It was a regular Sunday, still working on nesting after we had a fun-filled Saturday at the Gold Coast hiring a boat and visiting the dog beach. Sunday evening after watching a movie, I stood up and felt a very tiny trickle. I wasn’t sure what to think so went the toilet and had a shower to get ready for bed. When I got out of the shower, another trickle happened and I told Dan “I think my waters are breaking”.
I called the midwife at 9:00pm, who explained that I would probably go into labour overnight, and that they would want to see me tomorrow to check if it had been amniotic fluid. I was aware that if labour didn’t kick start naturally and progress that there would be discussions of inducing labour which I didn’t want.
Doug and I went into the nursery to try some techniques to encourage oxytocin. I tried expressing some colostrum as this caused me to have some cramping a week earlier. I had stopped expressing colostrum for a bit because I had a cold for the last week and wanted to feel well before going into labour. Doug did some acupressure points on me and we diffused clary sage.
When I stood up I could feel more fluid coming out, more than a trickle this time!
I knew it would be important to try and get some sleep so we went to bed. I kept having to get up and change pads as more and more fluid was releasing. I started getting period like cramps at 12:40am, and thought how great it was that I haven’t had my period in 9 months!
I knew early labour could go for a long time, so I wasn’t getting too excited and was just trying to still rest in bed.
Still up and down, as my waters kept releasing.
At 3:45am, the cramping was getting more a bit more intense and I got Doug up to get me a hot water bottle and heat pack.
I had a little cry and explained I felt alone, Doug gave me a hug and reassured me.
Shortly after I moved out into the lounge room onto a yoga mat and leaning over yoga ball and used movement. I also popped on the TENS machine, in my mind, thinking it’s too early but remembering the advice not to “save” the TENS for the end. I like using the TENS.
I told Doug I wanted to see the sunrise on the day our baby might be born. We went out the front of our house to watch the sun come up. I was still thinking, this is very early labour and I might not have baby today, it could be tomorrow.
After watching the sunrise I kept using swaying movements, leaning over onto the bed.
Doug kept me hydrated with coconut water and I ate some fruit.
Doug wanted to start packing the car but I was insistent that it was no where near time to go to the hospital.
We called the midwife line again and spoke with Charmaine to give an update. She explained that since it was coming up to 12 hours of my waters being broken without baby being born, it would be good to consider antibiotics and it would be worth thinking about heading to hospital or clinic soon. I wasn’t keen on this idea, and felt that labour was going well at home and didn’t want to drive into Brisbane to have to drive home again.
We made a plan to check in via phone after her other morning visit.
Doug started packing the car and finishing packing the hospital bags. He was getting keen to head to hospital, but I wasn’t just yet! I was still convinced I was only in early labour and that I had a long way to go. The contraction app timer didn’t work too well but I think I was having about 4 every 10 minutes.
At around midday I agreed we could think about going to hospital. Doug called Charmaine again and she agreed it was a good idea to come into hospital. For the car ride, which is about 40 minutes, I put on an eye mask and played “Birth Affirmations” and had the seat warmers on and TENS still going.
During pregnancy I was worried about the drive, but I actually found the drive okay. I remember feeling a rush of endorphins and feeling really calm and happy, and thinking about how I had learnt about that in hynobirthing and that it was happening!
When we arrived at hospital I remember telling Doug I thought we had come too early. We met Charmaine in PAC, I had my blanket and sunnies on. I agreed to a vaginal exam (but I didn’t want to be told dilation) and to CTG. In hindsight, I should have said no, as CTG wasn’t in my birth plan, but at the time I was just focusing on the contractions. After the birth, I found out I was 6 to 7 centimetres dilated at this point.
Charmaine let me know we would head to birth suite.
I was still using the TENS and had my knees on a foam mat and was leaning on an exercise ball.
I had the antibiotics put in whilst I was in this position. I was told if I had the antibiotics I could still get in the water. I couldn’t remember enough about antibiotics and how necessary they may be, so I agreed, because I realised I was past the 12 hour mark now.
I was also told that the CTG in PAC had returned an abnormal trace and that further monitoring was needed. I had the CTG put back on (it was the one where I could still move around). I remember feeling annoyed with the CTG and wanted to rip it off. It kept failing, but I didn’t feel worried at all. I felt really confident and that my baby was fine.
