Thank you and birth story

[melanie1]

Thank you everyone for your kind wishes.

Gabriella came home on Friday and we are now settling into family life.

Birth story

Gabriella was due to be born by C-section on Thursday 17th May 2007, due to her being breech.

In the early hours of Tuesday 15th May, I started experiencing contractions which I was unable to sleep through; I spent most of the night watching telly. I thought at first they were Braxton hicks as they were totally irregular, so I thought I would sit them out.

At 6am I decided that we needed to go to the hospital as they were becoming more painful. I had a shower and woke Dave up.

We got to the hospital at 7:30am and I was put on the heart monitor which also measures the contractions which were now coming every 5 minutes. It was then decided that a C-section would be performed that morning. Even though things happened so quickly the staff kept me informed all the time of what was happening. There was one point when I totally lost it and became a little hysterical, you wait 9 months for this but nothing can prepare you for the feeling that she has to come out, the only fear I had was would she be ok. The nurses wiped my tears, blew my nose and comforted me until I calmed down. By 9:45am I was being wheeled into the operating theatre. Unfortunately in Italy family are not allowed in so Dave paced the hall outside.

I was given the epidural and the c-section began, the staff in the operating theatre were fantastic extremely friendly and kept me calm and held my hand through the whole procedure. Gabriella was born at 10:05 weighing 3.5kg (7 and ½ pounds). She was then taken up to the maternity ward along with David while I was sown up. I was back on the maternity ward by 11:15 and had a cuddle with her.

The whole experience of being pregnant and giving birth in Italy was pleasurable the care I received from day one was second to none. All the nurses, my gyne, the cleaner etc. In fact I was the only one on the maternity ward all week.

Kind regards
Melanie, David and Gabriella

[bella_ciao]

Hi Melanie, David & Gabriella,
Well done, Melanie, you've done very well, especially for your first birth, and thanks for the background to your happy news - we're so glad to hear that Mum, baby (and Dad!) are safe and well and received such good care from the Italian medical team. It's a shame David couldn't be there at the birth but rules are rules, I guess, and the main thing is that all went well and your little family is thriving.
All the very best wishes for your future family life in Italy - nice to know that you've started it in "la belle paese" and that Gabriella will grow up in a warm and sunny country!
Very best wishes from,
Lawrence & Frances. 8)