The Arrival

Feb. 28th 1996

01:21 Woken by fairly strong Braxton Hicks on and off around every 15/20 minutes from then on.

08:30 TJ went to work. Plan was to go together in the afternoon to MAKRO to buy the flooring for Faversham.

12:00 TJ called. Contractions now every 7 – 8 minutes told him to go alone for flooring.

14:00 TJ arrives home no flooring!

14:30 Call midwife, one hour now of every 5 mins.

15:30 Midwife arrives, internal (digital) examination says 1 cm dilated estimates probably a 29th baby.

16:00 TJ spends this hour doing the labels for notification cards on computer.

17:00 Decided to have bath (helps speed things up) was good at first but because I was “relaxing” the contractions became more effective. Felt I was going to poop in the bath.

17:50 Got out of bath.

18:10 Midwife arrives again digital examination shows 4 – 5 cm dilation. Changed estimate to between 21:00 and 22:00 on 28th She had to go to Maastricht to another patient would call us as soon as she knew which couple to stay with.

18:50 Contractions unbearable TJ and Mum tried to feed me weetabix and cornish pasties I spat it all out. I couldn’t imagine that I could survive another 3 hours of this. Contractions now every 1-2 minutes, felt increasing urge to poop.

19:00 TJ insisted, against instructions of midwife, that we leave. He threw me in back of car. Urge now to push became unbearable. Mum was in the back saying breathe don’t push. TJ drives fast. Very fast.

19:12 Water breaks as we do Sweeney stop outside emergency at hospital. TJ runs and brings back wheelchair. I get in chair with my hands clamped to my groin. High speed wheelchair ride from car park to lift.

19:15 In wheelchair guy on gurney is just getting in lift, the porters say our need is greater and stand back we go up to ward doors flying apart as we charge in.

19:16 Arrive at delivery room. TJ flings my clothes off as I clamber into chair, hands still clamped to groin. TJ says OK let go. 1st push what a relief bushy top of head appears.

19:17 2nd push head half out!

19:18 3rd push. Josh springs out screaming and is immediately put up onto my chest where he calms at once. Then quote “Oh Timmy He’s lovely” TJ stayed cool, no sobs! Delivered by Dr Mercelina (Lady) she called him the Flying Dutchman.

19:22 Afterbirth delivered and received a few stitches. I had the shakes all over. We ate Miujses. TJ found Mum in car park trying to move car from doorway. We telephoned Sheila from the delivery room. Mum came in and met Josh.

20:30 Taken to maternity ward. Nurse immediately takes Joshua away TJ followed to make sure she didn’t give him a bottle.

21:00 Ger and Marina arrived Marina laughed at Josh’s pinhead, we couldn’t see it. They took Mum home to Schweiberg.

24:00 Midwife arrived (a bit late) put Josh to my breast for 2nd time this was his first little feed.

24:40 TJ went to Ger and Marina’s I watched what was like a film of the events over and over in my mind all night no sleep and nothing to eat I was ravenous.

08:00 TJ back to hospital

11:30 Took off for home with new family member.

11:50 Pulled in to Schweibererweg line of washing and stork and huge bescherme with miusjes.

12:00 Annie and Lilliane visited then Saskia came she cried.

13:00 Anja the kraamzorg (nurse) arrived.