[birth centre] Quoll's arrival
quoll’s arrival - epic
Sorry, it's a bit long! But man I loved my birth!!!!!
After being certain that Quoll’s EDD was Dec 7, with the midwives telling me that it was Dec 9 instead, by Dec 16 I was truely ‘over’ everyone asking if there was any news yet. I hadn’t helped by updating my FB one morning with “okey dokey I’m sure it’s timey-wimey” which solicited 32 comments of “good luck” and “good labour vibes”. But after Pip’s birth, I was determined to avoid pharmaceutical inducement and so on the 19th, at 10 days over, we called the hospy and rocked on up for a Stretch & Sweep. No matter how much I tried to relax, it was painful. I’d been having false labour & pre-labour for about 4 weeks by this time, and we hoped this would do the trick.
At age 38, my DH & I had already decided this would be our last pregnancy, and we hoped for a little girl. We had picked out a girl’s and boy’s name - just in case. This hadn’t been an easy pregnancy compared with Pip’s - morning sickness, reflux from 14 weeks, low iron (now with added allergic reaction to iron infusion!), pelvic instability and insomnia. Kookaburra calls at first light were heralding the end of my lonely nights kept company by old movies on late-night TV, and I really missed my Foxtel. My husband was wonderful, taking care of Pip to ensure I was getting good sleep when I finally did sleep, and towards the end, sleeping from 8am - 1 or 2pm wasn’t uncommon. I was barely able to move some mornings, and he helped me dress as well, pulling my support tube over my legs and growing belly. One positive was that I hadn’t put on a lot of weight during the pregnancy - a grand total of 2kg on my birth day! But we enjoyed the times when Quoll would massage DH’s back as we snuggled, planning was was to be.
Sunday night after the S&S, I was not a happy camper. I felt very sore with the S&S and had pushed my knees too far apart and aggravated my SPD so mobility was even more limited. I wasn’t getting any contractions - just a strange feeling like I was wearing undies way too tight - a pain I associated with SPD. I could also feel the baby engaging into my pelvis, and it felt like someone was prising my pelvis apart - not painful, just uncomfortable. I managed an hour or 2 of sleep that night and when I woke up on Monday morning, the 20th, I had more of these “tightening” pains and couldn’t stop shivering. Jumped in the bath which felt like it was boiling (it wasn’t even at blood temp) and stayed there for an hour and a half. During this time we spoke to Pip about labour, and reminded him of the noises our chooks make when they are laying eggs - a lot of noise, an egg pops out and then they are fine. We let him know that mummy might be making some noises, but when the baby came she’d all be fine again. He gave me a big hug and eventually DH managed to take him out of the bathroom. Dad had been staying with us, unfortunately Mum had to return to Brissie on the Saturday to work for a few days, and we had sent Dad off to a shopping centre to pick up Pip’s Christmas pressie of Giggle & Hoot PJs that had been sourced for us by a lovely BB member. It was a very stormy, wet day and quite cold. DH had heaters on for me as I was over not having any warm clothes that fit .
After I got out of the bath, I gave the midwives at the birth centre a call to let them know what was happening. DH applied the TENs electrodes and hooked me up, and I had some toast & tea before settling down in bed for some rest. I managed to snooze fitfully until about 5pmish when I got up and noticed the pains were more intense. Another call to the midwives and I started to time the pains. Still no regular times, and the pains themselves still felt like my undies were being tightened really really lots - no waves moving down the uterus like I’d felt with Pip. I also felt some pain at the top of my thighs. Very strange!
With the timing of everything, it was evident there was no regularity in what was happening. Still, I phoned back to the birth centre at around 7pm to give them the timings. The midwife there thought I wasn’t near ready to come in yet, as the contractions were very irregular - some 10 mins apart, some 5 mins. Some lasting 10 secs, some lasting 120secs (these were double contractions!). So we decided I’d jump back in the bath and wait for them to become more regular. DH ran the bath and Dad went to get fish & chips for tea for DH & he. I can’t remember what Pip had for tea that night though. As the bath was running I thought I’d go to the loo first, and as I sat down a contraction hit and my waters broke. I highly recommend breaking waters while sitting on the loo!!!! I didn’t have a natural water break with Pip and was amazed to see this milky pinky-white liquid with bits floating around. I never had a “show” so didn’t expect it to happen, although I had been wanting it to happen naturally. Got hold of the phone and called back into the birth centre, they said to come on in but to take my time, they didn’t think it would matter, but they had a bigger bath in there. Sounded good to me, and I went back to the loo to wait it out. Dad came back with the fish & chips which he & DH ate (I couldn’t eat anything) and it was the longest 20 mins I can remember. Well after that was finished they loaded up the car with me barking out orders and Dad drove DH & I to the hospital, with Pip in the back seat. Of all times, Pip decided to start singing, so as we were going over the speed bumps with me jacking up the TENs power Pip & I were singing “10 green bottles”. Strangely, singing helped me deal with the pain, and it was a very determined lot of green bottles that night! Dad took the bumpy lane down the mountain and I grumped at him, he really does have a lot of patience. We got to the hospital and I’d wet through the maternity pad as my waters were still leaking (how much is there anyways????) and I could barely walk. DH got me a wheelchair and loaded it and me up with bags and after I stopped it rolling down the slight incline we waved goodbye to Dad & Pip and went up to the birth centre.
