As you may know I was overdue at 41 + 4 weeks. I had my first stretch and sweep at 41+3 and another Saturday morning at 41+4 11am. I did not want to get one as I have been going for a hands off pregnancy and birth plan but they were wanting to induce me on the Tuesday at 42 weeks and I REALLY didn’t want that so went with the less of two evils ha ha ha
So during the s&s i got a really tight braxton hicks or so I thought…..I think it was my first contraction so this is taken as the start of my labour on the books.
Trev and I walked back to the car through the botanical gardens and by the time we got to the car i said “I’m having stronger tightenings and the pain is lower down, hope this leads to something”. We got Hungry Jack’s for lunch and went home to see if they progressed into something and at this point were 5 min apart.
We didn’t know if it was real or fake labour and didn’t know what to do so we decided to light candles, put on meditation music and bounce on exercise ball and do some rebozo sifting as bub had been sitting ROP/ROA most pregnancy and we wanted to try and spin him (he came out LOA). We then timed contractions at about 3 to 4 min apart at this point and quite strong so i put some clary sage, orange and ylang ylang oils on a face washer and started to inhale on contractions, in for 4 sec out for 8 sec and repeated 3 times per surge. I continued this all the way until delivery.
At about 4.30pm my back was hurting so I decided to take a bath and listen to some birth affirmations. Well this took the contractions up to 2 min apart and I had to get out. I said to Trev “I think maybe we should go to hospital and set up a calm birth room or we might run out of time”.
So its about 5.30pm and we head on into hospital to be examined. I’m still believing I’m in pre labour and going to be sent home to continue. The midwife just let me labour for a while in the examination room so as to not put me on the clock. We were wanting a water birth and were just waiting it out a little. I got really tired and decided I needed to lay down on my side so the midwife decided to do a monitor. Baby’s vitals were perfect and so were mine but we couldn’t get him to kick so I had ice water and got up to go to the toilet. Still thinking we were going to be sent home.
I came back and lay down on my side for trace again and BANG! My water broke, Trev felt and heard it as he was at the edge of the bed with me. I went back to the toilet as the pressure was crazy and I was getting some relief there. My pad was mustard coloured i knew straight away it was meconium and that water birth was out.
Went back into examination room knowing I was probably in labour now and got an internal exam which showed I was fully dilated and ready to push so I was escorted to a labour room and waddled my way there somehow. It was now about 7.30pm. Still using my “oily rag” as Trev calls it (essential oil on a face washer) i delivered our beautiful baby boy into the world Calmly, Quietly and very Relaxed at 8.28pm.
I had amazing skin to skin, delayed cord clamping and have some awesome photos from labour and birth.
Then it went a little pear shaped and I’ll make this part quick as i don’t want it to distract from my AMAZING, EMPOWERING, CALM birthing experience…….
I tried for an unassisted 3rd stage (placenta birth) and started bleeding so got the shot, at which point i said “OW” the only sound i had made the whole time ha ha ha…..the midwife tried to remove the placenta and the cord snapped. Several attempts with tools and a surgeon manually trying while i have gas fails. I lose about 1ltr of blood and at 11pm get taken to surgery for a manual removal under general anesthetic. I got to feed my baby and kiss my family goodbye then got wheeled off. Got out at 1am Sunday morning happy for my baby and I to be safe.
Was on endone Sunday and a little out of it. Got told I needed a blood transfusion and had that started Monday night where I got 2 units/bags of blood.
I’m now back home Tuesday 1st September and the start of Spring. We are so in love with our little man and although my birth story wasn’t the one we had planned I’m still very happy with how the labour and birth went. (Afterbirth not so much) ♡
A little about me …
