missneriss
18-09-2006, 07:39
My two boys are snuggled up in bed, so I thought I'd finally take the opportunity to post Jasper's birth story.
Jasper was due on the 13th of September. On Sunday 10th I was struck with an overwhelming urge to have an afternoon nap, which was strange because I never sleep in the daytime. When I got up I felt a warm gush down my leg which I dripped all over the house as I rushed to the toilet. I went and told DH, who was putting a BBQ together, and then we chilled out for an hour or so until I went to hospital. They confirmed my waters had broken and sent me home til things kicked off. If nothing happened in 48 hours, I'd need an induction.
Until Monday afternoon I'd been having random contractions of varied length and intensity. My desperation not to be induced (which would mean I'd be in the ward instead of the Birthing Centre) resulted in my spending all of Monday drinking raspberry leaf tea and rubbing clary sage into my stomach, to no avail. By 2pm I decided to take it up a notch and somehow managed to drink 30ml of castor oil.
At 4pm DH and I walked to the shops to satisfy my sudden urge to eat felafel. On the way home I had what I'd say was my first real labour contraction - I had to stop and bend over, and breathe through it (much to the amusement of passers-by!) I had some mild diarrhea and the contractions started becoming more intense and regular.
This went on all night while I tried to watch TV and an anxious DH called the birth centre at two-hourly periods. In the end I sent him to bed! At midnight the contractions were painful and three minutes apart, so I called myself and they suggested I come in.
DH must have been looking forward to the opportunity to drive like a rally car racer for months- even though there was no traffic he was ducking and weaving and gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles! For some reason I was shaking like a leaf, although it wasn't cold. (The same thing happened on my wedding day, so perhaps it's just adrenalin (or trepidation!))
We settled into the birth centre and met our lovely midwife. My contractions were coming at about two minutes apart for a long while and then I went into some kind of zone. I was managing to just breathe through them but when it got to the point where I was groaning a bit (I'm usually fairly quiet) I remember thinking "I'm not going to do this again!" Poor DH was trying to help by stroking my face and I had to tell him to bug*ger off - I couldn't handle anyone coming within three feet!
At this stage the contractions were full-on and I was lying on my side. I tried all fours and standing up but nothing seemed to make the pain any easier! It got to the point where I was coaching myself - 'just get through the next five contractions, we must be close!' Just at that stage the midwife said "I think I'll examine you now" and then, "yep, you're ready to push!"
I nearly collapsed with relief, thinking once transition was finished it would all be downhill.:no:
Pushing went on for nearly two hours... I just couldn't get him out! I remember the pain between my legs being secondary to the sheer effort required to push. DH said I looked like a red sweaty monster, with veins popping out all over the place and a scary grimace. His head was crowning but for some reason he kept slipping back up the canal. The midwives (the head midwife had come in by now) were monitoring bubs and his heart rate was fairly stable but eventually she said "I'm really sorry Nerissa, but it's too dangerous to leave him- I'm going to have to do an episiotomy."
I REALLY didn't want to be cut and nearly cried at this point. I begged her not to and she said "I'll give you two more goes while I go and get the equipment, but otherwise I have to do it." I was dreading the next two contractions, and despite giving it my all I still couldn't manage. The thought of any more pain down there at this stage made my skin crawl.
She had the scissors ready when another contraction came on, so she had to wait. I don't think I've tried harder at anything in my life- I'm surprised my head didn't explode! Anyway much to everyone's delight and relief :smiliedance: I managed to squeeze his head out! It was a wonderful feeling reaching down to touch my baby for the first time.
After that it was pretty textbook- I was absolutely knackered when I finally held him. Never having been particulartly maternal I didn't expect to feel that 'instant rush of love', but it nearly blew me away. I still can't believe it was him in there all those months, wriggling away. Andrew and I have both been completely struck down by the love we feel for that little person.
There was a bit of drama getting the placenta out - my contractions were very weak and I had a full bladder and couldn't urinate so needed a catheter. In the end I had the injection and they pulled it out which was a bit unpleasant. I just wanted them to go away so I could be with the bubs!
Anyway now it's six days later. We spent two days in hospital but it was awesome to get home. There have been BF challenges and long crying episodes, but all that's overshadowed by this beautiful new thing. (Apologies for the gushiness, I can't help it!)
So that's how our little Jasper came into the world.
