Born in an ambulance

When I found out I was pregnant for the 3rd time I was over the moon. The emotions I felt with my other pregnancies and births came rushing back! A due date of March 29 was worked out between my doctor and an early dating scan.

As with Sophie and Claire's pregnancies, everything was fairly smooth sailing. Whilst we had tried for a boy, I couldn’t contain my excitement when finding out we were having another pink one. Immediately I felt the bond forming with our little girl and found myself constantly wondering what she would look like since my other two girls are chalk and cheese.

After two straightforward births for Sophie and Claire I decided early that I would love to have a home birth. Unfortunately due to the associated costs, we settled on the hospital here in Cairns with little to no intervention.

Around my due date the little niggles started the pre-labour fanfare. I was sure I was going to go early and have a fast easy labour, after all it was my third and people assured me that 'she'll just fall out'.

Friday March 27 I had a midwife appointment and was offered a stretch and sweep of the cervix. The midwife said that my cervix had shortened to 1cm and I was 2cms dilated. She also told me that her success rate for stretch and sweeps bringing on labour was high. I was excited and anxious and went home with the idea that she would be born in the next 24hrs.

March 28 I had been having contractions most of the day. Nothing intense but it really felt like the early beginnings of it all. I sent Sophie and Claire to my parents place so I could relax and prepare myself. I didn't get much sleep that night but by morning the contractions had pretty much stopped.  What a let down.

The next few days I had contractions randomly throughout the day but they weren't progressing or getting stronger. I was beginning to feel very down about the fact that my due date had come and gone.

Tuesday March 31 I was again having contractions. By 7pm they were regularly 7-8 mins apart and gaining intensity. I was chatting to my original parents group from EB (October 2005 Mummies) on MSN throughout the night as I had done during labour with my 2nd child, Claire. I thought by morning I'd have my little girl safe in my arms! I was wrong!

2am on April 1, I decided to go to the hospital as the contractions were coming a little closer together and much harder. When I arrived I was disheartened to find I was STILL only 2cms dilated!!! The baby was sitting high too (only 1/5th of the head was in the pelvis). I accepted that it was just a little too early still and went back home.

9:30am things had picked up big time. The contractions were about 4-5mins apart but the intensity had doubled! I was told to return to hospital for monitoring and an internal. Contractions were reading up the on the monitor but when checked I was still only 2cms and the baby still sitting high.

Our wonderful midwife, Jo, said it was ok to hang about and see how things went. We went for a walk and kept active even though I was having a lot of trouble getting through each contraction.

At around 5pm I was sure I had to push!! The midwife came in to set up and check all was ready. Another internal showed I was still 2cm dilated. She suggested that the pushing feeling was more than likely me just pushing her further into the pelvis. I absolutely lost control at this point, hyperventilating and crying. I was a wreck. I wanted something to move things along but wasn't given any options except pethidine to help me get some sleep at the hospital or tamazipan/panadeine to help me relax and go home. I decided to go to my parent’s place where the girls were and try to rest.

I got there at 5:30pm. I broke down. I couldn't go on without any sleep and the contractions were unbearable, still 4/5mins apart ! I had a shower, took the meds and tried to relax. Sophie (my eldest - 3.5yrs old) was rubbing my back and cuddling me, asking me if the baby was hurting me as I sobbed through contractions. My Grandmother, Uncle and Aunt were also all there and were very supportive. I am extremely close to my family so to have them there to experience part of our little girl’s birth was wonderful.

At 7.15pm I hopped on the computer and updated a few people to what was happening. I was drained. I told my partner (Jared) I just couldn't go on and we would need to go back to the hospital as they need to cut this baby out of me or give me drugs to knock me out !

As he was finding the number to call the birth suite at around 7.45pm, I had the urge to go to the toilet. As I sat, I realised I needed to push! I screamed from the toilet that I had to push and to call the ambulance.  

The best way to explain what happened next is by direct speech:

Jared: Are you sure you need to push? You said that earlier and nothing happened.
Me: YES I NEED TO PUSH RIGHT NOW!! CALL THE AMBULANCE
Jared: Ok I'll get the car ready and I'll take you up!
Me: NO!! I NEED AN AMBULANCE… I NEED TO PUSH RIGHT NOW!
Jared: Ok I'll call them (Called 000 and the operator asked to speak to me)
000 operator:  Any complications? Child number? How far apart are contractions
Me: No, child #3 no complications but I need to PUSH RIGHT NOW!
000 operator:  Ok well we have dispatched an ambulance and it should be there soon… In the meanwhile don't stop yourself pushing and don't sit on the toilet. Call 000 if the baby’s head is coming out.

(The ambulance arrives seconds later)

(cue me screaming saying the head was coming)

Ambo: How far apart are contractions?
Me: IT DOESN"T MATTER I NEED TO PUSH RIGHT NOW!
Ambo: Ok well best we get you to the hospital then.. Come with us.
Me: I CAN'T DO IT! SHE'S COMING NOW!

(Jared and Ambos carry me out to the front yard)

Me: I CAN'T GO ANY FURTHER SHE'S COMING OUT NOW!
Ambo: We'll get stretcher for you and get you in the ambulance and get you up the hospital.

This was around 8pm. My screaming as well as the ambulance lighting up the street managed to stir a few people in the neighbourhood. I found out later on there was an intoxicated man on the street actually trying to start a fight with my father.

I was out there in just my underwear and a singlet and couldn’t have cared less! The ambulance officers manage to lift me onto the stretcher and up on all fours. It was then that my waters decided to break in view of the street. They loaded the stretcher into the ambulance and Jared hopped in. The doors closed and we drove off.

Me: SHE'S COMING I NEED TO PUSH HER OUT NOW!
Ambo: Not long 'til we get there.

I felt that no one was listening to me I decide to show them she was coming. I lay down on my back and with the next contraction, pushed her head out in one go.

The Ambulance Officer in back with me screamed to his partner driving to pull over immediately as the head was out! They pulled over and threw Jared out so they could get ready for her. Neither of them had delivered a baby before so they called for backup! Next contraction I pushed and she came out screaming! Both ambulance officers looked at me in disbelief!

The back-up paramedic turned up (a little too late!). They cut the cord and placed her on my chest. She immediately latched onto my breast and we continued on the bumpy ride to the hospital.

The ambulance guys thanked me for making that their first ever birth in the ambulance and said they couldn’t believe how quick it all was (we were about 300m from my parents' place).

Elise Maree was born on 'Spence Street, Cairns'
Weighing 3.800kgs/8lb 6oz
Length: 51.5cms
Head Circ: 36cms
She had Apgar scores of 10 and 10 and was born at 8.20pm on Wednesday April 1. April Fools!

When we got to the hospital I delivered the placenta and was cleaned up. Turns out there was meconium in the waters so what I had planned to be a short stay in hospital turned out to be 24hrs as they had to monitor her to make sure there were no side effects.

A few weeks later the local paper contacted me to do a story and I was able to meet the ambulance officers who were there when Elise was born. It was a little embarrassing knowing they’d seen me in all my glory but at the same time wonderful to be able to thank them for being there being that bit of reassurance I needed during her birth.

Elise has settled wonderfully into our family and I couldn’t ask for a happier and more contented baby. I just wonder what she has in store for us. Before she was born she already had plans on when and how she wanted to enter the world.

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