I never thought the end of my Pudding club hunt would come at Christmas. In the UK we typically have Christmas pudding as our dessert at Christmas dinner. I don’t think this could be the most apt end to 2016 on the Great Pudding Club Hunt.
Aviana Ruby arrived safely on 21st December at 9.21PM (21/12 @ 21:12!!!!) weighing a teeny 5lbs 1oz and measuring a staggering 19.5″ long!!!!
I will write my birth story another time but quickly here is what happened. I was admitted to the hospital at 9PM on Tuesday 20th December, to be induced at 38 weeks because the doctors felt Aviana would thrive better outside of my body as she was suffering from intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). I was given Cervidil to ripen my cervix, the doctor likes it to be in for 12 hrs before it is removed (it’s kind of like a tampon thing that hurts like hell). On Wednesday 21st at 10AM our doula arrived and the cervidil was removed. I began labour naturally, so the doctors held off giving me Pitocin, but unfortunately at around lunchtime my contractions slowed down and I had to start the Pitocin induction.
The contractions got stronger and harder and more painful, but Chris and my Doula coached me through the pain. We tried almost every birthing toy in the box in the hospital and every position possible to survive without pain meds. I started pushing at about 8.45PM. Unfortunately several times Aviana’s heart rate was decelerating dangerously and there were a couple of moments when it looked like C-section was on the cards. At one point all I could think of was do whatever is best for my baby to survive, I don’t care what needs to be done, just save my baby!
I only pushed for 37mins, but this was mostly because her head was so low already and a lot of amazing work from the team, I was coached to push and she had to be vacuumed out. The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team were on standby – a terrifying feeling – but they weren’t needed in the end. The feeling of her coming out in the last and final push was euphoric. She was a lovely sticky warm gooey mess and she was placed on my abdomen and Chris cut the cord. Yes she was tiny and super skinny, but her APGAR scores were 8 & 9!! So amazing. We were able to do skin to skin after she was thoroughly checked and NICU team sent away. I was also able to breastfeed within the first hour too.
On Friday 23rd at lunchtime, we were all discharged from the hospital. Having a pain med free vaginal birth meant I was able to leave earlier than was expected. Many people were surprised at how healthy Aviana was and how quickly we were allowed to leave! When we left Aviana was just 4lbs 12oz. On Christmas Eve we followed up with our pediatrician and she weighed just 4lbs 8ozs, my milk hadn’t come in by then, so we are supplementing breastfeeding with some formula now, hoping she starts to thrive.
Aviana Ruby truly is the best Christmas gift I could ever receive. We have been so fortunate that things have worked out so well despite hurdles thrown at us along the way. My heart is simply full of extreme gratefulness and happiness to finally meet Aviana, AKA Rocky, AKA my little sweet Christmas pudding.
Congratulations, wishing you a lovely Christmas as a family, it’s certainly magical that she’s arrived safe and well and just in time for Christmas.
Enjoy every single second. I’m ao pleased that you’ve safely reached the next step in the journey. Only 5 weeks until I hopefully join you on the otherside.
Happy Christmas, love Nic and bump. Xx
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Thank you 😊 it is magical!! Hope your Christmas was filled with fun and merriment!!!
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Ahhhhhhhh! Omg this is so exciting. HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to you all. She is gorgeous and I am thrilled for you both. Have an amazing Christmas with your lovely new arrival
FlatWhite x x x
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Thank you! It was truly a special Christmas 😊
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So happy for you Dani! I thought she must be arriving soon! And you went with option 2! 😍 She must be the best Christmas present ever. Congratulations on your birth experience – sounds like you did amazingly and it must be a great feeling to be able to go home so soon! Huge congratulations to you and Chris and Aviana! Xxx
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Thank you!!! It was a special Christmas, I haven’t stopped crying tears of happiness still!!
Ahhhh-your turn next 😊
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Woohoo! Love the way she appeared in time for Christmas! Your little pudding! So happy for you! 😍
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How are you feeling??? Are you ready to go??!!
