Let The Fun Begin - A Birth Story
A Birth Story
I obviously knew what giving birth entailed but I as my due date loomed I was so obsessed with reading other women’s birth stories. I figure, I can’t be the only first time mum who was completely curious about another women’s personal experience? So, now that I have been there done that, I thought I would share my birth story. (Sorry, TMI ahead – Read at own risk).
Due Date: September 18, 2016.
Birth Plan: Go with the flow, but ideally, natural water birth, no epidural, just gas for pain relief. (ha!)
Support People: Josh, Lyndelle (stepmum), Ellyse (cousin/bestie), Jo (Josh’s mum) and Mel my midwife (who is totally amazing by the way).
My dad was in the waiting room, which I wasn't really aware of at the time.
Just a quick side note - I definitely humm'd and harr'd about using these photos. They are very personal and intimate and tell a story that not many got to be a part of. A few of them were taken with a phone and under awful fluorescent light so they are not of the greatest quality. Sorry about that.
D-Day Had Arrived
First off, let me set one thing straight. Labour and giving birth is NOT like you see in the movies.
September 16, 12:30am was the moment my labour began. There was nothing dramatic or momentous about it (actually, I was about to give birth to my first child! Of course it was momentous). What I mean, is that there was no sudden gush of my waters breaking and I wasn’t in the middle of a shopping mall or on a plane or anything like that.
I had planned to have my baby back home in Hamilton, where there was a birthing centre and a hospital less than an hour and a half drive away (the best decision I have ever made, you’ll soon see why). I had a stretch and sweep a week or so earlier and lost the very disgusting mucus plug that night so thought it was all go. Wrong.
I was so bored, restless and incredibly uncomfortable! Josh and I had decided to go and stay up in Auckland with his family for a couple of nights thinking, like a lot of first baby’s, I would go overdue. Wrong again.
The beginning of my labour. Apparently this was the perfect time for a family photo (actually kinda cool looking back on it). So here I am looking completely fine.....
Reality, shots were being taken in between contractions. Well, so I thought, but Josh thought it would be a good idea to capture one in full swing.
Cramping woke me up, I went to the bathroom and there was a bit of spotting. I just knew something was happening. I took some Panadol and tried to go back to sleep but obviously, I was way to alert, anxious and excited for that to be an option. Around 2:30am the cramps were getting slightly worse (like bad period pain) and more regular so I woke Josh up and we decided to drive back to Hamilton just in case.
Me in the tub at the birthing centre with gas ready and waiting. By the look on my face a contraction had just subsided. BTW, the water was amazing!
I managed to get a bit of sleep when we arrived back at my parents which was more than welcome. That morning I planned to go and have lunch at Ellyse’s house as I didn’t want to be just sitting around waiting. By this time, the cramps were getting quite bad and Panadol wasn’t cutting it. After a couple of hours of being out, all I wanted to do was go home and hop in to a hot bath which is exactly what I did. I was definitely at the point where I had to breathe through each contraction. My midwife was right, you WILL KNOW when you are in labour. There will be no doubt in your mind. (In most cases, every woman is different). I KNEW this was it and if it wasn’t, this was some sick and cruel joke! I text Mel to let her know…..
Me: “Morning, just a heads up. I had that bloody show at about 12:30 this morning. Cramps started straight away and are definitely getting more and more painful along with constant back ache. Obviously not sure if she has turned or not. You’re right about knowing when it’s actually starting.”
Mel: “Haha….. sounds like we are going today, finally! The back pain will be her position but that’s ok. Sounds perfect.”
Me: “Haha yay, but kind of not….man it hurts! Haha. Better suck it up… only going to get worse. I’ll ring you when I’m dying haha.
Mel: “Sounds like a great plan.”
Looking back, at least I could manage to put some humour in to it, right? Ha.
At about 3:00pm Mel came over to see how far along I was. May I just add, when your body is preparing to push a small human out, this is not a pleasant experience. I was two and a half centimetres dilated which meant I had a wee way to go yet, time to settle in for the long haul. She said I would 'just know' when I was ready to go to the birthing centre and to call her when I was on my way and she would meet us there.
