Joshua was born in January 1999…an
emergency caesarean after 4 failed inductions (due to pre-eclampsia). I
had been in hospital for 29 hours, on a bed (with a monitor on), and a
Syntocinin drip) when he was born at last.
I was told then that my pelvis was
an unusual shape (more of a cone shape), and there was no way in the
world that Josh was going to be born naturally, and it was highly
unlikely that I would ever give birth naturally.
I had 26 injections in my 5 day
stay, and left looking rather bruised.
Aimee was born in September 2002…my
hospital midwife had pressured me the whole pregnancy to book in for an
elective caesar, but I was determined to at least have a “trial of
labour”. I had it in my head that if I could just avoid a bed in
labour, and let gravity lend a hand- I would be able to have a decent
shot at a vaginal birth. I did piles of reading on the subject, and
hoped for the best.
The midwife left when I was 38 weeks
pregnant, and I got her partner. I went in to labour naturally 10 days
overdue (having refused inductions). I stayed home until the
contractions were very close together and a minute long…things slowed
when I arrived at the hospital, and eventually my waters were broken for
me. The birth went very well (no drugs), until I suffered a 2nd
degree tear at the end, and needed to have stitching under GA, and a
blood transfusion. I had kissed my wee girl, then been rushed off to
theatre, not seeing her for 6 hours. I was so thrilled at having had a
normal birth, but it came at a price. I was unable to sit without pain
for 4 months.
With Tommy, I started to think maybe
I could birth at home, and avoid all intervention. Everyone I mentioned
this too felt I was crazy, but I kept looking in to it. I read a book
about home birth in NZ, and decided I could do it.
I found a midwife who agreed, Ruth
Davidson (who was superb). After thinking I was insane, my best friend
(in her first pregnancy) is opting for a home birth next month too.
I had only minimal blood-tests, and
no vaginal examinations whatsoever. I also didn’t have a scan, thinking
there was no reason since I had no intention of acting on anything that
was found o nit.
Around my due date (Sunday), I had a
show, and started having contractions each evening. It was really
strange, I thought I would certainly go in to full labour that night,
but it never happened…they always stopped around 12-2am. I also had a
time each afternoon when I couldn’t seem to move, because baby was right
in the pelvis. On the Wednesday my hind-waters broke.
On Friday, I took my two children
(nearly 8 and 4) to the mall, and we wandered about shopping. I was
having contractions ,but nothing major, and nothing that I hadn’t had
all week. That night, I had them again, as usual, and thought nothing
of it. They were reasonably hard, but weren’t lasting very long, and I
carried on watching a movie, and rocking on my rocker (Tommy was
posterior).
I went to bed just after midnight
with my son Josh, to read Harry Potter…I heard a “pop”, and my waters
broke in bed! He leapt up, super-excited, and rushed to make me a cup
of tea. I had a shower, and then started walking about between
contractions, which were straight off 6 minutes apart…then 4 minutes,
then 2, really quickly.
I had no idea how quickly the baby
would come, but thought it seemed reasonably imminent- so apologetically
had my hubby (Ben) ring the midwife in the middle of the night.
We had planned to use a birth pool,
but there wasn’t much time to get it organized- it was only up to my
shins when I hopped in. My little boy massaged my back, and poured hot
water over me in the pool (he got in too). When it was time to push,
Ben woke Aimee so she could see her brother being born too.
There was 10 minutes of pushing, and
gorgeous Tommy Jackson entered the world (5 days “late”, at 9lb 2oz.
He’s 3 weeks old now, completely gorgeous…and I have no pain
whatsoever. I was a tad sore for about 2 days, and (if I over did the
house cleaning!) for another week or so- but that was it!
I will definitely opt for a home
birth should we have a fourth baby, and figure if I can do it- anyone
can!
