Baby Marta’s Home Waterbirth (oh, it's a wee bit long...)

[Cassius2]

Reposting this story as I loved my experience too much not to lol! (and I have added the gorgeous comments that were posted in the original...Mods i hope this ok

‘What do you mean there’s no sour cream??!’

The place was Wagga Wagga the date was the 27th of December and I surprised myself by my absolute horror at the information that the restaurant we were eating at had run out of sour-cream…
DH, DD and I arrived back in Melbourne 2 days later and although I was not yet due for AF, the 'sour' incident in Wagga Wagga had me wondering…so I tested…and a perfect set of matching lines came up! Baking a Baby had begun!

The joy and exhilaration of the news however was soon overshadowed by growing fear and anxiety and soon enough I had to face the reality that my PTSD that had eventuated after the traumatic birth of my first child was beginning to creep in as I thought ahead to the birth of our next baby.
It had already been decided that I would not travel the same path as last time so as to avoid triggers for the PTSD, so quickly booked into a birth centre (last birth was in a private hospital and quite a medicalised environment). However, within 5 minutes of leaving the building after the information session I was having a full-blown panic attack. It was really frightening and left me, so I thought, with nowhere to go.

DH, being the beautiful and supportive man he is called my psychologist who I hadn’t seen for almost a year and we went in and saw her. She looked me straight in the face and told me that I needed to get out of the 'hospital setting'. It took a few seconds to register what she meant, but the moment I realised it was as if a weight had been taken off my shoulders. And so the path was set to bring our baby into the world at home…

The weeks leading up to the birth of baby Marta were spent nesting like crazy (watch out skirting boards!) and preparing our home for the birth. Post-it notes were stuck up around the house to remind us what to do in the flurry of labour (like, unlatch the door and put the dog outside before everyone arrives…she is 36kgs of pure love!).
We had been laughing at how, no doubt our Virgo baby would like to be punctual and arrive on her due date. So when I woke at 4am on her due date feeling 'different' I wasn’t too surprised. Jumped in the shower, not thinking much of the early hour as I had been waking up at that time for weeks, but did take note of the fact that I had ENERGY to burn). Jumped onto BB for a wee bit of perusing and was posting in my baby buddies group (Sept 07 rocks!) when I felt the first familiar 'wave' of a contraction (about 5.30am). Again didn’t think much of it as it was incredibly mild and didn’t last long at all (mebbe 15 seconds). I had also been having a fair amount of BH in the last weeks and also had a bit of prelabour a couple of weeks prior, so assumed that this was probably going to be another instance of that.

DH woke up around 6am and asked me what I was doing up and about so early and I casually mentioned that maybe, just maybe, Marta was thinking about coming. I didn't believe it myself, but the big grin on his face helped reassure me that it was all a bit exciting lol.
Spent the day experiencing mild, intermittent waves of contractions. Most were coming at 12 minutes apart, but never lasting more than 30 seconds. Occassionally I would have a cluster of contractions, but yet again, nothing intense that couldn’t be overcome by the calmbreathing exercises that I had been practising since our course a couple of months prior.
Called my two beautiful midwives around 10am to give them heads up, but reassured them that I felt too happy and energetic and well, not in labour so don’t expect to be needed until maybe that night, or even the next day…

It was such a lovely sunny day (totally unusual for Melbourne that week lol), so DH and I took the chance to take the dog for a walk around the streets, both of us smirking like cats that got the milk as people passed us by, knowing that 'cool' things potentially were happening.

At about 1.30pm I headed out the backyard to prune some flowers and hang out a load of washing…so domestic of me lol. And did quietly note to myself how I was leaning a bit heavier than normal on the wall during a contraction. But it would pass and the thought left my mind.

At 2pm I found myself lying on the bed reading a tacky mag (thanks mum for the supply!). And everytime a contraction would come I would roll over onto all fours and breath through them. DH and DD were lying on the bed with me all reading our various 'literature' (DD had 'diary of a wombat' lol). DH told me that he thought I should call Nic our midwife again as he felt that things were ramping up. I told him to stop panicking that it was all good and that I can’t be close as I felt fine and the contractions weren’t strong or long.
At 3pm I rolled up onto my fours for a contraction and when it passed I told DH that I needed to wee (oh the TMI lol) and as I threw my leg off the bed…POP! My waters broke!!! DDs eyes just bulged when I yelled out to DH to get some 'frikkin’ towels' before the bed is ruined lol. So, with the delicacy only seen in the best ballet schools of Russia, I heaved my 40 week pregnant self off the futon (ohhh gotta get a Big Person bed someday lol) and waddled with towels towards the shower with my Mum and a very excited DD in tow. DH called our midwives Sue and Nic immediately as I remembered them clearly stating that I shouldn’t wait until my waters broke to call them lol. Nic was a fair distance away with another client in the mountains so I was told that it would be half an hour before they got there. It was a good thing in the end as my adrenalin had kicked in and I needed some time before people arrived to get myself re-focused and to finally realise that this was the Real Deal. My baby, Our baby was coming!

