Before becoming pregnant my
understanding of pregnancy and birth was formed through stories of
friends, experiences, TV, movies and a disturbingly graphic birth
movie shown in third form biology class, which prompted two
prepubescent teenage boys squeak to “that’s what your one looks
like! “
In all these scenarios you had
your baby in a HOSPITAL or if you were really unlucky the back of a
taxi cab. It was a medical procedure that you did not do without
the aid of a team of doctors, nurses and a lot of fear, screaming,
high stress and drugs to wipe out the pain.
In the recesses of my mind only
way out alternative lifestyle/ hippy women delivered their babies at
home by choice. I also assumed that you had a doctor throughout your
antenatal care.
I prepared for getting pregnant by
taking folic acid, cutting out alcohol, eating fresh fruit and
vegetables, and visiting my naturopath for a check up. Over the
years I have developed trust in alternative forms of medicine.
I’m Pregnant!!
ARRRGGHHHHH What have we done!! Are we ready for this?
I took a pregnancy test as I was
about 8 days over due and I peed on the stick - when the line
appeared I nearly hyper ventilated. March 2004.
This was our 4th month
of trying. I felt a little floaty as I went downstairs carrying the
stick to tell my husband. I said it is positive “in a quiet voice
(most unlike my loud nature) then I ran to his arms and burst into
tears scared out of my mind and the most excited I had ever been in
my life. We were both overcome.
The next day I started to discover
the whole new language that is involved in pregnancy. I rang a
women doctor a friend had used for her labours – she was no longer
delivering babies I was informed that “there were not enough $ in it
!” I thought how horrific to have $ involved in the equation.
I was informed that midwives where now the most commonly used LMC –
(Lead Maternity Carer) I had to ask what LMC stood for. Another
friend had used a midwife – I called her - nope she wasn’t available
around my due date !
I rang Waitakere hospital to find
out who to use since I was in their geographical area. The KYM
representative was informative yet I did not feel comfortable being
tied to one hospital. I rang a number of different places out
of the phone book. As I spoke to people on the phone I
immediately became aware of differing attitudes towards me as a
pregnant woman. After my 8th phone call trying to uncover
who I should use, why, where and when I needed to start seeing
someone I was feeling shattered and more than a little ill informed.
I was starting to get a little
panicked by now
J
Pregnancy hormones! I knew by this stage that I wanted some one I
could trust and to feel that they would support me and my decisions.
I realised I needed to feel nurtured and taken care of by a calm
warm women whose voice would help me during my labour.
I found a
MIDWIFE - yippee !
It was such a relief when I phoned
The Midwives and spoke to Louise – as soon as I heard her voice I
thought she is the one. Her voice was calm and she was so open and
friendly. I made an appointment and my husband and I met her and
decided that she was the one. Luckily for us she was available at my
due date! – That date did change though!
We had our first scan and found
out our dates were out. Our due date moved from December 4th
to Dec 15th. I ovulate late in my cycle so that threw
things out. It was pretty wonderful for us to see our baby it was
great for my husband as he felt more connected. The nausea
(afternoon sickness for me) was combated fairly well with ginger tea
and eating regularly.
My midwife Louise was great. We
had access to everything we needed and I had a list of books to
read. We booked into to the antenatal classes run by the team she
works with. Louise asked us if we had thought about where we would
like to give birth – we mentioned Birth Care.
Although, I had a dislike of
hospital smells and harsh lighting – we had heard that birth care
was a nice new environment so we went for a visit to check it out.
It was nice for a hospital and had a birthing pool which I thought
sounded like a great idea – I love the water!
Antenatal
Classes
Ben and I attended the antenatal
classes – The first night we were nervous and excited to learn more
about birth. We sat around the room in chairs and on couches looking
at the other couples. We were all similar ages (early to mid 30’s)
and first time parents except for one couple.
We found out during the course of
the evening that we were all pretty much feeling the same way. It
created a bond that has lead to a tea group that still meets
regularly. Two couples from the previous class came along with
their new babies and they had both had home births one planned and
one unplanned – it all happened so quickly. I was amazing
listening to their stories and Ben and I started to contemplate a
home birth.
HOME Birth
Planning
I did a lot to prepare my mind and
body for the birth event. I read “Active Birth” and “Water birth” by
Janet Balakas. Checked out the Shelia Kitzenger site and read “Home
Birth Bound” a historical perspective which was fascinating. I
booked myself into Antenatal yoga classes – they were great for
learning to relax and experimenting with positions for giving birth
and learning the art of the out breath for contractions. A kneeling
squat position worked best for me. I visited my
naturopath and got a range of herbal potions to work through labour.
