Birth announcement

 Welcoming our Pot of gold. 

I am so excited to announce that our baby is here safe and healthy. So everyone meet our third baby, our pot of gold! 

Layton-J Nico Ian. Born at 39 weeks on the 26th August, at 11:58, Via planned Ceasean section.

 He was 6lb 6oz but very tiny, he is in premmy baby/tiny baby clothes. Even though he weigh over a pound more the ariyah did he seems skinnier and shorter, like he a actually newborn fragile baby. She never felt like that's she was long and stocky. While Layton seem small.

I can not believe he is finally here. This pregnancy seems to have been a long wait but at the same time also flown by especially the last few weeks. Overall it's been emotional and rocky with a few little worries but medically very standard pregnancy.

Compare to Nico and Ariyah's pregnancies and births, Which you can read in next post where I will compare mine and Ben's experience as we both got this amazing gift to be able to carry and add to our family. 

Therefore in all the pregnancy and birth has been very smooth. Few minor things it start like sickness, aches and exhaustion yeah it's actually wipe them clean them yeah it's actually wipe them clean them too tired at the beginning. Then having SPD which did make it hard with my back, hips and joints in general. But pain was manageable. Most thing I struggled with which I have spoken about much but will in later post is my mental health, this dipped alot in the pregnancy with different hormones. Being off T, body changes and frustration. Again I will do a more detail post. 

Then there was the main big scare when I had covid and this little baby didn't grow enough between 32-34 weeks gestation however by 36 weeks he had caught up but still small. Then I was have false contra toons at 36-37 weeks where we thought he make an early appearance but he held put until my booked c section date. Which is today. 

Birth story: 

It was an early start where I had to be in the hospital at 7:30am. I had not really slept that night as I was to nervous and excited. I had a pre op appointment two days prior, where they gave me medication to take for acid and anti sickness the night before and morning of surgery. I was also given blood clot prevention socks which I had to arrive in. 

We got up early, got our last bits together and made sure house was all sorted. Ariyah had gone to my mum's the night before so we didn't have to worry about her. We video called her before we left and she was very happy. So off we went to the hospital with all our bags packed. Kindly our neighbor had offer to drive us up and feed the animals while we where in hospital. As everyone else was also messaging us good luck, we so lucky to have lots of support. 

When we got to the hospital the showed us to our room, went over routine questions and observations. We was then give gowns and Ben scrubs to change into for theatre. They talked us through what would happen, I also saw the anaesthetist and surgeon who went through in more detail what would happen, what the risks are tho most of them very rare. I them signed the consent forms, all there was to do was wait. 

Another good thing that morning was that our midwive we had care for us all the way through was able to be there and in theatre with us, she would be the one to hold and pass baby to us and do all his checks which meant alot to us.  

I went down to surgery around 11:15, where I was given a spinal block anaesthetic. This numbs you from chest all the way down to legs. It is the weirdest feeling, horrible to start. As the inject a needle and then fluid morphine into your spinal cord in the lower back. This gave me electric shock feeling and tingling in my legs, mainly my right. Then I felt very dizzy and sick. As they laid me down, you start to feel your legs go numb, they spray and touch you to make sure u can not feel it. 

Antibiotics, IV fluids and pain / anti sickness medicine is all give through a drip, a catheter is also placed in your bowels to empty it as you can't move after surgery for around 12+ hours. 

I did go very dizzy, sick and my blood pressure droped which meant they had to fan me, tilt the table and give me fluids more to stabilise my blood pressure. I literally felt horrible it was not nice but only lasted a few minutes and all very normal. Then the surgeon came in. They put a curtains up so we couldn't see them cutting me open and they began the procedure. 

It was a weird experience as you are awake, even though don't feel any pain, you still feel them slightly touching and lots of pushing and pulling where they are cutting and pulling the layers of skin apart. You then feel pressure and like washy feeling as the drain the blood and the babies waters when broken. This part of very quick and before you know it baby is out. 

