Summer's Birth - 6th December 07 LONG

**Nikki87** · January 17th, 2008, 04:45 PM

I woke at 2.30am with bad period type pain and really felt the need to go to the toilet for a number 2 but couldn't. I went back to bed and just before 3 I felt the urge to go to the loo again. This time I was able to 'go' straightaway and found this a little strange. I went back to bed and thats when I felt the first contraction.

I was unsure at first if that was what it actually was so I just laid there until I felt another and noticed that it was about 20 minutes later. I started to feel a little anxious and decided to time to the next one. Sure enough, 16 minutes later I was hit by another. Over the next 2 hours they gradually got down to about 7-8 minutes and I knew it was the real deal. I told DH who promptly fell back asleep, not believing that it was actually finally happening. I got up and started walking around to alleviate the pain. I then rang mum to talk about what was happening and to get some re-assurance that it was labour. I then called the hospital and they advised to stay home until contractions were about 5 minutes apart or I could no longer manage.

At this point I woke DH again and told him what was happening even though he was still in denial. I got in the shower and was yelling for DH to get up and finish packing the bags which he finally did after about another 20 minutes!! Once out of the shower, I finalised the packing and organised a pack of heat beads because my back was beginning to ache already. Contractions were now 4 minutes apart so we packed the car, rang the hospital and mum and off we took. Time was 7:00am.

So far I had been in labour for 4 hours but I felt like the time was flying! We arrived at the hospital (only 5 minutes down the road) and booked in. We got taken to the maternity ward and shown to our room - very small with a single bed! I wasn't happy seeing as we had private health cover!! Over the next 3 hours contractions came every 4 to 7 minutes so they weren't yet very consistent, and would last for around 40 - 55 seconds. I was constantly going to the loo to empty my bowels and was getting quite sick of it! I felt I was managing quite well on my own and declined any pain relief. Doctor then came in and did an internal to find I was a good 3cm and that my waters were 'bulging' and could break any time. At around 11.30am we moved to a room with a double bed. DH was doing a great job constantly massaging my back ad timing the contractions. We had some lunch and then the doctor came back around 12 to do another internal. I was now at least 5cm dilated and was offered an epidural. I declined as I was still feeling great and finding labour a breeze (at present!!!). I got in the shower and the water on my back really helped alleviate the back pain as this is were I felt the contractions, not across my front. I was still able to hold a conversation so Mum and my sister visited.

Around 2:00pm we went down to the delivery suite where I resumed my position in the shower! Contractions were now getting stronger at each passing minute. The midwife then suggested I try the bath around 3:30pm which I did. This was a BAD mistake. I was too big for the bath being 5 feet 11 and couldn't stand the contractions. They tried to offer me gas but I threw it away and climbed back in the shower and knelt on the floor leaning on a chair. Between contractions I was so tired I would almost sleep! By now it was 4:00pm and the midwife asked if I would like her to do an internal or wait for the doctor. I was curious to find how things were progressing so I let her do it. By now Sis had gone to work but DH and Mum were still by my side. I was relieved to find I was 8cm and fairly whooped it up!! I then stayed on the bed sucking on a small percentage gas mix for the next hour until I dilated the next 2cm.

Finally it was time to push and contractions were now unbearable and it took all my strength to overcome each one. I had DH on one side and Mum on the other both holding my hands (wishing they didn't because I would squeeze that hard haha). I found their words of encouragement good during some contractions but then during others felt like they were yelling at me which would then make me angry in return. Vicious cycle!!

The doctor arrived and I started pushing. For the next 1 1/2 hours I pushed and pushed and felt like I was getting no where. I was sitting up on the bed with one foot on the doctor's hip and one on the midwives with a mirror positioned so I could see my progression with each contraction. I started getting really hot so DH was feeding me ice and putting a cold flannel across my forehead. Time after time the head would start to show and then 'suck' back up - this severely deflated my mood haha I started getting angry and was yelling at the doctor to just 'suck' it out with a vacuum!! I was having excruciating back pain with each contraction still. Finally after a couple of really strong contractions the head started to crown and didn't disappear! I pushed for 3 sets of contractions while the midwife stretched the skin around the perineum.

Next thing I knew the head was out and then out slid the body with the next contraction! And that was it. She was on my chest with DH cutting the cord and the pain stopped immediately!! PURE BLISS!! We still hadn't checked the sex after about a minute, so DH started lifting the babies leg and then the doctor realised (they were a little preoccupied as I lost a fair amount of blood) and checked and it was a beautiful baby girl.

Even though the pain was incredible I found birth to be the best experience I have ever been through and can't wait to do it all over again. But for now I'm going to enjoy my gorgeous princess.

Total length of labour: 16 hours
Length of Pushing: 2 hours
Drug free labour, 2 stitches

Baby: Summer Nicole
Date of birth: 6th December 2007
Time: 6.56pm
Length: 49cm
H/C: 34.5cm
Weight: 3425g = 7 pound, 9 ounces