Photos:
http://www.ringo.com/explore/member.html?memberId=83635068
I can't believe I got all that down before he woke up!! :D
Jasper was due on the 13th of September. On Sunday 10th I was struck with an overwhelming urge to have an afternoon nap, which was strange because I never sleep in the daytime. When I got up I felt a warm gush down my leg which I dripped all over the house as I rushed to the toilet. I went and told DH, who was putting a BBQ together, and then we chilled out for an hour or so until I went to hospital. They confirmed my waters had broken and sent me home til things kicked off. If nothing happened in 48 hours, I'd need an induction.
Until Monday afternoon I'd been having random contractions of varied length and intensity. My desperation not to be induced (which would mean I'd be in the ward instead of the Birthing Centre) resulted in my spending all of Monday drinking raspberry leaf tea and rubbing clary sage into my stomach, to no avail. By 2pm I decided to take it up a notch and somehow managed to drink 30ml of castor oil.
At 4pm DH and I walked to the shops to satisfy my sudden urge to eat felafel. On the way home I had what I'd say was my first real labour contraction - I had to stop and bend over, and breathe through it (much to the amusement of passers-by!) I had some mild diarrhea and the contractions started becoming more intense and regular.
This went on all night while I tried to watch TV and an anxious DH called the birth centre at two-hourly periods. In the end I sent him to bed! At midnight the contractions were painful and three minutes apart, so I called myself and they suggested I come in.
DH must have been looking forward to the opportunity to drive like a rally car racer for months- even though there was no traffic he was ducking and weaving and gripping the steering wheel with white knuckles! For some reason I was shaking like a leaf, although it wasn't cold. (The same thing happened on my wedding day, so perhaps it's just adrenalin (or trepidation!))
We settled into the birth centre and met our lovely midwife. My contractions were coming at about two minutes apart for a long while and then I went into some kind of zone. I was managing to just breathe through them but when it got to the point where I was groaning a bit (I'm usually fairly quiet) I remember thinking "I'm not going to do this again!" Poor DH was trying to help by stroking my face and I had to tell him to bug*ger off - I couldn't handle anyone coming within three feet!
At this stage the contractions were full-on and I was lying on my side. I tried all fours and standing up but nothing seemed to make the pain any easier! It got to the point where I was coaching myself - 'just get through the next five contractions, we must be close!' Just at that stage the midwife said "I think I'll examine you now" and then, "yep, you're ready to push!"
I nearly collapsed with relief, thinking once transition was finished it would all be downhill.:no:
Pushing went on for nearly two hours... I just couldn't get him out! I remember the pain between my legs being secondary to the sheer effort required to push. DH said I looked like a red sweaty monster, with veins popping out all over the place and a scary grimace. His head was crowning but for some reason he kept slipping back up the canal. The midwives (the head midwife had come in by now) were monitoring bubs and his heart rate was fairly stable but eventually she said "I'm really sorry Nerissa, but it's too dangerous to leave him- I'm going to have to do an episiotomy."
I REALLY didn't want to be cut and nearly cried at this point. I begged her not to and she said "I'll give you two more goes while I go and get the equipment, but otherwise I have to do it." I was dreading the next two contractions, and despite giving it my all I still couldn't manage. The thought of any more pain down there at this stage made my skin crawl.
She had the scissors ready when another contraction came on, so she had to wait. I don't think I've tried harder at anything in my life- I'm surprised my head didn't explode! Anyway much to everyone's delight and relief :smiliedance: I managed to squeeze his head out! It was a wonderful feeling reaching down to touch my baby for the first time.
After that it was pretty textbook- I was absolutely knackered when I finally held him. Never having been particulartly maternal I didn't expect to feel that 'instant rush of love', but it nearly blew me away. I still can't believe it was him in there all those months, wriggling away. Andrew and I have both been completely struck down by the love we feel for that little person.
There was a bit of drama getting the placenta out - my contractions were very weak and I had a full bladder and couldn't urinate so needed a catheter. In the end I had the injection and they pulled it out which was a bit unpleasant. I just wanted them to go away so I could be with the bubs!
Anyway now it's six days later. We spent two days in hospital but it was awesome to get home. There have been BF challenges and long crying episodes, but all that's overshadowed by this beautiful new thing. (Apologies for the gushiness, I can't help it!)
So that's how our little Jasper came into the world.
Photos:
http://www.ringo.com/explore/member.html?memberId=83635068
I can't believe I got all that down before he woke up!! :D