Birth Stories

Hi all oh well here goes. Alyssa was finally born 9 days overdue. I went to see the midwife on the monday at 9am(8 days overdue) so she could give me a sweep (its where they run a finger around the lip of you cervix to get your show to start). As i really didnt want to be induced and this was going to be the next step on the friday. Anyway she went to do the sweep and then had this kind of puzzled sound in her voice "have you been having any niggles?" I said no and she told me i was already 3 cm dilated and to go home and wait that labour wouldnt be too far away.

Well i got home and the show started, it wasnt that bad but i did have to wear a pad. The niggles started at about 2pm and I called my husband and one of my best friends who was going to be a support person as well. I think at this stage they were about 20 mins apart.

My midwife rang later that night and asked how things were going and we told her they were going good contractions about 15 mins apart but sometimes going down to five.

I was awake most of monday night with the contractions but also excitement. The contractions were now 5 mins to 2 mins apart. So at 7am i called the midwife thinking surely i must be nearly ready to go into hospital. The midwife came out and checked me i was still only 3 cm aghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh how frustrating.

So my husband worked outside for a while and My friend and i went for 2 very long walks. Then i decided to have a hot bath, My back was killing me by this stage with all the contractions (using all the things id been told could help speed things up)

At 1pm on Tuesday i couldn't stand being at home any longer and the pain in my back was pretty intense (i am told this is because Alyssa was laying a bit posterior). So i phoned my midwife and told her i was going into hospital.

When i was admitted she checked me and woo hoo i was 5cm so it was good to know things were progressing. I jumped into the spa bath when it was available and stayed in there consuming heaps of cold water as well. By now i was also starting to vomit (with the back pain, Id just like to say that the contractions wern't that bad but those of you who have had the massive back pain with a posterior baby will know what im talking about).

I eventually got out of the bath and went back to my room so the midwife could check me (she had been monitoring the baby and my BP while i was in the bath.) And i was ready to push.

I was offered gas but took one puff and couldnt stand it. Once Alyssa's head had come down far enough and she had obviously turned into the right position the back pain stopped. So i started pusing at 4-30pm and Alyssa was born at 6pm weighing 8lb 6oz and 52cm. So all in all it was a fantastic labour. They took me as being in labour for 7 hours so thats not too bad for the first go.

I feel really positive about my labour and birth and what was great for me was having my friends and family there to support me, my husband, sister, and two of my closest friends. Also i totally trusted my midwife and anything she suggested i try i did.

I hope this hasnt put anyone off having a baby because it was truely the best day of my life, Sure it was hard at the time but i cant even really remember how sore it was now and it was only 6 months ago. I just had to go over the midwifes notes to write everthing down.

Goodluck with your births, Maria

Hi there,

I had a good pregnancy except for alot of pelvis pain, especially towards the end as baby was getting heavy. I was 10 days overdue and had to be induced as baby's head would not engage. I got induced at 8 am Tuesday 11 June and then my waters broke about 3pm that afternoon. The problem still was that baby wouldn't fully engage so about 8.30pm that evening my obstetrician decided to do a c-section. I had an epidural so I would be concious for the birth and my husband was there in theater for support. There were no complications afterwards. A reason for baby not engaging was that his head was a bit big for my pelvis.

