Archie's Home Water Birth :) loooong!
I was around 14 weeks along when i decided that maybe i'd like to have a homebirth. I guess the main reason was that DD (who is very attached to me!) said that she didn't want me going to stay in hospital. I also had a close friend who had recently had a homebirth and had an awesome experience and was trying to convince me to do the same. So i put in my application with the Community Midwifery Programme, was accepted and it all started from there...
I had an interesting pregnancy! I couldn't walk properly from 14 weeks as my hip would seize up so i was quite depressed about this, especially as a Dr at the hospital said there was nothing i could do about it as the only cure was childbirth!! I started seeing a Chiropractor who worked wonders and really helped with the pain.
I had a threatened premature labour with DD at 29 weeks, so the midwife was a little concerned when at 24 weeks along in this PG the baby's head was fully engaged. I had also been having strong BH's from about 14 weeks so there was a little concern about me going into labour early with this one too. Needless to say, we didn't have to worry about a pre term labour after all!
I started having lots of pre labour from 37 weeks, with contractions starting, coming for a few hours then just stopping. This was rather frustrating! I also had a show at 36 weeks. My midwife was on high alert!
The due date (23rd Nov) came and went.. i had periods of contractions almost everyday that never eventuated into anything (i now think perhaps i wasn't quite 'ready'). When i was a week overdue the midwife did a stretch and sweep and this resulted in me having lots of bloody show and some period-type cramping. I was already 3-4cms dialated and fully effaced. She suggested we go for a big walk and she was expecting me to go into labour later that day.... I didn't!
I had another S&S a few days later (3rd Dec) and found to be a good 4cms dialated. I had the period-type cramps again but nothing else! I was getting a bit nervous at this stage as i was already 10 days overdue and my back-up hospital would only let me go until 14 days overdue before they'd induce me. I really, really didn't want to be induced as my homebirth would be out the window and we had really gotten quite excited by the whole thing! I felt like this baby was never going to come!! Luckily he had other plans!
I woke on the morning of 5th December (12 days overdue!) feeling 'funny'.. didn't quite know why. I soon started getting a few pains but nothing any different to what i'd been experiencing over the last few weeks so i didn't really think anything of it. As the morning wore on and the pains got more regular, i told DH and suggested we should probably take DD over to my mums. While we were at my mums the pains started coming every 6-8 minutes (about 11am). I still didn't think this was it but left DD there and came home. It was when we were driving up our driveway (rocky, bumpy and long!) that i realised this might be the real thing!!! It was VERY painful!
When we got inside we rang the midwife and Abi (my support person) and DH started filling the birth pool. By the time Abi got there (about 20mins later) my contractions were coming 1-2 minutes apart. The midwife arrived about 10 minutes later. Still unsure whether i was definately in labour, i asked the midwife whether she thought this was it... she said it definately was it and i was happy to hear this after all my false starts!!! The backup midwife and a trainee midwife arrived a short time later.
I started pacing the room and used an ice pack on the small of my back during contractions. I got into the pool at 1.50pm which was sooo great for the pain! My midwife rubbed my back with every contraction and she was the only person who could speak to me or touch me!! Poor DH and Abi!! I was very quiet through the whole thing and needed the room to be silent so i could focus! I felt as though i was high on drugs! I guess thats what adrenaline and endorphins do to you! I did think of calling out for a panadol at some point but then realised how stupid that idea was!! haha!
My midwife suggested i get out of the pool some time later and sit on the toilet as this may assist with the baby's head coming down. I think i may have reached transistion while i was on the toilet as i started making some very interesting sounds, kind of like a cow or a bear or some other animal!! When i got back into the pool the midwife could see the baby's head (3.30pm).
I started pushing which suprised me as i was still waiting for the back to back contractions that usually come at transition. I kept thinking that the contractions were supposed to get worse before i pushed but they didn't. I think it was this point that i said to my midwife "this better not be a false labour!!" haha!
I pushed and pushed for what seemed like an eternity and eventually, after alot of stretching :o , my beautiful baby's head was born! He had dark hair and everyone said he had the most perfect little face (they had a mirror on the bottom of the pool and were shining a torch so they could see!). The shoulders were the hard part! He got a little bit stuck and i screamed for the midwife to pull him out. She turned him a little and out he came. She guided him between my legs (i'd been on my hands and knees) and he swam up to me (4.23pm). :dance:
He was the most beautiful thing i had ever seen! He had the cord wrapped around his whole body which was probably why i had a little trouble pushing him out as he was bungy jumping back in! He cried straight away and had apgars or 9 and 10. We phoned DD and she arrived to meet her baby brother a short time later. She was thrilled to bits!
Stats were:
Archie Edward
born at 4.23pm 5th December
weight: 8lb 15oz
length: 54 cms
Head Circumference: 36.5cms
1st stage: 4hrs 55mins
2nd stage: 48mins
3rd stage: 49mins
I had a PPH which was awful! I almost had to be transferred to the hospital for a transfusion but luckily the bleeding stopped when it did. I felt very faint and it took me about 5 days before i felt normal again. I also had a 1st degree tear (which did not need stitching) and a few labial tears.
But it was so worth it! My baby boy is just amazing and we are absolutely smitten with him!!! Having him at home was such an amazing experience! It was great to all snuggle up in my own bed afterwards and for none of us to be separated from eachother.
I am very proud of myself for having a natural labour because usually i am quite the wuss! My DH says he'll never let me whinge about anything again after coping with that much pain so well!
I had the last visit with my midwife today, which was very sad as it feels like the end of an amazing journey! I developed sooo much trust in her and such a good relationship. She'll be in my heart always and i'll be eternally grateful to her for delivering my baby so safe and sound! I would encourage anyone considering a homebirth to do it! It is such an amazing experience and i can't wait to have my next baby! But that'll be another story..................................... Keep posted!
x