At 6:30pm I was ready. Holy heck I was ready!! When they tell you, this is the worst pain you will ever feel in your life, they are NOT kidding. My back killed like it never had before and I continuously felt like I needed to vomit. I had never welcomed something so much than the breaks between each contraction. So, in the car and off we went to the birthing centre. D-Day had arrived. Was I ready?? EEEKK
Gas and the birthing pool were my best friends at this stage. They were the two things which gave me some relief. As much as I was in extreme pain I was coping quite well at this point. Breathing through each contraction and riding it out. In saying that, poor Josh got yelled at when he couldn’t quite get the gas in my mouth quick enough. Josh was completely amazing throughout the whole thing.
GIVE ME THE DRUGS!!
9:30pm came around and I decided I wanted to know how far along I was. A whooping five and a half centimetres. WHAT THE?!!! This was the point I started to lose it. The birth plan went out the window and I wanted an epidural ASAP. Unfortunately, this meant hoping in a car and going to the hospital. All I remember is sitting on the edge of the passenger seat sucking on the gas like it was my only life line begging for them to let me take it. There were a few giggles from the nurses (I wasn't joking, damn it!), but obviously, the answer was no.
The good part, I didn’t have to wait long to get the epidural. The bad part, it didn’t work. Yup, holding dead still, mid contraction while someone put a massive needle in to my spine was all for nothing. Safe to say I was not a happy camper. This is the moment when it all went downhill pretty fast and my memories are blurry from here on in.
Suddenly I was being tossed and turned while Mel was explaining that the baby’s heart rate had dramatically dropped and they were trying to get it up. The emergency button was pushed and in about 20 seconds the room was full of people. I was checked again to see how far along I was (this time was not so gentle and apparently, there wasn’t even any time for gloves. Ewww ha). I had only reached seven and a half centimetres.
The words ‘Emergency C-section’ and seeing Ellyse mouth ‘I love you,’ are all I remember as I was pushed out of that room. Sadly, I had to be completely put under so Josh wasn’t allowed in the room and I didn’t get to see my little girl being brought in to this world. Thankfully, josh was able to have skin to skin with her as soon as she had been given the OK by the doctors which was almost straight away.
Seriously, did this moment even happen? ...looking waaay to drugged up. Do not remember a thing.
I woke up a little while later surrounded by my very emotional loved ones and a baby on my chest. Apparently, it was a very close call but she was happy and healthy. The doctors and nurses said she was being a drama queen as they couldn’t seem to find the reason this all happened (a sign of what's to come? Oh I hope not, haha). All this is extremely blurry as I was still very drugged up.
Now you can see why my choice to be close to a hospital was the best decision I have ever made in my life?! And, why birth plans should be taken with a grain of salt? The complete opposite of what I have envisioned played out in the end. But, you know what? It doesn’t matter. Yes, I am sad that I didn’t get that moment to hold her in my arms and experience the rush of magical hormones when she was first born. I am sad that I didn’t get to share that beautiful moment with Josh. But, she is here. She is alive. She is happy and healthy and the best thing that has ever happened to me. I was all worth it.
Wish she still snuggled like this. Shes a nosy little thing now.
Name: Eva Maree
Date and time of birth: 17 September 2016, 10:50pm (or was it 10:55? will have to check my book. Later. To lazy to get up).
Tips based on my experience:
Have at least one amazing support person with you. I relied on Lyndelle and Josh a lot to get me through.
Find the perfect midwife. I can never thank Mel enough. Her experience, skill and the ability to think on her feet in a bad situation saved my little girl.
Make a birth plan and then throw it out the window. No wait, just kidding. Don’t throw it out the window but definitely use it at a loose guide and be prepared for it to go completely opposite at any moment. If you are more open to the ‘go with the flow’ idea, then you will be less disappointed after it is all over.
Labour is no walk in the park but you were made to do this and it is totally worth it.
Nastasia
xx
Was there anything funny, crazy or scary that happened at your birth? Comment below.