Moorish
15-07-2007, 04:13 PM
Bit of therapy for me penning my birth story.
Our due date for our precious little boy was 07/07/07.
After 3 weeks or so of pre-labour I was so fed up, I'd made it to 40 weeks and wanted to see my little boy.
On Friday night - 6/7/07 - my braxton hicks contractions started to get a little edge to them but were irregular and bearable. Saturday held much the same. We hit the toy sales and I had BH's most of the day from all the walking around. Even though DH wanted me to call the hospital to get it checked, I felt confident that, after 3 labours surely I'd know when it was the real thing.
Sunday was just as busy (trying to keep occupied more than anything) and I was desperate for lunch at my favourite place on the Hobart waterfront (Fish Frenzy). DH had been monitoring my BH's all day and found they were coming every 8-9 mins and were bitey enough for me to stop what I was doing and cringe through them.
After my lovely meal of grilled fish on a greek salad I finally gave in and called the hospital. The midwife was absolutely lovely and suggested I come in to have a trace done (monitoring) so we took the 3 girls to my mums house and headed in. In the car I got really nervous and anxious, so much so that by the time I was hooked up to the machine all my contractions had completely stopped which was so incredibly frustrating. The Dr was called and he suggested that I stay, walk around to try and get the contractions started again and continue monitoring - he'd come down and check me out. We discussed with the midwife and agreed that I'd be less stressed if I could go home and pack some bags for the girls, just in case anything happened and we were admitted.
2 hours later at about 7pm with the girls settled at mums, we were back in hospital - contractions were few and far between. Dr arrived at 7.30pm to do an internal to find that I was 3cm dilated! (Thank goodness!) He asked if I wanted to go home and wait for things to progress by themselves or he could break my waters now and get it all over with. Needless to say I chose option B fairly quickly and before I had a chance to think twice my waters were painlessly broken with a hook. The feeling of the warm fluids was one of relief coupled with the feeling of anxiousness about what was to come.
We were moved next door from a delivery suit to a birthing suit (a suit where you birth then stay in) and for 1/2 an hour I sat on the end of the bed with a towel between my legs, watching tv. At 8pm I had my first contraction, fairly mild but enough to let me know about it. My midwife Rachel had brought in a foam exercise mat and put it on the floor at the end of the bed for comfort as I refused to do anything but stand and lean over the bed trolley (the one that you eat your meals off), thus causing it to remain still and not roll around the room!
I decided to pull out my TENS machine and attach it while I still had some control. As I'd suspected, it served more so as a distraction than pain relief - taking my focus off the back pain but letting the attention fall to the pains at the front from the contractions. Over the next 2 hours the contractions steadily increased in strength and for the most part I coped quite well. Throughout the whole labour I gripped the trolley for dear life and was up on tip toes through contractions, my palms were red with a white outline from the strength of my grip. I found that the TENS offered more relief between contractions - acting as an electric masseuse, easing the aches in my back and preparing them for the next contraction. All the while, my DH was sitting in a nearby chair watching the TV while my focus shifted from Greys Anatomy (which I caught most of in the early part of labour!) to staring at the little bleeping green light on the TENS as if my life depended on it during a contraction.
By 10pm I had another internal and was told I was 5cm - news at which I started crying, devastated that it was only 2cm more than upon my arrival. Rachel was wonderful and calmed me down, reassuring me that she was VERY positive that I would progress fairly quickly through the next 5cm, quietly informing me that she was going to get the birth trolley ready. I doubted her to the high heavens, even telling my DH (as he tried to reassure me) that the contractions would still need to be closer (they were every 3 mins) and stronger (I was still TRYING in vain to watch What About Brian!) before the baby would arrive. By this stage I was also getting the urge to push and I was screaming out in pain and "grrrrrr-ing" through my throat as I could feel my legs shake and near buckle as I tried to push. Rachel told me to breath through it all as if I tried pushing now, I'd make the cervix swell, causing it to take longer to dilate.
But true to her earlier word, after 15 mins of intense contractions and wanting SO MUCH to push like I never had before, Rachel announced that I was 10cm and that it wouldn't be long now. Just then I had a MASSIVE contraction, just as Rachel was heading for the door. All I could do was PUSH and I screamed to Rachel, begging her NOT to leave! To come back, the baby was coming! I could feel him RIGHT THERE between my legs and she rushed back in. After convincing me to move the trolley forward, allowing her "access" to the business end, she confirmed that the baby's head, was in fact, right there, and to push with the next contraction, which appeared as if on cue. By this stage Shane was up and gripping the trolley from the other side, acting as a force against it to stop it moving. We were eye to eye as I went through the next contraction, me yelling to him that the baby was coming, the moment was very powerful and very emotional. One push and the head was born and it all felt so painful but so easy at the same time and that I could do that again. Of course the job wasn't done and after a minute or so another contraction came and I pushed the rest of my little boy out. I remember screaming out that it felt so good! That instant relief is one that I'll never forget and I immediately felt sad that it was most likely the last time I'd ever do that again. Our little bubba blue was born at 10.23pm after less than 2.5 hours of labour.
