I woke up on Thursday morning at about 3:30am feeling some pretty bad pains, I'd been feeling them in my sleep so got up went to the toilet and came back in and told Antz that I was fairly sure it was actually labour this time! They started in thick and fast every 1 minute for 30 seconds which kinda freaked me out a little bit! I was really confused so I called my midwife and told her, She let me know she was heading into the hospital anyway because she had another lady in labour. Got Antz to call his Mum to come round cause they were so close together I really didn't know what was going on!
We sat around watching tv and they became completely irregular. Coming anywhere from 2 mins to 12 mins apart, lasting for 30-45 seconds. This basically occured all day, I asked midwife if she could pop round sometime soon at about 1pm and just check out how I was going so at least I would know possibly what was going on. She came round about 2pm and listened to baby, and gave me an internal let me know I was 3 cm very close to 4cm. I was pretty pleased to head that, I thought I was going to end up being told I was 1cm or something ridiculous. We chatted and made a plan for me to head into the hospital once the contractions were starting to get closer together. She was off to see a couple of other ladies for appointments and just to let her know when I wanted to go in. She told me to pop my left leg up on a raised surface and kinda flick my hip to try and get baby to move, and to try rocking my hips on all fours. I did both and that (and probably the internal) really got the contractions going, started getting them pretty much one on top of each other and text her to let her know, she said to meet at the hospital about 20 past 4, By quarter to 4 though I had to get Antz to call her and say we wanted to go then and there.
Got to the hospital at about 4, I texted the student nurse on the way to let her know it was time. My midwife, the student midwife and the student nurse arrived in the next 15 mins or so. I found myself getting really hot so stripped down and they gave me a gown. They gave me another internal, the student midwife did it this time and when she was doing it she was saying I was only 3-4cm still, I nearly cried! Then a contraction came on, my midwife asked her to tell her what was happening during the contraction and it turns out my cervix was stretching up to 7cm with a contraction. They then asked what I would like to do now, and I asked to try out the gas.
Gas came and at first I didn't know how to use it but then midwife showed me and it was good, still felt a LOT Of pain but it took the edge off it a little. Went through transition a wee while later and I was not happy lol! I kept saying I wanted an epidural and that I should've got one, midwifes both letting me know it was far too late for that! Felt pressure to push and so midwife did another internal, my waters hadn't managed to break yet so she said she wanted to see how I was doing. She did the internal and told me I was 9 3/4s dialated she said she didn't really want to intervene but that if I wanted she would break my waters as it "might" make things move a little faster. At this point being super exhausted I asked that they were broken. Everything is just on top of each other at this point with no break. Felt intense urge to push and midwife said to go for it. Peep was seen at 18:18 and baby was born at 18:25 with Antz catching our baby boy. Theo was then put on me for skin to skin and Antz cut the cord.
So in the end my established labour was just 4 1/2 hours, and I went from 4-5cm to fully dialted and baby out in 2 hours! Only a slight tear needing no stitches. So much more intense compared to Lexies birth in which I had an epidural, I was so proud this time round, though I did go into shock for a bit after the birth. Am super happy with how things went and am so thankful to have my beautiful baby boy in my arms now!
May as well copy mine over too, this is for Teagan Rose, born 29th August, 9lb1oz (4.130kg) and 53 cm long.
Well, I'd been having mild contractions since the morning but nothing at all painful or intense. Because I wanted to go to church and the baby and child expo I kept it to myself. Once the expo was over I told my MIL and when we got home we went for a couple of walks round the block to get things going. Well basically, standing and walking made them closer together and sitting/lieing made them further apart. Intensity was varying but still not really painful. So at 11pm went into hospital for a check. Well on CTG machine, really slow, definite contractions but baby not moved down so nothing happening. 4cm dilated but until the head came down into contact the MW said nothing would happen. Given the choice to stay or go home, chose to go home as was quite disappointed at the time. Told to take panadol and go to sleep. So got home at 00:20 took panadol went to bed, got some sleep. Woke up at 1am and heard a POP, woke DP up and told him to grab towels. But there was no real gush so wasn't sure if the waters had broken yet so went back to bed. 1:05 had a contraction, very painful, complained to DP the panadol wasn't working, he said it prolly hadn't kicked in yet, I told him that it took less than 40 mins for panadol to kick in. Went back to snooze land, next contraction I was up out of bed saying we are going to the hospital 1:11am, no time to get dressed, just grabbed my dressing gown. Paced around the kitchen with another contraction saying "I should've stayed at the damn hospital" while DP told MIL we were off. DP sped to the hospital, had 3 nasty contractions in the car, remember thinking in between contractions that this had better be the real thing and during contractions that I really wanted it to stop (transition talk there!).
Got to the hospital at 1:30am, paced around the room while the MW very quickly got everything ready, about 4-5 contractions later feeling pushy. So hop up on the bed and 3-4 contractions later out comes Teagan. Much MUCH faster than Kiara. Teagan born at 1:58am, I got to cut the cord :D and birthed the placenta naturally at 2:04am. Seems waters breaking is an auto hospital card for me!