Both our midwives arrived within minutes of eachother 3.40pm. By this stage I was in the birth pool (thanks to DH for speedily filling that baby up!) and DD was sent with my Mum to the neighbours for a playdate (we had organised it so they would be back for the 'exciting' bit of seeing Marta being born).
My first realisation that they had arrived was a lovely chilled washer put on my head smelling faintly of lavender…I looked up to see them both sitting there with smiles on their faces. Oh what a beautiful sight! DH was flitting around trying to get things in order and burn off his excitement, but within 10 minutes of them arriving he had the chance to sit down beside me and hold my hand while I floated around in the birth pool.

One of my midwives, Sue, was also my calmbirth instructor and when I started to make the familiar noises of a woman getting close to birth she helped 'guide' my conscious mind back into relaxation and focus. All this time I had been using my calmbreathing and in between contractions felt completely 'normal' and jovial. During the contractions, I would turn away from everyone and stare at one of my affirmations that I had stuck up on the wall that read: 'breathe with the pressure'. It seemed that out of all of them it was the one that was resonating with me. I also had a picture of my Oma on the wall who, loved babies and sadly passed away only a couple of months beforehand, but I knew that she would of loved to be there holding my hand, so her picture was my best attempt at having her there and it really helped during this stage.

To be honest, I didn’t realise that those contractions were the 'gruesome' transition stage…I remember so vividly with DD1 that this stage was full of fear and agony, and the fact that I found myself this time laughing as Nic took a bite of a yellow (read: gross) jellybean and almost gagging didn't give me a heads up that Marta was close to birth.
Apparently I went quiet for a minute or two and Sue later told me that I declared that Marta was coming down (I don't really remember that). I instinctively said this as my hand reached down to see 'where' she was. Nic saw me do this and realised that I was A LOT closer than they thought. DH tried to run next door to get DD and Mum, but I looked up and with the primal roar of a woman NOT to be messed with demanded that he stay and not move as I realised right then that it was only going to be a matter of moments before she was going to be earthside. At this point I was on my knees kneeling in the water and DH sat directly in front of me and gave me a big phat kiss and put his hand on my shoulder…

I don’t remember where my midwives were standing or doing, all I remember is feeling Marta slowly move down and after two big moves I put my hand down and felt the familiar bulge of a baby’s head…and what appeared to be a vast amount of long, long hair floating in the water…Nic had a look and said, 'wow, she’s got a head full of hair!'. Both Nic and Sue gently reminded me to breathe her out rather than push and to use my calmbreathing to achieve that. But it was so instinctual (the best way for me to describe it really) to just that that pushing hadn’t crossed my mind. I remember that at one point I started to laugh as Marta had taken to nodding her head…a rather, interesting sensation lol! It didn’t hurt but gosh almighty it felt w.e.i.r.d.
The next thing that I knew the next wave of a contraction came and her head gently slipped out into my hand (I had my hand there holding her head from the last contraction). This was the only time that I actually felt a real yuck pain sensation. I am guessing that it was the shoulders turning?

The next contraction and the rest of her body slipped out and into the water and into my arms. An amazing experience and totally unexpected as we hadn't decided either way whether I would be ‘unassisted’ with catching her (or if for that matter that I was catching her at all lol!). But again, it felt like the natural, normal thing to do at that moment and my midwives just let me go with that.

I brought her up to my body, but soon realised that the cord was short and she had a loop tightly wrapped around her neck. Nic, calmly told me to lower her close to the water and she scooped the cord up and over and finally I was able to bring her up to me and cuddle her close. DH ran out and got DD1 and Mum and they came running in with big wide grins. We were on cloud 9!
We had a physiological third stage and I was shown how to guide the placenta out and wow, they are HUGE bahahaha!

Our little family has been on a high ever since. We are all so happy and joyous of her arrival and since this experience, having our baby at home has brought so much healing and love that we couldn’t of asked for better or imagined a more ideal way to bring our baby earthside…

Soooo, the official stats were all up:
Established labour: 2.15 hours. Second stage: 9 minutes.
Marta was 3.43kgs and 52cms long. Have no idea of HC…forgot to check lol!
Born 7th September 2010 (her due date no less!)

And boy oh boy does she have a serious head of long blonde hair!

