21/1/2013 Erica's birth

(Just to put in some context- I am a midiwfe and gave birth at the hospital I work at)

Finally pregnant after a long and painful 3 years with many losses, as all who have been there know, its not really a joyful BFP as it brings many anxieties. But we got through a first trimester of threatened miscarriage and the loss of our beloved pet cat, second trimester with a haemorraghe and high risk for downs syndrome and finally in 3rd tri I relished being pregnant, so much so I found myself almost 2 weeks post dates! My obstetrician was away for my 41st week and she was happy for me to keep going, the covering obstetrician was putting pressure on me to be induced. After negotiating daily monitoring and AFIs, and nearly losing my nerve, I made it to term +13, and my obstetrician was back, to induce me.

I was a nervous wreck turning up at the hospital at 7am, and burst into tears when I saw a midwife friend who had been working overnight. She took us to our room which they had decorated with flowers and a welcome sign so I was instantly relaxed. My obs came in and put in 1mg of prostin, with the warning that I might need another dose that afternoon and my waters broken the next day- EEKK! Not what i was hoping for but an hour after the gel went in I was starting to contract so DH settled in front of the Australian Open on TV and I read magazines and rested while we could. It was busy in the birthing suite that day so I was hoping to stay in the postnatal ward until the PM shift came on at 2.30, as I knew there were more experienced staff on ( i made sure they didn't put anyone in the birthsuite I wanted lol) and spent the morning contracting mildly, every 2 minutes. I went to the toilet at 1pm to find my panty liner soaked and as i stood up a big gush of pink liquor came,so YAY i broke my waters myself. I was expecting meconium staining given my gestation but it was pink, unfortunatly I still had to go on the CTG cos I had been induced with prostin ( our hospital's policy- boo) I also had a IV bung put in for antibiotics due to GBS.

The contractions were stil 2 minutely and some mild, some stronger but manageable. I sat on a fitball or stood by the CTG machine and when the PM shift came on I was excited to see a midwife who I was friends with, I knew she hadsome reservations about looking after someone she knew after a bad experience, but we talked about it and she swore she was ok with me! We decided to go to birth suite then, and once we gotorganised the contractions got a bit stronger as well, still 2 minutely but only lasting 30-40 seconds. In the birth suite my student midwife arrived ( I was paranoid about calling her in too early in case she was here all night) and mum came in for a visit as well. I was still able to talk and joke between contractions, breathing through them when they came, so I know I wasn't in great labour. My obstetrician was happy to no assess me until I wanted, i ended up not having a VE until 9pm. The worst part of the contractions was a feeling of needing to wee with every contractions, so I had to climb off the bed where I was on my knees over a beanbag and unplug the ctg and go to the toilet, it got a bit annoying so i sat on the toilet for a few contrations in a row or I just weed a bit into my pad- nice!

I decided to start using my stress balls ( i had read Birth Skills by Juju sujin) and soon needed to go into the shower for cope, the contractions ramped up a notch again, and eventually I was in the zone where i couldn't speak. The shower was great, I had a routine going ( and heaven help the support people if they were slow with the shower hose). Between contractions I sat on the fitball and stared at a blemish on the shower tile without the water running on me, when I felt a contraction stating I jumped up and started bashing the tiled shower wall with the stress balls while vocalising loudly ( very loudly) AAAARRGGHH, and needed the water on my back at he same time. I think I did this for a few hours, it worked well. My contractions didn't build up in a wave like I expected, the went from 0/10 to 10/10 in about 5 seconds so I needed to jump up as soon as I felt it start. I was feeling a bit of 'something' in my bottom, not pressure just small feeling so I didn't say anything, I was also having a show at that stage. We decided my obstetrician should come in so I got out of the shower and standing by the side of the bed felt very transitional, yellng to DH 'I can't do it anymore' and wailing with contractions. On vaginal examination I was 5 cm,- I had expected to be about 7cm but i dealt with it and decided to have pethidine. ( I had formed a plan in my head while in the shower about what I would do if I was less than 5cm and what I would do if I was more than 5 sm, but no plan for exactly 5 cm lol). The pethidine worked and I ended up lying on my side on the bed, having an internal dialogue with myself which was quite funny- " how am I going to get out of this situation, i can't do another 5 cm, if this is contractions at 5cm what are 9cm contractions like, theres no way out of this situation other than caesear, I'll have to get an epidural, I don't want an epidural but I have no choice, I'll have to wait til Mel my midwife goes home then ask the next midwife for one, it will be 11pm then, why arethe contractions coming all together it must be the way I'm sitting but I can't be bothered moving". Eventually they had to turn me as the baby's heartbeat dropped a bit and I remember thinking " I'm glad i am the patient and not the midwife so I don't have to stress about it", and " good now I can have a ceasear"- how embarrassing! It was all fine though.

The midwives went out to handover to the next shift and while they were gone I felt an almightly large bowling ball drop into my pelvis and I did a massive push! The student midiwfe went out to tell the midwives who were excited, the next contraction I didn't push but after that it was on! I have to say I was unprepared fo how painful I found the pushing stage, there was no 'pressure' or feeling like poo'ing, it was excrutiating pain plus a massive round thing ripping through my insides very quickly. I was screaming in agony and trying to push as well, luckily the baby was coming fast, so fast my obs didn't believe the midwife when she called her and she hadto call her a second time to get her to come in as the baby's head was visible. The night shift midwife gave me a tissue soaked in an aromatherapy mix which i breathed in between contractions and it calmed me down a bit but I still was quite loud lol. My obs cut an episiotomy with my permission and she was out next push! I felt her head just before it came out it was a great feeling knowing she was nearly there. next push and I reached down and pulled her up to me seeing her little vagina- we had a girl! Everyone had thought it would be a girl butyou never know! She was perfect and breastfed staight away- my only regret is that the pethidine made me a bit detatched at the birth. Apparently besides me, there wasn't a dry eye in the house!! I kept looking at my chest wondering why there was a baby there lol, then I snapped out of it and took her in and am still looking at her now! Thanks to all my midwives , my student midwife ( Traveller ) for a great job. It took me a few days to get over my embarrassment at yelling a lot but I think it was the pethidine distorting things cos everyone says I was normal lol, and now I fee proud of myself for having a normal birth. :D

Erica Lily
stats- born at 1107 pm
weight 3990g ( 8 pound 13 ounce)
length 56cm
head circ 36cm

yay!! I have be patiently waiting for this story for 1 month and 4 days =P

its funny the rational midwife speak in your head isn't it =) I had the same, was like the primal birth woman talking with the midwife, but an internal monologe =)
and it sounds like the pethidine was just want you needed to take that edge off an relax enough for it all to open up and happen!
well done, you did great!!!!!
congrats, and welcome earthside Miss E!!!

Well done saffy :)

Sounds like you had an awesome support team :)

Congratulations, sounds like an awesome birth experience!

Fantastic! Well done Saffy. Awesome birth story, thanks for sharing. Xx

thanks so much for sharing!

and BIG congratulations on the arrival of your little girl xx

Awww, huge congratulations Saffy xx

Awesome! I am so proud of you and what sweet relief to have her here safe and sound!

What a lovely birth story - congratulations!
I must say I had a little giggle at the image of you pounding the shower wall with stress balls! Might have to pack some in my labour bag too :)

You tell the story so well Saffy, it was a really beautiful birth and you sang like a goddess throughout xx

A wonderful story and an awesome name ;)

Well done saffy :hug:

What a great story, thanks for sharing!

What a fabulous story. It sounds like you had a great birth

great birth story!

Congratulations!! Thanks for sharing. :)

Lovely, Saffy! Thanks for sharing with us!