Birth Story #2 - Amalia Joy

We lived in Brisbane at the time of Amalia's birth. With no family and one friend we had Michael's brother and sister and our sister-in-law-to-hopefully-one-day-be(came about Dec last year) to babysit our 24 month old Isaiah while we laboured and birthed our first girl.

She was due on Christmas day, same as me, same as two friends bubs the year before and one friends bub a year later. I was certain she would not arrive on the day.

A week before our babysitters were due to arrive at 38 weeks I woke around 7:30am to some different kind of 'baby kicking'. I told Michael gee she's really pushing differently today!

About an hour later another of this 'pushing'. We had to take Isaiah to a Child Health Appointment at our local busy shopping centre. I had a 'pushing' at the door way on the way in... and one on the way out. I was so thankful that nothing happened while I was waiting at the child health place as I really didn't like them, and I really didn't want anything to do with them while in labour.

As the day went on I was clearly in denial that I was actually IN labour. I had no babysitter! I pottered around tidying, cleaning, etc.

Come around 9:30pm I began to agree that yes I probably WAS in labour and I probably was not going to STAY in labour for the week waiting for our babysitters to get here.

Around 10:30pm these contractions came on quicker and slightly stronger. Yeah okay I told myself... I AM in labour, and I WILL be having this baby withOUT our babysitter. But still pretended I wasn't. I tried to get some sleep (Funny hey!).

Around 11:30 we finally called our midwife who said yeah come in. Contractions were about 5mins apart steady and we were 45minutes from the hospital. 45minutes during the day mind you.

Michael called our only friend who lived 15-20minutes away to look after Isaiah.

We packed my bag, Isaiah's bag, 'labour' bag, portacot for Isaiah, blankets etc. Michael was begining to panic and TRYING to rush me into the car. I wanted to stay home!! My hearts desire was NOT to birth in the hospital.

I put my wheat bag into the microwave to heat up. Then I asked Michael to get my wheat bag OUT of the microwave. So he cooked it again. And almost burnt our house down. I really missed the heat from that wheat bag as it sat smouldering in our front yard for a few days. I don't know why but for some reason I giggled about that on our journey to the hospital. I really can not believe how out of his mind he must have been to have cooked it again HA HA!

Anyway... he raced us to our babysitters. My only brisbane friend. As I sat in the car waiting for the drop off, having contraction after contraction with NO wheat bag she cracked a ton of jokes. In the end she asked me if she was funny. I shook my head NO, she asked if I wanted her to stop, I said yes. then she asked if she should pray. I agreed. lol

Michael pulled out of the driveway and went the wrong way. I told him you can't get out through this way. He disagreed. I was proven right as we turned down a ton of streets trying to get out.

Finally on the way to the hospital. Street lights shining, not much traffic, over the bridge, down the highways, green lights, speedo going higher and higher, contractions coming steady, fast and strong. Me screaming, Michael driving,... faster... faster... faster... He told me that if he got pulled up by the cops he wasn't stopping and that they could fine him at the hospital. 100km in a 60zone? I think they'd have taken his licence!

Michael told me to take my seatbelt off. Once I did that the contractions eased off. Eased off because the belt had been so tight it was causing the pain!

Soon afterwards I am sure that I heard a 'pop' sound of my waters breaking. But no fluid.

At some point my screams changed and Michael announced to me that she was coming. I moved up on my seat and the broken waters gushed out. I felt her head with my hand. One more push and I was holding my wet, silent baby in the dark in my hands. She had arrived... Only 3 minutes from the hospital. 12:52am 6lb 13ou on the 14th December 2009.

As we arrived at the hospital Michael jumped out and said my wife had a baby. About 20 people came running over. It was so embarrassing. But praise God my midwife came out, shooed them all away and took us up to our room. We didn't get a good look at her until we were up in our room and I pulled her out from under my shirt.

The placenta took over half an hour and was more painful then birth. No tears, no drugs, no trouble, all natural beautiful birth that had fulfilled the desire of MY heart!

Mik says to me not long after birth... "see? we could easily have ten kids" TEN KIDS!! I reply "No! *I* could easily have ten kids... you didn't DO anything" lol I'm thinking the man is NUTS I JUST GAVE BIRTH Thank you very much...

We laugh at the 'torch and giant needle' but it sure made me scream my head off!!

Poor Michael was exhausted!

10 Things I am Thankful for:
1. The desire of my heart was to birth not in the hospital
2. Safe, fast, drug free, natural delivery
3. Being booked into the birthing centre and not a regular hospital
4. Our midwife!!
5. NO CARS on the road and no speeding fines!
6. Prayers of friends and baby sitting :)
7. Power of Prayer and Praise
8. A small baby
9. A girl bubby
10. My hubby

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Birth Story #4 - Avigail Shiloh Bell

{Avigail Shiloh - Hours old - & that's not my chest ;) }


For male and child readers:
After a long 9 month pregnancy came a long labour and after the long labour came a big baby. Mother and baby did well.

For others:
After an incredibly rough and stressful 8 1/2 months of pregnancy came a variety of "Braxton Hicks" that gave me the impression from time to time "it" was happening. Though nothing eventuated.

until

Monday 7th March 2011 at 7:44pm the "Braxton Hicks" changed into "real labour contractions" at a more regular basis.

