Mia's Birth
2007
First baby
Lived in: Kawakawa, Northland
WHERE WAS YOUR PLANNED PLACE OF BIRTH?
Kawakawa / BOI Hospital
WHERE WAS YOUR ACTUAL PLACE OF BIRTH?
Kawakawa / BOI Hospital
MIA'S BIRTH
After suffering a miscarriage in November 2006, we were delighted when, in February, we discovered I was pregnant again.
I was in fairly good spirits, healthwise and emotionally. I only suffered from morning sickness occasionally but I think I was unwell because I was eating too much! I starting eating quite a lot of sweet stuff which is very unusual for me, and then a friend mentioned that it was probably because I was carrying a girl. The scan two weeks later confirmed it.
My midwife was amazing. I chose her because she was my sister’s midwife for her two children, and I wanted someone familiar around me during these personal times. She gave me straight, honest scenarios about the labour and the birth, and she was totally on board with my birth plan (even if I wanted the whole town in there). My back up midwife was great as well, a bit old school for my liking but I liked her, and she was well-known in our area.
It was Thursday, and I was four days overdue, and by this time I was just over the whole thing. I was constantly looking for ways to get baby out (ie hot curries, ‘the cause is the cure’, hadn’t yet plucked up the courage to use castor oil). My boyfriend had no problem with #2 suggestion. My backup midwife (as my 1st midwife was away until the following Friday afternoon) suggested making an induction appointment which I was not happy about, and she also had concerns about baby’s weight (as it was not consistent with how many weeks pregnant I was). I had an ultrasound that same day, and there were no concerns. It didn’t stop me fretting about the induction process though.
Signs of Early Labour
On Thursday night the boyfriend and I watched a movie, and as soon as it finished, I got my first contraction. I didn’t realise it was one as it just felt like a period pain. I had a couple more and realised it was happening at a regular time, which I started to get excited about. My excitement cause me to stay awake which in hindsight was a very bad idea. I eventually fell asleep at 2am (ish).
5.30am
At 5:30am-ish Friday morning I woke up due to the cramps being constant and becoming stronger, so I got up, relieved myself in the toilet and walked around the house, being careful not to disturb the other people in the house.
7am-ish came and the first person to wake up was my boyfriend next to me. He got worried straight away as I was making funny facials (weren’t funny at the time) with each contraction. When I told him im was in labour, he laughed, then I punched him! There was really nothing he could do at that time so I advised him to stay out of my way. I called my mum to come down cause I felt that baby was coming today. My midwife was on holiday.
10am
10am and my contractions were getting closer and closer together, so I decided to time them, and lo and behold, they were starting to be 15mins apart, and closer! My mum and little brother arrived which felt like a huge relief as it felt that my in-laws were not helping at all.
1pm
1pm-ish and my sister and cousin arrived, and my sister went into action straightaway, trying to rub my back (which in fact was rubbing me up the wrong way), forcing me to drink lots of water, by this time I was drained as I had bugger all sleep, and annoyed at everyone just looking at me (or my sister trying to me super helper). She was also in constant contact with my 2nd midwife (as #1 was not due to come back until 4pm this day), and trying to coax me to go to the hospital. I just wanted to rest and delay going to the hospital as much as I could. 3.30pm came and boy these contractions were hardout! I finally agreed to get up and to the hospital. My midwife said that she’d meet me there yippee!
My mum, sister, brother, cousin, mother in law, sister in law and awesome boyfriend all accompanied me to the hospital.
Heading to hospital
Went up to the hospital on a nice sunny Friday afternoon, and there was already another lady in the other delivery room making all sorts of scary noises to which I started freaking out. A suggestion was made by my sister to try the birthing pool but my midwife said because I had bugger all sleep, I would’ve been exhausted and she wanted me to conserve all my energy. By this time my sister’s sister in law had come up to help out as well. I ended resting on all fours with my head resting on the upright side of the bed which was a huge relief, why didn’t I think of it earlier!
Birth
4pm-ish came with the sudden urge to have a crap! That’s when my midwife told me that was me wanting to push, so ‘try it out’. I did and hated it straightaway! After a couple more attempts and gentle words from my sis sis-in law on how to breathe properly, I got the gist of the whole pushing gig. At the last two pushes there was no progress so my midwife suggested me turning onto my side and pushing with one leg up in the air, which definitely helped.
At 4.33 our little princess finally arrived. Mission accomplished!
For a first time mum I was very proud that my baby’s birth was totally drug free, which was in the birth plan. I was extremely happy that a lot of my family members were there, and there were more arriving after baby and I were settled! The hospital staff were very helpful as we were having latching problems. And when my brother died the next day they let my boyfriend sleep on a mattress during the rest of my stay (in total 5 days I was there).
Things you would do the same?
I am glad we chose that midwife, such a shame she’s moved!
Things you would do differently?
In hindsight I should’ve told my sister to calm down and not be so vocal in my labour.
What advice would you recommend to other Northland mums / families?
Go with your gut, if you don’t get the latching sorted straightaway don’t give up.