Oh and having stitches put in (I had a 2nd degree tear cause I couldn't stop pushing) took longer than her being born! So that took 1/2 to 1 hour, then my MW disappeared off to do up her notes (didn't have time during labour obviously lol) so I gave her her first Breastfeed, took a couple of mins for her to get the idea but then she fed like a champ for a whole hour! Got to have a shower while MW checked her over and gave her the vit K injection, then walked over to the antenatal ward (postnatal was full!) so I was in a 2 bed room but luckily the other bed was empty. Teagan slept until 8am when her big sister came to meet her. (DP went home once I was on the ward to be with her when she woke up). Kiara absolutely adores her little sister :D
Kiara is 3 and Teagan is 2, now we're expecting our long awaited 3rd!
I'll add mine too, reading these was so wonderful when I was pregnant! It's a bit of a novel...
We had just finished my DH's 30th birthday dinner, where I had told several people that "we'll get to 9pm tonight, and I'll relax enough to finally allow the baby to come!". Sure enough, about 9.20pm I started cramping, but having had LOTS of practice labour in the last couple of weeks thought not a lot of it. I DID, however, think that tonight was a good night to have a baby, while all the family was together, and became too afraid to go to bed in case it all stopped again (as it had every other time). So I sat up with DH and bounced on the swiss ball until midnight. Finally too tired, I went to bed.
Between midnight and 2am, I woke up several times to go to the bathroom, and noticed I was still achy, but nothing major.
At 2.30 though, something shifted up a notch, and I became too uncomfortable to stay in bed. I got up and sat on the loo for a while, before coming downstairs at 2.50am to watch some TV on demand. This lasted about 20 mins before I got uncomfortable again, and I went back up to the bathroom again. TMI, needed to move my bowels, and got so pissed off that all that cramping was for a blasted BM (it had happened like that before!). BUT, they didn't stop. Washing my hands I tried leaning over the sink during the next cramp (still not thinking it was labour), which helped. I did this through a few cramps, and was starting to wonder if I was in labour or not.
At about 3.45am, I woke up DH to have a bit of a cry, saying I don't know if I'm in labour or not but this bloody well hurts! I thought I'd call the MW, as the cramps were definitely closer than the 5-7 mins apart I was told to call at, but not lasting long (only 20-30 seconds each). So on the phone to her at about 4am, had one cramp while on the phone to her. Her words - "You may be in labour, it sounds like you're doing really well. Take a couple of panadol, run yourself a bath, and get in it. It will either amp up and you'll know, or you'll relax and it will go away." So, I started running a bath, couldn't find the panadol so didn't get that.
About 15mins later (4.15 or so) I thought I'd go and wake up my mum, who happens to be a rather experienced midwife! I went in and told her I changed my mind, tonight was NOT a good time to have a baby, this hurts! "Are you in labour?" "I don't know, they're close enough but not lasting long enough". I explained that I had talked to the MW and was running the bath as per instructions. Mum asked "are you SURE you want to get in the bath?" and I immediately thought that she was telling me it was too soon to get in the bath, and it would slow things down. Turns out she was thinking it was time to head to Birthcare! Oops.
Another 15 mins pass, and we are calling the MW saying we're coming in now, and I told DH to put the bags in the car. Now things all started happening at once, so I'll go off the call log on my phone :P
0424 - Tried calling MIL to come and watch DD so mum can come with us in the car to Birthcare, just in case baby comes on the way. No answer.
0426 - MW - we're on our way. Brief chat about where things were at, and just as mum said "no, she's not pushing yet" I felt that urge, but didn't push yet. I was still in denial that I was actually in labour and thought there was ages still to go. Apparantly I "made the noise", and mum decided we weren't going anywhere. I kept vocalising through all the contractions from here out. Woke up the flatmate (downstairs, through the soundproofing) but strangely not DD across the hallway!
0431 - MIL calls back, is told to come now, baby is coming. I remember saying "your mum can come, tell her to come".
0432 - MW again, she is pushing, we are not going anywhere. MW says to call an ambulance just in case. Mum asks me if it's ok if she turns back into a MW now (I'd expressed concern that she couldn't be "just a mum" lol)
0436 - 111 - baby is coming, no we can't see any part of the baby yet. They're on their way.
Then time blurs again - no more phone calls! I could feel a head moving down, and then the beginnings of the 'ring of fire'. I stopped pushing, and the head slipped back in, and I panicked a little ("it went away!"). Mum was being great, pushing on my back and reassuring me that it was all ok. DH was looking out the window for the ambulance - they were in the driveway next door. He wanted to go and get them, but both mum and I said NO! Then the baby was coming, the ambo's called and got directions, I screamed for DH to come back and hung on tight to his trouser leg as the head was born. I didn't make any more noise during the final crowning and delivery of the body, I didn't need to vocalise any more which surprised me a little. Ambo's arrived while the head was out, and stood back while the rest of her body slipped out into her Grandma's hands. Mum passed her through my legs so I could see, and we had another little girl!
DH cut the cord with a disposable scalpel when it had stopped pulsing. MIL arrived about 5 mins later, and DD1 finally woke up and wandered into the bathroom just afterwards. I was so pleased to see her, it just felt so right! Time of birth is officially 0457, but we're not sure on this, cos there was no way I was pushing for 20 mins! But that's the time the ambo man said, so we went with it.
