The birth of Elijah Harrison

[BellyBelly]

I thought I better write this before I forget - it's a fast fading memory when it comes to fine detail!

It was Thursday lunchtime, when I was doing a big cram of all I could do to get both businesses ready for the arrival of my second bubs - in what I thought would be around one and a half to two weeks time. I never really had too many braxton hicks late in the third trimester, the only time I had them was when we moved house (as I was doing too much lifting!) but it stopped when we settled in. However on the Thursday, I felt familiar contractions coming fairly regularly and started timing them. They weren't hugely painful at this stage, more like period pain but they started to increase in strength ever so slightly with each one, and were around 10-15 mins apart.

I told John and he forewarned his work, I also told my sister who wanted to come over and see me that night in case something happened. The contractions got to approximately 6-7 minutes apart and started getting annoying, and my sister was really excited so I decided to go into hospital to check things out. I didn't think I would be too dilated if at all, but due to my experience with Marisa (which was very irregular contractions, stopping and starting even though I was 5cms!), I thought I would go just in case.

I arrived into hospital at some ungodly hour of around 3am and I was monitored, but had to wait until morning for the Ob to come and check me. My usual Ob was on holidays so I knew I had to see a fill in Ob I had never met before! I had some panadeine forte and tried to sleep. My sister, John and Marisa were all there, Marisa slept through in her pram but John and my sister were very uncomfortable in hospital chairs and hardly slept.

In the morning, the Ob came but my contractions had died down, just like with Marisa. The internal hurt a great deal and I wasn't dilated much, but they wanted to monitor me as Elijah was very quiet. I was monitored for some time before saying I would be fine at home as I had work to do!

I got home and contractions started pretty much as soon as I got home - grrrr! They again were fairly regular, but I was determined to fight them off. I started to notice a little bit of the show each time I would go to the loo - I knew it was happening but kept working as much as I could to avoid them! But the contractions continued all day and night, so I decided to head on in again, as I was starting to get really uncomfortable.

Again, I got in and contractions slowed, but they still wanted to monitor Elijah as they thought he was still too quiet with not much movement - so I was starting to get nervous with all the talk of him being "quiet" and trying to get him to move more. After some time, I again accepted to go home, where contractions started again. I was more upset going home than last time, because the midwives weren't as nice and the Ob never checked to see how far dilated I was (didn't think I had progressed). I had such a funny labour with Marisa, stopping and starting at irregular intervals, while I was indeed dilating, and I knew it was going to happen again. My body just didn't do the conventional style of labour I read about!

Despite uncomfortable contractions that afternoon, I decided I would try some natural methods to help me along. I had a hot bath, followed by a massage from John, followed by some horizontal tango - straight after, my show decided to totally come apart. I knew this was another good sign that things were indeed moving!

That night, I had the most horrible contractions. I was totally exhausted, as I hadn't had a good nights sleep for days, (as my contractions were always at their worst at night), but this time I couldn't keep quiet or sleep a wink through them. I remained at home only because I didn't want to look like an idiot, going in for the third time with no result! But by morning, I think the telemall shopping ads had made Elijah decide enough was enough!

My sister arrived at around 9am, as I told John to call her in as I couldn't cope with the contractions anymore and Marisa was getting upset with me groaning in pain. We got in the car, still my contractions were strong but also still slightly irregular. I would get a strong one followed by a small one, so each time I got a small contraction, I would feel sick that I knew a big one was coming.

I was admitted again, and when I arrived, it was the Saturday morning and I was not so happy to hear the Ob wouldn't be in for a while as she was out for the day, however she ended up checking on another patient so decided to see me while she was there. I was so annoyed that she obviously thought it would be another send home thing. But I think she shocked everyone by announcing I was 8-9cms dilated and almost ready to push. The first thing in my head (besides some kind of relief!) was "damn, no pain relief for me this time". I knew I had to do this on my own and grew a little nervous of what was to come - I had an epidural with Marisa when it got too much. Not this time!

The Ob broke my waters and while I was still getting good contractions, they were still irregular and not as strong as at home. I truly think stress in the hospital slowed my labour - I really felt talked down to by some midwives. The Ob and midwife left the room and I felt that trademark pressure of bubs coming - I had only just gotten to the hospital and it was time to push! I told my sister bubs was coming and to quickly get the Ob.

The Ob and midwife came running in, and at the same time I had a contraction and felt pressure to push, I threw up. That was one of the most awful feelings of pressure in both directions! I grew very tired and I'd had enough. The next bit was a blur but with closed eyes I heard the Ob tell me to push faster, as baby wasn't happy. With each contraction, she kept telling me to push more and more, quickly, or she'd have to get him out herself.

