Birth Stories

Here is our 3rd child's birth story,

Baby Nikhil born 26th March


I had been getting cramps on/off for a few days and a lot of shows, the first bloody show came on the Tuesday, and just kept coming for the next few days, as with the cramps, which seemed to kick off in the evenings and then completely stop during the days, so come Friday I was getting pretty fed up with nothing happening, so decided if there was nothing happening down there come Saturday which is when I was booked in for my next appointment and monitoring, I would just book my c-section, well Friday evening it all started............
Contractions probably started about 10ish, but weren’t regular or different from the other nights, so didn’t think much about them, then around 11 were becoming more regular but still quite similar to previous nights, though was cursing hubby a bit, as was trying to sort he girls out as they had both woken up, while I was have contractions, really bot the easiest of things to do, anyway he got home about 11.30 and thats when I realized, yay this could be it!!!! So once he settled girls we went to bed to get some rest, though I was up and down with trips to the loo, as things where coming out both ends, vomiting and mucus plug, and by 12ish things had really kicked off and didn’t want to wake the girls with my breathing, so totted off to the lounge to breath through the contractions, leaving hubby to sleep, then around 1 I thought about ringing MW, due to high chance of having c-section, but didn’t think I was that far along, as had only been about an hour of regular contractions, so just breathed through them, then by 2 thought, na I want gas and realised they where 5mins apart, so rang MW and mum to come and look after girls, got ready then woke hubby, who didn’t really know what was going on., told him to hurry up as was quite uncomfortable by now, and had been sick quite a few times and started leaking.
So got to the hospital around 3am, and contractions where coming thick and fast now, MW wasn’t there yet so just breathed through them, once she was there she did all the prep like lure and belt etc, and I finally got some gas, which really helped take the edge of them. When she did the exam she was surprised that I was fully dilated already and was about ready to push, though she wasn’t happy with his position due to being so high, so got a 2nd/3rd option, and yep after all that it was a c-section, so in my state I said in not such a nice tone, “well if I have to have one I want my drugs NOW!!!”
So while they where getting things sorted and getting me ready to go up I asked about breaking my waters, but was told this wasn’t an option due to how high he was, and could be dangerous, then as they started to take me up my membranes broke, so things were put on a fast track.
Only thing was the atheistic couldn’t get the spinal in, and I was reluctant to let go of my precious gas (which I OD a bit) Anyway finally got it in by sitting me up and by this stage my waters had broken aswell, and after a quick exam to check for placenta the doctor said he had come down enough to try a forceps birth, so after 2 pushes he was out and I finally got my VBA2C, and couldn’t be more stocked, though still on a bit of a high from the gas 
Had some skin to skin, then didn’t see him again for about 30-40mins due to his breathing, though he came right and didn’t need to go to NICU, everyone in the room was shocked that we had a natural birth due to how high he was, and they didn’t think it was at all possible doctor even commented that I was a legend, on the video as hubby recorded it all, but everyone was just so supportive and knew how much a natural birth meant, words can’t explain how happy I was, especially since Nikhil is our last wee bubba.
He was born at 4.10am, so all in all quite a fast labour and pretty much drug free till the end, and home the same day, just a bit sore but mainly from my lovely friends the haemorrhoids!!!
Oh sorry that went a bit longer than I expected!!