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Posted by: *star*
On: September 10th, 2010 03:22 PM

Congratulations, Cassius! What a beautiful story and well done on your birth.
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Posted by: feeb
On: September 10th, 2010 03:26 PM

Aww what a sweet birth story!! Enjoy your baby moon!! Love her name.

Thanks for sharing!

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Posted by: Keike
On: September 10th, 2010 03:27 PM

What an AWESOME birth story - you're a Birthing Goddess darl, you did fabulously
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Posted by: Kamarine
On: September 10th, 2010 03:33 PM

What a beautiful birth story. Thank you for sharing.
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Posted by: allycat06
On: September 10th, 2010 03:35 PM

Beautiful, you did an amazing job! Thankyou for sharing.
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Posted by: shell1
On: September 10th, 2010 03:49 PM

ohh congrats. Your story made me tear up. beautiful
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Posted by: human bean
On: September 10th, 2010 03:51 PM

What a truly wonderful birth, made me a little teary! Congratulations
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Posted by: STARRYSKY
On: September 10th, 2010 03:51 PM

Wow! Cassius, a truly splendid birth story! I'm so happy for you that this time it was such a fantastic experience xxx
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Posted by: Snowy Love
On: September 10th, 2010 03:52 PM

Beautiful story! Congratulations.
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Posted by: Heva&Zacky
On: September 10th, 2010 04:12 PM

Congratulations Cassius! What a beautiful story, truly inspiring.
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Posted by: ~Kate~
On: September 10th, 2010 04:13 PM

I am so stoked (and frankly, a wee bit jealous lol) that you got the wonderful, calming birth you wanted. Gorgeously written as well! xxoo
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Posted by: Elocin
On: September 10th, 2010 04:20 PM

Fantastic birth story hun... What a fabulous way to welcome your new baby girl.

Loving the photos, you and Miss L looking so happy

Xoxo
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Posted by: Tiff+2
On: September 10th, 2010 04:22 PM

Beautiful birth story! How lovely you got to welcome your newest princess into the world in the comfort of home.
Congrats once again. Enjoy your babymoon.
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Posted by: Olive
On: September 10th, 2010 04:24 PM

beautiful! what a wonderful birth darl, such an inspiration
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Posted by: Liviam
On: September 10th, 2010 04:27 PM

Congratulations on your beautiful birth.
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Posted by: ezymay
On: September 10th, 2010 04:30 PM

That is a beautiful birth!! What a lovely way to welcome Marta!!
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Posted by: Kate07
On: September 10th, 2010 04:31 PM

Gorgeous, wonderful, beautiful birth story. Thank you for sharing. That's how birth should be!! Enjoy your babymoon you amazing woman.
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Posted by: Yules
On: September 10th, 2010 04:35 PM

Love it Love it! Gorgeous story.....Gorgeous Family! Enjoy x
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Posted by: sterla
On: September 10th, 2010 04:44 PM

What a beautiful, inspirational birth experience! Congratulations!
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Posted by: Manhattan
On: September 10th, 2010 04:49 PM

Beautiful story, thanks for sharing. Congrats again on the arrival of sweet Marta x
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Posted by: cherished1
On: September 10th, 2010 05:06 PM

WOW cas thanks so much for sharing I have goose bumps, I so hope my experience is as wonderful
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Posted by: MamaSpice
On: September 10th, 2010 07:01 PM

beautiful story. Congrats honey
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Posted by: marcellus
On: September 10th, 2010 07:06 PM

Oh yay! So beautiful!
I want what she had
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Posted by: diannescruffy
On: September 10th, 2010 07:13 PM

Thank you for sharing your beautiful birth story.

Regards,
Dianne
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Posted by: Arcadia
On: September 10th, 2010 07:17 PM

it sounds like a blissful birth. I love that you laughed through tranaition...amazing!

I also had that instinctual "the baby's coming" exclamation when I felt her suddenly decend.

Beautiful story. And a beautiful birth! HOORAY for homebirth!
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Posted by: *Infinity*
On: September 10th, 2010 07:25 PM

Just beautiful. You already know I think you're amazing but I felt the need to tell you again.

So so happy for you honey and a wee bit envious too!

