On Tuesday 2nd of September, after a check up with Mary my midwife, that day I was experiencing irregular pains but as I wasn't due till the 11th, just said they must be braxton hicks. No way was I going to be lucky enough to have my baby 9 days early. Although Mary knew I was going to have my baby soon.
That night we tried to do a trial run of the birth pool. I inflated it and cleaned it out and turned on the hot water, even sent pictures to my friends saying "not in labour yet, just trying it out." Oh how wrong I was. The connection I had for the hose didn't fit the kitchen sink so we had no way of filling the pool that night. Andy said he'll get something in work tomorrow and we would do the trial run on Wednesday night instead. I was happy with that. It was the last thing we needed to do.
I called to a friends house that evening and when I was leaving I said to her partner "Next time you see me now I'll probably be a Mom of 3, how scary is that!" We all laughed at the thought that my baby could come any day now. Got home for about 10pm and went to bed after 11pm. Andy followed me to bed a little while later.
At some point during the night I got up to pee for like the 10th time that night. Nothing unusual about that. This time when I got back into bed I felt a kick but more like a pop and with it my stomach went hard as a rock. I thought to myself no way, this was not it, next thing while lying down, boom ya that was my water gone. I sat up in bed, yes it was defiantly was my waters cause it just wouldn't stop! I woke Andy and said my waters are going, he asked was I sure, em ya pretty sure that pool at my feet is my waters. He just couldn't see anything. I checked my phone it was 2.18pm and I rang Mary straight away. She said she was expecting a phone call from me. She knew by all the signs at my check up that labour had started. She was right I was going to have the baby by the weekend. Then I rang my sister in law, Ali. She was all disorientated on the phone, it was really funny. I told her to stay at home for now and I'll ring her when its time to come over. I didn't know how long my labour was going to be.
Then a bit of panic started setting in. I think it was more adrenalin. I was telling Andy, in a not so calm voice, that he must get the blankets and all the bags quickly and set up downstairs. I genuinely thought I wasn't going to have enough time to set everything up. I finally got down stairs and I remember my heart was going 90 and I kept saying to Andy. Oh my god this is it!! We are having our baby at home. My whole body was shaking. I think it was a combination of nerves and adrenalin. Then I remembered the pool. We have to fill the pool but how? Andy my DIY husband got some connection thingy and anyway what ever it was did the job.
I started timing my contraction they were coming every 3mins and lasting 45sec. The pain was manageable. I was walking around downstairs. When a contraction would come I would lean against the wall. I felt that helped with the pain. Mary arrived just after 3pm. When I saw her a huge sense of relief came over me, I felt now the baby can come. I am in safe hands. Mary gave me a huge hug and the look of joy on her face made me relax even more. She set up her on stuff on the table and plugged in the gas and air. Then she asked could she check me to see how far I am. She didn't tell me how far I was and I didn't ask. I had rang Ali in the meantime and asked her to come over. I felt the contractions were getting stronger. When she arrived I started getting really excited. Mary then said she would just rest in the siting room and leave us to it. I was surprised but then I thought sure what does she have to do? I am the one in control here. Its my body that's doing all the work. So I stopped timing my contraction and just went with what my body was doing. Andy was now filling the pool by a basin as I sat on my ball talking to Ali. We laughed and joked it was like I wasn't in labour and we were just having tea and chats. It was so strange but so nice made me just feel comfortable. Although half way through a senescent I would stop talking and concentrate on breathing through my contraction once it passed we would continue on like normal.
Seeing it was the middle of the night I text a few friends just saying, my waters broke. Knowing they would all be asleep. We took a few picture of me sitting on the ball and having a contraction. I was so calm, its just amazing what you can do if you don't focus on the pain.
I heard Jack upstairs he was going to the bathroom. I went up to check on him. I tucked him into bed, gave him a kiss and thought to myself, how wonderful this is. Here I am in the middle of labour and he is fast asleep through it all. When he wakes up in a few hours, his silbling will be born.