It all began wednesday the 9th of feb, had an appontment at hospital for CTG and scan just to check fluid etc. round bubs, and because I was post 4 days. DH did end up being able to come with me so that was good, but anyway was just a routine visit, which it was, nothing to report, yip everything is fine said the dr, will book you in for induction on the 16th.  Before we left though DH said to me "are you taking ya bags with you just incase they say, you cant go home?"  No I said, cos I wont need them, that makes me nervous.  Anyway he said "rito, dont take anything then" whilst he was in the shower getting ready I thought "bugger it" and chucked everything in the car.  Anyway after the appmt, got home and DH decided to go mow lawns etc, was about 6pmish, thats cool I was fluffy round inside then DH mate called in on his way home and they had a beer together, I couldnt really sit still whilst he was there and kept moving round, uncomfy,  I thought great the pains that I had been getting every nite for the past 3 nites were starting again but earlier, (instead of bedtime) Anyway MW rang to see how I got on @apptmt, said all was well but getting pains again, she said to hang in there just a few more "practice" contractions and it will happen, she told me I could take some panadiene instead of just panadol, told her I would get some in the morning, that was cool, a bit later was trying to watch usual TV, Packed to the Rafters, actually, love that program, and I just couldnt get comfy....telling DH I was in a bit of pain, and how long the nite was going to be if it was going to be like the rest and just keep dragging out.  Anyway, he ran me a bath and I went and soaked in that till I was ready to go to bed, it was nice and took pain away a bit. Dreading bedtime again, hoped in and lay there til 11.15pm-cos I remember thinkin after DH was asleep, man I cant handle it being all nite again....lay on counch til 12am ish then I had to go wake DH cos I was so uncomfy, pains were getting alot closer together, but yet I didnt really think I was in labour cos it was similar to other nites, DH started to time the contractions, they were between 3-4mins apart and lasting between 30-90secs, I had a piece of paper on the fridge in the weeks up to labour saying the differnt phases of labour and what to look 4, I told DH cant be labour cause 30 sec contractions didnt sound long enough.  DH said by this time my breathing had changed and got far more intense really breathing through my teeth, and my whole body was shivering uncontrollably, he wrapped me up trying to keep me warm and said we needed to contact MW, I really didnt want to ring here thinkin it was 1am in the morning, and Id already been talking to her, and I didnt think I was in labour then, but didnt want to ly in bed all nite either, anyway rang her and she said for us to meet her at the maternity home at 2am, 30min drive for us, luckily the car was still packed from the afternoon, got there with my spew bowl, and she said "feeling nausish, thats a good sign"   she checked me and said I was 5cm dialated but my cervix was paper thin,so all I needed was my waters to break & it would be all go, asked me what I wanted to do, stay there or still go to hospital, I choose to go to hospital, (which I had always wanted)  she was pretty quick about it then, pretty much hurrying us out the door, I think it hit me I was in labour when she said-"you are going to have a baby tonight!!!" Anyway that meant another 30min trip in the car......urghhhhh yuck!!!!!!  Got to hosp, the delivery suite was all ready, got me on the gas, which was absolutely gross but I liked being able to focus on my breathing with it,  MW asked how I felt bout waters being broken, I said go 4 it, cos she said it can delay the process a bit with bubs head bouncing round on the membranes for some time.....broke my waters and discovered there was meconium in them, which was lucky she did that cos would never had known otherwise, I panicked at bit, and said the baby is stressed isnt it, but the MW was very good and said "its ok we are going to get this baby out"  A bit after that the contractions got alot more intense and stronger & longer, MW said if I wanted pethidine I would have to make the decision to have it very shortly, DH reckons I prob had 1-2 more contractions and was like "yip give me pethidine!!  Wasnt too much longer after that, that I started to get the urge to push....MW told me what to do and took the gas away, told me to push push push with the contraction, it felt so weird cos I was trying to hold onto my legs breathe through the contraction and yet push with all my might in the contraction......At one point I said I couldnt do it I was to tired and just couldnt do it, she told me to focus and I needed to push this baby out, as weird as it was I had kinda got caught up in everything else that I hadnt been thinking about the baby at the end of it all, so hearing her say that was good incentive to get through.....next couple of contractions I pushed so hard like nothing I had ever done before and I felt this huge relise of pressure and next thing this warm, defenceless, slippery little person was put up on my chest,  I was completely shocked he was here....DH was so proud and amazed himself, he thought it would have been more like mid-day before they even talked about seeing a head lol, me too, amazed at how quickley he was here 4.49am, after arriving at the hospital at 2.35am-the time just went so fast, even though it was most the nite.  DH got to cuddle Alex whilst I lay there and gazed at my beautiful family, the MWives worked there magic and stitched me up.  Within the hour I was out of bed showered,  and we were back at the maternity home by 10am that morning.  Because Alex had meconium in his waters, his was on 24hr obs, which they did at the home, and everything is ok.  I still cant belive our little man is here, and his entrance into the world was nothing like I had expected.  Absolutely loving my new role as his Mummy, he is just the cutest and I could stare at him all day long-LOVING IT!!