Placenta took a while to come, we called the MW again and arranged to come in to Birthcare to deliver it and chack me out, as it was obvious DD2 was a decent sized baby. I was in a bit of shock, needed a LOT of help to get off the floor, down the stairs and into the car. Placenta arrived as were were turning around in the driveway. No tears, just a couple of small grazes that I never noticed. Stayed at Birthcare for the morning, but when I had a room mate move in (wasn't entitled to own room as baby/placenta arrived before arrival, dumb rules!) and started arranging for half of Auckland to come visit, we bolted for home again!
DD2, 11 July 2011, 4.295kg (9lb 7.5oz), 52cm long.
I thought after being such a chronic lurker of these forums for so long it was about time I contribute something! What better way to introduce myself than with Seths birth story.
I was due on Feb 17, but I was convinced he was going to come early! (I guess that was mostly wishful thinking). I had stopped work 2 months before his due date as I worked on my feet all day, not very fun at 8months pregnant!
Anyway the 17th cam and went. At every appointment my MW would say, see you tonight, she was so sure I was on the edge for about 3 weeks! At 1 week over I saw a specialist, she did a s&s and said there was no way I was going to have to get induced but she booked me in for 14 days over just in case.
I was well and truly certain I was not going to get induced! My awesome cousin sent me every naturopathic 'bring on labour' remedy she knew, but still nothing for the next couple of days!
Finally at 10days over about 9pm at night, I was watching a DVD with DH and POP. I was like 'that was weird, it felt like a balloon popped in my jayjay' DH laughed and told me to get out of bed in case the baby was sneaking out.
I went to the bathroom and sure enough waters starting gushing....I mean like with vengence! I never knew it was so MUCH! We rang my midwife to tell her and she said to call back when contraction are started and close-ish.
Then they started...and boy did they start! I had imagined that I would have a slow build up to the pain. Everyone talks about niggles that get stronger. Mine started strong and never gave up the whole way! After about 20mins we rung my midwife back, they were 3mins apart and lasting 40 secs or so.
So we drove into the birthing centre (worse car ride ever) and met my midwife. She was surprised that I was over-exagerating the contractions, she had assumed I was being a little dramatic! Haha!
After checking she said I was only 3cm but with the strength of my contractions she thought thing would move quickly. So an hour later...4cm....much gas and two hours after that 5cm...grr!!! All this time contractions were still only 3mins apart so MW gave me some pethidine so I could get some sleep in. Man I love pethidine, I was so exhausted by that time, getting that rest was amazing.
Midwife checked again at 3am and said I was 9cm (thank god!) but that I had a lip that wasn't moving and she wanted it to move naturally if possible. 2 hours later...still the same but I really wanted to push. Decided to jump in the pool to try and relax but as soon as a hit the water I wanted out! so much for a water birth...
At 6am MW checked and said the lip was still there but only just and I was 10cm by then so she asked me to push but only a couple then she'll check again. That seemed to work and after a couple of checks the lip was gone.
I kinda lose track of time after that, i'm sure there's more in my notes but they are hidden deep in a book somewhere. I know at about 7:20 they rang an ambulance and asked them to come in half an hour because my boy had been stuck for about half an hour and they were worried I might need intervention. After the phone call my MW got mean (in a good way) and told me that I had half an hour to get him out, or I'm giving birth in an ambulance. I really don't remember much apart for getting yelled at (again in a good way, trying to get me angry so I'd keep pushing) and frustration that DS wasn't moving.
My husband said he remembers my MW saying that there wasn't time to get me in the ambulance and baby was turning blue, (thank god I didn't hear that). So quick epistomy and he shot out in one push! He had to get checked a bit but his colour came back quickly and he gave a little cry so all good! He was passed to me for skin to skin and I finally had my little in my arms.
He was born at 7:58am on the 28th Feb, 11 days overdue. 4.06kg and 56cm long. Apgar was 7 then 9. Ambulance was waiting outside, never used :)
Oh and MW gave me a shot to eject the placenta...I don't even remember delivering it.
So that's my novel! I can't be bothered editing it so hopefully it's understandable.
As a side note, what my DH remembers from the birth is... 'MW said baby had to get out NOW, then she cut my wife (he saw that), then a crap load of blood, then a baby, then they had to check the baby, and his wife was still bleeding, then everyone was okay, but there was still a lot of blood and he felt pretty useless.'
It took him a couple of minutes to calm down after the birth before he could actually sit down and enjoy his little boy. Poor guy!
So its not my intended HB VBAC story (thats a whole nother story!) but here is our most recent additions story (sorry it might be a little too much/long, Ive just copied and pasted it)
Not too sure where to start, so will just start from the first (spontanious (YAY!)) contraction, which was around 8am on Saturday the 24th of December. I had woken up at 7ish but stayed in bed trying to go back to sleep till about 7.30 because for yet another night (2nd in a row) I had slept bugger all... Couldnt get back to sleep though, so got up thinking "if I got into labour today, I dont care what I have left to do, Im having a nap!"
We went to the supermarket around 8am and I think I had a couple of weird crampy feelings before we left, didnt say anything to anyone cos I was pretty sure I had just slept funny etc, by the time we got home an hour later they were coming every 2 mins, lasting about a minute although still not ouchy, but regular.
