Like all good fairy tales, our story from start to finish has had it all; happiness, sadness, incredible highs and some terrible lows but like all good fairy tales we did finally get our "happily ever after". Here's how it happened.
The day was relatively uneventful. It had been so hot so I spent the day in my usual vegetative state, sitting working on a cross stitch pattern in front of the tv. My boss had rung and we joked about the ways to get labour started "chocolate bullets and a car ride on a bump country road" was the suggestion as that had been what he and his DW did the day things started for them. I had only just decided at that point that I really should put all the stuff I had out on a spare bed into bags to take into hospital (good thing I at least had things partially ready)
I went to bed at the normal time of 9pm not expecting that in less than 6 hrs time I would be holding my long awaited little girl. I woke up to some outside noise and reached for my phone 23:53 pm and crawled out of bed to go to the bathroom, I had a small amount of bottom pressure but nothing came so I went back to bed.
My tummy was feeling a bit sore and I just assumed bub had positioned herself onto a nerve so I tired to move into a different position but the pain didn't go away. I honestly didn't think much of it other than it was annoying me so I decided to get up. The pain intensified almost as soon as I was standing and hung around for a little while so I woke Dh and told him I was having some tummy pains and that I was going to sit up for a while. My first painful contraction hit as soon as I started walking down the hall.
I got to the living room and all of a sudden the pain ramped up and I grizzled through the pain. Not sure how long it was before the next one hit and I called out for DH twice. He didn't respond and me thinking he didn't hear me (he did he was just getting dressed) I pounded really hard on the wall. He came into the living room and asked what I wanted to do "Ring the Fn Hospital, this is really hurting" I snapped as another contraction hit.
I still felt pressure back there so I went and sat on the toilet but again nothing happened and I got frustrated because I was in pain and couldn't get comfortable. I remember thinking that this could go on for hours so I was trying to stay as calm as I could. Maureen (MW) was on the phone and wanted to talk to me. She asked how long I had been having contractions and I said not long but they really hurt. She very kindly reassured me that she knew they hurt and suggested I take some panadol and go back to bed to rest and asked if I was ok with that. Another contraction hit while I was on the phone to her and through the contraction I said something about not taking panadol but by the time it was over she suggested I went straight into the hospital to be checked as she saw I was VBAC'er.
The car ride over was hell. I had 5 contractions on the way there and they seemed to hit at their peak right when the road was bumpiest, or windiest or where there was a bridge. At one point I was saying stop stop stop and DH thought I was talking to him so slowed down to pull over I just shouted at him (poor boy) to keep driving.
We get to the hospital and another hit as I was getting out of the car. There was a lady sitting outside having a fag and she wished me luck - I gritted a "thanks" back as the pain peaked and we got to emergency. In triage there was a young guy on and he asked if I wanted a chair. I said no initially then almost in the same breath I said yes as yet another hit. I remember a pretty young blonde woman bringing a chair and asking me how long I had been labouring "30 min" I said you should have seen the look on her face.
Maureen greeted us at the birth suite and from here my memory gets a tad hazy, from here on in my story is filled in partly by DH's memory and my hazy memory . She told me that my KYM MW was Janet and that she wanted to see how I went before she called her. I was asked to get onto the bed for some reason which I got a bit annoyed about and the contractions were ramping up in intensity but I still had a little breathing time in between them. I said I had to go to the toilet and I had a small bit of a show. I kept telling Maureen that I needed to poo but nothing was coming out She suggested I get off the toilet and come back over to the bed and they had the CTG machine ready and waiting. I demanded the gas by this stage and they talked me through using it. I almost got the hang of it too and was consciously trying to start breathing just as soon as I felt something coming on but I forgot a few times. I was leaning over the bed and I wanted to push but I remember thinking "NO, its too early to push, if I push now and I am not ready I will make things harder" so I squeezed my legs tight. Maureen saw what I was doing and decided it was time to call Janet in and said that I wasn't going to be able to push the baby out with my legs shut and to just trust my body.
