I thought I would send in
my homebirth story. Ruby Mae was born at home,
early, in fact, I had an appointment with my midwife
that day to finalise the birthing plan (we had
roughly planned it but today was the pen to paper
day) and was going to make a playlist on my ipod!!
I'm not much of a diary person, but kept notes
throughout my pregnancy, I was lucky enough to be
able to add entries while in labour, and finished it
off the following day (everything from getting in
the birthing pool was written the following day).
The following is a mix of notes straight from the
diary, and added notes, I apologise in advance for
being a little disjointed for reading, it is real,
raw, and wonderful!
28 April 2010 - Have you decided to arrive
early??!!! (due date was 15 May) Its a full moon,
dark and stormy night, interesting!!!!!!
1.50am - Ouch! I think this contraction might be a
bit intense for a Braxton Hicks!?? Am I in labour??
2am - 2.40am - Yowzer, contractions are 5 minutes
apart, your dad and I are starting to think this
might be the real deal, should we ring our midwife?
I'm walking around, trying to ease this and figure
out if I'm actually in labour
4am - Asked Marty to text the Midwife, contractions
were steady till 4am when they started coming every
2 minutes and lasting about a minute, Midwife
responded that it sounds like the real deal, let her
know when to come over (she lives on our street!!
such luck!!) Midwife turned up after Marty text
saying 'come over, no rush, sooner the better' LOL
text of the century from nervous and excited dad to
be... Internal was much easier than I expected, such
absolute elation to find out I was near 5cm!!!! MW
was very impressed at how lucid I was, joking and
laughing between contractions. Advice to us? 'Keep
doin what you're doin!!'
What was I doing? Through the contractions I was
visualising a flower opening, and every so often
Marty was pressing down on the pressure points in my
lower back, I would lean back into them, amazing
pressure counteracting the contraction pressure.
I also counted to 20, up and back down , breathing
in on the upward count, and out on the downward.
I stayed in the same spot on the couch, with a chair
in front of me to lean on if need be, I just closed
my eyes, and focused on the breaks, not the
contractions. It is intense, but amazing how quickly
it becomes 'the norm' - you have these contractions,
and back to normal during the breaks!!
Marty had been in full 'action dad' mode, laying the
painters drop sheets over the entire lounge (he had
read it can get messy haha) and towels on top,
filling the pool that had been set up in the lounge,
and getting everything prepared while rushing over
and helping me focus through the contractions, he
was also laughing at my facials, apparently I looked
absolutely wasted, completely high on life and the
natural chemicals that were being released with the
labour. Pool is ready to go, my mum has been
over to see how I'm going, it was wonderful having
her here seeing me do this, and sharing the
experience!!
11am-ish... Marty let our Midwife know that I was
getting a bit 'over it' ... just a bit bored and
restless, you just have no idea of what will happen
next, and after sitting around chilling out, letting
the contractions take their course for the last 10
or so hours, I was ready!! She suggested getting in
the pool. WOW oh WOW oh WOW
AMAZING, Weightless relief!! Contractions were a bit
easier floating in the pool. After an hour of
'mucking about' in the pool, our MW suggested 'why
don't you try a wee push on your next contraction?'
A few contractions later, my waters broke! Midwife
said 'its going to get a little more intense from
now on' Oh game ON!!!!!!!! She was not wrong.... All
I could do was try and get comfortable, Marty was
feeding me ice cubes, which I would chomp and spit
everywhere, I'd get the odd word in between sighs
and groans and gasps, then I realised.... You are
really going to be born!! We're having a baby!!! (d'uhhhh!).
I was excited, scared, my thoughts were twisting
each way, and my how the voice of reason rings
through in the eleventh hour!
Pushing Ruby out was the single most difficult thing
I have ever done, I wont lie, I wanted to give up, I
wanted to transport myself somewhere else, nothing
can prepare you for this, but the inner monologue
kept me going, that voice of reason saying 'well its
not like you can go anywhere!! just get on with
it!!'
It is funny how a part of your brain tries to
'psyche you out' and the other part is pushing you
through giving you the rational thoughts
I do remember our lovely MW taking my hands, and
telling me how strong I am, and that I can do this,
I sure can!!!!
It felt like you were a lot bigger, and that it
would take a lot longer, so I was pretty scared (how
the brain plays tricks on you!!!!) Marty was
absolutely amazing, more than amazing, there isn't a
word that describes what he was like, amazing
doesn't do it any justice, the word amazing is just
a drop in the ocean..... When the time came, I gave
an almighty push, in fact, I didn't, my body was
pushing involuntarily, I was just along for the ride
by this stage. The Midwife went down the end
of the pool (facing me and able to see 'down
there'), she motioned Marty to the end of the pool
so I knew we were nearing the finish line, I was
worried about tearing (how on earth did thought get
in my head!) but thought 'frig it' and decided then
and there to give an almighty push, push puuuuush!!!
and your head popped out!! I remember thinking they
say the rest slithers out, after another almighty
push, that's exactly what happened! Marty caught our
beautiful wee baby, popped her onto my chest, and
cut the cord once it was empty and ready for removal
Ruby Mae Harrison arrived. 8lb 4 oz 1.22pm.
My first words holding you.,.. 'Its a baby!!' haha
deliriously happy and talking nonsense! After a few
minutes I realised we hadn't even checked to see if
it was a boy or a girl!! I was intact which
was a big worry for me, why was I worried!!!!
Ruby let out an almighty cry just as the new nanas
arrived, everyone was crying and laughing.
Wonderful wonderful experience, I can't wait to do
it all again!!!!!
Thanks
Nicky
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