Had a loooong shower (its hard to get anything done in the 1 minute between!),DH ended up leaving the house for a bit, leaving me with DD while I was still in the shower, I finally got out of the shower and decided I should call my MW (I was ment to be having my 'postdates' monitoring at the hospital at midday since I was 40+11) (it was now 10am and still going) and let her know since I might not be leaving the hospital after monitoring (or incase she wanted me in earlier or later etc). She said it sounded like it could be early labour and that yes I should tell DH! (hehe)
So I sent him a txt that said "MW said I should tell you that it might just be baby time" and he called me straight back. Since he was with my family everyone was wondering what was going on! I told him that Id been having some contractions and that we would still go to the hospital at 12 like planned but we might not leave again so we should start getting ready!
Finished packing my hospital bags, worked out that Mum would stay with DD till we knew what was happening (since she has her nap at around 12.30/1ish and I knew she would be better if she had a good nap at home before coming in to hang at the hospital (and we didnt know if I would be staying or not anyway)) (I had planned to have DH, mum, my sister and DD all with me (as well as a friend to take photos and another two friends for support, although by the time I was actually staying it turns out Im one of teh 'quiet, dont touch me' types and didnt want them spending their xmas eve hanging around being quiet for me etc so didnt call them in)
Got to the hospital at 12.30, did CTG, showed I was having regular contractions, 4 in 10 mins, baby was 3/5th engaged.
We talked about what to do from here re: go home for a bit and come back or hang around... as much as I didnt want to spend early labour hanging around delivery, strapped to the CTG (due to being a VBAC), I wasnt sure I really wanted to spend 20 mins in the car going home, and 20 mins to come back again when I was a bit further along... MW went and talked to the OB, who came back and said it was suggested they break my waters and start me on synto... I have to say I swore! So she went back and said thanks but no thanks. I also said no thanks to the IV line but let my MW take some blood for my G+H. MW said if I was 4cm then I should stay and if I was less then I should/could go home.. I didnt like 4cm as 4cm was all I got to with DD after being on synto for 12 hours, so said if I was 5cm then I would stay (because who knew how long I would be at 4cm for). It was a big decision to have the VE as I didnt actually want to know how dilated I was - I didnt want it to mess with my head if I didnt progress as I 'should', and even knowing if I was more or less than 5cm would give me more info that I wanted (even if I was really curious!). So blood was taken, went to the loo before VE and had my show (yay! haha! (actually I was pleased to have had it before any intervention, made me feel like I was getting somewhere :) ) MW offered to do a S&S depending on how my cervix was (up until now (40+11) I hadnt had any VEs/S&Ss), I said thanks but no thanks, and at around 3.30pm had first VE...
And I was 3-4cm (of course!!) but after some internal (and external) debate decided to stay.
Switched to the wireless monitors (finally!), and agreed that next VE would be at 7.30pm. Contractions were starting to get a little ouchy, it turns out I dont like light/noise/touch/smell when Im in labour so I was making everyone else be quiet too, and to keep their hands off. Mum, my sister and DD came in at around 4, I couldnt really concentrate on DD so my sister took her to the Whanau room/the park across the road/to get some dinner for them all etc, bringing her in occasionally, which was perfect. Mum and DH spent the time playing silent rummy, while making jokes everytime I went to the loo about how they never knew I was into Scientology :p
With the contractions starting to get on top of me (there goes that mind game I had wanted to avoid), I asked for the next VE slightly early (7pm instead of 7.30) and guess what?
I was 8 freaking cm! Where on earth did that come from?! I mean I was 3-4cm only 3.5 hours ago, thats manic! All of a sudden they didnt hurt any more and I could relax into them again
So with my new found momentum, I thought sh*t, this might actually happen! I can do this! (and I thought sweet! even if things slow down a bit now I should still avoid having a Christmas baby!)
The back up MW came in for a bit so my MW could go have some dinner.. I wasnt fussed with her cos she made lots of noise! So I didnt repsond to her much :P MW comes back from her break and at 9.30 I vomited up my sandwich that Id had for lunch (which was before we decided to stay since they didnt want me to eat and I was hungry!) - I thought sweet! Good sign! Not long to go now! Although Mum and DH couldnt understand why the MW told them it was good (I knew!) It must have been from around now that I occasionally had the urge to go to the loo and poo, although no matter how many times I tried I just couldnt go! (now I KNOW what was going on, but I just had a 'maybe' feeling at the time)
Starting to feel a bit sick of being so close at 11pm I asked for 3rd VE, I guess hoping for the magic 10cm and confirmation that my poo-ey feeling really was a push-ey feeling and to go for it
And I was 9.5cm, I think I had a little bit of a lip... fark, by now I was totally over it and wanted this bloody baby out! I felt like the contractions were never going away, so I was constantly sore, I had been on my feet for 99% of the time (most comfortable position, although I would have loved to have lay down and gone to sleep! or even been able to sit down for half an hour or so (but no luck!)) and I wanted it gone!
I asked if I could have pethadine (knowing full well I couldnt, but it was my way of trying to say something needs to start happening, Im not coping with this very well any more (which up till now I had been, although I wouldnt say I was comfortable, they hadnt really 'hurt' (thank you media!))
