The Arrival

Jensen James Jackson

                                             Born on 26/01/2015

Hi everyone and welcome to our little blog which will act as a journal of our beautiful new little son, Jensen's progress in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) at the Royal North Shore hospital, Sydney.

Our gorgeous little boy Jensen James Jackson arrived in quite a hurry at 11:44pm on the 26th January (Australia Day), 17 weeks before expected. Born at 23 weeks + 4 days gestation.

In the lead up to Jensen's arrival I was experiencing some abdominal pain and was in and out of the hospital a couple of times, hoping to find the source of the pain. At first the pain was not unbearable and I was just concerned with why it was there. After examinations by both midwives, and doctors, on both occasions I was happily sent home with no cause for worry. Outcome - no evidence of preterm labour, no infections, just some unexplained pain which I was told a lot of pregnant women experience. Perhaps the baby was getting bigger and my organs were moving about to accommodate for my expanding baby house.?? Yes, perhaps.
As we had guests with us over the weekend (Uncle Matthew and Aunty Emma visiting from England, and our friend Matthew from Melbourne) we all went about our long weekend as planned. Our night out on the town turned into 'everyone except Belinda's' night out on the town, as Phil and I agreed it was best for me to just rest.
However, by Monday (Australia Day) the pain had increased significantly and with my return to work the following day, I decided to come in for another check up and request a scan. Once again, I was sent home, with no cause for concern and some paracetamol. I felt a little uneasy leaving the hospital as I felt that something wasn't quite right. The foetal heart rate monitor showed that the baby wasn't stressed by this, just mummy. I came home once again to rest and sent Phil off to the pub to celebrate Australia Day with our visitors.
By the time everyone got home the pain was terrible and was coming in waves. We ate some dinner and I had a shower, after calling the midwife again......still no cause for concern. Less than an hour later the pain was unbearable, I felt as though my bones were separating. By around 11pm I couldn't sit, stand, lay, or stop crying. Phil called the midwife to let her know we were on our way to the hospital.
Memories of what happened after we left home come and go in flashes. Never had Phil and I been so terrified in all our lives. My decision to drive, as Phil had been drinking, was quickly snatched away with what I now know was another contraction (luckily we had practiced our route and timed our journey and knew we could be at the hospital in under 6 minutes. Also luckily we knew exactly where to go in the hospital, as I had only asked that information two days prior). No traffic...raining....felt like throwing up...Waters broke in the car! A bus that wouldn't stay in one lane... and a corner away from the hospital....call to the midwife...doors are locked...swearing, crying...doctor, midwife and wheelchair...in the lift...mess everywhere...on the bed...the baby's head...push!...NO..it's too early..push!...1 push..breathe...2nd push........we are parents...

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