I thought I might share the story of Amelia's birth with whoever is interested in reading a really positive birth story. I still get shocked looks when I tell people I enjoyed been in labour and although it did not go anywhere near what I had origanally wanted to do it was still a great experience.

Wednesday 20th May 2009: 1 week overdue.
I was awake at about 3am tossing around, since DH had decided to sleep in the spare bed to avoid my constant tossing I tried to watch some TV. That did not help me fall back asleep. For the last 2 or so weeks I had been having baths at all hours of the day and night. So I decided to go have one now. Just as I was about to stand up I heard a tiny little pop sound but thought nothing much of it, until I stood up and felt something trickling down my leg. I thought surely I have not wet myself, I did not feel like I needed to go to the loo. Then taking a few steps caused more trickles. So I decided a bath was not a good idea. I changed my pants, put on a pad and went and boiled the kettle.

The tricking had stopped for about 20 minutes so I started thinking that maybe I had really wet myself. Then about 2 minutes later I realised I needed to go and change the pad because it was soaked through. I decided to ring the hospital and let them know. The MW asked if I was having any contractions and I said every now and then I get a little pain but it just feels like the BH I had been having. The MW then said that since my waters had broken I needed to come in and get monitered and then would probably get to go home again and wait for labour to progress. It was only 5:30am so I asked if about 10am would be good and she said well no, have some breakfast put your bag in the car and then make your way down, no later then 7am.

Okay, I could do that. I walked in to the spare room and tapped DH on the shoulder. I told him that my waters had broken, I was going for a shower and having some breaky and then we need to go to the hospital. DH rolled over and said wake me when you are ready to leave and went back to sleep. That was fine with me. It was easier then having him follow me around. We were in the car ready to go when my 1st contraction started, that got me excited. Before heading to the hospital I told DH we just had to drop off the DVDs we had that were due back today and while we are at the shops you may aswell get yourself a paper or mag to read while I get monitered. So we also stopped at the newsagent.

When we got to the hospital I went straight to the birthing suit for monitering. They asked how much fluid had come out and I said it has now just been a constant trickle. The MW asked me to change my pad and show her the one I had taken off so they could check it. When I saw the pad I knew straight away we were not going home to progress. My fluid had changed to a green colour and I knew that meant it was maconiam stained. I told DH and he said lets just see what they say, but I knew. The MW took the pad and then a Dr came in with an US machine and a moniter. My contractions were still very weak and irregular at this point. The Dr used to US to check babies position and said she could not see the head so thats a good thing as it is fully engaged. She left me to be monitered for 30 minutes.

When the Dr came back in at 9:30 she told me they were taking me to a birthing suite where I would be monitered and given a drip to start my contractions. With that I knew my plans of a water birth were not going to happen.

At 10am the drip was put in and the contractions started straight away. They said that they will be increasing the drip often and that will make the contractions come faster and stronger and at 2pm the will check my dilation. So DH and I decided to Play UNO. I had put on a TENS machine so the contractions were not worrying me yet. I was winning all the games (DH says he was letting me win, yeah right) The MW had come in 3 times and turned the drip up and after 45 minutes of playing cards the contractions were strong enough to destract me so I told DH I did not want to play anymore. I started concentrating on my breathing.

At about 1pm my dad popped his head in and he kept DH occupied while I concentrated on my breathing more. At 2pm the Dr came in and told me I had only gotten to 1 CM dilation and that I was going to be here for awhile. They said I would likely have bubs tomorrow morning some time after 2am. I thought great, this is going to be a long day. The TENS was no longer affective so I asked for the gas to be set up. No good, it made me want to throw up. They asked if I wanted Pethadine and I said okay so i could get some rest ready for the early morning labour.

At 2:30pm I was given the pethadine, and got into the bed and low and behold feel asleep for 2 hours. I was slightly aware of my contratctions but not enough to fully wake me up. I had not even noticed my Aunty had come into the room. At 4:30pm Strong contractions eventually woke me up and the MW did another internal, still 1cm stretching to 2cm, so very slow going. The contractions were a lot stronger now but the MW said that I had to wait till 6pm for any more pethadine if that is what I wanted. My dad and Aunty headed off to get a coffee and dinner.

Okay gets quick now, sorry if this is way to long.

at 5pm I asked to have the moniter taken off to go to the loo. On my way back to the bed my contractions came one after the other and were really really strong. I also had a small urge to push. I got back to the bed and buzzed the midwife. She said that it was to early to push and that the feelings might come and go. The contractions were still one after the other with no break in between. Although I really did not want an Epi, I asked to be checked to see if I was over 4 cm dilated now to think about having one. I did not want another 10 hours of these contractions. She started doing an internal and quickly walked out saying hang on a minute. Another MW came in and pulled this big table over full of drapes and instruments and said I can see the head, you were right time to push. DH was in shock then since he thought we were in for a wait.

I do not like been touched, so DH was great in just standing there with a wet towel (I asked for a wet facewasher and he wet a towel instead) dabbing my head. It took 2 contractions for our little girl to be born. We knew we were having a girl. She was handed straight to me and was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. When they came and took her for a check over I noticed the Dr that said it would be an early morning birth pop his head in to see that I had actually had the baby. So all up I had 2.5 hours of established labour and only asked for the Epi when I was in transition, I am glad I was to far along and could not have it, I was so upset when I asked for it to start with.

Now I can not wait to go through it all again in November. This time I hope to have my water birth, but i know plans don't always go like you want and I will just wait and see.

Amelia Joan 20th May 2010
Weight: 4.175Kg - 9.2pounds
Time: 5:36pm
Length: 50cm