Billie's Surprise Home Birth
2011
Fourth baby
Lived in: Kaikohe, Far North
WHERE WAS YOUR PLANNED PLACE OF BIRTH?
Whangarei Hospital
WHERE WAS YOUR ACTUAL PLACE OF BIRTH?
Home
BILLIE'S BIRTH - written by dad :)
I have an interesting story about the birth of my youngest child Billie Diane.
So it all started the morning of Ngapuhi fest in Kaikohe. We planned to go watch the live acts and music and indulge in some of the finest cuisine (hangi/seafood) there is lol. Loaded up the van about 10 of us 5 adults 5 kids.
Got there enjoyed the atmosphere and my partner started having tiny contractions. She said she was fine and for us to carry on. Towards the end the contractions were getting stronger.....right before Katchafire. Needless to say we had to leave (I was not happy lol) we made our way home and dropped off our passengers 1 by 1 until it was just me and the expecting mum to be.
So when we got home she wanted a shower before we went to the hospital. I told her "ok I'll pack you an overnight bag for the hospital and then we'll head up". Well I packed the bag, while she was in the shower the contractions got decidedly stronger and stronger!! She said the baby was coming so i told her get dressed im nearly ready and to wait by the van while i call the midwife and let her know we are going to the hospital. Well as she was by the van having major contractions, i was wondering where i put the car keys!!! I looked everywhere for them but couldnt find them and i was starting to panic!!! Finally she could bare it no more and came inside telling me the baby is coming now!!!
By that time i gave up on finding the keys and proceeded to turn our lounge into a delivery room. Closed all the windows n curtains. opened the oven up, turned it on high to fan bake and started to warm the house up. By that time she was on the couch and screaming the babys here!!! I rang the midwife n told her come to our house we are having a home birth and not by choice. I checked baby and she was crowning.
I told super mum get comfortable and prepare to push because baby isnt going to wait for the midwife. With lots of encouragement and reassurance that we will be ok, I managed to persuade her that we could manage on our own. She was worried as I had no delivery skills or experience at all apart from being present at prior births and i was even more worried but deep down i knew we could do it together. With that I told her push when u cant hold back any more. With that her next push exposed the top of Billies head....the next push popped her head out completely!!
Now....this is where it got complicated....Billies head looked like it was in a bag full of water....she was blue in the face which was not a good sign. Mum was asking " is she ok?" I said yes (I wasnt certain) and for her to keep pushing. As she pushed i told her the baby was out, to which she replied " Is she ok? I cant hear her crying!!!"
Now....when Billie was born she was still in the sack and when her head popped out and it looked like there was a bag on her head it was actually the birth sac and as mumzy was still on her knees and exhausted she started to wonder why baby wasnt crying like on the movies. Before she could turn around I tore open the sac and all the fluid drained out....but Billie was still quiet. I knew she must have fluid in her throat and gently held her on an upwards angle to let all the fluids run out. As the fluid drained she let the most joyous cry i have ever heard in my life!!! A huge sigh of relief was breathed from all 3 of us and the colour and life just flooded into the newborn baby and Mum n Dad were soooo happy to hear her reaction!!!
We were sooo proud of each other at that moment and happy to have shared that experience. My partner lookz back on that moment and to this day still says to me "if anyone could have delivered that baby.....it was you" hearing her confidence and love in what she had in me makes me happy and proud to have overcome such a feat and thats why we named her Billie....after her dad.
And when the midwife showed up she could not believe we did it all by ourselves. She was sooo proud of us and what we accomplished. Not long after that (minutes actually) I was on the phone calling family and friends. Within 10 mins we had a house full of visitors and they all sat there in amazement at our whole ordeal we just endured.
To say that was a once in a lifetime experience is an understatement. 3 older daughters and present at every birth but none compares to delivering you own and doing it in a desperate time of need and conquering. I will always have that story and even today people still talk about it. I try to encourage more fathers to be to get in there and help too. Its a bond no one can ever break and story no one can take. Im a proud dad because i did that. Me mum and Billie will always have our first meeting story and never ever forget it.
Thanks for letting me share this.