I had a healthy son, Yaqub, and he weighed 9.5 pounds

Mumtaz

ok - well i have two to tell.....   so first....
When i was 8 1/2 months my husband and i moved from Tga to Auckland.... not good leaving a midwife that you had got to trust and love to nothing.. and trying to find someone who would take you soo far along... but with my sis in auckland looking for me it was not so bad.. i found one - which was a group of three.... i met them all the first day i was in auckland.. i immediately got on with 2 out of three.. on my next visit i requested that i not see or have the third (she was too old school for me - to pushing and we did not get on...) My mum was in napier at the time so she came up a week before i was due... to help things along.. she took me for VERY long walks through the botanical gardens everyday and to every shoppign mall and walked.. i was exashted after each day.. and one of those days i was walkign down the road and turned into our driveway and my Knee dislocated.. and i fell flat (well almost) on my tummy.. i was not too concerned but mum was - and that was on a sunday (by this time i was about 8 days overdue)so mum drove me to hospital and caled the midwife to say meet us there.. i was checked out and both me and bubs were ok... (it was the grandma that was in a mess... ) they keep me in overnight just to see if everythign was still ok.. and it was so they sent me home and said if i had not had it natually by the next sunday to go in to be induced... so next sunday came and i went in after lunch and the checked everythig out.. still ok but not even started.. so they started by putting some (excuse me for not knowing the correct terms) little bullet shaped things inside to help start "soften me up" i was not to move for about 1 hour while they "disolved" (fun) then mum took me on more long walks - this time around the hospital - around and around....   after tea that night and after i had a really nice long Deep bath the nurses put some more of those things in there and said this time don't get up (unless i had to go to the bathroom... ) My husband and mum both said they would see me in the morning.. and left...   all around me were ladies screaming because they were in laubour but not far enough along that they went into delivery suites... so it was not a good sleep... next mornign the dr and nurses checked me out again.. and still nothing.. (i think my baby wanted to stay there) so they said after lunch they would take me down to the delivery suite and break my waters... (yay) my mum and hubby came up after i had breaky and i was hooked up to the monitor to keep an eye on thigns.. after lunch as promised i was taken down to the suites... i was first layed on the bed and they broke my waters with a large crochet hook( i know that is not correct terms ) then the hooked me up to an epidurail so i could not move anywhere.. i also had a drip with some drug in it to get me "going" and i really need to go number ones.. and i said that i was busting... so the nurse put a catherder in - but it was so painful i really wanted to go and after about 5 mins of me complaining the nurse came back and said she would check it.. and she had not done it corectly and that was way it was more painful than just me 'busting'.. she fixed it and wow - she needed to change the bag... i was soo full...lol then they called my midwife..and who should turn up - but the one i hated.. the one that did not get along with me.... yay she was told that waters had been broken at 12 noon.. and that drugs had started.... around 5 pm i was really starting to feel it... my sis was called and she said that she would be there about 7.30pm.... i am glad we took a radio cause it was soo boring otherwise..   i remember that from 12noon to 8pm htey played "kung foo fighting" 7 times and i was beginning to hate the song... the midwife and the specialist were having a discussion as to weather i would have this baby natually or ceaser (because i am little 5'2 and my baby was big) well - after my sis got there things started heating up .. i tried the gas but that was gross so i just went for the eating ice - crunching down on something hard while getting some fluid into me.. and at 8.10pm my little girl came into this world... with my mum at the foot of the bed talking pics every couple of seconds.. to get the full effect(lol) and mym sis saying that she was glad that she did not have her children that way (nataral) and my husband just looking at my face and nothing else - otherwise he would have passed out        Well in all i hated my first birth - it was horrible... very "boring" with a person who was barking orders at me (the midwife) and i thought if they were all like this i would not do it again.....     at least not with that midwife in that hospital.

heres my story:marsh was due 19th april nothing happened i got booked in to be induced 2weeks after that 3days before i was meant to be induced i started feeling contractions about 3pm happened every 15mins then got down to 10mins apart to 15mins so nothing major happening yet!!Around 8pm i started getting quite sore and the pains were every 10mins sometimes 5mins mainly 10mins so i called midwife she asked me if i would like to come in cause i lived in massey and i had to go to northshore hospital which is a far distance,so i called my nan she got ready and came from manukau to pick me up and take me to hospital.

Got to the hospital at about 9pm at 9.30pm midwife checked me not dilated yet!So she broke my waters and then everything from ther happened.I got up and walker around but i couldnt handle that i prefered laying down or sitting down.Mainly all my labour i was sitting in a rocking chair that was brilliant.started getting contractions every 10-5mins then midwife examined me again and ill admit it was uncomfortable,she said i was 3cm dilated so things were starting that was about 11/12 by then shanes mum and lil sister had arrived to be there and my sis and my mum was also there too.Time went by started getting abit sore so midwife done another check she said was fully dilated things were starting only my nan was in the room too everyone got back in my room and then at 0.450am marshall murdo mckenzie was born 7lbs 13oz through out my labour too i had pethidine first then epidural and the gas i didnt like the gas cause it made me think differrently and my labour was only 7hours.In the end i had about 4stitches didnt have much probs i just bleed abit for the day then i was fine i stayed in hospital for 3 days

Warning a good birth story and a not so good story!!

