The SS McG pulls into port!
27 January 2006, 09:43
Well, she’s here. Little Sophia Scout McG.
Here’s a picture of our angel. Isn’t she a delight?
The SS McG Roadshow… Click to enlarge in Gallery
The last few days have been an understandable whirlwind. We’re back at home now after a 3 night stay at the Mercy Hospital in Heidelberg (that I cannot recommend highly enough) and coping with the rigours of new parenthood…
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The Labour (minus a few gory details)
I went into labour on Saturday evening around 6pm, with what I was sure were mild gas pains. 6 minutes apart. I made it through Iron Chef with coach Kaga’s appeals to “GET IT ON!!!” before finally calling the Birth Centre around 10.30 as I was in a considerable amount of pain. The midwife didn’t sound concerned (they like you stay at home for as long as possible) as apparently I sounded quite lucid but I had a massive contraction just after that made me go “that’s it. we’re going in. this is it baby.”
I’m so glad I did. A mere 4 hours later, at 3.59am, SS McG emerged from her dark home into the waiting hands of Husband. I hadn’t even had a chance to get the second dose of penicillin before she popped out. I’d coped with the whole labour with only gas (I am such a hero, just ask me) but of course, heaved my guts up into a kidney bowl within minutes of the delivery. I don’t remember hearing the midwife say “she’s a girl”, but when they popped her up onto my chest I started shaking with relief and overwhelming emotion. But although I wanted to have her with me, my overriding thought was “when the hell can I sleep?”
Note to self: don’t bother hauling laptop computer into Birthing Centre to use as distraction technique. I’d always thought this an odd suggestion, to bring games/cards whatever to the birth. In retrospect, this was mere folly. By the time I actually got to the suite I could barely stand (although apparently I passed out asleep for a little while between contractions which I don’t remember at all. Who the hell sleeps when there is work to be done?) I’m supposing this is handy when woman is in early stages of labour which I certainly was not.
At the risk of grossing out faithful readers, giving birth in the last stage, (i.e. pushing/delivery) is almost exactly like doing a massive backed-up-for-3-months poo (not that I’ve ever had a poo backed up for that long). It is the god-most uncomfortable sensation in the world, much worse than contractions. By the time I got to that stage I was buggered, but kept shrieking, “I can’t do this, I can’t push anymore. I can’t! I CAN’T!!!!!” I mean, honestly, what choice did I have? Sorry, sweetie, but you’re just gonna have to stay jammed up there ‘cos you’re mum is a big fat lazy defeatist wimp. Sigh.
Sorry to be terrifically smug but the labour was absolutely textbook. Short and sweet (if intense), no painkillers, no episiostomy, no stitches. In fact she came out looking like a caesar baby with barely a blemish.
The Stats
SS weighed in at 6lb 9oz and in total I was in labour for 6 hours 42 minutes. Not bad for a first attempt.
The Aftermath
I haven’t slept a full night since last Friday night. It’s totally worth it, of course, just hard work. I couldn’t sleep after the delivery, although I was advised to as SS would probably sleep for 10 hours or so, but I was so pumped. The impact of what had happened to us hit me sometime late Sunday morning. I woke up from a snooze and SS was sleeping in between Husband and I in bed and I just took one look at her and started bawling. I hadn’t expected to be assaulted with such feelings of love and thankfulness that she was safe and absolutely beautiful (because that couldn’t be only my biased opinion…)
Late Sunday night, the Birthing Centre was so chockers full of women giving birth (read: groaning and wailing their heads off in agony – it really is a sound like no other), we were transferred up to a “Partner Package” in the Maternity Wards. Obscene. Like living it up in a 4 star hotel room with double bed and ensuite so Matt could “room in” for the entire stay. We were taken such good care of – the midwives & night nurses were (I think without exception) excellent, although with different midwives every day and visits from consulting paediatricians and lactation consultations, I got tired of hearing conflicting pieces of “advice” about the way to do various “things”.
Like breastfeeding. It’s fucking hard work, man. I always thought it would be this thing where you knew how much your baby needed and you’d instinctively know what to do and where to put everything, but it isn’t like that AT ALL. Maybe it is for some mums but sure as hell not for me. Never have I felt so much like a prize heiffer with a perpetual case of runny udder. It’s rather alarming.
The fatigue has started to kick in, having to be awake every 3 hours for a (painful at this stage) feed. The weather hasn’t helped. Yesterday was 40 degrees (that’s celsius) in Melbourne and SS was lethargic and sleepy most of the day. Meh.
and the winner is. . . .
Auntie Claire with the closest Baby Tipping tip of Girl born on 22 January, weighing in at 7lb 6oz. Only 10 oz off the pace!
Oh and don’t forget to check out my cheeky monkey’s take on proceedings over at Wrigglepot, and Husband’s at Opinios.
So I think that’s it for me for now. Must. go. to. nap. Zzzzzzzzzz
Permanent Link | - Congratulations, well done all round, Sophia (and mum) look wonderful. The labour doesn’t sound too bad – 6 hours is pretty speedy, especially for a first, but you are absolutely right about the noise of other soon-to-be-mothers being out of this world. But wow, sounds like your hospital is out of this world as well! Double family rooms!? Here in Japan they didn’t want me within 100m of the maternity ward! Managed to sneak in though. Good luck with everything from here, the hard stuff starts now:-)
— bogue Jan 27, 11:40 AM # - Hi Kim,
Lovely name – Sophia Scout – is there any particular origin to either name?
— Curious Vanessa! Jan 27, 11:40 AM # - Thanks all for your kind words and for blowing sunshine up mine and babe’s arses (and quite frankly we could use some of that action coming out as well (she is certainly a little stinker
Not surprisingly she continues to be more beautiful every day.
Megha, it’s pronounced “so-fee-aa”, and means “wise” in Greek as she came out looking at the world with wise, calm eyes.
And Sharon, you’re correct, “Scout” is a reference to the girl in “To Kill a Mockingbird”, whose character I’ve always loved and the name certainly suits our angel.
— Kinki Jan 28, 12:59 PM #
