I am pleased to share my birth story with you all. I know it is our instinct to search out these stories when pregnant to better prepare ourselves for the upcoming birth. I know reading others stories made me see that each one is different. I actually had a very powerful, pleasant experience. I think so often we are told the horror stories, maybe as a way to prepare us for the possibility. However I want to share a positive birth, to show that those are possible too!!
Preparation for labour
I used to joke and say that when I had a child I wanted to be hooked up to as many drugs as humanly possible! My antenatal classes were brilliant and I can’t thank our midwife who ran them enough. By the end of the 8 weeks I felt informed and confident.
To prepare I also read the book ‘Birthing skills’ by juju Sunadin (?). She basically offers a variety of ‘skills’ you can use through labour to distract yourself from pain and keep you calm.I decided that I would try the following
- stressballs - to squeeze, bang together and visualise with
- Noise - to help distract me from pain
- Movement
However I did not have a 'Birth Plan' other than get bubs and I through it as safe as possible. I remained open to the idea of using drugs, c section etc.
Days before labour
In many ways the birth story starts a few days before birth! I had had slightly elevated blood pressure the whole pregnancy. This was my only major pregnancy related illness other than heartburn.
However, by my 38th week my Dr thought it may be best to induce me slightly early as my blood pressure kept rising. I agreed but was a little nervous. The date was set for the following Tuesday, 5th April. That afternoon I noticed an itching sensation in my hands and feet, and lips. I thought nothing much of it.
The next day though I woke with bizarre puffed lips, and swollen red hands that looked ready to explode. I called my Dr who advised me to go to the hospital to be observed. I stayed there all day being observed until my Dr could see me. When he did arrive he straight away said that it was NOT a pregnancy related reaction it looked like an allergic reaction. He kept me overnight to be observed & gave me allergy meds. He also decided to bring forward induction to Friday.
My symptoms went away and I went home to prepare for the following days ‘Big Event’. I decided to have a nap first, and then I woke to get ready to go out with my mum and sister and get some last minute supplies.
After my nap I went to the toilet... except just after I peed I felt a gush of fluid come out. I thought ‘I did not do that...’, At that exact moment my MIL and SIL had arrived at the door for a surprise visit! I yelled out I was on the toilet, and went to grab a towel, one between my legs, one wrapped around my waist.
I opened the door with the news that my waters had broken, shortly after my mum and sister arrived. I was a frenzy of excitement by all as we rushed around gathering all the supplies!
The labour
I arrived at the labour ward with my husband at about 2pm, with slight contractions. At first I was fine, just chatting away and stopping to roll my stress balls together. Eventually the pain got worse. However I seemed to be coping with the pain. It felt like period pain cramps, but at the same time cramping in my back.
I just kept expecting it to get worse, so I ignored the fact that they felt painful as I felt if I gave into these ‘small’ contractions, I would not cope once they got bigger. I only allowed myself to feel the start of a contraction, and let it rise slightly, but then I would start using one of my 'skills' to help distract me before the pain got worse. For example, I would feel a contraction rise and I would start slepping the table in front of me while rolling my hips in a circular motion. I would slap harder at the peak of the contraction, concentrating on the noise and the feel in my hand. This distracted me from the pain.
Between contractions I usually kept my eyes closed and stayed calm and relaxed as much as possible. This seemed to send me into an almost trance like state. I was so focused on relaxing between contractions, then using my skilld during them that I almost felt like I was sleeping though it!
So imagine my surprise that after about 2 hours I was checked and told I was 6 cm dilated. My midwife reminded me about the gas when I was about 7 cm dilated. That is when it got more painful. My hasband followed any direction given, to pat, rub, squeeze, count anything I told him to do. He stayed calm and encouraging.
I then went into the shower, as I felt a change of environment might help me stay focussed. Just focusing on the water hitting my body until a contraction rose, then I would slap my hand on the wall and rock to get through it. It made me so relaxed! Although NOTE TO ALL: DO NOT TRY TO USE THE FIT BALL IN THE SHOWER!!!!!!! I did this, when my husband was distracted and in my rush to sit on it mid contraction it sipped and I fell hard on my ass, in the middle of a painful contraction. OUCH!!! Except my only thought was ‘*^%$, that better not have sent the baby back up!” ... Seriously, I meant it LOL
Finally I got to a point when I had to get on the bed to be checked. By that point is was getting harder to ignore the contractions. I asked if it was time to get the epidural, thinking that the pain was maybe going to get doubly painful and maybe it was time to hook into some drugs!! haha
However, my midwife informed me that that chance was long over, it was actually time to push. She called the doctor to come in, while assuring me that the most painful part was pretty much over. I didn't really like lying on the bed much though, it definately made the pain feel more intense, but I had to have bubs monitored as my blood pressure was starting to rise.
My Dr arrived, and told me I was ready to push, however he had to apply suction to bubs. I at first didn’t want him to, until he said it was up to me, but that without the cap it may take a few hours, which was bad for my blood pressure, with cap, it would be maybe 4 pushes.When faced with that alternative I got him to put that suction on damn quick!!.
The pushing is all a bit of a blur; I had to try to work out how to push. Mostly I had to let go of the fear of the pain and tearing and just do what I had to do. I really don’t recall the pain; I think I was just so focussed on the pushing. I do remeber the most intense urge to push, and when I pushed harder it actually gave me some relief.
The pressure was immense, but then whoosh, gone, and my baby was here!
At 8:02 pm 31st March my Daughter Abigail Joyce was born. My MIL (my other birth partner) was crying and my Husband. My beautiful baby was born looking around with her big eyes. As soon as she was bundled onto my chest she just gazed and gazed, then looked at my husband. It was magic!
The amazing part was that I was on just such a high I felt GREAT! I wasn’t tired at all, because I had felt like I was in such a trance like state through most of it I actually felt like I had woken from a heavy sleep and was really refreshed!!! I didn’t feel the placenta be removed or stiches (2 internal, very small tears).
Family was called and happy news was shared. Actually, all the family arrived 45min later, while I was still in the birthing room, me naked under the sheets but grinning like a maniac. I didn’t care because I wanted to show off my beautiful daughter to all. She looked around at all her grandparents and Aunties and just gazed at them. The love and excitement in the room was palpable.
It has been a brilliant, beautiful and magical experience. I am so glad I let myself trust in my body and the skills I had read. I never ruled out anything, because I just wanted my baby here. But in allowing myself to see how far I could go alone meant I had such an empowering birth that I am proud of!
Details
Labour – 6 hours, Gas, 2 small tears
Baby Girl born at 8:02pm 31st March 2011 weighing 6.2 pound (2.79 kg) 46.5 cm long.
Coping strategies- Squeezing stress balls, banging them and counting, focusing on touch and sound – how it felt to slap my hand against a wall, the noise it made, counting as slapping my leg, rhythmic banging on a tray table, rolling my hips while on a fit ball, Focusing on relaxing and not letting myself feel the pain.