Our baby girl is here (birth story)

titicole · January 2012

Adaya Caroline arrived at 4:30pm on January 20, 2012 and weighs 8lbs 6oz.

I woke up with mild contractions at 5:30am, but I had been having contractions like this for two weeks and when I went to see the doctor on Monday, I was barely dialated. So, I just was a little skeptical. Told DH to go to work and stay close to his cell. I had a mid-wife appointment for noon anyway to do a membranes sweep.

The contractions continued and were getting a little stronger, but hard to time them. Called DH told him to come home and called the sitter for DS to come a little sooner than planned if we were to go straight to hospital. With having a C-section with DS they would want to monitor earlier. Ended up going to the midwife at noon as planned and the contractions were getting really uncomfortable by not lasting anything longer than 30 seconds. So, doable, hanging on DH in the carpark waiting 30 seconds and carrying onto the appointment. When she checked me she said I was only a cm or two dialated but to head to the hospital to be monitored. We made our way slowly, got there about and hour later and the contractions were getting much closer together and lasting longer.

I went into the assessment area and just laboured until they saw me. Now we have some yelling and cussing from me at the height of the contraction. But the midwives were swamped, and they wanted to check me out and I was telling them to just wait until the contraction was over, but they would leave and get called away. Felt like I need to poo, went to the loo, no dice and had a few contractions in there. They had me hooked up to monitors for about half an hour which limited my movement greatly but just laboured making a hell of lot of noise that although they had not assessed how far along I was yet they wanted to get me a room, I am assuming so I don't disturb other people.

When I got to the room, I had such a feeling to push and the midwife said to go ahead and listen to my body. When I was finally assessed, I was 8 1/2 cm along! I was told to listen to my body, if I wanted to push to go for it. I did finally have some gas an air, which was such a relief. I pretty much pushed for 45 minutes and she was crowning at this time. I could not believe she was already crowning, I thought we were still just trying to get to 10 cm. I did have to get an episiotomy, and a push or two later she was out.

She is feeding like a champ and I am quite sore, but I am so pleased with the birth.