So yes, was told no pethidine, you can have gas or epi.. well the gas made me feel like I was about to pass out with DD, so no thank you, and the thought of an epi still grosses me out, so no thank you! (not that I wanted pethidine either tho). Since my waters were still intact we discussed breaking them, and although I wasnt looking forward to the sudden increase in intensity in contractions (which were already on top of me) I wanted this baby out. Baby was still really high (at -2 for those in the know), and hadnt moved down at all during labour. We hoped that by breaking my waters baby would move down and hurry the feck up and come out!
So at middnight (hello Christmas baby! FARK!) my waters were broken, with thick meconium in them. 12.30 after much discussion it was looking like a c section was all there was left to do since baby still wasnt coming down, so in that case where the hell is my epi (me totally not dealing with the contractions now, pissed off that Id done everything right and it still not worked out (although also glad with everything that had happened so far but feeling so pipped at the post!!)), Had the epi at 1.30am, I declined the flluids that go with it (helps keep your BP up, I said if it drops then I will have them but not as a 'just in case' thank you).
I had asked my MW if she could do one last VE before I go to theatre (JIC baby had moved down enough to use forceps or something that would enable me to avoid the c section), so my 5th VE was done at 2.30. I was fully dilated, baby had come down to 0 (so a bit of improvement!), afterwards MW (apparently, I didnt know shed gone to talk to OB, or what she was planning) went and talked to the OB, came back in and said how would you feel about pushing for 30 mins... ahhh wtf?! Where did that come from? But of course! Like Im going to say no!
So, with MW on one leg, and DH on the other I get taught how to push, after the 2nd one (where I finish the forced push with an involuntary one that Ive been trying to avoid!) I work out that my pooey feeling really was a pushy feeling after all! Sweet!
I asked if that is the most productive way to push (me thinking that sitting on the toilet 2 hours ago was getting the same outcome) but yep. 15 mins later P asks Eric if he can see that 1cm of white when I push.. thats babys head! (Eric didnt believe her!). After my 30 mins were up the OB let me have another 20 mins pushing since I had been doing such a good job, I said so long as I can get up and push on the loo (and came clean with the feelings Id had before!), so tehy went and found me a birthing stool.
Sat down on that and OMG, I couldnt stop pushing! I had no control over it! Was mental! After 6 mins MW made me get off as apparently you can tear pretty badly if you birth on the birthing stool, so I opted to kneel on the bed, leaning over the head of the bed. P says I have 10 mins left before the OB comes back, I still push, but really like having my head on the pillow and just want to sleep! But I keep at it, only 10 mins left, I would much rather finish this myself! I remember P going out of the room, and the urges coming back to push.. Mum, Fern and Eric were all sitting down (not really near the bed) and I was pushing, I could feel baby start to come and would go back up again, but then bubs didnt go back up, I told them they better get ready to catch the baby cos bubs had moved down, I was sure baby was going to be born with out P there! (but nope!) P came back in and I said I was getting that stingy feeling now (she had mentioned it before but I wasnt there yet) and got what she ment. OB came into the room and wanted to do a 'quick' scan to see where baby was, so she wanted me to turn around... I didnt want to, I was in th emiddle of pushing! After a couple more mins I decided I better, so rotated around, and mid rotate the bloody head comes out! (with the OB (who wasnt actually looking at me) saying to stop pushing now, I dont want to rupture my scar now do I? stop pushing) then when she looked down (either I said its a bit late or I thought it in my head) she suddenly changed to PUSH PUSH PUSH!! (Bahahaaha!)
I some how finished making it to my back and pushed...
Then I hear that babys shoulders are stuck, the bed head is put back, up go my knees to do the mc roberts manoeuvre, OB is saying push emma! (what do you think Im doing to do you batty woman?! I think I actually told her I was!), MW was saying I was doing really well, there was a nice hosp MW who was saying nice things too (hmm maybe the OB had just pissed me off before so I didnt like her now?), Mum was standing beside me holding my hand, she said she could see baby coming, I opened my eyes and she had tears in her eyes saying that I was doing it, she looked so excited and proud! I closed them again and pushed, and out baby came! (at 4.11am Christmas morning, finally!)
Baby was placed on me, skin to skin, OB had been told to wait to clamp the cord till it had stopped pulsing, next minute she was asking if she can clamp it yet I said so long as its stopped pulsing (MW said it had) so let her clamp it. DH cut it. I declined the drug to deliver the placenta, and Synto (which was precautionary since I lost around 1L of blood with DD), apparently my cervix had started to close already, before the placenta came out, so the OB did some pushing and pulling and out it came, then I was bleeding a fair bit so agreed to synto (with the OB muttering about how did I want to bleed out and die etc) which did its job.
I think it was about now (15 mins after baby was born) that my sister walks past and says shes a girl (no one had looked till now! I had said DH and I were to look first), I didnt believe her, figuring she hadnt really seen or something (I was so sure she was a boy!) then realised baby really was a girl!
We were left to do a breast crawl, baby decided to have a wee nap instead, but ended up latching on (naturally) about an hour and a bit after birth and fed for 45 mins
Had the best toast in the world and some strawberry milk (magic meal!)
