32/365 - My first birth part II

26 hours of labour later on the 25th of November 2013 we became parents to a baby boy. 

The contractions never became regular, I lost a lot of blood and the whole experience was traumatic. I said I will never have a second baby! Sorry Sophia, you say a lot of stuff when you are exhausted. 

I gave birth at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington and the only thing I can say is that a bit of care and humanity would have gone a long way. The hospital was chosen according to proximity, not because it was the birth hospital for royalty. 

Two years after having had Ian, when I was giving birth to Sophia 20km away from Paddington, I met the head of the midwifes. It turned out she also used to be head of midwifes at St Mary’s on the night I gave birth to Ian. Of course I told her about my experience and it did not sit well with her. Faith has a funny way! 

In some instances while I was in labour with Ian the midwife was cleaning lint of her uniform. She was far away and she showed no empathy!

She was told off after the birth by a female doctor for not stitching me properly. She was meant to leave home at one point, but stayed overtime to make sure the bleeding had stopped. I had to remain under observation in a different section.

She messed it up and I did the most reasonable thing I could have done - I gave her a box of chocolates and thanked her, hopeful for the next person that would fall into her care. The doctor had already put her in her place. I had won the war of my life - I was safe, the baby was safe so, I did not need this battle. 

Choose you battles, protect your energy, make sure that the fight is worth fighting for or just move on.

You got this!