We spent the next few days seeing family and friends and having visits from the midwives. Lincoln was gaining weight well however he did have some jaundice. When he was two and a half weeks old, we had to go back to the hospital for blood tests. They had changed the procedure from when we took Caleb. We were allowed to go straight home afterwards and they would call us with the results a few days after, letting us know if he needed to go back for further treatment. The doctor called the next day to confirm that the blood tests came back fine and we wouldn’t need to go back in.  

The next morning Josh came back at 9am. I had my obs done, the doctor came to check Lincoln and he had his hearing test done. We were then free to go as soon as the paperwork was done. We were home by lunch time. We went straight to mum and dads where Caleb and the doggies were staying to introduce them to their new baby brother. Caleb was besotted with him. He kept saying ‘Lincoln’ and giving him kisses and even had a little cuddle.  

As soon as Lincoln was born, the midwife put him straight on my chest for me to feed and cuddle him. The midwife then weighed him and took his measurements then daddy got him dressed and him and nanny got to have cuddles too. He weighed 6lb 13oz and was 48cm long. I had a shower and some food before we were moved onto the ward and Josh and mum had to go home. Lincoln was a bit unsettled that first night and was only happy if I was feeding or cuddling him. I didn’t mind though, I’d had the worst pain I’d ever experienced and only got about an hours sleep that night but he was worth it. 

When we got to the hospital just before 6.30pm, we were shown straight to a room and I was hooked up to a machine. The midwife examined me and I was only 1-2cm dilated. I couldn’t believe it. I was in so much pain with my contractions, how could I only be 1-2cm? The midwife told me she wouldn’t send me home because my contractions were strong so gave me morphine and paracetamol and told me they would examine me again in four hours. Later on, I got in the bath. It helped relax me but the contractions were really strong and the morphine just made me really tired. I spent well over an hour in the bath before i decided to get out. The morphine and paracetamol were starting to wear off and I could feel a lot of pressure. Shortly after I got out of the bath, the midwife examined me again at just before 11pm. I was sure I must have been nearly 10cm dilated by now but she confirmed I was only 5cm. I was in so much pain and asked if I could have some pain relief. I’d tried gas and air but it didn’t seem to help so she offered me pethadine. Then suddenly, before she even got the chance to get the pethadine, I had this urge to push. I started to panic because I wasn’t ready to push, I was only 5cm and I needed to be 10cm. I also knew there wouldn’t be time for me to have pain relief now. I was so scared at this point, I just wanted them to give me another caesarean. But shortly after I started to push, at 11.26pm our beautiful Lincoln was born.
   
    
    
 

By 38 weeks, I was really starting to struggle. I was uncomfortable, tired and finding it difficult to do everyday chores. I started drinking red raspberry leaf tea, walking lots and eating lots of pineapple and spicy food. At 39 weeks my midwife came to visit and gave me a sweep. As I had a previous C-Section, they didn’t want me to go overdue. My midwife told me I may get some cramps afterwards and if he hadn’t arrived in the next few days she would give me another sweep. The following morning I got up and dropped the dogs off to be groomed and then went to the Caravans to help out in the shop. I spent the morning tidying the shelves, helping customers and chatting to the staff while Lou looked after Caleb. Everyone kept asking how much longer I had left and I would reply ‘any day now’. I was hoping he would arrive today after my sweep the previous day but it didn’t look like it was going to happen. I left the caravans at lunch time and picked up Caleb and the doggies. After lunch Caleb had a nap and I did the ironing then hoovered the house. I was starting to feel little twinges in my stomach which I thought were probably the cramps my midwife told me I’d experience. Shortly after 4pm, mum rang me. We were chatting and I told her I was having twinges. While we were on the phone, I suddenly felt baby drop. It was a strange feeling and quite uncomfortable. I told mum and asked if she’d come over and have Caleb while I had a bath. Within minutes of hanging up the phone, my waters broke and the twinges I was getting turned into full on contractions every 2 minutes! Josh came home and Brigitte came over to have Caleb then we waited for mum. Before I knew it, the three of us were on our way to the hospital. 

 The 1st and 2nd trimesters of my pregnancy were much the same as my pregnancy with Caleb. Straightforward with no problems. When I got to about 32 weeks, I started to get uncomfortable. Much more so than with my first pregnancy as Caleb was breech and didn’t move much. But other than being uncomfortable, I had no other issues and enjoyed my pregnancy.

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