Three days overdue with baby #3. I had a bit of a show in the morning and had a feeling that things would be getting started that day. At around 7pm I had the first mild contraction. The big kids were in bed by 8pm. By 9pm I was having regular contractions every 7 minutes so I gave the midwife a ring to let her know I would most likely be needing her at some time during the night.
DH and I watched a movie to kill time, then he filled up the birthing pool for me. I suggested he get some sleep so he went to bed while I wandered around the house, getting last minute bits and pieces ready. Around 2am the contractions were about 5 minutes apart and getting more painful so I woke DH and got him to adjust the temperature in the birthing pool and then he went back to sleep in the spare bed next to the pool in case I needed anything. Unfortunately I was a bit premature in getting into the bath and the contractions slowed and became less intense so I got back out and wandered the house some more. I watched something on telly and fell asleep for about an hour, waking for contractions until I couldn't sit through them anymore. I got back into the pool at 4am and got DH to ring the midwife.
The midwife, K, arrived about half an hour later. I was managing alright in the pool so she went about setting up all the emergency gear in the hall/baby room. DH made her a coffee. The next couple of hours passed in a blur, every once in a while I would feel the doppler on my belly as K checked on bub or asked for my wrist to take my pulse.
Around 6am my 4 year old DS woke up and DH went out to look after him. DS came in to visit me and see what was going on but had no inclination to stay. Shortly after 2 year old DD woke up. DH carried her in for a visit and she said "Mum, baby" - she knew what was going on but like DS she was happy to stay out in the lounge with DH.
It was quite nice to be able to hear all the normal morning routine happening - milo being made, breakfast, kids getting dressed etc.
At 6.30am DH came in to check on me and asked how dilated I was. K didn't know because she hadn't done any internal exams but asked if I would like one. I did want to know what was happening so I agreed. 5-6cm. Gutted! The labour was already as long as my previous one and I was still miles away from delivering! I took some comfort in the fact I went from 6cm to birth in 2 hours with DD. K suggested I get out of the pool and go to the toilet and labour upright for a bit. OMG the contractions hurt much more out of the water! I went to the loo, went to say hello to the kids and then made my way back to the birth room - didn't want the kid's to see me in pain. I got DH to get me a couple of panadol. At 7am I got back into the pool. Contractions were getting quite painful now and were about 3-4 minutes apart.
At 8.30am DH came in to check again and K offered another internal. 7-8cm. That was 2cm in 2 hours - I asked if it was going to take another couple of hours and K said that was quite possible. I was going to ask if breaking the waters would speed it up, but she could see I was getting tired and suggested it first. So on the next contraction she broke the waters. I knew the contractions would probably be more painful afterwards but the next one was reasonably mild.
The next contraction came and I felt baby shift and without meaning to I was pushing. K asked if I was and I said yes. She got on the phone to the health nurse (protocol to have back up present for the birth) and she called DH into the room. The head came out partially on the first push but it took a few more pushes to get it out. I stopped for a rest with the head out and felt the body rotate. On the next contraction I pushed again and slowly she came out. K scooped her up and handed her to me. The health nurse arrived shortly after. Baby was grey and not pinking up very quickly but breathing and heart rate was good. K asked if I wanted her to take baby and give her some oxygen but I wanted the cord to finish pulsing so I asked to give her another minute. K and the health nurse were saying how cute baby was - I thought she looked like a grey potato lol https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...1813-img-9726/
After about 20 minutes I cut the cord. DH had his first hold while I delivered the placenta and got out of the bath. I had a quick check for tearing (only a tiny graze) and got my dressing gown on. Then DH and I took baby down to meet the big kids - they were thrilled! After a while DH took them out for a walk so they could have a break.
I had a doze on the couch holding but while K sat quietly at the table writing notes. She left after a couple of hours for another appointment and came back an hour or so later to check on me and make sure the bleeding had slowed and I didn't need the injection (had a bit of a bleed but we decided against the injection because I was already having bad after pains and that would make it worse). I spent most of the rest of the day napping on the couch, with the big kids being able to come and see me whenever they wanted. K showed the placenta to a very interested DS. https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...12-img-9806-1/ (3 days old looking less like a spud).
Stats:
Weight: 4.53kg, 10lb
Head: 35.5cm
Total Labour: 13 hours
Active Labour: approx 4 hours
Erin's arrival.
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Erin is gorgeous, congratulations!
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