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Yeah! Feeling pretty good. I think the hypnobirthing book and all the airy fairy stuff is rubbing off on me! 😂 Hospital bag and nappy bag is in the car. Car seat and pram have been delivered too! Shame we haven’t organised the house yet! 😂
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What a beautiful little parcel of cuteness she is! Congratulations!! Fantastic work with the birth and glad to hear she arrived safely. Hope all goes relatively smoothly with feeding and sleep and you get some rest xxx
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Thank you!!!! She is pretty darn cute but I’m biased 😝 it’s taken a while to catch up on sleep owed from the birth and with 2hr feedings, but not doing too badly now sleep wise 😊
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What a wonderul conclusion to your story. Wishing you, Aviana and Chris a happy Christmas and a wonderful new year xx
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Thank you Chris! I hope your Christmas was equally full of joy and merriment!!! 😊
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Welcome baby Ariana! So glad she arrived safe and sound and that you are all well. Hope you are enjoying your first Christmas with her!
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*Aviana, not sure why my iPad autocorrected her name. Sigh.
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Thank you!!! We had a wonderful day – can’t believe it actually happened!!! 😊 hope your your Christmas was special too!!!
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So precious!! I’m so happy for you! What a wonderful relief she’s here, doing so well, and snuggling with you for Christmas!
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Thank you!!!! I feel truly blessed!!!! 😊
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Congratulations!! She is beautiful and I’m so happy she made a safe and healthy arrival! Merry Christmas!
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Thank you!!! Hope your Christmas was a special one this year with Baby MPB 😊
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Congrats! Look at that tiny little peanut! Glad she made it safe and sound, so happy to hear you’re both doing well. Best Christmas gift ever!
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Thank you! 😊
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Congrats!!! 😊😊😊
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Thank you 😊
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Congratulations!! You’re an absolute warrior being induced with no pain meds – amazing!! So so happy that you’re all healthy and safe, such brilliant news xxx
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Thank you 😊 I’m not a warrior, I just didn’t know better!!! 😝
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Oh this is wonderful news. I have goosebumps all over as I read it. Well done on achieving a natural pain relief free birth – it is not an easy path to take especially with those picotin contractions! A great support team is invaluable there and it sounds like you had the perfect one. I love the name you chose. Congratulations to you and Chris. I am so pleased you are now holding your baby in your arms after so much heartache xoxox
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Thank you 😊 I had the best support team, I couldn’t have asked for anything more 😊
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She is gorgeous! Congrats!!! Merry Christmas!
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Thank you 😊 I hope your first Christmas was full of fun and merriment together !
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Congratulations! She’s beautiful 🙂
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Thank you 😊 She’s not too bad for a newborn!!!
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I am so happy for you!!! You have some tears reading yours and Angela’s stories this week because I am just so grateful that you finally have your little miracles in your arms!!! Merry Christmas…she is beautiful!!!!
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Thank you!!! I hope your Christmas was full of joy and festivities 😊
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Huge, huge congratulations! Welcome to the world, Aviana! I’m so happy that she’s doing so incredibly well and that you were able to have the birth experience that you wanted. What a happy ending and what a fantastic Christmas gift. Happiest of happy holidays to you and your newly expanded family!
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Thank you 😊 I really couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect 💕
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She’s beautiful and what a fabulous Christmas gift!
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Thank you 😊
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Congratulations!!!
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Thank you 😊
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Awww I am so happy to read this! Congratulations! Enjoy every second!! I know you will.
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Thank you 😊 I certainly am, feeling overwhelmingly happy!!!
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Big Big Big Congratulations my friend. She is so beautiful!
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Thank you 😊 I’m biased but I think she’s not too much ugly for a newborn 😊
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I am so happy for you! She is beautiful!!!!
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Thank you! She is a little sweetie pie, I’m smitten 🙂
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She’s beautiful. 💗
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