Things started to move faster. The pain was getting stronger so I asked Mary could I go into the pool. She checked me again but didn't tell me how far along I was. We had to cool down the pool a bit. When it was ready I jumped in the contractions were getting even stronger but as soon as I sat in the pool the pain seemed to subside infact it almost stopped. I knew that slower the contractions the longer its all going to be. So I kept moving around in the pool. I found certain positions brought on the contractions. I kept thinking stronger contractions means Im closer to the end, closer to seeing my baby, closer to finding out what baby was. I didn't think I would have my baby in the water but once I got in, I was not getting out until baby was born. At one stage Mary asked me to stand up so she could check babys heart rate. When I stood up I got an contraction and had to sit straight back down cause the pain was so strong but once my body was back in the water I was fine again. Its so funny because when there is no contraction there is no pain. Really no pain at all.
Now things started getting stronger and faster. The converscations had pretty much stopped between us all. I needed to concentrate to what my body was doing. I was leaning over the pool holding onto Andy. I had my head burried in his hands and the pain was intense but bareable. I started grunting and I could feel the head coming down. I asked Mary could I push, she said if thats what I need to do then go for it. I gave a little push and stopped cause it hurt, but then I thought to myself, Right just start pushing cause once I start pushing baby will be here and this pain will be gone. I thought about getting some gas and air but I knew I was OK without it, I can do this. So I asked Mary again can I push and she said yes if you need to and with that I started to push and kept pushing and pushing until baby was born. Then up she swam into my arms. Mary was trying to move the cord off her neck so I took the cord off her neck. I cried out "oh my God its a girl, Its a girl" I felt all along it would be a girl and I was right. I was shaking with joy. I did it. I did it all by my self at home. I did this! Wow.
We left the cord pluse for a few minutes and then Andy cut it. While I got out of the pool, Andy held her against his chest. I delevered the planceta and met my second midwife who arrive a few mins after she was born. They cleaned me up and sat me on my couch. I was in shock that I had my baby at home and it was all over. That what I had been dreaming about happening for the past 8months is over and Ive done it. I sat on the couch and fed her. While I fed her Ali made tea and toast for everyone. We sat on the couch everyone in awe of what just happened. Next thing we can hear Jack upstairs moving around, so Andy went up to bring him down. He walked into the sitting room in his school unifrom and his face was so sweet. I cried when I saw him. I told him this is your baby sister and he said " Oh baby Annabelle, her ears Mom are so small and cute" We hadn't said her name out loud, even though it was the only name we had. So with that she was named Annabelle. Then Jacks morning countined on as normal. He sat and had his breakfast and asked could he watch TV.
Then Emily woke up. Mary was weighing and then dressing Annabelle. I was sitting having toast. Emily was a bit slower for a reaction, she was a little uneasy with so many people in the house but once Jack put on Sofia the first she didn't pay any attention to Annabelle or whatever else was going on. I loved the fact that life just carried on as normal. Jack went to school as normal, he got collected as he normally does, they came in and couldn't believe I had the baby. Even my neighbours noticed the cars outside and knew I must of had the baby.
I wont lie, I did feel a little light headed afterwards and when Mary asked if I could stand up to go up to my bedroom. I couldn't. I lost a little bit of blood so I just rested on the couch instead. Annabelle was in the moses basket. I was still on a high from having her, so found it hard to actually sleep. Ali took Emily to her house for the day so both myself and Andy could get some rest. Mary stayed with us for 2 hours after she was born and she called back later that morning to us too.
We rang and text our immediate family and friends to tell them Baby Annabelle had arrived, at 6am weighing 7lbs 2oz, she was my smallest baby yet. One friend thought it was a joke, nope I actually had her. I rang another friend and she asked could she call in after dropping her kids to school. It was so strange I could have visitors when I wanted not when I was told by the hospital. It was lovely to tell her how it all went while we both kept saying "like you just had her, here" She helped us up to bed where I changed my clothes and climbed into bed.
Andy emptied the pool and cleaned up then he came up to bed to me. We lay in bed together gazing at Annabelle, we were both just amazed that she was here, she was perfect. This whole experience was fascinating, for all of us. We just couldn't believe it actually happened and in the comfort of our own home. It was truly magical.
