Birth Story

I had a pretty good pregnancy. The usual, morning sickness for the first 3 months, but my hunger changed. I ate alot during the first 3 months and put on about 3 kg. I ate and drank the things I shouldn't have; feta cheese, mortadella, coffee, Coca Cola. No real back pain, just some pubic symphisitis (stabbing pain in the groin). I didn't exercise, which was really bad, but I was still working so that took my mind off things alittle.

My due date was 21st March, Good Friday. My obstetrician said that this baby might have to come a little earlier because Christopher was big for my body size (3.9 kg) and came out with shoulder dystocia (stuck shoulders). Christopher's birth went well thanks to my obstetrician, doing a wonderful job. She said this might happen again so I might be induced early. Of course I didn't want to be induced. I heard some stories of women being induced and it's not plesant, labour come on to quickly. As the months went by, I did everything I could think of to make it all happen the way I wanted. I wrote a birth plan, I read a book called "Birth Skills" by Juju Sun, which contained all the natural ways to give birth without drugs, massaging of the perineum so I don't get an episotomy, and the most important one, going to the birth center. I had also gone to get accupuncture to naturally induce myself a couple of times.

We saw the Obstetrician Thurs 13 March. Thinking if the baby doesn't come natually by Monday 17th March - St Patricks Day, I would get induce on that day. We spoke for a couple of minutes then she told us "so I've booked you in for tomorrow". Sean and I looked at eachother, were we ready for this? I wasn't happy about it but it was going to happen. Thank goodness I have a great Obstertrian.

Friday 14th March: Sean dropped the kids off at his parents and we went to RPA. I had all my materials: stress balls, music, remembering to walk and scream, expecting to go to the birth center drug free, including no gas. I was so scared. I knew what was coming, and that made me believe that I would lose it a lot quicker because I was so terrified. Boy was I right....I really can't explain it. Whether it's the fact that I knew the pain would make me lose control and I knew I couldn't handle it, or I knew that I was weak and give in to the drugs - Of course this is my personal opinion. I knew I was stronger than this. It all sounds so easy when you talk about it, but at crunch time, it all went out the window.

I was induced with 100mg of gel at 9am on 14 March. I was told to go out of the hospital and have breakfast, walk around and come back at 12pm to get re-examined. That's what we did. Contractions started but nothing really strong. At 12pm still nothing so they gave us a room in the labour ward so I can lie down and have a rest. 6 hours went by, it was 3pm. I was only 3cm dialated, baby monitored, all good. My water was broken at 3.20pm. About 5 mins later, what I was dreading came so quickly, the really strong contractions. I lost it, I kicked the bed, I threw things on the floor, I raised my voice at Sean, bless him, he didn't deserve it. I cried and screamed and begged them to give me the epidural, even c-section, I just couldn't do it - this was all in the first 20 minutes! I was so angry for losing it, I promised myself I wouldn't. It was 3.40pm. The midwife warned me if I felt presure/pushing pain in my bottom (sorry to be grose), to call her. I told Sean that I was getting the pain, he just though I was saying that to get the midwife in there. I was right and I decided to get on the bed and start with the gas. I remember the midwife ask if I wanted to move to the birth center...No way, too late! The gas really helped. I calmed down, I concentrated on my breathing and I thought I was doing ok, I had no idea how long this was going to take, but it felt like forever. Then at about 3.55pm, I heard the midwife call the other midwife and she said "you better call Sue, she's crowning". Meaning: call obstertrician, the head is on it way out! I could feel the stretching burn more than contractions now, maybe because someone made me aware of what stage I was in. At 4.05pm - I had my eye on my watch the whole time - I was pushing his head out. As this was happening, I thought, why is Sean not video taping this??? By 4.10pm, the midwives told me to prepare my arms to lift him to me. 4.13pm, I grabbed him from under the arms. He was all slimy with vernix and floppy, but so beautiful. For any mother, the birth of a child is so special, no matter how the birth was. This was the moment I was waiting for all these months, the first meeting of my 3rd child. I looked at his body, another boy. I thought I would have conflicted feeling if I had another boy, but I didn't. I turned around and my Obstetrician walked in, she'd just missed it. She was just in time to give me the 9 small stiches I needed for the small tears I got during birth. Those perinium massages did the trick, because I didn't tear there.

After a long day, had a shower, went to recovery. I was pretty tired. Amazing that it was all done, and now I have another beautiful boy.

When the boys came to visit me, Christopher wasn't really impressed, but Ryan was so thrilled to have another brother. It was so nice to see this. He wanted to hold him and kiss him. We hadn't decided on a name. I had a list, but Sean couldn't pick. I gave him 24hrs. After that, I would pick it. It was a joint decision. Thomas was perfect. Edmond as the 2nd name, named after his late grandfather, nick named TED. Thomas' nick name will also be Ted, as those are his initials.

I left hospital less than 2 days after Thomas' birth using the early discharge program (A nurse or midwife comes to your house to check on you and the baby for 3 days after you leave). The food was horrible, and the blinds in the room were broken so I had no natural light coming in.

Sean and I would like to express our thank you to our family for their fantastic support with the boys, especially the 2 weeks before birth. Also thanking our friends and work collegues for your well wishes and gifts.

Now we are home, all is going well. I am finding breastfeeding a little challanging (all newborns are different), and Ryan and Christopher just can't wait until Thomas is mobile. He's getting alot of kissed and cuddles, Ryan reads him stories and wants him to sleep in his bed with him. Christopher is just gives lots of kisses and follows Ryan around. They will all look after eachother, this make me very happy!!!

We are going to be very busy from now on. This is the begining of our life with our 3 sons.