I booked myself up for a massage package which gave me a massage (on
a special table with a baby bump hole cut out of it
J) a
week before I was due and one afterwards – boy was that fantastic
!!!! and then a session to teach us how to massage our baby !
The massage therapist also mixed up some aromatherapy oils for use
in the water during labour. I practiced visualisations – to
have something to focus on while I was in pain ! Booked
a birthing pool and a heater to get the pool to the right
temperature.
Count down to
LABOUR Week 41
Got past 36 weeks and I was given
the all clear to have Jamie at home! His head was down and ready to
go. We picked up the birthing pool and the heater to keep the water
at a constant temperature. We thought he may be early as his head
was down from 34 weeks.
My due date came and went. I went
to see my midwife she gave me a clean and sweep to encourage Jamie
to make a move. No go - I walked, tried sex, curry, drank castor
oil, - It was the most evil thing – felt revolting – threw up and
nearly lost control of my bowel.
We filled up the birthing pool to
test it out. As the pool had soft sides we discovered that if we
wedged a bean bag against one side it was really comfortable to lean
on.
LABOUR of LOVE
Then it all happened December 22nd
2004. In the morning I went and saw Louise for another clean and
sweep.
-
4pm I had a
show - my mucus plug came away while I was going to the toilet.
It felt like passing a large tampon. I let my midwife Louise
know. We had dinner went to bed 10pmish.
-
At 11.45pm
– felt cramping and wanted to go to the toilet. Started my yoga
breathing which worked really well to help me manage the
contractions. I knew I was in labour! I was so excited. Not
really nervous more excited that I was going to meet Jamie soon.
-
12.00am Ben filled the
birthing pool and got the heater working
-
1am – labour pains regular -
I started on a circuit which I continued throughout the rest of
my labour. I walked to the toilet, then the couch (we had an old
sheet with layers of newspaper and a tarpaulin all taped
together to protect the couch) then I hopped into the pool. This
lasted throughout my labour.
Ben applied pressure to my lower back with his
thumbs - the pressure was great!!! as I felt the labour pains in
my lower back. Although if he was not with me when a contraction
started he soon knew about it ! It removed 90% of the pain.
-
2am Ben rang the Midwife as my
contractions we progressing to 7 minutes apart. Louise
arrived 2.30am
-
5am Glenda the partner Midwife
arrived
-
7.15am – My waters broke while
I was in the pool. Intense pushing and grunting/ yelling –
That was me. Ben, said I was loud the midwives thought I was
fairly quiet. ( I’ll take the Midwives interpretation)
-
7.40am Jamie arrived in the
pool. My husband caught him as he slipped out under the water.
The pain switched off straight away. I said “ Well that
wasn’t so bad was it” as I held Jamie for the first time My
husband joined us in the pool.
-
7.50am Ben and the midwife
clamped and cut the cord.
-
7.55am I hopped out and
delivered the placenta kneeling squat over a bowl.
The
Midwives checked me out. I bled a fair bit but not enough to cause
alarm. I felt pretty weak. I sat up on the couch with Jamie and we
all ate English muffins with cream cheese and salmon for breakfast.
Jamie tried out Mums milk
J
I
texted all my friends and family to announce Jamie’s arrival.
So in Summary
My labour was
short eight hours with no medical pain relief - all natural birth
aided with yoga breathing techniques, aromatherapy, massage
acupressure and low lighting and the water. Jamie weighed 8
pounds 13 ounces (just under 4kgs) and was 55cm long – head 35 cm. The yoga
breathing was great - really helped me heaps. I understand the
breathing technique for pushing out now. Having the bean bag under
the pool ( it is soft sided ) and I leaned on it during contractions
while Ben applied pressure to my lower back - the pressure was great
! As I felt the
labour pains in my lower back. Although Ben got pretty sore thumbs
:). Having the
darkened room - aromatherapy oils in the pool - being at home being
able to move between the couch, pool and toilet was great. I felt
comfortable and trusted in my body and the natural process of
labour.
In the end it
was a 90% mental exercise - I visualised him slipping into the world
then he just did ! The mind is so powerful it blows me away. I got breast
feeding established which was great. It felt great not to be
pregnant and an amazing peace and joy over came me and sometimes
tears when I looked at my son. My body
recovered slowly a few grazes - intact perineum which made it easier
(I am told!) Ben made up a foam cushion with a hole in the middle
for me - bliss for travelling in the car.
We are about to
do it all again. Jamie is now two and a little brother is expected
in June.
References:
Shelia
Kitzinger:
http://www.sheilakitzinger.com/
Janet Balakas
· Active
Birth
· Water
Birth
Maggie Banks
· Home
Birth Bound
