The birthday

On Tuesday 27 November, 2012 at 6:23am, our new baby was born.  To tell you more about this I've invited my wife, Karen, to share it from her perspective.

After being picked up from the airport on Friday morning, 23 November, I went straight to the hospital to attend with my Sister-in-law, her next doctors visit.  She was now three days over and the original birthing plan was to try induction if she got to this point and the baby hadn't been born.  The Medical team assigned to her in their wisdom, changed the plan and decided to let her continue naturally and made an appointment for her to come back Monday.

This change of plans was extremely frustrating as I wanted to also get home because I was missing my other four kids.

While there were plenty of false contractions, labour never really kicked in.  We went for walks around Chadstone shopping centre, ate some spicy food, but nothing was working.  After the weekend we returned to the hospital on Monday for the scheduled appointment where the doctors decided to keep her in and induce her.

After a long day and night of induction, the mother's heart rate was up and the baby's heart was down and things were not progressing, so about 6am they decided it was time for an emergency caesarian.

I was fortunate to be able to be there for the procedure, to see the baby delivered and even to cut the cord.  He weighed in at 3.9kgs.

Thankfully both Mother and child are doing well.  This baby's name is Taylor Ben Scott.  He has light coloured hair and long fingernails.

Over the next few days I stayed in the hospital with Mum and bub.  Taylor quickly settled in to a very nocturnal way of life which has been exhausting.

There has been so many emotions experienced these past few days that are very personal, and it has reminded me of how life is so very fragile.