The Birth

This section describes the events leading up to and during Jasper’s birth.

It was a surprise to discover I was pregnant but a very happy one.  Other than some very minor bleeding in week 8, it was uneventful up until week 17.  I hadn’t even experienced morning sickness.  We happily but cautiously made plans for bringing up our child and were delighted to be able to share our news with family and friends in week 12, after being given a low risk of Downs Syndrome.

Then in week 17 I woke up to discover I was bleeding.  I thought this was the end.  My relief when I didn’t proceed to miscarry was unimaginable.  Then after a couple of weeks I had another bleed, and then more bleeding every couple of days.  I knew that if the baby was born before 24 weeks it would not survive, so I focused on 24 weeks.  At around 22 weeks, I started to experience some pain.  It wasn’t a particularly strong pain and the doctors seemed to think it was just a normal pregnancy pain.  Then in January, after a restless night, the pain changed from being constant, and seemed to come and go.  I telephoned the midwife and she said it sounded to her like a gastric related pain so I should contact me GP rather than going to the hospital maternity unit.  My GP agreed to see me straight away so we immediately drove to the surgery.  He too felt it was a gastric problem, particularly as I’d been sick, but sent us to hospital just to make sure. 

We arrived at the maternity unit of Southmead hospital at around 9.50.  They thought that I might be in labour but weren’t able to say for sure.  I was given entinox and pethadine for the pain, and steroids to help mature the baby’s lungs.  Two scans showed that the baby's head  was not engaged and the doctor who examined me several times insisted I was not dilated.  A few minutes after being examined I felt something.  The midwife checked and then walked calmly to the door of the delivery room and summoned the doctors to return immediately.  I was told that the baby was on its way and that the room would soon fill up with people who would help with the delivery and help my baby.   After one push the baby arrived.

Jasper Izaak Peter Lockett was born at 11.51 on Tuesday, 23rd January 2001, weighing 680gm (1½lb).   Go to Jasper's Story.

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