Letters from Doha: September 2012

Sorry for yet another delay in updating the blog!

Although I think I have a pretty good excuse for being a bit behind the times lately, as heartbeat was born on the 30th of August 2012.

It turned out that my female intuition is absolutely rubbish and although I was totally convinced that I was having a little boy, our gorgeous baby daughter was born at 8pm exactly.

I can't rave enough about the healthcare out here in Dubai. I gave birth at the American Hospital Dubai and everyone from the doctors to the midwives were just incredible. Funnily enough both my Obstetrician and my Anaesthetist were British, which was unexpected, but I can't say enough how great they were and how well looked after we felt from start to finish.

I also can't rave enough about the epidural! I was induced so I had the opportunity to have the epidural put in place before my waters were broken, so before labour had really begun for me. It was a really great experience. I knew beforehand that an epidural took away all sensation during labour, but actually having the epidural inserted was a breeze (credit to the anaesthetist, who was clearly very skilled and very well practised!) and the labour in general was straightforward and relaxing.

I did have a bit of a bad hour, because I managed to pull the epidural out of position at one stage, so that all the medication was redistributed to the right hand side of my body, and I suddenly started getting really strong contractions on my left hand side, which was a bit of a shock.

I think it felt worse than it was, because I'd gone from feeling nothing to feeling really strong contractions, but the hour that it took for the epidural to be removed and a new one inserted was a long long hour!

Here are some of the photos from the delivery and a load more of our daughter, Seren Angela Joyce Critchley. She is just gorgeous and a complete dream come true for us.

Me looking exhausted after absolutely no sleep (far to excited to sleep!)

Gary, looking slightly more awake, having had much more sleep than I did, but on a hospital sofa, so probably not that comfortable!

Thankfully there are no pictures of actual labour! So here is the first picture of me and Seren!

Our gorgeous girlie!

Daddy feeding Seren for the first time (she didn't need any guidance, she eats like a pro!)

So then Seren sensibly got some sleep, while Gary and I just sat and stared at her! Probably not the best idea after over 36 hours with no sleep, but we couldn't help it!