Heres my birth story, an elective section with DS IN february

My section was scheduled for 2 days past my EDD. The OB recommended I have a section after multiple scans estimated Quinn's weight at over 9lb at 38 weeks. The morning of the section I woke up at 4am with cramps and a bloody show. The cramping got worse and more regular so we went to the hospital a little bit early, I called my mum who was meeting DH and me there to tell her we were going in.

We arrived at Auckland Hospital at 8am and got checked in and then we just had to wait. At 10am they got me and DH changed for theatre and the anesthetist came and placed an IV luer in my hand. I was still having cramping at this point, I guess they were contractions really, lasting a minute and five minutes apart and they were pretty uncomfortable! Once I was ready to go I started to get all scared and felt really hot all of a sudden. Mum came to my rescue with a magazine and fanned up my gown while we waited



Then the nurse came to take us to theatre, on the way we ran into to charge nurse who both DH and I have worked with before. She asked if she could be in the theatre and we said yes because she's absolutely lovely. When we to theatre they did the spinal epidural, which was probably the worst part. No problems getting it in, it was just uncomfortable and painful.

Once that was done they lay me down which was really weird because I had already started to loose all the feeling and movement in my legs. My OB checked I couldn't feel anything and they started.



The surgery was quite odd, you can feel everything just not the pain, crazy. Then all of a sudden Dr Phil leaned over the drapes and said that my baby would be here in about a minute. The team dropped the drapes so that I could see Quinn come out. He was so big they had to use forceps and the tugging was pretty hard, poor bub. Quinn was half way out when I saw him properly, I was very overwhelmed and emotional and then my OB grabbed his little arm and waved it at me saying hi mum. Made me laugh but it kind of snapped me out of my oh my gosh thats my baby trance! You can see his arm being held up in the second photo.





They took Quinn to be weighed and checked by the pediatrician and he cried the whole time. Very loud, was incredibly reassuring but I just wanted to hold him.





Once he was all wrapped DH bought him over to me and placed him on my chest. From memory he stopped crying but let out these indignant little yells every few seconds.



The charge nurse came over and asked if I wanted to try latching Quinn on, I did so much, one of the things I was worried about the most with the cesarean was the delayed skin to skin. So she helped DH get Quinn latched (both my arms were occupied with IV lines and BP cuffs) which was amazing (and then painful!) and Quinn had his first little feed.

Once I was all closed they took us round to recovery and popped Quinn back on my chest and I got to have my first really good cuddle. I remember his eyes were a really dark blue just after he was born and he was really staring back at me.



I just wanted to share because I had a really positive birth after being really upset that I wasn't going to even try giving birth naturally. In the end Quinn weighed 10lb 9oz and my OB told me the next day that I had been in early labour but I was not dilating, Quinn was not engaged and there was meconium in the waters. He said I almost certainly would have ended up having an emergency cesarean anyway. I am still disappointed that I didn't experience a more traditional labour and birth but I know we made the right choice and I have a beautiful healthy boy (plus an intact pelvic floor!)

Birth Story of Micah <3

*This is written how I remember it, obviously I cant remember everything that happened, and it is also written how I *felt* about it all, so it's from a very emotive perspective*