My little boy was brought up between my legs to me to hold and I was helped to the floor to lay on my back, as my body went into a little bit of shock and I was all shakey. All of a sudden I had the urge to take off my clothes - I had been wearing my bra, tank top and hospital gown - and I placed the baby on my chest and a blanket was put over us. The next few minutes felt like ages as the Dr walked in and the midwife gave the injection to help with the placenta. There seemed to be a problem though as it was taking far longer than previous labours to remove the placenta. My tummy was prodded and massaged to encourage it to come, and I was soon asked to push and the placenta was removed intact.
After all of this the midwife asked if anyone had checked if the baby was a boy! It hadn't occurred to any of us and we hadn't checked! Of course he was a boy and I spent about another 15 mins or so lying on the floor. I was told I had a 1st degree tear due to the fast birth and that bubba was born with his hand to his face (a pose that is still familiar to him). I was then told I had also experienced a prolapse of the cervix (http://betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Prolapse_of_the_uterus?Open) but was told it should all go back to normal within 6 weeks or so - all information of which went in one ear and out the other as I was still very dazed. I remember feeling like there was a lot of liquid about me (as I was still laying on the foam mat) and as Shane & Rachel helped me up I was told not to look and not to worry. Blood loss was recorded to be 500ml however there was more than my last labour which recorded the same amount.
Once back on the bed, we were all made comfortable and were left to enjoy time with our new baby. During this time we enjoyed cuddles together as we watched him search for his fist to suck on, and after I was able to take a good look at him, we named him Alexander Isaac. Alex took to the breast like most males - very enthusiastically - and it seemed as if he knew what to do quite well. Wow he had a powerful suck on him. So much so that the midwife commented that he could suck himself solid to a wall (:laughing:) and that she'd only ever seen that powerful a suck on much bigger baby boys! Alex was weighed soon after and found to be a perfect 7lb 8oz, and the next day before his first bath, measured 52cm with a head circumference of 35cm.
Alexander was born in the same room as Chelsea, his eldest sister and was delivered by Rachel, who also delivered Chelsea - our first born.
3 days after his birth, Alex developed jaundice (no surprise as all his 3 sisters did too) and went under lights for 2 days. We finally were given the all clear to come home on Friday 13th of July where he settled in well in his cradle.
Alex is much adored by his 3 sisters, is his daddy's pride and joy (along with the girls of course!) and has already received thousands of kisses from his mummy who's always busy catching him up!
ALEXANDER ISAAC (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/chenicimo/AlexanderIsaac035.jpg)
8th July 2007
Our little family (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/chenicimo/AlexanderIsaac035.jpg)
Valentine
Our due date for our precious little boy was 07/07/07.
After 3 weeks or so of pre-labour I was so fed up, I'd made it to 40 weeks and wanted to see my little boy.
On Friday night - 6/7/07 - my braxton hicks contractions started to get a little edge to them but were irregular and bearable. Saturday held much the same. We hit the toy sales and I had BH's most of the day from all the walking around. Even though DH wanted me to call the hospital to get it checked, I felt confident that, after 3 labours surely I'd know when it was the real thing.
Sunday was just as busy (trying to keep occupied more than anything) and I was desperate for lunch at my favourite place on the Hobart waterfront (Fish Frenzy). DH had been monitoring my BH's all day and found they were coming every 8-9 mins and were bitey enough for me to stop what I was doing and cringe through them.
After my lovely meal of grilled fish on a greek salad I finally gave in and called the hospital. The midwife was absolutely lovely and suggested I come in to have a trace done (monitoring) so we took the 3 girls to my mums house and headed in. In the car I got really nervous and anxious, so much so that by the time I was hooked up to the machine all my contractions had completely stopped which was so incredibly frustrating. The Dr was called and he suggested that I stay, walk around to try and get the contractions started again and continue monitoring - he'd come down and check me out. We discussed with the midwife and agreed that I'd be less stressed if I could go home and pack some bags for the girls, just in case anything happened and we were admitted.
2 hours later at about 7pm with the girls settled at mums, we were back in hospital - contractions were few and far between. Dr arrived at 7.30pm to do an internal to find that I was 3cm dilated! (Thank goodness!) He asked if I wanted to go home and wait for things to progress by themselves or he could break my waters now and get it all over with. Needless to say I chose option B fairly quickly and before I had a chance to think twice my waters were painlessly broken with a hook. The feeling of the warm fluids was one of relief coupled with the feeling of anxiousness about what was to come.
We were moved next door from a delivery suit to a birthing suit (a suit where you birth then stay in) and for 1/2 an hour I sat on the end of the bed with a towel between my legs, watching tv. At 8pm I had my first contraction, fairly mild but enough to let me know about it. My midwife Rachel had brought in a foam exercise mat and put it on the floor at the end of the bed for comfort as I refused to do anything but stand and lean over the bed trolley (the one that you eat your meals off), thus causing it to remain still and not roll around the room!
