Keira Ava's Birth Story - 28th July 2008
After using a few of the "Shettles Method" to conceive a girl, we were told we indeed were to expect a daughter due on the 25th July 2008.
My due date came and went, as it did with my first born Jesse.
I had been getting Braxton hicks for the first time this pregnancy, 2 weeks prior to my due date, so any little pains just seemed to be false alarms.
On the 28th July 2008 I woke at 2.45am to feel a little "trickle" in my underwear. I lay there wondering if it was anything, as a little more then came, I thought I better go to the bathroom just incase. As I stood from bed and raced into the ensuite, my waters broke. "HALLELUJAH" I said to myself... we finally have lift off!
I woke my husband Grahame, told him my waters had broken and that I would call the hospital to see what we do next, as I didn?t have any contractions yet (being my waters never broke in labour with Jesse). The midwife told me it was no rush but we needed to come in. So I packed all the last minute things, woke mum (who was staying to look after Jesse when I went into labour) to tell her we were heading to the hospital and went and gave Jesse a kiss goodbye.
We arrived at the hospital at around 3.10am with another couple who too were in labour. We were shown to the birthing suites where my contractions started around 3.30am ever so faint. At 4.20am they were still very dull and were then monitored to be 4-5 minutes apart. By around 7am the contractions were around 2 minutes apart, and continued this distance for the majority of the labour. At 9am I was then told I was 2-3cm dilated. At 11.45am I was then checked again and was told I was 5-6cm. The pain by now was quite strong and I asked for some gas. The gas, like with Jesse?s labour, did nothing for me. The contractions continued to intensify to a point they were unbearable, coming at 1-2 minute intervals. Around 1.30pm my body started to go into shock, started trembling uncontrollably and my temperature dropped. With me in tears, at 2pm I asked for an epidural. I was checked again and was told I was still only 6cm dilated. The epidural was administered at 3.30pm and was such a relief. I don?t know why I hesitated in having one! Once it had taken hold my trembling had stopped and my temperature came back to normal. Over the next 2 hours the contractions started to ease off, where the obstetrician ordered for some medication to be administered to speed them up again. This was then administered at 6pm along with a catheter. Within 5 minutes I started getting a strange feeling in my groin area.. as if the contractions were coming back but up my legs. The midwife checked my dilation again and said I was infact 9cm dilated. It turned out to be my body wanting to push. I had to try and hold off for a little bit which was the hardest thing to tell your body to do! My body then started trembling again and my temperature dropped. My midwives then came in, covered me with blankets and with 4 pushes Keira Ava Knott was born onto the bed at 6.21pm. She weighed 7lb 12oz or 3530 grams, was 51cm long and had a head circumference of 35cm. Keira was then placed onto my chest where she latched onto my boob pretty much straight away. I sustained 1st degree perineal tear which were given a few stitches. We remained in the birthing suite for the next few hours until the epidural had worn off and I was able to get up for a shower.
After another long traumatic labour, I am again blessed and rewarded with the most perfect little angel.