I was lying in bed reading on the 23rd April, 2011, when at 2.15pm I felt a strange, hard POP in my belly. It gave me such a fright that I arched backwards. It wasn't painful, just sharp. Ten seconds later I felt trickling, and thought, "Ooof .. either my waters just broke or he kicked me super hard in the bladder and I have wet my pants.". SO typical of me not to know! I got up and told Aaron, and went to the bathroom. I decided to lie back down and wait for half an hour before calling my midwife, as I still just wasn't sure what had happened. I'd had some crampy back pain, but nothing regular, and I'd been having that for days.
An hour later I had my "show" (THAT was foul), and thought, "Oh gosh, wow, this IS happening.", so called mw, and she confirmed it based on what I described, and told me to stay comfy and relaxed, and to call her when they were 4-5mins apart and lasting a minute.
I spent most of the afternoon lying down, trying to be chilled, and coming to terms with the fact it really was happening. The pains were coming regularly, but by 630pm were still totally manageable, which is when my mw called me back to check on me. We had started timing them, and they were 6-7 mins apart, lasting 30 seconds.
However, by 830pm, they were making me cry and lose focus. And by 10pm, I could barely stand. They were def 5 mins apart, so Aaron called mw, I guess she could hear me crying because she told us to go to the hospital where she'd meet us.
The car trip wasn't as bad as I'd imagined, but it wasnt awesome by any means.
When we got to the hospital and up to my room, mw did a V/E and I was only 4cm, GAH! I was gutted and felt like such a weakling for already not coping with the pain :( Regardless, mw wanted me to get the epidural I'd previously discussed wanting, and I agreed- quickly.
There was an hpur and a half wait for the anaesthetist, which was unbelievably hard and painful. I had the gas, but it wasnt really that effective. Aaron had some gas too, he found it more beneficial than I did at that stage.
By the time the anaesthetist came I was barely coherent, and finally had the epidural. I'd thought it would hurt, and while the local stung a bit, the rest barely registered.
After that (it was about 1245am by this stage), I felt no pain, just pressure. Aaron went to sleep, mw read her book, and I just lay there thinking, "Hmmm.".
It started to wear off about 3am, so mw gave me a top up. Then at 4am it wore off some more, and more, and more, despite yet another top up, I was feeling everything. Agony. Mw did a v/e, and I was fully dilated, and told me it was time to push.
This is where things started to get crazy. I started pushing, but nothing was happening. I then got told I wasn't pushing the right way, so I tried and tried, but none of what I was doing seemed to be right, or having any effect. And obviously I was still in crazy amounts of pain, but no pain relief was working. Mw even said very sternly, "Kirsty, there is NOTHING else I can do for you".
*As I write this, I'm starting to cry, bc I remember how awful it was because I felt like such a failure*
So after an hour and a half of ineffective pushing, pain, and feeling like I was letting everyone down, mw left the room to try and find a doctor to figure out what to do next.
I was so upset. She had looked so annoyed, like she was losing patience with me. She's been encouraging at first, but had soon just stopped saying much at all. Aaron looked frustrated (even though he was just worried and feeling helpless), and I told him how I was feeling. He tried to reassure me, but didn't have much luck. I honestly didn't know how I was going to do it. I'd tried my best with pushing, it wasn't progressing, I was in agony, and exhausted already. It must have been about 6am by this stage.
So far it hadn't been the positive, calm, empowering event I'd hoped for. I felt like a let-down to everyone, Aaron, my mw, myself, and moreover, my baby.
*crying crying*
Mw came back in with a couple of women, one of whom was a specialist. Her name was Katie, and she was a superstar. She was so calm and caring, and really positive. She told me that I could either keep pushing for awhile longer, see what happened, and then potentially use the ventouse if needed, or if I was too tired, she could set up the ventouse straight away.
I felt like I owed it to my baby to try some more, as even though I knew deep down he wouldnt be born without some assistance, I wanted to try and shorten the length of time they'd have to use it on him. I'll never forget how proud Aaron looked when I told Katie I'd like to keep trying to push for awhile.
And push I did. I pushed and pushed and pushed. For whatever reason, it ceased to hurt. I kept pushing, and pushing. I pushed when they told me to push, and I pushed when they told me to rest. I'm still not sure how much progress was made, if any, but the specialist was so encouraging it didn't matter.
I vaguely remember her picking up from scissors for an episiotomy, but I didn't feel that. Just kept pushing.
Then they started setting up for the ventouse, my feet went in the stirrups, and I remember looking at Aaron and saying something jokily about having no dignity whatsoever anymore.
The rest is a haze. I felt pressure, tugging, and through it all I pushed.
Then all of a sudden a very warm and slimy baby was popped on my chest, GAH! He was here! I think I said, "Oh my God, our child!!", and looked at Aaron who was so happy and crying, I was in shock I think. Micah was born at 9.23am screaming his head off. and he was/is PERFECT.
The rest...my mw approached me with a needle and said, "This wont hurt you" and put it in my thigh, I jumped and said, "OW, f**k!" (I'm assumong it was the ecbolic injection, as the placenta came out a few mins later, that didnt hurt).
We just lay there snuggling, then the specialist told me that she was going to stitch me up, and do some other stuff (she didn't say THAT, but I cant remember clearly!) because I was losing quite a bit of blood. That's when I saw the bench beside her which was covered in blood clots :/ I wasn't fazed though, I was too wrapped up in my son.
So, after she did. stuff, mw took Micah and did all the newborn tests etc on him. I made Aaron take pics of that while I had a Milo and attempted to eat, but I really just wanted my boy back! They dressed him and gave him back to me, and I haven't let go since.