I decided to pull out my TENS machine and attach it while I still had some control. As I'd suspected, it served more so as a distraction than pain relief - taking my focus off the back pain but letting the attention fall to the pains at the front from the contractions. Over the next 2 hours the contractions steadily increased in strength and for the most part I coped quite well. Throughout the whole labour I gripped the trolley for dear life and was up on tip toes through contractions, my palms were red with a white outline from the strength of my grip. I found that the TENS offered more relief between contractions - acting as an electric masseuse, easing the aches in my back and preparing them for the next contraction. All the while, my DH was sitting in a nearby chair watching the TV while my focus shifted from Greys Anatomy (which I caught most of in the early part of labour!) to staring at the little bleeping green light on the TENS as if my life depended on it during a contraction.
By 10pm I had another internal and was told I was 5cm - news at which I started crying, devastated that it was only 2cm more than upon my arrival. Rachel was wonderful and calmed me down, reassuring me that she was VERY positive that I would progress fairly quickly through the next 5cm, quietly informing me that she was going to get the birth trolley ready. I doubted her to the high heavens, even telling my DH (as he tried to reassure me) that the contractions would still need to be closer (they were every 3 mins) and stronger (I was still TRYING in vain to watch What About Brian!) before the baby would arrive. By this stage I was also getting the urge to push and I was screaming out in pain and "grrrrrr-ing" through my throat as I could feel my legs shake and near buckle as I tried to push. Rachel told me to breath through it all as if I tried pushing now, I'd make the cervix swell, causing it to take longer to dilate.
But true to her earlier word, after 15 mins of intense contractions and wanting SO MUCH to push like I never had before, Rachel announced that I was 10cm and that it wouldn't be long now. Just then I had a MASSIVE contraction, just as Rachel was heading for the door. All I could do was PUSH and I screamed to Rachel, begging her NOT to leave! To come back, the baby was coming! I could feel him RIGHT THERE between my legs and she rushed back in. After convincing me to move the trolley forward, allowing her "access" to the business end, she confirmed that the baby's head, was in fact, right there, and to push with the next contraction, which appeared as if on cue. By this stage Shane was up and gripping the trolley from the other side, acting as a force against it to stop it moving. We were eye to eye as I went through the next contraction, me yelling to him that the baby was coming, the moment was very powerful and very emotional. One push and the head was born and it all felt so painful but so easy at the same time and that I could do that again. Of course the job wasn't done and after a minute or so another contraction came and I pushed the rest of my little boy out. I remember screaming out that it felt so good! That instant relief is one that I'll never forget and I immediately felt sad that it was most likely the last time I'd ever do that again. Our little bubba blue was born at 10.23pm after less than 2.5 hours of labour.
My little boy was brought up between my legs to me to hold and I was helped to the floor to lay on my back, as my body went into a little bit of shock and I was all shakey. All of a sudden I had the urge to take off my clothes - I had been wearing my bra, tank top and hospital gown - and I placed the baby on my chest and a blanket was put over us. The next few minutes felt like ages as the Dr walked in and the midwife gave the injection to help with the placenta. There seemed to be a problem though as it was taking far longer than previous labours to remove the placenta. My tummy was prodded and massaged to encourage it to come, and I was soon asked to push and the placenta was removed intact.
After all of this the midwife asked if anyone had checked if the baby was a boy! It hadn't occurred to any of us and we hadn't checked! Of course he was a boy and I spent about another 15 mins or so lying on the floor. I was told I had a 1st degree tear due to the fast birth and that bubba was born with his hand to his face (a pose that is still familiar to him). I was then told I had also experienced a prolapse of the cervix (http://betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Prolapse_of_the_uterus?Open) but was told it should all go back to normal within 6 weeks or so - all information of which went in one ear and out the other as I was still very dazed. I remember feeling like there was a lot of liquid about me (as I was still laying on the foam mat) and as Shane & Rachel helped me up I was told not to look and not to worry. Blood loss was recorded to be 500ml however there was more than my last labour which recorded the same amount.
Once back on the bed, we were all made comfortable and were left to enjoy time with our new baby. During this time we enjoyed cuddles together as we watched him search for his fist to suck on, and after I was able to take a good look at him, we named him Alexander Isaac. Alex took to the breast like most males - very enthusiastically - and it seemed as if he knew what to do quite well. Wow he had a powerful suck on him. So much so that the midwife commented that he could suck himself solid to a wall (:laughing:) and that she'd only ever seen that powerful a suck on much bigger baby boys! Alex was weighed soon after and found to be a perfect 7lb 8oz, and the next day before his first bath, measured 52cm with a head circumference of 35cm.
Alexander was born in the same room as Chelsea, his eldest sister and was delivered by Rachel, who also delivered Chelsea - our first born.
3 days after his birth, Alex developed jaundice (no surprise as all his 3 sisters did too) and went under lights for 2 days. We finally were given the all clear to come home on Friday 13th of July where he settled in well in his cradle.
Alex is much adored by his 3 sisters, is his daddy's pride and joy (along with the girls of course!) and has already received thousands of kisses from his mummy who's always busy catching him up!
ALEXANDER ISAAC (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/chenicimo/AlexanderIsaac035.jpg)
8th July 2007
Our little family (http://i121.photobucket.com/albums/o236/chenicimo/AlexanderIsaac035.jpg)
Valentine