Labour on Christmas day!
Saturday 13th December 2008
Sitting round the Christmas table, I balanced my baby on my lap while I piled sprouts and roast potatoes onto my plate. So far, so normal. Except my baby was just four hours old.
Back in April 2006, when I fell pregnant, I already had one daughter, Anique, now 4, with
my husband, Tom, 26, a plumber.
As Tom held my hand during my 12-week scan in Bridlington Hospital, we were told the due
date was 21 December.
'As long as she doesn't pop out on Christmas Day,' I joked nervously.
Anique was too young to remember past Christmases, so we wanted her to enjoy the first one she'd have proper memories of. The pregnancy went smoothly and, at 20 weeks, I went for my second scan.
'She's going to be a big 'un,' the doctor said. 'She'll probably come along sooner than we expected, most likely 15 December.'
We weren't surprised. Anique had been 8lb 10oz when she was born.
'That's good, a bit of time to get settled before Christmas Day,' I smiled.
But as the weeks went by, both due dates came and went. And I hadn't felt anything.
'She's taking her time,' joked Tom.
'Well I wish she'd hurry up,' I replied. 'I don't want to be in labour while you're all tucking into your turkey!'
I'd always loved my food and Christmas Day was the biggest chow down of the year.
'Hurry up,' I whispered to my bump.
But when the big day finally arrived, there was still no sign of my new arrival. At 8.30am, I heaved myself downstairs to the living room. As Anique ripped the wrapping paper off her presents, I felt a little niggle. But it was more like a small kick than a contraction. Nothing to worry about, I thought. Tom and I were planning to go round to see his mum and dad, Gill
and Paul, for lunch. So at 10am, I got Anique ready.
'Are you sure you're going to be OK?' Tom asked.
Suddenly Christmas dinner popped into my mind. Turkey, steaming roast potatoes, stuffing, sprouts, all smothered in gravy…
'I'll been fine. I've hardly felt a thing,' I smiled.
Nothing was getting between me and lunch. I'd waited 364 days for it.
But suddenly…
'Oh my God!' I gasped, as pain tore through me.
There was no mistaking it. I was in labour.
'No,' I wailed, seeing my lunch slipping away before my eyes.
Tom helped me to the bathroom and rang Bridlington Hospital. My contractions were five minutes apart.
'There's no time to come here. We'll send a midwife over, but you need to be prepared to deliver the baby yourself,' the operator told Tom.
Chaos broke out.
In a frenzy of activity, Tom gathered up towels and filled bowls with warm water. Then the doorbell went. It was Gill and Paul, coming to collect Anique.
'Keep the lunch warm,' I panted from the top of the stairs.
Luckily, at 10.50am, the midwife, Clare Webb, arrived, just as my waters broke.
'Just stay calm and relax,' she said, as I lay on the bathroom floor.
As contractions tore through me, I stayed focused. Incredibly, after what seemed like just minutes, I felt the urge to push.
'The baby's coming,' I gasped.
One almighty push and a roar from me, and at 11.16am, out came my baby girl. Unbelievable. From that first flutter, my labour had lasted just two hours. Still on standby and green around the gills, Tom cut the umbilical cord.
There was more shock to come. Our daughter weighed in at a whopping 10lb 4.5oz.
'You're our very own Christmas pudding,' I smiled, kissing her head.
We named her Alicia Noelle.
'Nice and Christmassy,' I smiled.
Luckily for such a sudden birth, there were no complications, and after the midwife cleaned me up, she gave me the all-clear.
'No need for you to go to hospital, go ahead and enjoy the day,' she said.
'Really?' I smiled.
Lunch was back on.
'Right then, let's get going. Our food'll be getting cold,' I said to Tom.
'You're not seriously thinking of going to Mum and Dad's for dinner?' he gasped.
'Why not?' I shrugged. 'I certainly don't want to cook.'
So, after a quick shower, we headed off with our new arrival. The shock on their faces told me Tom wasn't the only one surprised by my speedy recovery.
'Looks like we'll have to make room for one more,' Gill grinned.
At 3pm, Gill, Paul, Tom, Tom's sister, Heather, 24, me, Anique and baby Alicia sat down to Christmas dinner with all the trimmings. Paul put the turkey on the table with a flourish.
'It's an eight-pounder,' he said.
'Nearly as big as Alicia,' I laughed.
The food, decorations and presents looked amazing, but dressed in her baby-pink Babygro, Alicia was definitely the main attraction.
And me? Well, I think I ate more than anyone.
'I reckon I've earned it,' I joked, as I dived in for second helpings.
Looking back at the photos of last year's unusual Christmas lunch, I still can't believe how normal it was. Everything worked out brilliantly in the end, but this year, we're hoping there'll be no surprises. Just what Father Christmas delivers for the girls!