Well I thought I would add my birth story too!! Griffin was born 4 Jan 02

I was induced at 37 weeks due to toxemia. My original wife got sick and I had to have one that I had never met before so I was a bit nervous. I went in at 7am and had the gel applied, nothing happened so I stayed over night, didnt sleep at all, all worried and stressing.
7am I got a niggle and then 7.30 on they came at 5 min apart and they were bad!!
Went down to the delivery room and 12hrs later they broke my waters, that was very painful I must say. My midwife was very distant and not very supportive, quite cold infact, my partner felt he was the one incharge and was really scared, this was our first baby and would have liked some kind of support.
So then I started vomiting, went into shock, shaking and my temp and blood pressure sky rocketed and I kept losing conciousness (sp lol)
then at about midnight Griffins heart kept dropping very low during each contration so they got me to push, my silly midwife didnt check how dialated I was and I was only 6cm, so after 1 hr and no success Geoff my partner had enough and went and talked to the specialist. She came in, put a fetal clip on Griffin, checked me out, put me on a drip and did a blood test on Griffins head, Griffin was in fetal distress and had to come out NOW, so they gave me an epidural and rushed me into theatre, at 3.15 am Griffin was born at 6lb 7oz, he had cord wrapped around his leg, was posterior and wouldnt have fitted through my pelvis anyway. So I wasnt to impressed with my midwife who seemed to cause alot of stress and I feel put Griffin and my life at risk, we have written a letter to the hospital voicing our concerns so hopefully the next person wont go through that, she left about half way through the c/section and Ive never seen her again. But at the end I have my beautiful little boy.

Ok Lilly born on 9 Feb 03

Ok well I was booked in to have a repeat C/section on 11 March, well I guess it aint gonna happen lol!!!
Sat night went to a girly movie and sleep over at a friends, watched scarey movies all night and found I was kinda uncomfortable, I though baby must have shifted and was pressing on something funny. We all laughed and said how funny it would have been if I went into labour, well we werent far off!!!! Slept funny all night went home on Sunday and all was well, sat down at about 7pm to watch Michael Jackson special and got some niggles, well 30 min later they were coming every min and quite strong so rang my midwife, got her partner as Debbie was in delivery all night and sleeping, she told me it would be babies head engaging so not to worry, 15 min later Geoff rang her back as I was IN alot of pain and having contraction on top of contraction. So she said Debbie would meet me at the hosp, Geoffs step father came got us and took us to the hospital, and boy is it hard having contractions in a car, so just b4 9 we arrive and Debbie checks me and Im 5cm, said do u feel any pressue, nope I say, 2 seconds later Im pushing my little heart out! Bamm go the waters and 9.58pm out she came very quickly, I was TOTALLY amazed when Geoff says "hey its a boy without a winkle" lol, I had a baby GIRL, couldnt belive it, all prepared for a boy lol. Was the best suprise. No drugs, well a bit of gas, no rips or tears and was up having a shower and on the phone 20 min later!! It was the most amazing experience in my life and Im am so glad I have the best midwife and supportive partner (and friends of course). I cant belive it went so well and so quick and wasnt anywhere close to what I went thru with Griffin. So no c/section for me, and cant wait to get my little girl home, she wasnt breathing to well when she was born so was on oxygen for a while but is doing it all on her own now, shes 5lb 8oz and is a hairy little thing, she spent 2 weeks in hospital and is now a big 8kg 9mth old lol
Love reading everyones experiences :)
Rach

I love reading all these stories.Everyone has such different experiances. When I had Evie at the end of June I had a really easy time until the pushing stage.
My waters broke early Friday morning and my contractions increased throughout the day.I carried on my day as normal and went shopping. By 5pm I was 5cm dilated. My mum and aunt arrived from the UK at 7pm, we had dinner and they went to bed with jet lagg. Hubbie and I went to the birthing centre at 11pm and I sailed through my labour. I went down in history as the first woman to read a book whilst in labour at the centre. At 3am I started pushing and found that bit the strangest and tiring as I had to concentrate. At 6.15 am I had an episiotomy and Evie shot out. A muscle in my cervix just wouldn't give so it had to be done. After a few stitches and a clean up my mum and aunt turned up and saw Evie just 15 mins after she was born. So it was really good timing and a really good drug free experiance. I am still shocked that I managed it.
Good luck everyone and I wish we could describe what it is like but there is just nothing to compare it to in the world with such a wonderful reward.

