Cameron Jack

[pregasaurus]

I woke up at 2am with 'niggles' that felt like REALLY bad period pain. I'd only had 3 hours sleep (went to bed late, stupid considering I was 6 days overdue). I thought "Hmmm, this is interesting". I threw myself on my stomach over some pillows so I was still upright and catnapped between them until 2:45 when they got too painful. I started timing them and found they were 2 minutes apart, but not terribly painful. I decided to get up and potter around the house, then jumped in the shower for about 15 minutes after which time they were getting quite bitey. I heated up the wheat pack and focussed on the candle flame while holding the bag on my lower back. At 4am I rang the labour ward to let them know I was in labour, but I wouldn't be in until after midday as my 2 previous labours had been very long. The midwife heard me have 2 contractions (still 2 mins apart) on the phone and asked me if I was sure I didn't want to come in now as they sounded quite strong. I declined and said I would ring when I thought it was time.

I woke my husband up and told him to go and have a shower and eat breakfast as we were in for a long day, all the time still pottering around breathing hard like I'd run a marathon every couple of minutes. I was starting to make a bit of noise, so I decided to go in to the hospital as I didn't want to wake the kids. I thought it would be very scary for them to be woken up and see Mum in pain and then be left alone with a friend of ours, so I decided if it was better if they woke up and we had already gone. Kirsty arrived at 6am and we were in hospital by 6:05.

They checked me and found I was already 5cms. Still, my prediction was 4pm that I would meet my baby. Everyone was pooh-poohing me saying "You don't know that for sure", but after 2 kids I knew how bad the contractions had to get, and while these didn't tickle, were nowhere near what they would become.

The next 6 hours were spent pacing up and down the room, using heat packs and massage. I went through a latent phase at 10am, but as I'd done that with my last 2 I just rested and enjoyed the break. At 11am everone was trying to get me in the bath, but I was saying that I still had 5 hours to go, and wanted to keep it up my sleeve for later.
At midday they checked me and I was only 7cms. I felt I was still coping well, but was worried about getting too tired and not being able to cope later when the pain got worse, so 12 hours in, at 2pm, the doctor ruptured my waters. Well, wasn't it on for young and old then!!!!

The pain rapidly increased, and it was only then that I got in the shower and then the bath quite quickly after that. Hubby got in behind me and rubbed my back, one minute I was telling him to shut up the next telling him I loved him. At one stage he was bent over awkwardly and I asked him what he was doing. He later told me he was looking for the head as he was sure I was going to deliver there and then I was in so much pain! I screamed for the gas and sucked it for all I was worth!! After 1/2 an hour I got out and staggered to the room, then was kneeling on a mat still sucking on the gas. At this stage I said "Ok, f*ck the natural birth, give me everything you've got!" then "No, f*ck that, I want a caesarean!". The midwife told me to get up on the bed so they could check me, and at 3:20pm I was 8cms. She was hell bent on getting the gas off me as I was sucking it non-stop, but the pressure was too intense. I was arguing, telling her another contraction was coming, but she wouldn't believe me! I then had what I can only describe as a 'full body' contraction, almost a seizure, where every muscle in my body went completely rigid with the pain. I lay on my lying left side, gripped on to the side of the bed, drew my knees up, arched my back, and felt his head shoot 3/4 of the way down the birth canal. The next contraction came 30 seconds later, and just as the midwife finished saying to my sister "she's got about another half and hour before she can start pushing", I put my hand down and caught my sons' head as it was born.
I cradled his head in my hands as the midwife scrambled to get her gloves on, then I gently guided his warm, slippery body onto the bed. One hour and forty minutes after my waters were broken, at 3:40pm, I delivered Cameron Jack myself, with my sister on one side and my husband on the other. I lifted him onto my chest and said "Hello there, my beautiful baby son. Hello, Cameron".

The placenta was delivered at exactly 4pm, the time I had predicted he would come. His Apgars were 9 and then 10, and my second stage was noted as being only 3 minutes long. He weighed 9lb 3oz, and had a 37cm head, which was born in only 3 contractions, and mercifully I'm completely intact, not even a graze.
He was so alert, a big difference having a drug free labour. He was wide awake for 4 hours after his birth 'chatting' away like a little parrot to everyone. Apart from me losing it in the last hour, his birth was perfect. I'm really proud of how well I coped.

[TwoBlue]

Originally Posted by pregasaurus

I delivered Cameron Jack myself, with my sister on one side and my husband on the other. I lifted him onto my chest and said "Hello there, my beautiful baby son. Hello, Cameron".

**tears, tears, tears, tears**

Thank you for sharing your beautiful birth story with us Pregasaurus

Now i want MY beautiful baby son even more !!

Cant wait to see a pic ....

[H&B'sMum]

WOW what an amazing birth story P. Congratulationson Cameron Jack he sounds perfect. Enjoy every minute with him.

[Crazy Monkey]

Congratulations Pregasaurus..
What a wonderful story.. and a wonderful experience to have delivered your son...

[JanetF]

How magnificently you birthed! Don't you love some of the stuff mamas say in transition? What a great bubhub role model you are

[Ffrenchstar]

Cnogratulations! A beautiful new addition to the family!

[tickle]

Congratulations to you and your family!!!
Can't wait for a picture.

[MrsScatterbrain]

Pregasaurus, that was such a beautiful story, I am in tears! Thankyou for taking the time to tell us the whole story! I feel more confident about my own labour now!

[cosmic]

Yay pregasaurus!!! Congratulations and a big welcome to Cameron Jack! I loved reading your story. You put in a fine effort... good for you!

[Ky]

Congratulations!

What an amazing story ... very inspiring and heartwarming ... it is amazing how well you know your body!

Take care, rest, accept offers of help and bask in the joy of your family!