Avalon's Birth
2012
First baby
Lived in: Kerikeri, Northland
WHERE WAS YOUR PLANNED PLACE OF BIRTH?
Kawakawa Hospital
WHERE WAS YOUR ACTUAL PLACE OF BIRTH?
Kawakawa Hospital
AVALON'S BIRTH
Pregnancy
I found out i was pregnant very late, at 25 weeks, had a scan booked the very next day, and the following day I met one of two of my independant midwives, ideally I had a very relaxed pregnancy as I was in my last year of school, working part time and teaching dance to primary aged children. I myself had also competed in 2 dance competitions unknown to me I was and 18 year old who was 5 months pregnant at the time. About one week after I had my first scan at the Radiology centre I started “popping” out and you could begin to tell I was pregnant, so it was very well hidden!
My due date was not 100% certain as I didn’t have the 12 week scan, my midwife measured my stomach the first time we met and by her measurements, and from what I could remember about my last proper period my due date was around the 7th of March and they did not want me to go overdue the 10 day mark so they talked about the possibility of having to induce me on the 17th in Whangarei if the baby still had not arrived. I was a bit frightened of the idea of that, as I wanted to have, if possible and my body allowed a natural birth and just going and listening to my body.
Early labour
My due date came and went, and in that last week I could feel the baby move very far down my pelvis feeling very heavy on my pelvic area. I was still feeling happy and healthy and the baby was moving around very well and being active, and on the morning of the 9th of March I woke up at 3.30am desperately needing the toilet, I never felt the need to wake up ever and go to the loo throughout my pregnancy during the night so I felt as if something was up as I sat down on the toilet I felt a big gush and I realised my waters had just broken on the toilet, very convenient!
I went back to bed with a maternity pad in as my waters were still leaking, and woke again at 5.30am and went to the loo again and sat there for around about 45 mins emptying my bowels. I then went into my parents room and told Mum it was all go, I then had a shower to freshen up and went back to bed to have a rest. At around 7.30am was when my contractions started, which felt like achy period pain in either side of my lower pelvis and my lower back. When the contractions subsided I got very chilly and shivery just wanted to be wrapped up in a blanket in the fetal position on the couch, but the second I felt a contraction I had to get up and start walking around which helped ease the pain. My mum noticed the pain and contractions become more frequent and more intense.
Off to the birthing unit
At 8.00am I text my midwife saying I’m in labour and contractions have started, she then rang me asking how far apart they are and how long they were going for, which was every 2 mintues going for about 45 seconds she then told us to pack up into the car as she was coming from Opua and we will meet her at Kawakawa Hospital for an examination, 8.15am we left Kerikeri to travel to Kawakawa, my Mum drove I was laying the back of my Dads 4x4 we arrived at Kawakawa Hospital in 21 minutes, with me concentrating on breathing through my contractions and holding a perfectly coherent conversation in between. Very amazing how your body works!
My midwife met me at the car and had a little chat as she helped me out of the car, we walked slowly to the birthing room having 3 contractions on the way, which I stopped for each one most of the pain was right in my lower back so she was massaging my back making my feel more at ease.
We got to the unit and my midwife wanted to check how much I was dilated as I had in my birth plan I would like to sit in the birth pool to relax for when I was dilating to relax. She checked and I was 7 cm! So we decided not to go in the pool, I was walking around and leaning over the bed, there was also an exercise ball that I was sitting on that took the weight off my legs and lower back. At 10am I had the sudden urge to push and I wanted to lay down on the bed. Midwife checked me once more and I was about 9.5cm she said if I could just refrain from pushing a wee bit longer and I could damage and bruise my cervix, but my body could wait no longer, I started bearing down and I could feel the baby move lower and lower, my midwife asked me if I wanted to touch her head, I put my hand down and felt my babies head! About 3 or 4 big pushes more my beautiful daughter was born at 10.15am at 7.9 pounds (3.4 k.gs) , very quick and intense, she went straight on my chest for skin to skin, there were many tears and joy and laugther. I felt so empowered and amazing in that moment. Which I will remember always. About 10 minutes after she was born, my midwife helped latch her on to breastfeed which was also spectacular and amazing. I then realised I had to birth the placenta aswell, but I wasn’t getting any other contractions for it, and I was losing quite a substantial amount of blood so my midwife gave me an injection to bring the placenta out faster, which it did.
Because of my blood loss the nurse had to put an IV in which wasn’t too bad, and I had to get two stitches due to a slight tear, which healed great and I had dissolvable stitches.
Overall it was a very fast pace birth, but I would do it over in a heartbeat.
A moment of pain for a lifetime of pleasure.
Things you would do the same?
Listen to my body, have a natural birth without any drugs. Go home after I feel comfortable if I birth at a hospital, I stayed two nights and the nights were the worst because I was on my own as family weren’t allowed to stay.
Things you would do differently?
Try for a homebirth, or water birth. Hypno-birthing techniques
What advice would you recommend to other Northland mums / families?
Go with your body, don’t feel silly to ask any questions about anything. Having a baby and being pregnant is the most important thing. It is best to be safe. Come to La Leche League meeting before you give birth. The most supportive group of breast feeding mothers, that will answer any questions you have about breastfeeding!
