Today has been the most stressful day Vicky or I have ever encountered.  I think it is fair to say that we have experienced every single emotion possible all within a 24 hour period.  I suspect we won’t be planning such a day again in the near future.

It all started at 8pm on Sunday night with Vicky’s waters breaking (although this was not confirmed until 10pm by a midwife who did not believe Vicky!!) and then the fun began…….

No space on labour ward at the hospital so we had to stay where we were on the ante-natal ward until a space became available.  In the mean time we were having contractions for a minute an a half, 3 times in every ten minutes – i.e. we were right on cue. The deployment of Pethadine nicely solved this issue – 1 contraction every 20 minutes – put us back 4 hours 🙁

Long story cut short…….

Elliot Jack joined us @ 20:41 on the 18th September 2006 and is absolutely perfect.  OK ,so he has inherited Simon’s features a tad – perhaps not so perfect we hear you state :-). Simon just hopes the little guy has Vicky’s brains, and then he is set for life.

We will post photographs as soon as we get home and get them uploaded from cameras etc

Wow, can this really go on like this???? We are now a full 14 days late, have had 6 Induction gel deployments (Prostin), and while poor Vicky is in incredible contraction pain for a couple of hours post prostin, we are still only 1cm dilated and not close enough to progress into delivery.  Apparently Elliot’s head is now not close enough to the cervix and so is not having the same effect on the internal side to the cervix that the induction gel is doing on the outside.  The midwives seem convinced of the fact that we are just around the corner but we get the feeling that it has been a long time since someone has required 6 prostin deployments to kick start labour.

More as it happens……

Progression…… well, no, not really.  We have had our 4th application of the prostin gel and Vicky has been through significant pain – but no show on any contractions at all.  Elliot has dropped further down meaning that he is now getting in the way of the examinations to determine how the cervix is getting on – making is tres painful for Vicky with the examinations.  We can have no more gel for at least 24 hours and Vicky could really do with a breather from the prodding and poking that the midwives are doing.

So we have been allowed out to go and get a meal in piece and quiet – which is nice.  So, probably more tomorrow night unless we have self-induced contractions between now and then.  Lets see but before that what shall we go eat……….

Well, we are now on Ward 10 Bay 2 with the other ante-natal mothers (we spent a day with the post natal special care mothers due to lack of available beds), have had three “inductions” and still we wait.  He really does not have any intention of joining us it seems and it is taking it’s toll.  We have seen other parents come and go in the hospital now, which is pretty frustrating, but over all Vicky is coping really well.  Simon believes that we may see proper action and maybe even delivery on Sunday, but as always we hold our breath…….

So tomorrow is his final full day of relaxing as we are heading in for the induction @ 5pm Thursday.  Apparently we should expect to be ready to go by Friday morning, so the boys have booked a room @ GreenLea, and Simon the sofa at Dave and Jeans.  Bags are packed (OK so they have been for 6 weeks 🙁 ) and we are ready to go………

Will post more info and pictures as soon as we have anything to share.