Finally weighed baby at around 7.30am and found she is 4.240kgs :D (I wondered how big she was going to be, since DD was 4.570, but I had had fluids in labour with her, and she lost a tonne of weight too, so wondered if it was her true weight, since I had avoided any extra fluids I figured this baby really was that 'big')
Totally the best experience ever, I still cant believe I did it! How amazing are our bodies and babies? That they know what to do? Totally unbelieveable! I can so see how people get addicted to birth, I really hope I get to do it again!
So Emily was born on 24/11/11 10.56PM 2126g 46 cm
Marcus was born 24/11/11 11.00PM 2640g 50cm at 35weeks gestation
The saturday before they arrival i had contractions and spent 3 days in hospital trying to stop them. they successed and we went home. On thursday around 6 pm i noticed that i was starting to get contractions.finished dinner and rang mw. we met at hospital to check progress, by the time we arrived the contractions where 7 minutes apart, lasting 2 min. i was 6cm when we arrived so ambulance was orded to take us to rotorua. I kept thinking i can be that far along as they were not getting closer and not that painful. by the time we arrived in rotorua 30 minutes later i was 8,5 cm. I was still 5min apart lasting 1 minute. everyone at the hospital ran around doing paperwork, paedritrician introduced herself but said she was fininshing in 15 minutes but would love to stay and see a twin birth and asked if it was okey. i didnt mind so had now 3 paedritricians (sp?). Had 2 MWs in the room with me apart from DH.Soon i felt like pushing and got on to the bed.Specialist came and broke waters and then left. MW said darn we havnt done OBs, i said never mind im having the baby now.Emily was born in one push and so fast no one was there to catch her! (MWs were getting kit ready to clamp cord)she was put on my chest for skin to skin and then i specialist came to brake the second waters. they checked with ultrasound he was still heads down, and he was so all go. Marcus was born in one push and joined his sister on my chest.They then had their first breastfeed.they had great scores but emily had a tad low blood suger so they were both taken to SCBU. i had synto to help stop bleeding, and had a shower before checking on the babies.(DH was with them in SCBU). Had a couple of grazes. it all happened so fast that the paedritricians in the excitment didnt even take any notes down!
So different to first time labour that i really didnt feel like it was any hard work at all!was so suprised i didnt have any painrelief, or hit transition stage.was quite suprised over how fast i progressed.
Our little lad was born 30/11/11.. The day before he was due.
Patrick’s Birth Story
Your dad and I were the first to admit that you happened slightly before we expected, but we really couldn’t wait any longer for you, and obviously you for us. Later, whilst we adjusted to the idea that we were to be parents, I truly believed that this was for a reason. That you were meant to be. Because of this, I never doubted that you would arrive safe and sound, ready to be a part of both our little family and the extended families that were so happy to hear you were coming. I made many resolutions as we waited for you. I have always wanted to convey to you that you are loved and wanted and that those were of far more value than having expensive things. Not that you haven’t already ended up with some pretty expensive gadgets.
The Friday before you arrived, I lost my plug. I had arranged to care for Ashton that day, but I truly thought that this was the beginning of labour, and that you would arrive soon. I rung Taryn, who (in an extremely tired state) thought that I meant that I’d lost a spark plug in my car. Ashton and I enjoyed a calm lazy day together, with me knowing that soon you and him would meet.
Friday night was uneventful, however on Saturday night, contractions came more regularly. In the early hours of Sunday morning I was pretty sure that you mustn’t be far away, as it was getting pretty painful. However when the midwife turned up to check, this wasn’t the case, and I was given stern instructions to get some rest. This left me with some strong doubts about my own ability to birth you in the way that I wished – naturally, without drugs that would numb your entrance into the world and leave you feeling groggy and horrid. Sunday came and went, with contractions that I had to pause for. Monday those contractions got stronger, closer and much more painful and then disappeared. What a tease you were! I wanted to you out now, so I could see your little face and hold you! Tuesday I spent on my own at home, with pain in my hips, just pacing, kneeling and basically in constant motion. I wanted to rest for you, but it just wasn’t happening. That pain got worse, however given the lack of (previously experienced) contractions and midwife advice that I would know when you were coming, we tried to continue on as normal.
Normal, Ha! Wednesday morning saw your dad and I walking into the hospital at 5am, where they said my heartrate was up and they were going to induce me, with likelihood of needing an epidural alongside. I was so disappointed at this stage, that nothing I had wanted was going to occur, and I felt powerless to stop this process. When the hospital midwife checked me a few hours later, having struggled to get a catheter in, and found that I was nearly fully dilated, your gran and I were elated. You were coming! And there was a reason for me being in pain. I could do it! What’s more, I had been going just fine. It was just a waiting game. It was a bit scary, when the hospital couldn’t get hold of my midwife, given that one of the things I made clear that I wanted was consistency of care. When she did come, it was too late to transfer to birthcare, it was time to get you out of there. Push! And push and push and push! I felt a bit disconnected at this point, lying on this bed with the midwife and gran talking about how I was getting on, like I wasn’t part of the process. I could tell your dad was just concerned about me, and stood with me. We were nearly there, the midwife put a mirror down so I could see you crowning (lots of hair on that little head!), one more push, and there you were. You quickly had the worst of the gook covering you wiped off, before being placed up on my chest, heartbeat to heartbeat. You lay there for about an hour as we all admired you, slightly dazed.
