St. Thomas' Hospital has two different sections where childbirth takes place: the Home from Home Centre for low risk births and the Birthing Centre for higher risk births. When we spoke to hospital before we left home we were advised to go to the Birthing Centre, which was very surprising to us as Alessandra's pregnancy has always been classified as low risk. When we arrive there the scene that we most dreaded awaits us: a reception with about 10 pregnant woman and many more companions standing around! These ladies are in various stages of labour from not at all to your mom who has to cling to either Heino or her mum for support every time she has a contraction!
After about 15 minutes of this Heino stops a midwife and asks her if we need to go to another hospital, or if somebody is going to see to Alessandra. Eventually, after yet more dithering about 5 or 6 ladies with their companions are escorted to another part of the hospital, called the Day Assessment centre. This, together with a few whispered conversations finally explain why it all seemed so chaotic. Today is a Bank Holiday and therefore the Day Assessment Centre was closed and all woman in labour were directed to the Birthing Centre. They obviously could not cope with all the people and therefore it was necessary to open the Day Assessment Centre so late in the day!
Luckily for us and especially Mariapia (who earlier regretted not insisting more for private health care for her daughter!) the situation improved dramatically from here on. Alessandra gets assessed and found out that she is 5cm dilated, halfway to the 10cm required for childbirth. This means that we planned it well (no thanks to Heino who would've kept Alessandra at home longer!) coming to the hospital and a few minutes later we are shown to Birthing Suite 24!
For a few seconds poor Alessandra is left on her own to deal with the pain as Heino and Mariapia enjoy the amazing view from the suite! Literally right across the river is the famous Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Beautifully lit up at night, it is a sight that you simply cannot get enough of!
Back to business and we meet our midwife, Jennifer. She looks very young, but is nevertheless very nice and keep on inquiring if we need anything else: tea, pillows, massage oil and anything else that will make the experience more comfortable. She also explains that she will check in every 15 minutes to listen to your heartbeat. With this out of the way, the three of us are left alone for yet a few more pictures!
As Alessandra has been on her feet for most of the last two days, your nonna suggests that Ale tries to get some rest, somehow. This is easier said than done as none of the seating options in the room are comfortable enough. Finally, after scouting around, Heino discovers a hard, upright bench in the Garden Room which turns out to be perfect for Alessandra!
The Garden Room is a peaceful and quiet room on the corner of the hospital, overlooking Big Ben, the London Eye and Westminster Bridge. Here Alessandra finds it comfortable enough to stay seated during the contractions, and even manages to snatch a few moments of sleep between contractions!
Around midnight Jennifer meets us in the room again to assess how much Alessandra is dilated by now. The precious bits of rest that Alessandra got from the seat in the Garden Room has unfortunately meant that the contractions, and therefore the labour process, has slowed down too much! A woman is supposed to dilate by 2cm every hour, however Alessandra has not moved on at all since the last time she was assessed. The only option now, Jennifer explains, is to artificially break the waters!
After a bit of a discussion we all agree that this is the right course of action and a short while later this is done. The result is an almost instantaneous increase in the rate of contractions, to the point where it seems that it is just one long contraction! At one point your mom can clearly feel you dropping into the birth canal, which means that the most difficult part of this journey for you and your mom is here!
A very useful feature of the room is the wall mounted steel bars which your mom is gripping with both hands now as she is trying to push you out of her body. A quick check by Jennifer confirms that Alessandra is dilated by the full 10cm, so things are about to happen!
Your mom decides that the easiest way for her to get you out as quickly as possible, is to give birth on all fours on the floor. Jennifer quickly arranges the mats, towels and other necessities which is just in time as she calls Mariapia and Heino over to have a look at your little head appearing! Mariapia triumphantly declares that you have black hair!
A few pushes later and your full head is born, and then the contractions stop! This is quite a dramatic, dangerous moment as the umbilical cord is also wrapped once around your neck, meaning that the pressure on it causes you to not getting the optimal amount of oxygen. Jennifer keeps on glancing at Big Ben to check that not too much time passes, but it still feels like eternity! Finally, as your little face starts to turn blue, the much awaited contractions come and the rest of your beautiful little body is pushed out!
The drama is not yet over though, as Jennifer is not getting the required immediate response from you. With a quick dart she activates the Emergency Button on the far wall and the next minute the room is flooded with about 10 medical people! The panic is clear to see on all three our faces as the leading midwife grabs you and quickly puts you on the changing table. A quick rub with the towel later and we hear what must be the most beautiful sound in the world: a short, loud cry from the little baby that brings immediate tears to our eyes!
