The journey to Arquene's Arrival
Ok i have finally finished it! Its very very long and detailed there probably should be a TMI warning with it! good luck reading it!
After unofficially trying for about 10 months I decided it was time to get some medical assistance as it had taken about 18 months to conceive Makon. I was referred to a specialist as my cycles were averaging 43 days; I had to have bloods taken every 3 days to see if and when I was ovulating. On day 30 I got a positive which meant I had ovulated within 5 days of that test! We hoped that we had done it with out any assistance!
I was due to get my period on the 11th of November and I needed to have a blood test when it arrived. I had another appointment booked for the 14th to see the doctor to discuss going on meds to regulate my cycles.
November 12th was our first wedding anniversary so I tested (my period had not arrived) and I got a faint Positive!
At the doctors she asked why she hadn’t received a result yet from the blood test yet ? And the answer was I got a faint positive on Sunday! She did an internal Ultra sound that day and the sack was still small so she wanted me to come back in 2 weeks for another to get a EDD. I went back 2 weeks later and was given the due date of 20th of July!
After Makons birth (Not physically traumatic it was very emotionally traumatic) I had decided I would have an Independent Midwife at the birth of our next child. I had already been in contact with a student midwife (I don’t think she was expecting me to get pregnant as quickly as I had)
Shortly after my appointment confirming my pregnancy I had contacted Wendy to get together for a meet up see what the deal was! When she came over she said she only does home births and it was almost instantly that I knew I would be having a homebirth, I knew it was what I really needed to ‘get over’ Makons birth.
I had some morning sickness but not to excessive (I could handle it). I was working 2 jobs and a mum to a very active toddler so I was tired, I am lucky I have a husband who helps with ( or does most of) the house work.
I decided the only test I would have would be the 20 week Ultra sound. While getting my referral from the doctor she asked if I had a back up plan to which I thought that I never had a back up plan when I was seeing her for my last pregnancy and that’s when I really needed one!
At the ultra sound I looked to see what we were having (we clearly saw with Makon) and when I couldn’t see a package I knew what I had been feeling was right…. We were expecting a girl! (We still chose a boys name just in case)
Fast forward to 37 weeks (end of June) I have finished both jobs, the nursery is finished and although I had been preparing in my mind to go to 42 weeks (Makon was born at 42+1 weeks) I was starting to get restless but it was much easier to handle this time! I got to 40 weeks with out trying any form of natural induction methods, but now I would allow my self.
Cassie my student mid wife had tickets to a water birth seminar held by birth matters it was the night before I was due (I was hoping by planning some thing I would have to cancel it!) Although I had no signs of any thing happening about ½ an hour into the seminar I started to get pains they were regular and painful these continued until about 11.30 to 12 but slowed right off. When I woke in the morning I had a few more niggles but by lunch time they were completely gone!
The Following Wednesday I had an appointment with Wendy and Cassie and we spoke about other induction options and we decided I would give the castor oil ****tail a try!
So at 1pm I had the first dose, then I had lunch at 2pm I had the 2nd dose but vomited it up straight away! (I made a huge mess in the kitchen) after I cleaned it up I had another dose at 3pm but because I had vomited it all up it didn’t work and just cleaned me out! The next few days I was happy to let nature have its way and wait for bubs to arrive when
it was ready!
But by Saturday I couldn’t handle it any more so I messaged Wendy and asked if she could pop around to check that bubs was still in its great position and then we would do the castor oil ****tail again. This time Wendy suggested we wait until the evening (bubs are usually more co-operative at night) So that day we did the washing washed the car mowed the lawn and did some weeding plus the rest of our house work( except the dishes)
We put Makon to bed at 7pm then had our first dose at 9pm. I went to the toilet just before I was to have the 2nd dose and I had a bloody show!! I was sooo excited!!!
I had the 2nd dose at 10pm then a hot shower to get the blood flowing! I was having niggles already but I thought I would still do the 3rd dose as I wanted it to work! So I had the 3rd and final dose at 11pm and the pains were staying and getting stronger. So I decided I had better get some sleep! So we went to bed but lying down did nothing but make the pains worse. So I got up at 11.30 and said to Ben I think we should start on filling the pool! (we knew we would run out of hot water pretty quickly) we got about 3 inches of hot water in the pool before we ran out of hot water! So Ben started boiling water on the stove and had 2 kettles going!
With each contraction I would lean on the nearest piece of furniture and swing my hips, or I would lean on my ball and roll back and forth. I had to tell Ben at one point that I was more important then filling the pool(my back needed rubbing) so when I was having a contraction he had to put down what ever he had and come and rub my back!!
