7th October 2008 - the birth of Ethan Cruz (pinkpalace)
The birth of Ethan Cruz
My recollection may be a little etchy but I will try my best with timings
7.30am - Got up and farewelled DH to work. I had a few backache pains with my Braxton Hicks, and thought -this is exactly how it started with DD. They were somewhat regular between 3-7 minutes apart and about 20-30seconds long.
I wasn't sure if I should tell DH just yet (seeing he had JUST left for work), by 9am I thought I would give him warning. We decided I would call the hospital and go in for a check in to see what was happening, and if this was the real deal or false labour.
Not convinced as this time around I had pains in the front too and DD's labour was completely posterior and neither my waters had broken nor had a had a real bloody show.
Anyhow got to the hospital about 1030-11am and was on the CTG which was registering 5 minutely contractions and bub was doing great! Had an internal and I was somewhere effaced but only 1 cm dilated at 1130. The midwife told me that it could be a long day and to go home and rest up. She predicted that I would be going for about another 24 hrs saying that wednesay the 8th would be the day. Told me to call if the pains were very close, hard to cope or my waters broke.
So I went home . DH met me at home at 1230 and we got DD ready for her afternoon nap. We layed down too, burnt some essential lavender and rested until about 430pm. At this stage my contractions were 7-10minutely. Still the same amount of pain. Discouraged I put up my post of "have your regular contractions just stopped" lol! thanks to those that responded! Hehe). And did a little reading on things to do to get labour going.. I really wasn't wanting to continue on like this for another 24 hrs!
So I grabbed my clary sage oil and mixed it with some massage oil and rubbed into my belly about 5pm - called DH to get DD and walked to the park. The contractions came back a little more regular (had to stop and look silly leaning over the pram in the middle of the road every 5-6 minutes). We got home about 6pm when I sat on my Birth ball and bounced about whilst chatting on BB! DH was making dinner for us.
630pm - The pains were getting longer , between 50-60seconds long but still only 5 minutely. They hurt more and I felt a little sick so didn't get to eat dinner. I told DH was should get DD ready for bed and I called a girlfriend to come and stay here to watch her while we went to the hospital.
7pm - waiting for my friend to arrive I hopped into the shower.. OOOH Blissss totally recommend this (thanks for the tip AmandaJ!), the pains were so much more bearable breathing through and letting the water run over my back.. Concerned for water restrictions and hot water running out (lol). DH ran me a bubble bath to hop into.
720-745pm - Hopped into the bath and the pain were really strong. Was on all fours, my friend arrived and I told nick we have to leave as I really cant manage this pain, he would massage my back while I breathed through.
DH rang for an ambulance to get me and we were told that it may be quite a wait so we told them not to worry about it and we would drive it. So nick ran to get things in the car and get changed . I could hear him In the other bathroom (on the opposite side of the wall), and at this stage I was having about 1 minute between contractions ? so I started banging on the wall like a crazy woman.- not able to speak or yell out.
DH ran in and I said to him I cant walk to the car , I really couldn't, the contractions were coming one on top of the other and to call the ambulance back.. With 000 operator on the phone I got out of the bath and went to the bedroom? my first instinct was to jump back in the shower in the ensuite as I was sooo good. I told DH that I felt the urge to push and he relayed this to the operator. I could hear the 000 operator saying.. you need to get your wife out of the shower. I kept saying no! hehe. Well I did. DH layed towels down on the ensuite floor and my friend got me a pillow for my head to rest on the toilet seat (small ensuite!).
745 -8.00pm - I was on all fours and the contractions were on top of each other. I had the urge to push and so I did with the contractions. DH couldn't see anything as I was on all fours in a small room and he couldn't get a view of the baby's head from his angle. Then my waters broke in one big gush.. DH was grosed out lol!
8pm (ish) we heard the sirens and the operator told us to go to the door as the paramedics had arrived - so my girlfriend did this and let the 3 men in. They wanted to ask me questions but I ignored them lol , not being able to talk. They were very good and supportive of what I wanted and would say "kellie you can birth in what ever position you want and where ever you like". Eventually they convinced me to come out of the ensuite between contractions and go to the floor of pillows and towels next to our bed they had created. I remained on all fours here - still pushing with the contractions with my head and arms resting in Dh's lap. I would squeeze Dh's hand when a contraction started so he could tell the medics. With one of the pushes I felt bub move down slightly and said the word "baby".
810-825pm It was at this point that I decided to get onto my back with DH behind me supporting my in a kind of sitting back position so that paramedics could see what was happening down there!. I said "baby" again and I did a big push and the head was out! It seems like hours between that contraction and the next one (but I was too tired to push without the help of one). The paramedic assisting checked for the cord and there was none around bubs head. With the next contraction Ethan was born and started screaming as they placed him on my chest!
I remember a rush of euphoria! It was amazing to push him out and have him straight on my chest. When the cord finished pulsating the paramedic clamped and cut the cord - leaving the placenta to be passed naturally without any use of syntocin.
Ethan stayed with me the whole time as they cleaned him a little - he Breastfed within the 1/2 hr. We stayed there for almost an hour - laughing and joking about what had happened in the last hour." how luckily the carpet was saved but had to throw out the towels etc hehe."
Also found out the paramedic that assisted had just had his first birth! (the senior paramedic instructed). I was very happy that I was able to give him that experience and he was glory from the experience! They rang the hospital to tell them I was coming in but waited patiently for Ethan to finish his breast feed before moving us. We arrived at the hospital for checks 1.5hrs after he was born. i delievered the placenta naturally about 2 hrs after the birth - all intact and good. I did have a 2 degree tear (but had no idea that I did) and had that sutured. Ethan was checked and all was good. He was 7ln7oz, head 33cm and length 51cm.
About midnight we went to the ward and I sent DH home to rest it was a big night for him! We had a very easy going 24hrs in hospital, I am a little sore and bruised from such a quick delivery and stitches but am doing fine! Ethan is breastfeeding like a trouper! Attaches immediately and has a great strong suck.. We are home now, tired but still buzzing.. DH and I still amazed that we joked that Ashleys birth was 4cm - birth in 2 hrs in an ambulance and this one would be home birth? lol mmmmm little did we know hey!
Meanwhile Ashley slept through the whole thing! And now has a little brother to share her life with the next day!
Congratulations PinkPalace! and Welcome Lil Ethan!
That was a great story - one definalty too tell on Ethan's 21st! hahaha
I work for the QAS and let me tell you this - helping deliver a baby is an awesome experience - that paramedic will be talking about if for days to come! and will never forget it!
Amazing Kell, well done! What a great story, I've got goosebumps remembering mine now. Fantastic that you guys are settling in so well! And how fun, every time you walk into your ensuite to look fondly at the place where your son was born.
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7th October 2008 - the birth of Ethan Cruz (pinkpalace)
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