NoMoreScuba
23-02-2007, 15:40
On Friday 16th February at 7am I went to hospital to have my waters broken as I was 10 days overdue. I hoped that I would start my labour on my own after that as I wasn't keen on being induced with syntocinon; I really wanted a drug-free birth. I was told I was 3cm dilated already, and 'stretchy' so they said I had a good chance of going into labour without the drug.
My waters were broken at 8 and DF and I went for a good walk to see if contractions were going to start. They did, between 4 and 8 minutes apart, but by 10.30am I was told that they weren't happening often enough and they wanted to put the drip in.
Almost immediately as the drip went in, the contractions started happening 2 minutes apart and were far more severe. The drip and monitors were really annoying in that they stopped me from moving around as much as I wanted. At about 12.45pm I was given an internal and told I was about 6 - 7cm dilated so to expect 'transition' soon. I was asked if i wanted a hot shower to which I said a big yes.
I was moved down to the birth suite and had a couple of massive contractions on the way. When we got there they managed to undress me and get me in the shower. Pretty much immediately I told them I had to poo, to which I was told 'don't you dare'. Another 2 or 3 contractions later when I was REALLY sure I had to poo (!) the midwife quickly turned off the shower and got me up on the bed to do another internal. Sure enough I was 10cm dilated so she told me to push for my life...
The second stage of my labour took only about 40 minutes, and at 2.27pm my son Charlie Granton was born, weighing 3.92kg (8pd 10.5oz), length 52cm and head circumference 35cm. I couldn't believe how big he was! Unfortunately I tore with a 2nd degree tear because the little so-and-so decided to come out with both shoulders at once rather than one at a time.
Touching his head as he was crowning is the single most emotional moment of my life (and certainly the most painful!). My DF was brilliant throughout, but I found that I was incredibly internalised during my entire labour; it was true animal instinct.
I am very proud of managing a birth with no pain relief, despite the syntocinon, and very grateful that it was only 4 hours long (probably have the syntocinon to thank for that!). I am also very thankful to all the staff at Manly Maternity Unit who were spectacular.
My waters were broken at 8 and DF and I went for a good walk to see if contractions were going to start. They did, between 4 and 8 minutes apart, but by 10.30am I was told that they weren't happening often enough and they wanted to put the drip in.
Almost immediately as the drip went in, the contractions started happening 2 minutes apart and were far more severe. The drip and monitors were really annoying in that they stopped me from moving around as much as I wanted. At about 12.45pm I was given an internal and told I was about 6 - 7cm dilated so to expect 'transition' soon. I was asked if i wanted a hot shower to which I said a big yes.
I was moved down to the birth suite and had a couple of massive contractions on the way. When we got there they managed to undress me and get me in the shower. Pretty much immediately I told them I had to poo, to which I was told 'don't you dare'. Another 2 or 3 contractions later when I was REALLY sure I had to poo (!) the midwife quickly turned off the shower and got me up on the bed to do another internal. Sure enough I was 10cm dilated so she told me to push for my life...
The second stage of my labour took only about 40 minutes, and at 2.27pm my son Charlie Granton was born, weighing 3.92kg (8pd 10.5oz), length 52cm and head circumference 35cm. I couldn't believe how big he was! Unfortunately I tore with a 2nd degree tear because the little so-and-so decided to come out with both shoulders at once rather than one at a time.
Touching his head as he was crowning is the single most emotional moment of my life (and certainly the most painful!). My DF was brilliant throughout, but I found that I was incredibly internalised during my entire labour; it was true animal instinct.
I am very proud of managing a birth with no pain relief, despite the syntocinon, and very grateful that it was only 4 hours long (probably have the syntocinon to thank for that!). I am also very thankful to all the staff at Manly Maternity Unit who were spectacular.