However it seemed to take ages, I felt lots of pushing down and pulling that again was not painful but weridly uncomfortable. I got worried as midwives said he nearly here but the disappearance. I felt lots of pushing for what felt like ages waiting to hear that first cry. Finally we heard little squeaks and moans before a hug cry from the baby. 

Panic over the minute I heard him cry I knew he was okay. They cut his cord and gave him a little clean before paying him straight on me for skin to skin. He was prefect and so tiny. It was the most magical beautiful moments of my life. To hold your baby for the first time, all that worry, and dreaded just washes away. He Stayed on my chest, borrowing in while the surgeon, removed the placenta and stitched me back up. 

Then the midwive and Ben took baby over to be weighed and checked over. He screamed the whole time he was not on me or Ben, he just wanted his daddies. Ben got to trim his cord and put his nappy on, then him and baby went round to recovery and I followed after. Ben gave him his first feed them I gave him a bit. We were in recovery for about 20 mins before being taken round to our room. 

When we were in recovery the midwive explain why it took a long time. What had happened was that the babies head was so far down into public area meaning they had to use forceps to pull him back up and out. She said that he was very low and engaged so he would of not been long if I went naturally, however it made it had as so was very tightly tucked in there, he did not want to come out. The forceps tongs unfortunately did leave little red marks and a bruises on the side of his face but that it would heal and fade very soon. It didn't hurt or bother him at all, just very stubborn baby who was comfortable inside me. He apprently gave them not happy little grunts and moans as they pulled him out before he then did a huge scream. 

I was doing well, I felt great in fact. I had minimal blood loss, observation where all good, I was able to eat and drink straight away. Other the. Bit of tiredness I actually felt amazing. Midwives and also family/ friends who we video called said I didn't even seem like I had just had surgery or had a baby. It's true I felt so much better I think just the relief we had him here safe and the pregnancy was over. Now on to our future with our amazing babies, me going back on hormones and just being our complete family was all I could think about. 

Baby was doing amazing to, he was drinking well, pooed and weed and slept great. He was so calm and content. He loved to be cuddled so we did lots of skin to skin. Which helps them regulate their body temp, breathing and just that form that bond. As the day went on I was able to move my legs and was not really in any pain, a bit sore and itchy but that is all. Only other thing is although I was tired I just could not sleep. I tried but only got half hour here and there through the night. I had been awake from 3:30 Thursday morning with hour at midnight and half hour at 4am so far. 

Ben was able to stay which was amazing as meant I was able to rest a little but more so we could just enjoy Layton together. We did facetime Ariyah and she seemed very happy at nannies house. She was excited and giggling saying baby but also going her jealous stroppy face to us. So we will look forward to getting home later and for Ariyah to met him. We will update on how this goes. But yes we are all doing amazing and he is just prefect

On the plus side the next morning at 6am, despite no more sleep, they took my catheter out so I was able to start getting up, to wee. I had to wee three times and have some observations before I was allowed home. As well as been seen by a doctor. All of which I did and was all good. I was hardly taking any pain relief, other then being so tired because I couldn't sleep in a noisy hospital, I felt great. Ready to get home.

Layton also had a hearing check, which is pasted very well. Then the baby doctors had to assess him. They asked general questions about his feeding, sleeping, nappies or if we had any concerns. But he was doing really well. He was feeding good, having 2oz (30ml) of milk every 2/3 hours. He was sleeping and had lots of dirty and wet nappies.  They did some other checks like making sure he his limbs were all normal, that his hips and spine where straight. Also his reflex's where active. They looked in his eyes and month too. All his checks come back complete and perfect. Said he was a very strong and healthy baby. This was very reassuring and great to hear. 

Finally at 3:30 pm both me and baby were all checked and cleared to go home yay. We couldn't wait to get home and see Ariyah. Her And Layton are our special miracle's sent from our first son Nico as he watches over us all. It is three years today that would be his 3rd birthday. So I know Layton has a bit of his spirit as does Ariyah. He will live through them and us all, guiding us and keeping us all safe. I am so in love with our unique family. So watch out for follow up posts for how his first few weeks at home go, meting his sister and pets. 

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