Another midwife came in who was apparently called to help, I could hear Elijah's heartrate slow and felt even more nervous. With very little energy and feeling like I couldn't do it anymore (I remember yelling to make it stop, now!) I pushed with all I had - I knew I would rather get him out than be cut, and the Ob was seriously telling me to get him out asap with much concern in her voice - incentive enough for any mum!

With a few good pushes and pain like I never felt before, Elijah was born 9 days early (ironically looking a little overcooked!) at at tiny 5lbs 15oz, with the cord around his neck. They quickly tended to him while I just about fell asleep in bed, as I got the all clear that he was all okay. I felt too weak to hold him straight away so I asked my sister to hold him for a while as I dozed in and out of sleep.

After a little while, I felt a little more awake and wanted to breastfeed my new baby boy, which I luckily did successfully (and he still is a guts!) and I felt that bond between mother and son form right then and there - he was and is, the most beautiful little boy I had ever seen.

[Ambah]

Wow Kelly!! What an ordeal... and going on for so many days too... you did really well!!
Pity you had a couple of 'not-so'nice' midwives (thats what mine were like too)... but alls well that ends well and your beautiful darling boy is all that matters in the end!! What a great story, thanks for sharing

[paradise lost]

Thanks for sharing Kelly and many congratulations! What a job you had! But you got there in the end you clever thing!

Your story makes me even more determined to aim for a homebirth when i fall pregnant. Though it was good that the hospital could monitor Elijah i can't help wondering if he would have been born quicker and with less stress for you if you'd known you didn't have to go rushing off to hospital only to be spoken down to all the time!

You're lucky you were sent home - a friend of mine had 2 babies in Germany where they let her labour on and off and just gave her time to do it, she came here (uk) and her third was delivered by c-section becasue the ob was going off-shift and "didn't want to see her in the morning"!

Well done again =D> =D> =D> =D> , and hoping bubs will continue to thrive!

Hana

[Snowgirl]

wow - how scary with the heart rate dropping - I can relate!

Congratulations again.

Love
Snowy

[*Jessica*]

Kelly thanks for your story of Elijah's birth, I can relate to you saying your body doesn't do conventional labour, I've resigned to the fact my body is great at getting pregnant and cooking a healthy baby but it just doesn't know how to go into labour!

Jess

[Amity]

Well done Kelly!

Welcome to little Elijah!

It seems that your body doesn't really want to be "conventional" which is good in a way, because you know you're always going to be DIFFERENT (in my book that equates with memorable!)

I'm glad that Elijah is well and growing, feeding well (what is it about boys and BBS) and hope that you're all having a great time!

Regards;

[Lucy]

Oh Kel..........I am all teared up.........well done. You sound like you had a tough time but rose to the occasion wonderfully......

[Pietta]

Well done Kelly. What an ordeal! But the bond you have with little Elijah must all be worth it!!

[mouse_9_2001]

wow kelly, sounds like a tough time u had, well done!

take care
Lesley

[christy]

Wow Kelly!! Thanks for sharing that!! It made me all teary...

[bon]

Thanks for sharing your story Kelly! I can relate to having no drugs - I also ran out of time. Congratulations to you!

Bon

[Melinda]

Wow....what a story!!! That's amazing. There is no way known I could have gone without drugs....I was on the gas at 1 - 2cm!!!

I'm so sorry you had some nasty midwives, and I can unfortunately relate to that.........

So glad that everything turned out well despite having the labour go for days and a few trips to the hospital before Elijah made his grand entrance!

[Trish]

Well done Kelly, what a shame you had some "not so nice midwives"
As Hana said had you had nicer midwives you may have relaxed abit more. Another reason why I'm having a homebirth - atleast I know my midwife is nice too

Glad to hear that little Elijah is still feeding good. Boys really like their BB's.

Take care
Trish

[Angel]

Wow, Kelly, what an amazing birth story! Well done! Thank you so much for sharing that with us.

[visitor2]

Wow Kelly. You both went through so much so glad you both were alright in the end.

That was a lovely birth story

[Astrolady]

LMAO. I thought you posted this ages ago and I am thinking "why is everyone replying to Kellys birth story now for" #-o

Was a great story Kelly, even though we just about lived it with you via SMS LOL !!! and Elijah is such a beautiful boy

Big hugs to you all

Love

[{sarah}]

Wow Kelly, what an amazing story, thanks for sharing it with us.

[mitch4now]

What a wonderful story kelly.

Great work by the way, such an extended labour is obviously exhausting, you did so well to find the energy when you needed it. Elijah was so tiny. What a shame the hospital wasn't nicer to you.

Best wishes Michelle