Home Birth is something I had a different opinion on, until I had my own. When I talk about my home birth an over whelming sense of pride comes over me and this why I wanted to share my experience with you.
Giving birth is something amazing we do, no matter where you have your baby.
I called to a friends house that evening and when I was leaving I said to her partner "Next time you see me now I'll probably be a Mom of 3, how scary is that!" We all laughed at the thought that my baby could come any day now. Got home for about 10pm and went to bed after 11pm. Andy followed me to bed a little while later.
At some point during the night I got up to pee for like the 10th time that night. Nothing unusual about that. This time when I got back into bed I felt a kick but more like a pop and with it my stomach went hard as a rock. I thought to myself no way, this was not it, next thing while lying down, boom ya that was my water gone. I sat up in bed, yes it was defiantly was my waters cause it just wouldn't stop! I woke Andy and said my waters are going, he asked was I sure, em ya pretty sure that pool at my feet is my waters. He just couldn't see anything. I checked my phone it was 2.18pm and I rang Mary straight away. She said she was expecting a phone call from me. She knew by all the signs at my check up that labour had started. She was right I was going to have the baby by the weekend. Then I rang my sister in law, Ali. She was all disorientated on the phone, it was really funny. I told her to stay at home for now and I'll ring her when its time to come over. I didn't know how long my labour was going to be.
Then a bit of panic started setting in. I think it was more adrenalin. I was telling Andy, in a not so calm voice, that he must get the blankets and all the bags quickly and set up downstairs. I genuinely thought I wasn't going to have enough time to set everything up. I finally got down stairs and I remember my heart was going 90 and I kept saying to Andy. Oh my god this is it!! We are having our baby at home. My whole body was shaking. I think it was a combination of nerves and adrenalin. Then I remembered the pool. We have to fill the pool but how? Andy my DIY husband got some connection thingy and anyway what ever it was did the job.
I started timing my contraction they were coming every 3mins and lasting 45sec. The pain was manageable. I was walking around downstairs. When a contraction would come I would lean against the wall. I felt that helped with the pain. Mary arrived just after 3pm. When I saw her a huge sense of relief came over me, I felt now the baby can come. I am in safe hands. Mary gave me a huge hug and the look of joy on her face made me relax even more. She set up her on stuff on the table and plugged in the gas and air. Then she asked could she check me to see how far I am. She didn't tell me how far I was and I didn't ask. I had rang Ali in the meantime and asked her to come over. I felt the contractions were getting stronger. When she arrived I started getting really excited. Mary then said she would just rest in the siting room and leave us to it. I was surprised but then I thought sure what does she have to do? I am the one in control here. Its my body that's doing all the work. So I stopped timing my contraction and just went with what my body was doing. Andy was now filling the pool by a basin as I sat on my ball talking to Ali. We laughed and joked it was like I wasn't in labour and we were just having tea and chats. It was so strange but so nice made me just feel comfortable. Although half way through a senescent I would stop talking and concentrate on breathing through my contraction once it passed we would continue on like normal.
Seeing it was the middle of the night I text a few friends just saying, my waters broke. Knowing they would all be asleep. We took a few picture of me sitting on the ball and having a contraction. I was so calm, its just amazing what you can do if you don't focus on the pain.
I heard Jack upstairs he was going to the bathroom. I went up to check on him. I tucked him into bed, gave him a kiss and thought to myself, how wonderful this is. Here I am in the middle of labour and he is fast asleep through it all. When he wakes up in a few hours, his silbling will be born.