<3 <3 <3

Aww I love reading everyone's birth stories! Can add my 2nd one now

Austin's birth story

We went to bed at 10pm on Sunday the 8th, and Chelsea woke up at 11pm and midnight, but I managed to resettle her quickly each time. I woke at 1am to go to the loo, got back into bed and felt a little popping feeling down low in my belly. I thought "ooh I wonder if that was my water breaking." But then decided it probably wasn't and I was going to be pregnant forever but then started feeling quite wet! So back to the loo where more and more came out. Called out to DH that my water had broken. Started getting contractions right away but they weren't painful or regular. I timed a few and they were anywhere from 3-6mins apart lasting 30sec - 1min. Told DH I was in early labour but it could still be a while. He got up and cleaned the bathroom, said he was nesting
Contractions eventually started getting more painful, so went out into the lounge and turned on the heater. Rocked on swissball thru contractions but they were getting more uncomfy, so got down on my knees and leaned over the swissball instead, which is when I noticed the pressure feeling in my bum. My MW had said to ring her if I started feeling that because being that my 1st labour was only 3.5hrs it could be a short one again. Told DH to ring MW, he didn't want to though - think he was in denial. I kept asking and he kept saying to wait, so said fine I'd call her myself, which is when he realised that maybe it was time to ring her afterall. That was around 3:30am. MW lives over the back fence so arrived at 3:50am, and student MW turned up not long after. I just continued leaning over swissball, and breathing and squeezing the student mw's wrist during contractions. Chelsea woke up at 4:20am so DH was busy trying to keep her occupied and rang my mum to come over to look after her. She arrived at 4:50, about a minute after I started pushing. I was still kneeling and leaning on swissball (now with waterproof stuff underneath me!). Got my bloody show at this point too, along with a whole lot of meconium! Midwife asked me to concentrate on pushing to get the baby out asap. Soon I felt something come out and asked if that was his head. She replied that no, he was being born bottom first! I pushed some more and felt a huge relief so asked if it was over yet, but no that was just his legs, head still inside. She said I needed to push whether I felt the urge or not, so I pushed and she pulled and out came his head at 5:04am, Monday 9th May. He was given oxygen and was breathing on his own within 2mins.
Placenta fell out 5mins later!

According to my notes, established labour was 1hr 34mins, with 15mins of pushing.

I ended up with a 2nd degree tear so a few stitches but all good and am not having any pain. Austin was just fine and no need to go to the hospital despite him being born breech (we had no idea he'd turned, had been head down since 26wks!!). Am so glad in hindsight that we didn't know as it turned out wonderfully

EcoMummy - wow thanks for sharing your story! I'm early in my pregnancy but so inspired by stories like yours

my birth story...
i was due ond th 2nd june 2011
it was the 22nd june 2011 and all was going great... i had cooked dinner eaten it was was settling down in bed wit my partner and 2 yr old to watch some tv. it was 10 to 8pm when my son stated complaining of a sore bum and i had a sore stomach adn the runs so i thought it must be bad chicken so i jumped in the shower with my son to help him then i realised the pain in my stomach was coming and going but didnt feel like contractions but i told my partner to time them anyway.. as it happens they wer less than two mins apart and 1min 30 long so i called my midwife and let her know what was happening (by this time it was 8pm and family guy had jus started) and got my partner on the phone and told him to bring me to th hospital straight away no stopping. by the time her hung up the phone i was sitting on my toilet completly naked and pushing!!! my partner yelled at me to get up get dressed and get in the car so i got upo got dressed and my partners lil bro turnd up jus in time for him to take my 2 yr old to his partents house and call his mom (we hadnt even called him yet) so i got in the back of the car and we left for the hospital... i was panting all the was trying not to push but couldnt control the urged any more and did an almighty push and i heard a big gush of water and her head was out... i told my partner to do his window up coz her head was in my hand and he freaked and as if he wasnt going fast enough he went faster (180kms in a 50m area) and as we go into th maternity part of the hospital (after my partner tried to take me to the older aduts unit!) my partnerpulled the handbrak up and drifted into maternity and 1 more push while her was drifting her body slid out into my hands and i put her straight up my tshirt to eep her warm. he then jump out of the car (engine running still in gear music loud only with the hand brake up) and banged on the dorrs yelling "shes here, shes born and crying in the car" to his horror aprox 10 midwives came out with warm towels.. one even had the nerve to tell him his daughter is probebly going to die nd not to have his hopes too high.
but all in all was a vary quick (30 mins all up) and relitivly painless birth experiance.