Rachy wat a lovely birth story that was great sorry to hear about the first birth u had and very happy bout the 2nd lil girl.

Good luck for the future

Maya - so was i... to my mum.. and then my sis - and then i rang my work.. and left a message, i still had a week to go.. so i could not continue....lol
They all said that was the best excuse for not coming to work on a monday morning.....

I rang Mum and Dad in Sydney, and Mum was going to come over on Monday when I got out of hospital, but in the end she couldn't wait and came on Friday night instead. Then I rang her dad who was at work, and said we have a baby girl and she's 9lbs and he said, I have to go, I'm working, see you after work. What a dad - 41 hours of labour having his baby and he can't even leave work! then I rang my grandparents - Maya is their first great-grandchild so they were stoked. It was just me and my best friend Karen and the midwife there when I gave birth which was nice and quiet and not really like a hospital at all.

i had an awesome enjoyable pregnancy. my edd was 17/03 (st pats day!)
contractions for me started the moring of 15/03, coming every 8 - 11 mins. rang my mid wife who told me to call her when they were 3 - 5 mins apart. i spent most of that day in the bath. i got no sleep that night as my back was SO SORE (coby was posterior)
to cut a long story short, i had irregular contrations for 2 days with no sleep. i was exhausted, i was scared, i wanted this kid out!
early monday morning (17/03) my contractions starting coming every 5 or so minutes and I was in pure agony, my back felt like it was going to split in two. my partner woke up to find me moaning/crying at the end of the bed, asked me how far apart the contractions were, then decided to ring my midwife. we were to meet her at the hospital in half an hour, i took a hot shower before we left which helped a lot.
we got to the hospital, i was put on the fetal heart monitor, and we were disappointed to find that my contractions were back to being inconsistant - ranging from 4-9 mins. i jumped back into the shower, i remember thinking the contractions didnt hurt as bad under the hot stream of water.
my mid wife called my doctor who examined me and i was only 1cm dilated. i could have cried, all those contractions for nothing. to speed things along he broke my water. i spent the next hour watering the floor, i also lost what was left of my mucous plug.
fast forward a few hours, the pain is unbearable and my contractions are coming closer together. after 2 days of intense back labour and no sleep i break down and ask for pain relief, so i got an epidural. i started crying because i really wanted to have a drugfree birth, but once the epidural was in all my back pain disappeared and i was a lot happier.
my doc came back to check my progress a few hours later and announced i was 9 cms - i had gone from 1 cm to 9 cms in 4 hours. yay, i was going to have a baby soon!
once i hit 10 cms, my mid wife had me push. i mustered all the energy I could find and pushed...and pushed...and pushed. it seemed coby didnt want to budge, and his heart rate was dropping rapidly. my mid wife starts to worry and discusses things with my doc over the phone (he works at a medical center so he was in and out all day) she thinks I may have to have a c section so I get prepped for one just in case while we wait for my doc to come back and assess the situation.
my doc checks me and then gives me two optios:
1. i keep pushing but risk having a c section if hes not out soon
2. he uses forceps to get him out
i chose option 2. i was given more drugs which made my legs feel like concrete but i still could locate the right muscles to push. i was shaking like mad, i had never been so scared in my life.
pushing felt strange, i could feel coby being pulled out but there was no pain whatsoever. because forceps were used i was given an episiotomy - another thing I wanted to avoid.
at 6:22pm my boy was pulled out into the world and placed on my tummy where he opened his eyes and looked right at me, I will never forget that moment, he was beautiful. it turned out the cord was wrapped pretty tightly around his neck, the reason for the drop in his heart rate. my partner cut the cord and he was taken away to be suctioned, his APGAR was 9.
we spent 3 days in hospital mainly because we have been having b'feeding problems. after i had cobe i vowed to never have any more children, but i'd do it again in a heart beat :)

his stats:
coby jacob
born 6:22pm on st pats day
9lbs
51cms long, head 36cms



Edited by foxgrrl