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Connor Yemm

The Arrival of CONOR LACHLAN YEMM
March 17th 1994 - 8.29am
10 pounds & 1 ounce (4.570kg)
53.5 cm long - head circumference 37cm
Apgars 9

Conor is my first born child and was conceived in earnest after an early miscarriage. Despite being very excited about being pregnancy, I never experienced the "glow" or any of the feel wonderful emotions many of my friends had experienced during pregnancy. Don't misunderstand me - I would do it all again 10 times just to have my beautiful baby, but pregnancy wasn't a fun experience for me. I had chronic hayfever from 8 weeks until 2 days after the birth, morning sickness for 8 weeks, constipation for 9 months and a feeling of bloating and lethargy for at least 8 months. I was an insomniac from the 4th month until the day I came home from hospital - which fortunately prepared me for the sleepless nights in the 1st two months of life as a parent.

My pregnancy progressed in a fairly normal and healthy manner for about the first 30 weeks at which point my blood pressure started to rise almost on a daily basis and my already bloated body started to increase in size at an alarming rate due to fluid retention. I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and was hospitalized at 35 weeks. As a point of interest I'd put on in excess of 35 kilos (5 1/2 stone) by the time Conor was born. It was the middle of summer and I found it incredibly difficult to do anything - I was quite concerned that my lethargy and my sheer weight would last forever. I'm pleased to say that once he was born my weight dropped off fairly quickly (most of it anyway!) and my energy returned almost immediately. Once in hospital my blood pressure increased at an even faster rate, although fetal monitoring showed no problems or distress with the baby. I had an ultrasound a few days after I was admitted as they were concerned the baby was small and the placenta possibly not functioning and feeding the baby properly.

They estimated the baby to be between 9 1/2 pounds and 11 1/2 pounds! Needless to say he hadn't been starving! The following day the hospital performed a cat scan to see how my pelvis would cope with the delivery of such a large baby (I was by now 36 weeks pregnant and he was only getting bigger!) The scan showed that the baby's head was bigger than my pelvis, and although he may have moulded to fit through in a vaginal birth, my blood pressure meant that I would have had to have an epidural through labour and a reasonable chance of an emergency caesaerian anyway. The head wasn't engaged and he showed no signs of coming out in a hurry, so labour would have also meant an induction. It was decided to schedule a caesaerian for the following morning.

I was permitted to have an epidural and my husband was by my side the whole time. As I was so huge, the anaesthetist was concerned the epidural mightn't work properly so I got an extra good dose. As a consequece I was numb to the fingertips and my face felt partly numb also. I had spoken to a number of midwives prior to the caesaerian so I would know exactly what to expect. I was told I would feel the coldness of the betadine as it was spread over my tummy, and I was told I would feel them pushing on my stomach to help the baby out. I felt nothing. I was very worried I would feel the incision, and I asked my husband to let me know what they were up to. He said they'd just cut through the bag of waters (which fountained up and soaked the doctors up to the elbows!) and Conor's head was emerging (with forceps). My pulse dropped about 10 points at that time! As Conor's shoulders emerged, he started to yell in an almighty voice, and it was at that point that my husband and myself burst into tears - the first reality of a wonderful, beautiful new life. They held him up for me to see, then quickly did the apgar tests and wrapped him up. They passed him to me to hold, but as my hands had gone numb this was rather difficult.

My husband then held him until the doctors had finished sitching me up, and Conor was then taken to the ward whilst I went to the recovery room. My husband had watched the entire caesaerian, from the epidural to the stitching up. I rely on his account for accurate memories now.

Despite the fact that I had originally planned the all natural, no drugs or interference birth, I'm happy with the way things turned out. I have never experienced a moment of doubt or any problems since Conor was born, and we have adored him from the second we set eyes on him. There is no such experience as holding your own child for the very first time. My blood pressure returned to normal as soon as the epidural was put in, and I actually suffered the effects of low blood pressure for about 5 days afterwards. My milk took about 4 days to come in, which I attribute to the drugs, but I then fed Conor successfully until he weaned himself at 15 months. My doctors were first class, friendly and helpful. At no point did they make decisions on my behalf. I was always consulted and things were carefully explained. I also never hesitated to ask questions from ANYONE! and read up very widely on everything related to pregnancy and birth. Despite that I wasn't prepared for the Pre-eclampsia and had to do a lot of rapid reading once I was diagnosed.

Conor is now 20 months and has been the perfect baby. He slept through from seven weeks old. And was born to eat! He cries only if there is a good reason, and is yet to develp major tantrum throwing habits! I'm now pregnant with my second child and hope to do the natural birth thing this time, but am prepared for anything else I hope. I love Conor dearly and would do it all again just to have him. I'd rather feel sick myself than worry for a moment that there's something wrong with him! I healed very quickly after the caesaerian - was quite mobile by 6 days, and back to normal in three weeks. I lost 20 kilos in 10 days, and went to the gym to get the rest off! No matter how he come into this world, my own child is the most satisfying experience I could ever have.

Simone Yemm