For the first two weeks you slept and fed, with little in between. Slowly you are waking up to the world, spending more and more time alert and watching us, kicking with your little legs. I am starting to feel like I know you now, as a little person with a definite sense of humour. You love being naked, especially in the fresh air and you smile when your clothes come off. You give me big grins when you don’t want to go to sleep (even when you are tired) and hold your arms towards me when you are on the change table. You have a real temper, and have true faith that your needs will always be met, even if you have to scream to make it happen!
So as I sit here waiting for bubba #4 to put in an appearance, I thought it was about time I write up #3's birth story!
Caleb Ian Maxwell, born at 11:48am, Saturday 12th June 2010 at River Ridge Birth Centre, Hamilton. Weight: 8lb, APGARs: 10 & 10.
Just before I went to bed on Friday night my 'plug' came away and I expected that it wouldn't be too much longer before some action started. Around midnight I had a definite contraction - yay! My contractions were really irregular (like up to an hour between some of them) and then at 5.30am they became regular and were getting to the point where I wanted DH massaging my back, so I woke him up. At around 7.30am we called MIL to come over and stay with the kids. I then rung my mw and we'd originally agreed to meet at the birth centre in an hour, but then she heard me through a contraction and said to meet her there in half an hour instead. My MIL then turned up and said did we know that we can't get out of our driveway? Uumm no!!! Turns out one of our trees along the driveway had half fallen on to the driveway in the night (had been a windy night). I do think we could have driven over it if really necessary, but thankfully we had BIL's chainsaw so DH could chop it and get it off the driveway quickly. Anyway got to the birth centre and got into the bath. Unfortunately the water slowed my contractions down. I'd been really hoping that it would help it along. I got out of the pool and laboured on the bed until around 11.30-ish when I started pushing and Caleb was born at 11.48am!
The first thing I thought was, 'he looks like his sister!' with lots of dark hair and blue eyes. He was so alert quietly taking things in. After 10 minutes or so he starting searching for food and fed for a wee while.
The placenta came along about 5 minutes after Caleb (had a managed 3rd stage due to previous retained placenta and PPH).
Then my mum turned up! I was totally confused! While we'd told a few people I was in labour, I did not expect anyone to turn up to the birthing room! She's lucky it was after the action, I think she may have got her feelings hurt if I'd told her to bugger off!
Now he is a beautiful and cheeky 19 month old who I can see getting away with all sorts because of his big eyes, dimples and infectious grin!
Now he is a beautiful and cheeky 19 month old who I can see getting away with all sorts because of his big eyes, dimples and infectious grin!
Oh, and he is gorgeous indeed! Awesome story I should post Emily's. Why is it that trees have such a habit of falling on the driveways of ladies in labour?
I was woken by a contraction at quarter to five in the morning. I was pretty confident it was the real deal, but after the false alarm I’d had a few weeks before with regular (sore!) contractions for a few hours, then nothing, I didn’t want to get my hopes up too much. Still, an hour later when they were still there and still very very noticeable (although not at all regular) I woke DH up and had a shower just in case. DH didn’t believe I was in labour at all – he didn’t see me in the initial stages of labour with Jacob, and he was convinced that if he couldn’t tell when I was having a contraction they couldn’t be the real thing. In fact, he was all ready to go in to work, and it was only when I got a bit grumpy at that that he realised that I did actually think it was labour not a trial run, and he started taking it a bit more seriously :) I had a rest for an hour or so while he looked after Jacob, then we all went out for a walk, which was seriously weird – apart from having to stop talking every so often when I had a contraction, it all felt a like a bit of a holiday with DH home from work and Jacob having a ball in the park. The walk was great, it got the contractions going properly and so the in-laws came and picked up Jacob after we got home. Although the contractions were really ramped up by then, we actually had a really nice morning chilling out and chatting in between them. I’ve decided I’ve got a bit of the ‘goldfish brain’ going on when I’m in labour. During contractions, I’d skull liquid morphine if I could… once they’re over everything goes away and I forget how much they hurt until the next one arrives. It’s the sole reason I think I didn’t ask for pain relief later on – I couldn’t talk when I would have asked and forgot to when I could get the words out ;)
We tried timing the contractions, but I got a bit stressed out when we did that because they were really irregular – much longer contractions than with Jacob but all over the place, which was making me second-guess how far along I was. I had an inkling we were a way in, but the irregularity made me wonder if we were still at the beginning. In the end, we decided to go with my gut and forget the timing, it made it all a lot more relaxed. At about 12.30 they started getting a lot longer and stronger, so we decided to leave for the birthing centre… we were in our bedroom looking out the window at the windy day outside at the time, and literally as we got off the bed to get going saw the neighbours tree blow over and fall over our drive. Which set things back a bit, they weren’t there, so DH had to go remove it before we could get out! Thankfully, it was a smallish tree! Getting to the birthing centre was so different this time round – we actually got to get settled in a bit, the midwife did an internal (I was about 5cm, as opposed to fully dilated with Jacob!) and ran the pool. All very calm compared to the ‘turn-up-and-have-a-baby’ approach we inadvertently took last time. I was fascinated by the difference in the contractions between this labour and Jacob’s. With Jacob they were really in my back, and the most comfortable position to be in was reclining on my back (the one they all say not to use, but seriously, you couldn’t have stopped me). This time, any reclining position (like when the midwife did the internal) was just plain ouchy, even between contractions, I couldn’t get off the bed fast enough.