At 10days overdue I was in hospital again for CTG monitoring, 4th day in a row. The news was getting worse baby was not engaged and huge. Headed home about 10:30am and decided to go for a drive with DH, we got KFC (wanted to try wicked wings as suggested by a friend) and contractions started in the car. They were pretty regular, we hung out for a bit and then headed home. Timed the contractions at 5mins about lasting 30secs. By 8:30pm we tried to head to bed but I couldn't, nothing was very comfortable at that stage. Sat in bed timing contractions willng them to increase to 1min in length. They were 3mins about and 45secs long. At 11pm I decided enough waiting, time to ring MW. We got to hosptial and was checked at 12am, 6cms! I knew I needed to be upright to help the labour so sat on a swiss ball, I used the gas to get me through the contractions, and it made me rather happy in between. 2:30am MW came back. Asked if I wanted an internal... YES PLEASE. I really wanted my waters broken this time as with DD's birth they didnt break and I'm sure it slowed the labour down. So MW said I was 8cms and broke my waters and put me on the monitors. It was ALL ON, not long after that I knew I wanted to push this baby was coming! MW checked and I had a lip of cervix in the way and she couldn't find babies heartrate. I was told not to push, just use the gas they were all telling me. I CANT. He was on his way. I think I pushed for about 2mins, maybe 2 contractions, I remember briefly thinking "Theres the ring of fire" his head must be out, then suddenly his whole body was out. Very quick from 8cms to delievery at 3:31am.
The MW said about 3 times "he's very floppy" but after 10secs he was fine, up on my chest. "He's a big one" they said... yip 10lbs 7oz, my arm got sore just holding him after the birth. The worse part was the stitches, they seemed to take forever and hurt. Just one small tear. Not bad for a whopper baby who came flying out.

After going into labour at 34weeks and having problems with babies heart I am so pleased to be able to write about my planned homebirth which took place at 39weeks plus 1 day.
After my 34week scare I had been having contraction on and off for the last 5weeks so when I woke to yet another show I didn't think too much of it but somehow still felt that this was it. It was a week before my due date exactly. As I went on with my morning the contractions came and went as I carried on with life. I had been doing this for the last 5 weeks so when I told DH this is the baby coming he just laughed and went back to bed.
I had people coming to pick up a whole lot of trade me sales that day so was praying that I could hold out until they had all been picked up and that I wouldn't have any contractions while dealing with people. Thankfully both these things happened. As the last toy was picked up and I tucked my son into bed for the night the contraction picked up and I told my DH I was going to go to bed as I was going to have a baby in the morning and needed as much rest as I could. He laughed again as he had heard that before. He had even heard it from dr. and it still didn't happen.
Anyways at 1am I couldn't stay in bed any longer so I got up and watched reruns of FRIENDS as a laboured. Finally at 3am I got my DH up and said he needed to start filling the pool. He was surprised but it finally dawned on him that the baby was really coming and we got excited. He worked on filling the pool and keep my hot water bottle hot while I walked around and laboured.
At 5am things were really going strong so we decided to call the MW to come. My Mw was on weekend leave till 7am so we rang the back up who told us to ring my mw saying she wouldn't want to miss a home birth so we rang her but couldn't get her. We rang the back up and again she told us to ring my main MW. We tried this again and again couldn't reach her (she wasn't on call after all). I started to panic that I was going to deliver the baby by myself but still felt calm at the same time. In the end we rang the student mw as we thought she'd be better than no mw at all. She arrived and got the back up to come too.
When they arrived I was already 8cm dilated and was working hard. By 730am my mw had joined the party too and my son was awake giving me kisses on my hand each time I had a contraction and getting more and more excited about seeing his baby brother being born.
At 830am I decided I'd get my waters broken as things were slowing down. I got them broken and had 3 big contractions, got back in the pool and 2 minutes later was hold the most perfect baby boy you have ever seen. We sat in the pool for a while but I was feeling a bit faint so we got out onto the couch to deliver the placenta.
I got to cuddle my boy for the longest time and to bf him immediately. Everything was perfect. My older son was there for the whole thing and his presence and excitement made everything even more special.
DS2 was born 901am, 27th June, 2001. 3.6kg and 52cm long.