At one stage the TENS battery died and I was pretty upset about this! Doug quickly replaced it. I remember thinking that if the spare battery didn’t work I wasn’t going to make it!
I changed positions and was leaning over the bed.
Charmaine had mentioned ice chips when we got to birth suite and I became obsessed, and maybe a little demanding about getting these! It felt like an eternity before Doug finally started feeding me these. I would bite and eat half and the other half put on my forehead. I continued to eat these in throughout the labour.
I could hear the CTG and also a Code Red being called out. I remember having a brief moment of feeling worried. I decided to block out these noises and put my AirPods in and listen to the birthing affirmations instead of using the speaker for a bit.
I think during this stage I really just turned inward and almost wasn’t really present.
I don’t remember having a distinct “transition” into the pushing phase. It felt like all of a sudden it just changed, and the pressure in my bottom and feeling of needing to poo was overwhelming. I called this out to the midwife because I knew that I was kind of pushing, or at least feeling the urge to push. A rush of fluid came out too.
She asked if she could check me, and I agreed.
The birthing pool started being filled up, I was pretty happy about this and knew that meant I was 10 centimetres and ready to have a baby. It felt like it was happening so quickly!
CTG was off and I was getting in the pool.
I really liked the break between contractions in this stage. I felt like I could relax and get regain energy for the next surge and push. I tried a few different positions in the pool but found head down on the side and on my knees worked best for me, other than my foot kept going numb!
Apparently I was pushing for quite a long time (1.5 hours), but it didn’t feel like long to me in the moment.
I don’t think I was pushing so much as letting the contraction do it’s thing and riding that wave.
I was trying to remember what to do in this phase and what breathing I should use. Charmaine ended up encouraging me with the pushing and telling me to try and push into my bottom.
It was quite an intense sensation and I think I was holding back a bit because the stretching – burning feeling was a little frightening and I was worried about a tear.
Apparently baby was sitting in the birth canal for a pretty long time but was completely happy and not in distress at all.
Charmaine showed me a photo of his head and I touched his head too. I could feel that with each contraction he would moved down and then go back up again.
At one point a second midwife was called in, I knew this meant I he was close to coming out but then the midwife went away.
Charmaine coached me a bit with the pushing and then his head was out! I reached down and touched his head after the contraction was done.
During the next contraction I could feel his body turning and Doug explained that he could see him turning. It was such a surreal feeling!
Then the next contraction I pushed the rest of his body out. He felt so long! I think Charmaine sort of had to pull his legs out as the contraction was ending.
Then he was up in my arms. The most perfect, squishy baby boy.
His cord was quite short so I had to hold him quite low.
I couldn’t believe this baby was mine and that he had been inside of me this whole time.
He gave a little cry but calmed very quickly.
With some help, I got out of the pool and hopped into bed, giving him skin to skin cuddles, with Doug next to us.
The calm instrumental music was still playing and the fairy lights still on.
Such a special moment, I couldn’t believe it was done, my baby was here.
We did delayed cord clamping and physiological third stage.
I think they were worried about placenta or wanted to hurry it along a little because they did some fundal massage. The pain of the OB pushing down on the placenta took me by surprise and I yelled stop. I felt very uncomfortable lying down and trying to push out the placenta. I don’t remember the contractions being very strong for the placenta. I was offered gas and air. I don’t think I used it properly and was mainly biting on the mouthpiece but that did help a little.
It’s amazing how not using TENS or movement really makes the pain so much more unbearable.
It did feel good once the placenta was out. That thing is huge! I’m amazed that both the placenta, all the amniotic fluid and this chubby baby fit inside of me!
Charmaine explained the placenta to me and said it looks really healthy.
I did have a second degree tear and needed stitches. That wasn’t the most comfortable experience, but it was over relatively quickly.
My baby was sucking on his hands and did bobble around a bit looking for the breast. He very gently suckled.
Doug ordered some dinner for us to eat, I was suddenly so hungry.
And then after lots of cuddles and dinner, he went to have cuddles with Doug and his needles whist I showered.
I felt a little shaky and dizzy in the shower but it felt nice to feel fresh and get into clean clothes.
Then we headed to the postnatal ward with my baby in my arms.
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