Enjoy these blissful days with your beautiful family.
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Posted by: Eng
On: September 10th, 2010 07:41 PM

That was a lovely birth story!! very inspirational!!! Congratulations again....
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Posted by: MusicLover83
On: September 10th, 2010 07:56 PM

Thank you for sharing your beautiful birth story! Congratulations and enjoy your new bubba.
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Posted by: Roryrory
On: September 10th, 2010 07:58 PM

oh Cassius, marvellous! Just marvellous
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Posted by: Nai
On: September 10th, 2010 08:17 PM

What a beautiful birth story - congratulations again!
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Posted by: CheezelMonster
On: September 10th, 2010 08:23 PM

What a wonderful, exciting story!
You did an absolutely amazing job!
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Posted by: sneakysparkle
On: September 10th, 2010 08:59 PM

love love LOVE it! what a gorgeous story, and what a star you are!
congrats
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Posted by: *Beema*
On: September 10th, 2010 09:30 PM

Oh hun, that was the most divine, gentle birth story, thank you so much for sharing

I am so so happy you achieved such an amazing birth, at home, in your space...

Have an amazing babymoon!
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Posted by: Ozstar
On: September 10th, 2010 09:55 PM

Oh Cass just beautiful!!
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Posted by: boobaloo
On: September 10th, 2010 10:15 PM

you did a great job mama! enjoy xoxo
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Posted by: rachel6188
On: September 10th, 2010 10:58 PM

Cass, you did amazing huni. Huge congrats and I hope you are enjoying your babymoon. Iam sooo glad you got the birth you wanted. Take care xox

Posted by: meow
On: September 11th, 2010 12:59 PM

SO beautiful! I cried happy tears all through it!

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful birth story. I'm so, so, so
thrilled for you all, and in awe of your amazing birthing strength
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Posted by: Cassius2
On: September 11th, 2010 08:04 PM

Thanks so much for all the well wishes and taking time to read our story. it
really means alot xx *mwah*

what i love most about this experience is that i am no one special; i am
just some chick from the burbs that had the chance to have a baby at home,
and seriously in comparison to my first birth experience, this didnt require
strength! just smiles, lots and lots of smiles...get that oxytocin pumpin'
LOL!
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Posted by: Divvy
On: September 11th, 2010 08:11 PM

That was a seriously amazing, healing, wondrous, joyous birth.
Congratulations on the birth of Marta. What a gorgeous baby and gorgeous
family.
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Posted by: CharlieBrownGirl
On: September 11th, 2010 08:16 PM

I've got goose bumps reading your wonderful birth of baby Marta.
I'll have to do some reading on calmbirthing, it sounds really
positive.
Congratulations
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Posted by: meow
On: September 11th, 2010 08:35 PM

Pfft. You are super-hero strong to have travelled the road you have... and
steered yourself on such an amazing path with your PTSD.
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Posted by: ControlFreak
On: September 11th, 2010 08:37 PM

Wow! What an amazing and inspiring birth story! Congratulations to you and
your family on your beautiful new bubba.
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Posted by: OceanPrincess
On: September 11th, 2010 09:03 PM

Cassius - that's a beautiful birth story. I'm so happy you achieved the
beautiful home birth you wanted and that it has helped your healing.

Huge congratulations!!!
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Posted by: Kazbah
On: September 11th, 2010 09:06 PM

what an amazing, beautiful and inspiring birth story.

I'm going to get my DH to read this one

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Congratulations Clare, absolutely beautiful story! So happy for you!

[Elocin]

Ah-mazing!!!!

[Elocin]

Whoops..... Double post

[Trillian]

Cass, I'm so happy to read how Marta entered this world. And I'm happy that you got to experience the birth you deserved

[~Hestia~]

Just have to comment again as I loved this story!
So well written & entertaining! Felt like I was right there with you lol!
Such a wonderful way to come into the world.

[Ginger]

wow!!!!! what a birth story!!!! just amazing
you've done so well and marta is gorgeous

[Manhattan]

And so you should post it again! A beautiful and inspiring story that needs to be shared. Congrats again hun, so happy you welcomed Marta into the world the way you wanted x

[loulabelle]

Congratulations! What an amazing and beautiful story! I am so happy that you had such a healing birth. I think this is one of the most perfect birth stories I've ever read.congratulations Clare!

Laura xx

[MamaPan]

that is just gorgeous.... (where do i see pics of miss M??)

[Cassius2]

that is just gorgeous.... (where do i see pics of miss M??)

got 'em on my FB...i'll try to put some on our group page babe...

[LionsandBears]

Wonderful birth and a great story!

[Melbournemumma]

What a beautiful birth story.

Amazing

[meow]

Yay!! I'm glad you hadn't lost this. Beautiful birth story

[Janie]

Simply beautiful, and amazing Well done Cass, I'm so glad you're floating on cloud nine xoxo

[*Beema*]

I had to post again as I just adored your BS, it was just beautiful to read such an amazing birthing experience gives me all the *warm and fuzzies*
Thankyou so much for sharing xxoo

[Cally]

Wonderful story Cass, so glad you got the birth you wanted.

[kristi14]

Such a beautiful birth story

Well done and Congratulations