I thought I should add J's birth story (better late than never) since I enjoy reading everyone elses :) Some of it is a bit vague due to how tired I was by the time he arrived and how long ago it was. Sorry for the novel....

Had final MW appointment on 20 October - was "officially" 40+1 based on scan dates. I had been charting so didn't think that I was due for nearly another week after that so wasn't concerned. Got booked in for a scan on 26/10 to make sure bubs was still happy in there. Discussed need to go to hospital reasonably early if waters broke due to testing postive for Strep B.

Started having uncomfortable cramps (30 seconds long about five minutes apart) midmorning on 21 Oct, and wasn't sure if it was labour or not. Didn't really hurt, but was like a heavy period cramp and I couldn't hold still! Had to get up and walk around or bounce on swiss ball. Decided this might be early labour and decided I had better put away all my craft gear that was spread around the living room/kitchen. I don't think it was nesting - just self-preservation as I knew if anyone else put it away I probably would never find it again! Took a while as I had an awful lot of sewing/knitting gear spread around and lots of partially completed projects.

DH came home from lunch and I told him I thought I might be in early labour, he started to get excited but I made him go back to work after lunch, promising to call him if things go serious. I figured that there wasn't anything he could do to help. Decided I didn't want to/couldn't eat and just kept fluids up. Swiss ball wasn't helping anymore as contractions were getting a bit more serious, so I put the swiss ball away and switched to hugging hot water bottle under bump and walking during contractions and hot water bottle on lower back while resting on couch between contractions. Timed the odd contraction. Decided labour was boring as it destroyed my concentration span and I couldn't even watch trashy TV (we had only moved house a few weeks earlier and only had bunny ears).

2 o'clock came and I was getting a bit tired as I was used to having an afternoon nap, so took some Panadol (like we got told to do during antenatal class) and tried to have a nap. Lasted about 5 minutes and had to get up to walk around. Waited..... Panadol did nothing.... Got a bit frustrated. Decided labour was still boring and wondered that no-one had warned me about this.

Around 3pm mucous plug started to come away - and I thought yippeee now we are getting somewhere. Rang the midwife to let her know I thought I was in labour and that plug had come away, contractions had been five minutes apart and 30-45 seconds long all day, was disappointed to be told that plug can come away days or weeks before baby arrives! Decided we shouldn't cancel the scan appointment....just in case. Double checked at what stage we should go to hospital, wondered if contractions would ever get to a minute long.

DH came home from work early (5 minutes away) thinking things might be happening, I sent him back to work to finish up paperwork and arrange for leave in the hope that baby might arrive over Labour weekend. Hoped to not be in Labour ALL weekend.

My sister was staying to help with meals, cleaning and company after baby arrived. She cooked an early dinner for everyone in case we ended up going to hospital. DH had dinner with her around 5.30, I still didn't want to eat and was getting pretty tired from being on my feet for a lot of the day pacing during contractions. DH started timing contractions a bit more seriously. He kept telling me how long it was between contractions and how long the contraction was. By this time I was just over it and hoping that this didn't carry on all night. I hadn't eaten since breakfast and just wanted a nap. Asked to not be told until decision was made that it was time to go to hospital (1 min duration 5 min apart) since contractions had been 5 min apart all day!

DH finally anounces we are good to go to hospital. He calls midwife around 7pm to say we were on way to hospital. Arrived at hospital approx 1/2 hour later. Was hoping to not be told that I wasn't established enough and to go home.... Midwife did an internal and asked if I wanted to go home or not. The look on my face must have been pretty priceless, I seem to remember muttering something like "I would rather have a baby" and then she tells me that's a good thing as I am 8cm dilated! Call student midwife to come in. She finishes her dinner in record time and arrives soon afterwards. Get monitored for a bit to make sure baby is OK, all is good so monitor comes off. From here it kind of didn't go according to plan. We are very flexible on birth plan (most of it was left blank). I knew I really wanted to avoid C section/episiotomy and hoped to be drugfree but that was about it. Plan was pretty much wait and see how we got on.

