Stephanie's
Birthstory.
Dear Jackie, I now have time to write; last time I wrote
was ten weeks away from my birth. Now I can tell you that we
have a new son Patrick, who is now six weeks old and was
born at home, a VBAC with a my midwife Annie and my family.
The birth was wonderful, a peak experience in my life, rich
and so empowering. I am myself again; it could not have
been more perfect.
I started having niggles on Monday 8th May at midday and
then realised they were slowly getting stronger and regular
as the day progressed. I could still put my son to bed and
then I rang Annie, they were two minutes apart but only 30 -
40 seconds long, so went to bed and did sleep for about 5
hours, and they were manageable. Packed my son off to his
grandmas and Jon and I spent the day labouring (mostly lying
in bed resting), contractions same length, same distance
apart just gradually getting stronger by midday.
Tuesday 9th May: Had to use my voice to get through them,
midwife due to arrive at 3.30pm, felt I was fighting them,
called the trainee midwife, my support person, my mum and
everyone arrived at about 4.00pm. When Annie arrived I was
in the birth pool having a contraction she came and put her
hands on my head and I cried. I said, "About time you got
here", and from that point I was full of confidence and I
was free to labour.
My sister in law, who has had two of her four babies at
home, flew down from Queensland on someone else's frequent
flyer points - a gift from another homebirth women friend.
It was pure luck she made it the same time as everyone else,
4.00pm, with her youngest in tow. At this point these women
all put their hands on me for the next contraction and I was
in heaven, everything was fine. I laboured with growing
intensity, I ate and I drank, everyone was there that I knew
and they were all there for me.
8.00pm - Annie did a VE and I was 7 -8cm but only later
did she reveal that at that point she couldn't feel his
head, I was elated that I had got this far and everyone was
excited. Jon and I went into our bedroom as he felt that I
was getting tired and was losing some concentration and we
rocked and danced in the dark, and suddenly with one
almighty contraction "pop". Annie was outside and she came
in and reassuringly said it was my waters. She also said
later that by the sound of my grunt at the end of the
contraction she knew then that the head was on it's way.
Had I been in hospital with the length of labour, the
length of contractions and the head not presenting on the
cervix they would have caesared me...But Annie trusted me,
trusted in the baby, he was fine. There was meconium in the
waters also, but an hour later, by candlelight in my dining
room, I pushed Patrick out into the world.
I was standing leaning on the birth pool, as I needed
some gravity, his head was born and I waited for the next
contraction and the rest of him was caught by Jon. The cord
was around his neck and through his legs and short, but long
enough for him to be "posted" through my legs and into my
arms. Unbelievable. I birthed the placenta and this time I
got to see what had belonged to me and my baby for all that
time, it's in the freezer waiting a tree planting. Half an
hour later I was having a cup of hot tea, lying in bed with
my beautiful baby.
11.00pm - I kissed my first born who lay beside me
'goodnight'. He saw the birth of Patrick and if anyone asks
him about it he says that Mummy was singing our baby
out.
I worked hard for this and still can't believe it
happened to me, I awoke the next morning thinking it must
have happened to someone else and I can't believe I'm now
writing this letter to you, as I have read so many just like
it and wanted it to be me and it is.
It took me two years after my Caesar to feel anywhere
near normal and a lot of hard work and research to get my
dream birth, I can only say to others, after a traumatic
birth talk, talk, talk, to anyone who will listen and be
sympathetic, that is how I got through medically
unrecognised traumatic shock and post natal depression.
Planning for your next birth, deal with the pain and be
ready, don't rush. Plan to use a midwife, someone you like
(I've fallen in love with mine, we are friends) someone to
see it through, no matter what the outcome and know that you
are making the best decision for you and your baby.
There always seems to be so much to say. I hope my story
helps someone else. If anyone wishes to contact me please
pass on my email address I would love to talk to them.
Birthed Beautifully, thankyou for Birthrites
Much love, Stephanie Cantrell.
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