At about 2 am I felt I needed to hop in the pool so we checked the temperature and it was 46 deg – way to hot so in went a few buckets of cold water when it got to 42 I jumped in and jumped out again for a toilet run and Ben put in more cold water.
I got Ben to sms Wendy that I was in the pool and it was moving along nicely, she said she would be on her way shortly! We also let Cassie know that it was all happening!
Wendy arrived at about 3.20 am and she came in to see how I was going then started to unload her car! (I didn’t think there would be so much stuff) when I saw her bring in the gas bottle I had a little moment but I was glad she left it at the door (just in the lounge room)
Wendy suggested more water so off Ben went boiling more in pots and kettles as well as still massaging my back! Cassie arrived at about 4 am and we were just chatting between contractions! When I was having contractions I was envisioning I was an elephant swaying and walking, I was on all fours walking back and forth then I would reverse up to the wall and push my bum hard against it, I just needed the pressure against my bum.
Makon woke up at about 6 am and came out to us, he was a bit shocked to see all the other people here but once he woke up properly he was running around the pool and would come up and pat me and say ‘mummy ok?’ when I was having a contraction.
Ben rang his mum Anne as she was Makons support person and that it was all happening and to come on over!
Wendy put a mirror on the floor of the pool to see how things were going and she could see bulging membranes.
But things started to slow down and I’m still not sure how I knew this as we hadn’t been timing anything. I decided I would go and have a shower to try and help thing get moving again, but it wasn’t working! While in there I asked Ben what was I meant to do I didn’t want to go to hospital because labour had died off, and he just said ask Wendy!
So when Wendy came back in I asked what I should do. And she said I should do what ever I felt like I needed to do! Which was a sleep I really wanted a nap?
So out of the shower and in to bed I hopped. And Ben came to. I had a towel between my legs as my waters still hadn’t ruptured yet.
While I was asleep my contractions were about every 8 minutes( the first time I had timed them) after about 40 minutes I woke up and felt like a new person! And the contractions were coming stronger and harder now so time for me to hop back in the pool.
Ben made me some toast for breakfast and I was drinking lots of water still. At about 10.20 am Wendy said she was going to the loo and while she was out of the room I felt a pop and I knew it was my waters rupturing finally! Cassie checked to make sure that they were all clear and it was! I was so happy to tell Wendy that my waters had finally ruptured when she came back in to the room! I didn’t think I would have been so excitable at this point of labour!
Makon and Anne went for a walk!
After a couple of good strong contractions I had a strong desire to poo, which I did in the pool and my wonderful husband scooped it out! As the head was moving further down it pushed out more poo. I wasn’t pushing at this point the baby and my body was doing it together.
Then the head was right there right between my legs but not out. I could feel the burn but not like it was with makon it wasn’t painful. I was now in a kneeling position leaning on the edge of the pool with my head in bens chest and I was biting his jumper.
Makon and Anne arrive back and I hear makon running up and down the decking with his lawn mower.
Wendy realized this was very very quick when she looked there was a head where there wasn’t before and told me to do little pants rather then big groans which I had been, I was trying to stretch my self over the head when it popped out!
I hear makon at the door yelling “mummy”
Then it felt like almost straight away out fell a little body into the water, I reached down and found a slimy bundle between my legs it seemed like it had a million arms and legs. I gently pulled the baby out of the water and Wendy tells me to gently blow in her face and out comes a lovely cry. Anne and makon come in now and while everyone is trying to get there cameras I have a sneak peek and see I was right we have a perfect little girl! Arquene Tate was born at 11.11 am July 29th (my mum’s birthday)
I had a short cord and had to be careful not to pull on it ( I didn’t want her to have an outie belly button)
I climbed out of the pool on to a bed made up next to the pool, where we snuggled for a while but the pains were getting unbearable (worse then the contractions) so Wendy offer to help by gently pulling on the cord( I was terrified of the cord snapping) so kept saying “please be really careful” so I got on all fours with a container between my legs and out it plopped. It was all in tact and so was I which was great as I had had an episiotomy and tore with Makons birth. Ben cut the cord and we put the placenta to the side so Wendy could check it later.(makon found it and was poking at it)the placenta was birthed at 11.40 am
We got comfy on the bed and Arquene fed for about an hour while Ben was cooking everyone lamb shanks for lunch, it was such a nourishing meal after a long night!
I was absolutely amazed by how awake I was and how I wasn’t in pain! I felt awesome I had just birthed the way I wanted to! With no time limits or drugs being offered every five minutes, with no strangers popping in and out! I had people who love me and love birth as much as I do, supporting me to achieve the most wonderful birth! We know now that we will never choose to have another baby in hospital.
wow you have done well to read it all!!