More walking/eating lollies at this stage (got told off for not eating all day) and using hot water bottle for pain. After what seemed like forever, midwife did another internal and asks if I'm happy to have membrane ruptured as things don't seem to be progressing (think it was around 9pm). Agree and notice that things are a bit more comfy. Bubs drops down a bit more and we walk/backrub/hot water bottle some more. Have IV antibiotics for Strep B.

Get asked about fluid intake as I don't seem to be passing as much fluid as I should be. I have been drinking all day! MW suggests a drip to make sure that I am hydrated, agree and get put on a drip. MW notices that contractions seem to be spacing out, get montiored and put on Synto drip to try and get things moving. Not much happens except I decide labour now hurts. Somewhere in here I end up with a monitoring belt permanently and a fetal clip. Synto gets increased a whole bunch of times. On call registrar comes and does an internal (asks if I want gas as he says it will be pretty unconfortable - I decide this is probably a good idea). He announces that what MW thought was rear fontenalle is actually the back of neck and bubs has turned head transverse and can't come out like this. Much debate ensues. Given option of trying to turn baby by assuming incredibly contorted and uncomfortable position. Agree as don't want C section and monitor is showing bubs is still happy. Spend next few hours lying on side/tummy (VERY uncomfortable) with one knee up as close to chin as I can get it trying to get bubs to turn. On gas through all contractions as Synto is know really pumped up. Have more IV antibiotics for Strep B. Try and rest. Now on ice chips only instead of water in case we end up in surgery. DH trys to sleep. Get offered Epidural, ask MW if this will do anything to help bubs or if she is expecting pain will get a lot worse - she thinks that pain will likely stay about this level, I turn down Epidural (gas is fab and I am happy drunk on it). Keep getting asked if I feel the urge to push, eventually I do and contractions don't seem to hurt anymore (had to give up the gas).

After some time of trying to push..... and lessons on how to push properly - Registrar comes back to check again around 3am and checks - Bubs still hasn't turned and my pushing was not achieving anything. Get told that we are now surgical as there isn't anything else to try and baby has to come out, get told not to push (this just makes me want to push more!). Get prepped for C section. Think that student MW will be disappointed (all her ladies have ended in C section!). Just want baby to be OK and labour to be done. Get taken up to surgery, sign lots of forms while DH gets changed into scrubs. Realise we are finally going to get to meet bubs!

Get into surgical suite, get spinal block (bliss if tricky holding still during contractions to get it put in) and drips and monitors. Much happier now things don't hurt, remember what it is like to be normal person. Registrar says he will have an attempt if turning bubs with ventouse if I want (to avoid C section), I want. Two attempts at ventouse, episiotomy and forceps delivery. It is very weird having to push when told to and you can't feel anything. A couple more pushes and we have baby announces his presence with a big yell as he is getting pulled out. 3.6kg boy is delivered onto my stomach at 0454 hrs 22 October. I end up with PPH but don't have to have a transfusion - placenta doesn't seperate and has to be manually removed.

As I am being taken out of surgery my body decides to finally give up all the fluid I have been drinking all day (plus the 3 bags of fluid I was given) and fills the catheter bag to nearly overflowing. No-one has any idea where it all came from! Baby was latched in recovery and has first feed. We get taken back to delivery suite to wait for a room in postnatal. I develop a temp and baby is cold so I get to give lots of extra bonus cuddles to warm him up. I get given IV antibiotics and decision gets made to leave catheter in for 24 hours in case my bladder was overstretched from all the extra fluid being held in there. Baby gets hip check just before we are taken to postnatal ward.

Husband goes to have a sleep at a friends place in town as he has been up since 6am the previous day. I get food and a nap. Lots of help from ward MW in latching bubs properly, stay in hospital overnight and milk comes in the next morning. J gets a name. Catheter comes out that morning and we get to go home after lunch :)

I'm really grateful to my fabulour MW and student MW and the theatre team for making the extra effort so I didn't end up with C section and got a gorgeous healthy baby. I was happy with the way everything turned out and I had a really positive experience with the hospital staff.