When we got up there it was around 9:15pm and the midwives introduced themselves - Jo was going to stay with me that night and she was very calm and capable. She did a quick exam and confirmed all was OK as the other midwife ran the bath. The other midwife put her hand on my belly and said the contractions were quite strong - I still couldn’t feel them up top, but they were certainly more intense down the bottom. Then the bath was finished running and I was given the clear to get into it - DH started to remove the TENs but was being very methodical so we could re-use the electrodes later. I stopped him during a contraction then as soon as he removed the second electrode I ran (waddled?) into the bathroom as fast as possible. The bath was a corner bath, and there was a huge pole running from floor to ceiling right next to it - I made some lame joke about pole dancing and undressed and jumped in. It was so nice in there, about as deep as our bath but definately more room to move. After a contraction or 2, Jo suggested I start pushing. I gave a tentative push but nothing happened, so I just got comfy during the contractions. Somehow the most comfy position was kneeling, holding onto my feet behind me and arching my back. Prolly not very elegant, but hey. After a little while of that Jo suggested I keep my pelvis in the water and that she thought baby was ready to come. I turned around so she could have a bit of a look in the mirror and the room was dark, lit only by a salt lamp and the torch pointed at my nether regions. I could feel what I felt was a poo, but it was my ‘roids, and as I started to push in ernest I could feel them there. So I then started holding / supporting my ‘roids with one hand so they didn’t get worse. Every couple of contractions my hip would be intense pain radiating down my leg, and she would massage it in between contractions. DH had the job of patting my neck & forehead with a cool washer, and giving me water to drink. Man it was hot in there now! I was putting my energy into moaning / screaming through the pain and could feel the anguish of DH in that room, that he couldn’t help me. I got the gas though, and that really helped. Soon Jo suggested that I put my hand down and guide the baby’s head, and I felt inside - nothing. Another 2 contractions and I could feel the head! Then the next contraction it dissapeared back inside - very disheartening. Next contraction and it came back, and I concentrated on holding the head there with my body. I then “breathed” the head out slowly, trying to relax and visualise my body opening to allow the head out without any tearing. I held the head there for a little while, and then in the next 2 contractions the body of the baby slipped out. Jo lifted the baby onto my chest and we stayed there for a minute or 2 as I got my breath back. I reiterated my desire for delayed cord clamping and DH & I just looked at our baby. I’m not sure if we knew it was a boy at that time or not! The time was 10:10pm, less than an hour after we got to hospital.
I got out of the bath with assistance and Jo & DH towelled me off as I held the baby, still attached to me. I was aware they weren’t able to leave me in the bath to deliver the placenta, but Jo seemed happy that we’d be able to have the physiological 3rd stage, and that made it all worthwhile. Waddled back to the bed, and DH offered to clean up the blood splodges on the floor which Jo declined. I think we definately knew by then it was a boy, and Jo asked if we had a name picked out. I had Named Patrick, and I wanted DH to Name this baby - William Ronald it was. We started the breast crawl as I started to warm up, I was shaking a fair bit until then. After about 45 minutes or so Jo told DH it was time to cut the cord - I wasn’t looking at the cord which is weird, I was just mesmerised by watching Quoll trying to find my breast. He cut the cord and I started to get some rather strong contractions not long after, these were “classic” contractions that I’d been waiting for all along! The placenta was delivered naturally and inspected, I asked to keep it and it’s now in my freezer, waiting for a rose bush to plant it under. Amazing things, placentas.
Will finally found my breast and had and attempt at suckling, then more gas as my 2nd degree tear was sewn up by Jo, and DH held Will against his bare chest. Then back onto me and getting that first good drink. Jo weighed him and did all the measurements, he was 8lb 9oz (or 3880g). Jo brought me a cup of tea and some toast and then left DH, Will & I alone with him all dressed and in a nappy.
I am so happy with this birth experience. I had several goals - natural labour commencement, no syntocin, a water birth and to remember to use the gas. I really wanted a physiological 3rd stage which I’d been told I wouldn’t be able to do with my low iron, and Jo allowed it to happen with monitoring. And then the breast crawl. DH says he has a photo of me looking amazing as we lay on that bed - I haven’t seen it yet but can’t wait to.
The only part that I had hoped would happen that didn’t was having Pip at the final stages of the birth. I’m sorta glad he wasn’t, as it allowed me to make as much noise as I wanted, and in any case it was way past his bedtime! The next morning Pip came to meet his new baby brother and was excitedly showing him his train. We had bought a small present from “will” to Pip, a helicopter, and that has gone down very well. We returned home later that night, and have started our breastfeeding journey in ernest. And speaking of which, it’s time for a feed.
