The homebirth of Jackson Craig Memphis
The homebirth of Jackson Craig Memphis
31/07/2010 – I was 38w6d and getting really over it. My SPD was really bad and i just wasn’t coping. So I asked my midwife for a stretch and sweep. I was 2-3cms dilated with a nice soft cervix. I had been getting lots of Braxton hicks the last few weeks. Sometimes they were quite painful and i often wondered if this was ‘it’.
01/08/2010 – I started losing my mucous plug in the morning and that night i had a bloody show.
Over the next 2 weeks I continued to have painful Braxton hicks on and off. I was starting to panic a bit, not knowing if i was going into labour or not. Orson’s birth was quick and i was worried that same would happen and that the midwives wouldn’t make it again. During the time i tried everything possible to bring labour on. 3 sessions of acupuncture, lots and lots of sex, eating lots of curries...But nothing was working. I finally gave up trying. It was exhausting trying to make something happen when i know in the end only baby will choose his birthday.
09/08/2010 – My due date. Still having Braxton hicks and getting so very over it all. I’m pretty much bed ridden from the SPD. I’m tired, sore and grumpy.
I started to think why i might not be going into labour. I felt like something was blocking me. I just couldn’t figure out what that was. I felt like bub was ready and that i was ready but that something was holding me back. I had to figure out what that was.
17/09/2010 – I felt really ‘different’ today. I felt exhausted physically and mentally. I was panicy and irritated at everything. At around 8pm i was having a relaxing bath, still trying to figure out what may be holding me back. Then it finally hit me. For the last few weeks i had been trying to find a birth pool because i wanted a water birth. But i could not find one anywhere. I felt annoyed at the fact that i couldn’t have a water birth but i didn’t think it affected me that much. However as soon as i figured out this ‘problem’ i felt relieved. I thought i may be able to give birth in the bath but it was a little small so i knew the chances were not good. But just working through my problem i think is what allowed me to let go. While still in the bath i had my first contraction for the day but i just thought it was Braxton Hicks.
At around 9pm I had another contraction and then another at around 11pm. I still thought they might be Braxton Hicks but by 12am I thought ‘maybe this is it’. Contractions were around 15 minutes apart. Jacob and I decided to go to bed around now. He kept telling me to ring Linda (our midwife) but i didn’t want to yet until i was completely sure i was in labour. If it had been during the day i would have called her now. But i was worried about waking her up in the middle of the night and her having to tavel 3 hours just for it to be a false alarm.
18/09/2010 - At 1am contractions were 10 minutes apart so I decided to call Linda to say that i thought i was in labour. I couldn’t sleep so i went to sit on the lounge to time contractions and listen to Enya. By around 2am contractions were 6-7 minutes apart. I was able to breathe through them quite easily.
I had to get up a few times to go to the toilet. Every time I got up I would get around 4 contractions in the space of a couple of minutes. This worried me. I didn’t want labour to speed up. I needed our midwives to make it in time. So the majority of the time was spend sitting on the lounge just breathing through them contractions comfortably and listing to Enya. Jacob was laying on the lounge next to me falling in and out of sleep just holding my hand.
Contractions started to pick up a notch a bit before 4am. They were still a nice 7 minutes apart but a little more ouchy. I had to change positions and was leaning over a few pillows on my hands and knees, rocking back and forth through each contraction. Although i still never made any noise.
Suddenly i had a nice long break between these two contractions. I was able to have a little nap. But I hadn’t realised the time between the contractions until i woke up. Contractions started again, still 7 minutes apart, a bit ouchy but i was still able to breathe through them if i really concentrated.
At 4:25am I asked Jacob to try and call Linda and see how far away they were. There was no answer because there’s not much phone reception out our way. I was hopeful this meant they were near. I could feel myself panicing a little bit. I was starting to shake between each contraction. My back was aching and i was getting irritated. This had to be transition. At this point I still hadn’t made a sound. I was starting to think i was kidding myself that i was actually in labour. I couldn’t believe that I could be near the end with not much pain and still having 7 minute apart contractions.
Linda and Cathy (our other midwife) arrived at around 4:40am. As soon as they were in the door (literally) contractions increased to 30 seconds apart. It was mind blowing intense. Linda sat next to me and i had a little cry but she pulled me together reminding me to just breathe. This helped a lot and i was able to get back into my breathing rhythm. They both helped me onto the floor where there was a tarp and towels. At this point I had no idea where Jacob was.
Contractions were getting really intense. I was starting to feel a little pushy. The back pain was increasing. I asked Linda if she could check my cervix. Even though i knew this had to be near the end, i was not confident in myself. I didn’t want to push in case i was not ready yet. But i was 9.5 cms. I was pretty much there. Finally i was able to push. I got on my knees and was leaning over the side of lounge.
I tried to let go and just go with my body but it was hard. I could feel his head in my pelvis. I don’t like that feeling very much so i kept instinctively holding back after I pushed. But after some gentle encouragement I let go. I could feel my body taking over. It was an intense and primal feeling. I could feel his head was right at the entrance, getting ready to crown. I knew the burning was near and i welcomed it. I started taking short quick breaths to not push during the crowning. I could feel his head slowing sliding down and out. Cathy announced his chin was almost out and then i could feel it come out. Finally his head was born. I could slowly feel his shoulders coming next. After another push I felt one pop out and then the other. I pushed again and felt the rest of his body slowly slide out. He was born at 4:57am. When he was fully out his bag of waters were still intact. Cathy then broke them and wipes the membranes of bub. He then made his first cry. It was amazing to hear that sound.
I turned around and Cathy handed me my baby. I checked the gender (even though i knew he was a boy) and said ‘hello baby’. He was beautiful. Tears welled up and i was so extatic.His cord was really short so i could only hold him in my lap. I couldn’t put him to the breast until i had birthed the placenta.
Finally i could feel the contractions for the placenta. It was out after 2 contractions and then the cord was cut. The placenta was checked and it looked perfect. We then put it in the freezer for it to be buried when i buy a tree for it.
I gave Jackson his first breastfeed and afterwards he was weighed and measured. He weighed in at 4225g (9lb 3oz) and measured 53cms. His head was 36cm.
This was the best birth i could have ever asked for. It was gentle, slow and very rewarding.
