Cameron James' natural birth 16/03/08 (long)
Hi all,
After a five-hour labour, Cameron James was born on 16 March '08, weighing 6lb 7oz (2.9kg) and 52cm long. I'm very fortunate as I got exactly the birth I wanted (no intervention, no drugs), albeit it didn't quite go according to our birth plan.
Background: In the lead up to the birth, DH and I had participated in a HypnoBirthing course, which we felt was a terrific preparation for the big day. It was very focussed on relaxation and deep breathing to assist with labour. I also had several weekly accupuncture sessions, mainly to treat the gestational diabetes I'd been diagnosed with at approx 30 weeks. The accupuncture made the last few weeks of pregnancy quite easy (no more reflux, no more swollen ankles and it generally improved my health).
Other than establishing I wanted neither drugs nor intervention, our birth plan included soft lights, relaxation music and the opportunity to birth bub in whichever position (or place, ie/ shower) I wanted.
15/03/08 7.30pm: At 39w 3d, my waters break with a small gush, then with some further trickles. I/we ummed and ahhed about calling the hospital as I knew the midwives would want me to come in. As my waters were clear and my contractions mild, and far and few between, I wanted to stay at home to establish labour. Anyway, we chose to err on the side of caution and called the hospital, and was asked to come in and be checked.
9.30pm: Get to hospital, monitored (all good with bub's heartbeat) and given internal check (approx 1.5cm dilated). I was having very mild contractions which, by using the Hypnobirthing techniques, I felt totally on top of. I wanted to go home to establish labour properly however the attending midwife and obstetrician preferred I stay as I had GD (which was under control through diet and hadn't affected bub), my waters had broken and I was having contractions. DH and I talked it over and decided to do our thing ... so against their advice, we went home. I promised the midwife I'd return the minute the contractions start to bite or I started bleeding heavily.
Hmmm ... forgot to mention that DH had downed a few full-strengh beers earlier in the evening (prior to waters breaking), so this little duck drove us to hospital AND home again. Thank goodness the contractions were mild!!
11pm: Arrive home, send DH to bed for some shut-eye (... I thought labour would take hours), meanwhile I turn the lights down, put on the HypnoBirthing relaxation CDs and light a few candles. Contractions getting a little stronger, but I'm still feeling good.
Approx 12.30am 16/03/08: Contractions ramp up although I'm still feeling like I'm coping ok, however during the more intense contractions I "forget" some of the HypnoBirthing teachings and start sucking in air in great gulps. Mentally I keep saying to myself "breathe in slowly, count to 8. Breathe out slowly, count to 8. Relax your uterus and pelvis". It became my mantra! Over the next half hour or so, my contractions really intensify. I thought about calling for DH to wake up and stay with me, but at the same time I had this feeling that I needed to be in my own space - physically and mentally. Not sure if that makes sense? Anyway, I threw up a couple of times and then decided a warm bath might be helpful to cope with the contractions.
1.45am: Drop my knickers to get into the warm bath ... only to discover I was starting to bleed heavily. Given that this 'sign' was my promise to return to hospital, I woke DH. It was about now that my contractions seemed to intensify to a point where I couldn't walk or talk when they were happening. In hindsight, this was definitely the right time to head to hospital. The car ride to the hospital was interesting - I felt I couldn't sit (owwww!), so ended up head-first kneeling into the front seat, which my arms hugging the back of the seat. Thank goodness we made the trip under the cover of darkness!
Poor DH tried to massage my back during contractions (he tried to drive one-handed) but I was not having any of it. Every time he stroked/massaged me during a contractions I'd tell him to get his hands off me! I tried not to be mean when I said it though! I told him later that while I'd originally wanted him to do it, when push came to shove, it felt like a sensory overload ... I just couldn't deal with the additional sensation.
3am: Walk (barely, and with several stops to wait out contractions) through the doors of the delivery suite. Get checked by midwife, 7cm dilated. She hooks me up to a monitor and we're told bub's heartbeat is dropping during contractions. She says the cord could be round bub's neck and she was calling the Ob pronto. I was coping with the contractions, but only just. And I was flat on my back on the hospital bed, not at all what I'd planned, but by the same token I realised I wasn't up to moving into another position (and given I was being monitored, I probably couldn't have moved anyway).
Approx 3.45am: Ob comes in and gives DH and I a little (albeit gentle) serve for going home earlier in the night and not staying in hospital. I beg DH for me to have an epidural ... despite it not being what I'd wanted for my birth. My reason was that if the Ob wanted to do a C-section because of bub's dropping hearbeat, then an epi would allow me to be awake (as opposed to an emergency C section and me being knocked out because there was no time for an epi). Thankfully when the Ob did a quick internal, she found me fully dilated. She said it was too late for an epidural and I needed to push the baby out ... now!
The Ob was great, instructing me how to push and very encouraging. DH was extremely encouraging too, and he finally found a couple of things he could do that I welcomed ... he got to mop my brow with a cool cloth and give me water to drink!! I still wouldn't let him touch me during contractions or the pushing phase though!
Within half an hour, I'd pushed enough for bub's head to crown (a feeling unlike no other). Thank goodness I'd asked for a warm compress to soften my perineum ... I'm sure that was the difference between me tearning and not (I didn't, at least not there).
Looking at the top of bub's crown in the mirror was almost like the ecstasy and the agony. So near, yet so far!
4.27am: With some gutteral, near animal-like grunting by me, bub's head emerged, easily followed by the rest of his little body. A crying Cameron James was immediately put on my chest - the cord wasn't around his neck - and he was perfect! Covered in gunk, but perfect! A proud daddy cut the cord after it stopped pulsating.
I honestly think the mix of the HypnoBirthing relaxation techniques and the accupuncture treatment helped me have a short, "easy" labour. I feel so fortunate that almost immediately after Cam's birth, I was walking around feeling pretty good. I only had a small internal tear needed a couple of stitches (but caused me no pain afterwards).
As for the birth plan, because I was only in the delivery room such a short time, we didn't put on a relaxation CD, get the aromatherapy oils burning or make use of a hot shower ... we didn't have time. But you know what, at the day I didn't care one little bit.
While I wouldn't call giving birth particulary easy, I feel blessed that I had a trouble free, straightforward birth. Even though bub's heartbeat dropped during contractions, I can't say I regret going home. Had I stayed in hospital and been monitored, I have a funny feeling I would have had a C-section ... which I most definitely didn't want unless it was an necessity (and I feel that is sometimes questionable in this day and age).
I had the birth I wanted, a healthy gorgeous baby boy, a happy and proud husband and I felt on top of the world! Little Cam continues to amaze me and I fall more in love with him every day :loveshower:.
Good luck if you've managed to get to the bottom of this lengthy birth story ... thank you!
Cheer's Andie
