Prince or Princess?

From the hospital I went home to relax, I did anything I could not to think about the increasingly more painful contractions I was now enduring.I had been on the phone to the hospital at regular intervals during the day “Just stay at home until you feel you need to come in” I remember sitting down next to my mum blubbering and making sure she knew full well how much I didn’t want my baby anymore because it ‘hurt too much’ – sook. Things were going to get alot worse before they got any better.

By 7pm I was encountering lower back pain with every contraction which were 7 minutes apart, in attempt to move things along I had a nice long relaxing bath and settled down in front of the TV to watch a movie.
I was feeling alot more relaxed at this point and ready to give it my all. I had small blocks of sleep in the next 5 hours until all of a sudden BAM! They hit me all of a sudden these mild contractions were becoming very intense and were only 4 minutes apart it was now 5am and I decided it was time to go to the hospital.

The ten minute drive to the hospital has got to be one of the most painful experiences I have ever endured! Every single little lump and bump set off another contraction and traffic lights? F**k You.

Arriving at the hospital my uterus decided it would no longer contract at 4 minutes but back to 6 minutes – great.
20 minutes later I was taken in for examination where I was told that I was still only 4cm dilated. I couldn’t believe it; here I was thinking this was it. Observation took place for the next hour with the trace strapped to my belly. I wasn’t progressing at all.I had a choice, I could stay up at the hospital and be monitored or I could go home until I felt again that I needed to go back to the hospital.
I was going home.

It was now the 10th of January – my youngest sisters birthday, her and one of our close family friends were arguing whose birthday my baby would be born on, Gavin’s being the next day. I desperately wanted it to be the tenth my patience was wearing thin and of course my baby had other plans.

I mopped about all day playing play station, in and out of the bath, watching TV, and crying because it had all become too much. By 6pm I was absolutely exhausted, my contractions were now 5 minutes apart and I got back in the car for that dreaded car ride for the last time.

Upon arrival I was taken to birthing room #4 where I would spend my next 12 hours. I was examined only to be told once again that I hadn’t progressed past 4cm dilated.

Let me just say that being a somewhat naive 16 year old, I had read pregnancy books and tried as much as I could to prepare for my baby, not once did a professional or anyone for that matter ever suggest that maybe I would need a caesarean section. I was set on a natural birth and it never even crossed my mind that I wouldn’t be able to deliver.

Afterward my waters were broken in attempt to move things along; this did nothing for me other than make my contractions alot worse without any progress in the dilating field. In the 5 hours following, the bath and shower were my best friends along with Johns massages on my lower back to help me through each contraction, I was now having to concentrate and breath through each one.

At 11pm I did exactly what I said I wouldn’t – I asked for pain relief, they chucked me straight on the gas, spinning me right out! I felt so drugged beside the fact that it did very little in helping ease the pain, although I felt like I was on another planet I did get a few small naps.

To my utter disappointment my progress at 2am was still a big fat zero, a doctor was sent in to see me and informed me that no progress by 7am and I would be having an emergency caesarean.
Of course 7am came around and I was still not progressing i wanted to scream why couldn't i do this?
Concern was now for the baby, showing signs of distress, alas my emergency caesarean was underway.Whilst being prepped I was a complete mess of tears and fear as I didn’t know what I was in for this procedure had not once been mentioned or explained to me before now. I was disappointed and angry, I felt cheated of my natural drug free labour that I had tried so hard for only for it all to end in a caesarean?

I was wheeled up to surgery, alone, screaming in pain and fearing the worst. I was given an epidural which I was petrified of after hearing stories of people never walking again?

At last John was allowed into theatre with me and the procedure began, I could feel alot of pulling and tugging which made me so queasy I almost choked on my own vomit.

The sex of our baby was a secret and so I was trying to focus on the excitement of finally finding out baby when I heard her first cry, tears sprang straight to my eyes and I couldn’t help but smile and cry tears of joy – it was over.

Seconds later John announced to me that we had a baby girl, such a proud daddy, we had come so far.


Skylah Lee entered the world at 8:36am on the 11th of January 2007, weighing 8’6 and measuring 50cm.

I know that the nurses in recovery got sick and tired of hearing me harp on about going to my room to see my baby girl and for that i apologise, i had just been through 2 days of pain and agony for this little girl i couldnt even hold OR look at until i was in my room.

The pain didn't matter and i was no longer tired, i was running on pure adrenaline.


Now nearly 3 years on I still remember the love I felt for my baby the very first time I seen her, the most beautiful, precious and priceless gift one could ever receive.

Mummy loves you so much baby girl xx