Things started to move faster. The pain was getting stronger so I asked Mary could I go into the pool. She checked me again but didn't tell me how far along I was. We had to cool down the pool a bit. When it was ready I jumped in the contractions were getting even stronger but as soon as I sat in the pool the pain seemed to subside infact it almost stopped. I knew that slower the contractions the longer its all going to be. So I kept moving around in the pool. I found certain positions brought on the contractions. I kept thinking stronger contractions means Im closer to the end, closer to seeing my baby, closer to finding out what baby was. I didn't think I would have my baby in the water but once I got in, I was not getting out until baby was born. At one stage Mary asked me to stand up so she could check babys heart rate. When I stood up I got an contraction and had to sit straight back down cause the pain was so strong but once my body was back in the water I was fine again. Its so funny because when there is no contraction there is no pain. Really no pain at all.
Now things started getting stronger and faster. The converscations had pretty much stopped between us all. I needed to concentrate to what my body was doing. I was leaning over the pool holding onto Andy. I had my head burried in his hands and the pain was intense but bareable. I started grunting and I could feel the head coming down. I asked Mary could I push, she said if thats what I need to do then go for it. I gave a little push and stopped cause it hurt, but then I thought to myself, Right just start pushing cause once I start pushing baby will be here and this pain will be gone. I thought about getting some gas and air but I knew I was OK without it, I can do this. So I asked Mary again can I push and she said yes if you need to and with that I started to push and kept pushing and pushing until baby was born. Then up she swam into my arms. Mary was trying to move the cord off her neck so I took the cord off her neck. I cried out "oh my God its a girl, Its a girl" I felt all along it would be a girl and I was right. I was shaking with joy. I did it. I did it all by my self at home. I did this! Wow.
We left the cord pluse for a few minutes and then Andy cut it. While I got out of the pool, Andy held her against his chest. I delevered the planceta and met my second midwife who arrive a few mins after she was born. They cleaned me up and sat me on my couch. I was in shock that I had my baby at home and it was all over. That what I had been dreaming about happening for the past 8months is over and Ive done it. I sat on the couch and fed her. While I fed her Ali made tea and toast for everyone. We sat on the couch everyone in awe of what just happened. Next thing we can hear Jack upstairs moving around, so Andy went up to bring him down. He walked into the sitting room in his school unifrom and his face was so sweet. I cried when I saw him. I told him this is your baby sister and he said " Oh baby Annabelle, her ears Mom are so small and cute" We hadn't said her name out loud, even though it was the only name we had. So with that she was named Annabelle. Then Jacks morning countined on as normal. He sat and had his breakfast and asked could he watch TV.
Then Emily woke up. Mary was weighing and then dressing Annabelle. I was sitting having toast. Emily was a bit slower for a reaction, she was a little uneasy with so many people in the house but once Jack put on Sofia the first she didn't pay any attention to Annabelle or whatever else was going on. I loved the fact that life just carried on as normal. Jack went to school as normal, he got collected as he normally does, they came in and couldn't believe I had the baby. Even my neighbours noticed the cars outside and knew I must of had the baby.
I wont lie, I did feel a little light headed afterwards and when Mary asked if I could stand up to go up to my bedroom. I couldn't. I lost a little bit of blood so I just rested on the couch instead. Annabelle was in the moses basket. I was still on a high from having her, so found it hard to actually sleep. Ali took Emily to her house for the day so both myself and Andy could get some rest. Mary stayed with us for 2 hours after she was born and she called back later that morning to us too.
We rang and text our immediate family and friends to tell them Baby Annabelle had arrived, at 6am weighing 7lbs 2oz, she was my smallest baby yet. One friend thought it was a joke, nope I actually had her. I rang another friend and she asked could she call in after dropping her kids to school. It was so strange I could have visitors when I wanted not when I was told by the hospital. It was lovely to tell her how it all went while we both kept saying "like you just had her, here" She helped us up to bed where I changed my clothes and climbed into bed.
Andy emptied the pool and cleaned up then he came up to bed to me. We lay in bed together gazing at Annabelle, we were both just amazed that she was here, she was perfect. This whole experience was fascinating, for all of us. We just couldn't believe it actually happened and in the comfort of our own home. It was truly magical.
Home Birth is something I had a different opinion on, until I had my own. When I talk about my home birth an over whelming sense of pride comes over me and this why I wanted to share my experience with you.
Giving birth is something amazing we do, no matter where you have your baby.
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