Hopping in the pool was bliss, and from then it was all very fast. I remember at 2.10, we were talking between contractions about how much longer I had to go – DH thought she’d be born around three, I thought he was dreaming and that I had hours to go. In the end she was born 20 mins later at 2.30 – the contractions got frightful and I was pushing before I even really knew it myself. It definitely caught us all by surprise, the midwife didn’t have anything ready and it only took three pushes to get her pretty much out (although she had a fat little bottom which got stuck, so it was a bit more before she was properly out.) I hadn’t planned a water birth specifically, but it was so the right thing to do at the time. It was a much nicer position to catch her in, too, so I could see everything that was happening as she took her first breaths (after making us wait for ages, we were getting a bit worried!) and we cut the cord and gave her her first feed. It was just incredible – I had almost forgotten how amazing those first cuddles are, and how ridiculously you can care for that wet little wrinkled scrap of humanity. (And in Emily’s case, wrinkled and covered in vernax, if she hadn’t been such a chubby thing (9lb 1oz) and we hadn’t had a scan to be certain about our dates, the midwife said she would have been absolutely convinced she was premature with the amount she had on and the fact that she’s still covered in lanugo.
I don’t know whether it was a) the fact it was my second time round, b) that she was anterior not posterior or c) the waterbirth – or maybe a combination of the three, but this time round was definitely a lot less painful. Oh, and only a small tear, too – with Jacob I had some bad tearing and stitches. I’m glad I had ittthat way around, because I didn’t realise how much the stitches hurt afterwards until I experienced not having them (if that makes any sense) – I hardly feel like I’ve had a baby this time in comparison! On the other hand, I lost a big clot of blood with the placenta (and we later found out my iron is still nasty and low) and after I’d fed Emily and transferred to the bed and they were weighing her, I went and fainted on them. I can remember glimpses, but was really kind of groggy. Some fluids and glucose did help, but I felt rotten for a while. Thankfully, Emily had had a feed and was going well, so she just got some cuddles with her Dad for a while.
Siara Callie Rose, born 12:44am, Thursday 2nd February 2012 at Waterford Birth Centre. 4.18kg (9lb 4oz) 51cm in length, 34.5cm head circumference, APGARs 9 & 10.
On Wednesday morning I wake to some ‘niggles’ and wonder, ‘Is today the day?’. At 40 weeks + 5 days, I was really hoping so! I ask DH to stay home from work and of course the niggles stop *sigh* So I head out for a walk hoping to get things moving. I pass a postie (on a moped) a few times and he stops and says, ‘Gosh you’re doing a big walk, are you trying to get that baby moving?’ Sure am!
That afternoon I drop DD off at kindy and DH arranges for SIL to look after our boys which gives us a couple of hours to help things along ourselves ;p
Around 4.30pm the niggles start up again and start coming in a regular pattern though spaced out and still very mild. They die off again *sigh*
Around 6pm they start up again and very slowly build up in intensity. Around 9pm they are less than 10min apart and getting ouchie! Yay, this IS it!!
I labour at home really well simply walking around and rocking or swaying my way through the contractions. At 10.30pm we call SIL and ask her to come over (she will be staying with the kids). By 11pm the contractions are getting too much to bear on my own and DH starts manipulating the pressure points on my back – aaahhh. After a few contraction come in quick succession I decide to call my mw who is at the hospital with a woman in labour – Nooo! However she lets me know the hospital mw’s will continue with her and that she’ll meet me at the birthing centre in about half an hour – yaayy!
We arrive at 11.50pm. My mw listens to bubs’ heartbeat through a contraction and is happy with it. She takes my BP (good) and a VE reveals I’m 7cm – whoop! I labour leaning over the bed, rocking/swaying, clutching a comb and DH massaging my back until I start feeling like pushing. I’m pretty sure she’s not actually ready to come out yet so I get up on the bed and then feel my waters go. With my previous labours my membranes have been artificially ruptured so this was a new experience for me. I remember saying, ‘I can feel something coming out!’
Then a few REALLY strong contractions happen and I feel my body start to push. 2 pushes/contractions later Siara makes her way into the world DH catches her and comments, ‘Well, that was easy!’
She has a head full of dark hair like DD1 and DS2 – aptly, her name comes from ‘Ciara’ which means ‘little dark haired one’. We have skin-to-skin time and within minutes she is rooting around. She latches and suckles for a long time (no more contractions occur so we decide on the syntocin injection to get the placenta out). My mw leaves us to get to know each other and goes and does her paperwork and has a coffee.
This has been the fastest and easiest labour & birth and I actually enjoyed (as much as you can enjoy it!) and I’m glad that my last birth was such a good experience
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mummydee wrote:
I should post Emily's. Why is it that trees have such a habit of falling on the driveways of ladies in labour?
