how on earth did she fit inside me?!"
• Hearing Joe say over, and over, and over again "she's so gorgeous!" 
• Watching Joe cuddle and kiss her for the first time... bliss. 

I so clearly recall going to sleep with her that night and getting no sleep. All I could do was hold her, watch her, and admire every little bit of her, as she stared back at me so content before slowly and peacefully falling asleep. I was in absolute awe of her. As I laid there with an overwhelming and abundant amount of love for the little bundle in my arms that I had only just met, I thought to myself how lucky I was to be her mother. Four years later, nothings' changed.