Tuesday 8th March 2011 I awoke still pregnant and these "real labour contractions" were fairly the same as throughout the night. I felt a mix of emotions but mostly excited that it was FINALLY happening. Our Avigail was FINALLY going to be on the outside and in my arms.

Michael went off to work his second day at a casual job - we really need/needed the money after 5 months of unemployment.

I spent the day 'in labour' pottering around the house tidying up, cleaning up, washing up. The children were kept occupied and busy. I rested, they rested. They played absolutely beautiful...

until...

4pm when the youngest of our three woke from his afternoon nap. From that point until 4:30pm the children took it in turns to upset the middle child and fight and argue and scream.

I had had enough. These regular "Braxton Hicks/Real Labour Contractions" were annoying, I was growing weary of never having anything happen, My body was sore and aching, the fluid was at an all time high.

I told myself I just had to get through an hour and a half (thinking Michael finished at 5:30pm)

at 4:30pm I burst into tears not being able to handle the children fighting and the constant contractions. I texted Michael to come home NOW.

Michael arrived home moments later all dirty and grotty from a day's work. Changed pants, rang his dad to get the children cared for and bundled me in the car to go get our baby out.

We became peaceful, joyed, had some fun in the labour ward. Chatted and laughed and prayed. I was excited that this long and stressful pregnancy was going to end, I was excited that I'd have the babe that I asked God for would VERY soon be in my arms.

They checked me out with a 5cm dilation around 5pm- YEAH!! Half way there...

I used the shower as a pain relief. We prayed, I prayed, Mik prayed, I sang (quietly), he sang. That was fun too.

The contractions came and went came and went. Barely close together, all bearable.

8pm with a 7cm dilation they broke my waters with the hope/expectation the contractions would come quicker and stronger and bub would be out by 9pm.

9pm came and went with no change in contractions. Michael's sister Katie came to tell us about her terrible dream (HA HA HA) and that she was heading to our place to have a sleep over to watch over the children. Love that girl!! Michael's parents and younger siblings came to watch them at the drop of a hat.

10pm came and went. I think this was the hour they put in a canula and gave me antibiotics and I tell you what - The Canula in the hand is THE MOST PAINFUL PART of labour!!! A device to torture the labouring woman!

11pm came and went

midnight came and went

2am came and went

3:30am We were tired and weary. Why was nothing happening? Nothing had changed!

4am came and went :(

The Dr came and did his rounds, checked me out, had a chat. Thought it was happening as I had the feel to push. Such a labouring effort. Nothing.

The scary part came after he checked me out to say "Uhm" Made me think arm? Why is he talking about an ARM is she the wrong way? Well she was slightly crooked and totally stuck. According to the midwife my uterus was tired from such a long labour. So was I. By this stage I was so tired, so over tired that I cried. Finally after all that time I shed tears. What was wrong?

But the real scary part came when they started this medical speech, someone else came in, they put stirrups on the bed and 'things got serious'. WHAT WAS GOING ON??? I Begged for a chance on the 'birthing stool' and they let me. I had 20 minutes to get her out. After about 5mins I failed and said nope no more I can't do it.

Grateful for that opportunity but it was the worst position for me to be in.

They gave me some morphine through the canula to relax me and take the edge off the contractions. I complained HEAPS cos it REALLY hurt!!

Dr said the 'suction cap' wasn't going to do me any good cos she was stuck so they put me on a drip of syntocin to bring contractions on just after 5pm.

An hour later the drip machine went beep beep beep and the contractions came strong and heavy and after 34 hours of labor I finally felt her head bearing down and urges to push push push.

I tell you what... This baby sure was a labour of love. A 9 month labor of love with a 2 week labor (or 34 hours counting from Mon night).

The pushing parts were hard cos I had to push without contractions. Her swollen chubby head was stuck and I had nothing to push with. I was in a fair bit of pain. I didn't want to go through that again. 4 kids was it I decided then and there! So did Michael. Did I say she was stuck?

@ 6:11am Avigail Shiloh arrived
Weighing a whopping 9lb 5ounces
52cm long

Miraculously I have no tearing nothing. My body worked in our favour again.

After she arrived there was kuffafels everywhere. People trying to hand me my baby while I was trying to turn around, needles, scissors, pegs. Instead of the peaceful here is your baby and cuddles and smiles it was still full going with demands being made of me. It was stressful. I couldn't feed straight away from all the action going on in the room.

Her cord was tiny and couldn't reach me. I told them to cut it which was not my original plan and not what I wanted. But I was in distress.

They jabbed me with the oxytocin needle for third stage labour - that hurt more than contractions. More demands to birth the placenta, I just wanted to see and hold my baby. Discomfort much?! *sigh*

I was relieved to hear no tears and no stitches needed. I let them know I didn't want them to even look!!

Finally some people left the room, the Dr left, I was allowed to shower (Mik babysat), and we went straight up to our room. Couldn't wait to see my beloved children and let them meet their newest sister :)

Finally some peace. We were left to admire and cuddle our new beauty. She fed beautifully and for a long time. I was instantly in love =D and overflowing with thankfulness (Col 2:7)


5 Things I was/am Thankful for:
1. Safe, natural, healthy arrival of our 4th Bubba
2. Being given a chance to birth before they yanked the baby out (& it not happening at all)
3. No tearing!!
4. Dr taking charge and giving me syntocin and morphine
5. Michael staying by my side just about the whole time - I know it was hard on him too!

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