As soon as she said that I said I needed to push and I wanted to get into the shower. So we made our way across the room and I knelt on the mats and DH held a hose on my back. It wasn't as blissful as I was hoping but it was pretty damn good. I don't recall at what point Janet joined us but I remember this uncontrollable urge to bear down. I was pushing hard and I remember Janet saying she was going to feel to see where the baby's head was. At this point I felt a pop and I told them that but no waters came out that we saw. Janet said the head was "just there" and asked if I wanted to feel. I shook my head but curiosity got the better of me and I put my hand down during the next break, it was so soft that I couldn't help remark how soft it was. I also asked for them to turn the gas up because it wasn't working and they laughed and said that I wasn't using the gas I was just biting on the end of the mouth piece
I was told to put one knee up to give the baby more room as the head was crowning, I vaguely remember saying it stung but was able to relax somewhat in between the contractions. Her head was born and before the next contraction hit I was told to pant through it and not to push, I did as I was told and didn't question it. I was given the all clear and with the next contraction the rest of her came out. I remember her being passed through my legs so I could see her, and I saw the cord was around her neck 3 times. They quickly got it off clamped and DH cut the cord and they took Shae over to the trolley for resuscitation but she screamed like a banshee so they gave her a quick once over and brought her straight back to me as by this stage I was on the bed.
I ended up having second degree tearing which happened as her second shoulder was born as she tried to turn or wiggled or something. I was given a shot and Janet pushed on my sore tummy and "plop" out popped the placenta. I laughed and said "that feels better" and I was given my baby to snuggle. The stitching took ages and after an hour or so of fiddling I was growing quite inpatient. The Dr was lovely and didn't bother putting the last one in because she could see how annoyed I was getting
Shae's stats were
Length 51cm
Head 34cm
Weight 8lb 1oz
Time of Birth 2.19am
Total labour (inc 3rd stage) 2.28 min
Apgar - 7 and 9
Everything happened soo fast I didn't get an overwhelming feeling of anything, or cry or smile I was just stunned. DH was totally in love with Shae and I rememebr him telling me I did good and that he loved me. I will never forget the look on his face when he got to hold his little girl for the first time - THAT brings tears to my eyes.
Its hard to believe Shae has been here for almost a week already, I cannot stop looking at her and kissing her soft skin. I love her smell, its soo sweet. She is every bit her father I swear there is no mistaking who her daddy is she literally is a spitting image of him. I love the way she gets a sleepy smile on her face after a belly full of milk and the way she taps my boobs as she is feeding. I cannot help but giggle when she screams for booboob when its right there in front of her or when she is being taken out of a dirty nappy.
Really I could keep writing but for such a short labour my birth story has been long (sorry ) I am soo in love with her, its been quite a journey but worth every single moment.
Thank you so much for reading my story and for following my journey.
What a beautiful story and a beautiful experience for you Nae. That has brought tears to my eyes. Thank you so much for sharing. What an amazing woman you are!! Enjoy this special time with Shae - she was certainly in a hurry to meet you guys huh?
Aww Nae, what a beautiful story! I too have been dying for you to post it!
You did such a brilliant job giving birth to Shae, you should feel very proud of yourself
I'm glad you are enjoying those precious newborn snuggles, there is nothing like it.
Thanks so much for sharing your story with us. I have been following your journey for a long time and it is so wonderful to finally read your birth story. May the next chapter of your story be filled with snuggles, joy and happiness
nae, im sat here with tears of joy for you. you did amazingly hun and im so pleased beautiful shae is here. take care of yourself and enjoy your princess cuddles xxxxx
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Once upon a time ........ (long)
(good thing I at least had things partially ready)
I just shouted at him (poor boy) to keep driving.
you should have seen the look on her face.
. She told me that my KYM MW was Janet and that she wanted to see how I went before she called her. I was asked to get onto the bed for some reason which I got a bit annoyed about and the contractions were ramping up in intensity but I still had a little breathing time in between them. I said I had to go to the toilet and I had a small bit of a show. I kept telling Maureen that I needed to poo but nothing was coming out
and to just trust my body.
Congratulations xx
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