My Story #3 – Am I in Labour?
You know what I love about Birthing stories… They are all so very very different. There’s no right or wrong way… It’s all about how you are feeling, connecting and how ready your baby and body are! Whether it’s a short birth, long birth, natural birth or cesarean. All births are amazing. I mean how amazing is the body and how it can create another life, a little miracle of so much love.
It was almost 3 years ago now that we had Maeve, but it was such an incredible experience that I remember it so well… Maeve Maree Samuelson was born on 18th September 2014 at 10.20pm. She entered the world with a little cry but settled once was held and comforted. I’m so sure she opened her eyes straight away because I remember thinking she was ready for this world.. she’d been here before. The labour was every emotion and feeling all rolled in to one magical experience. It was still challenging and painful but I also never felt so connected and uplifted as I did in that moment… and then that end moment when I held Maeve in my arms I automatically knew, at that exact moment, that this is exactly where I want to be, holding this incredible little being…
A week before Maeve was born I finished up at work. I knew I was ready… I had a great pregnancy, had done all the proper exercises, acupuncture, chiropractor, birthing workshops. You name it… I done it.. and prepped myself in every way possible without feeling overwhelmed or stressed. I felt ready and fairly confident and so blessed I had so many amazing therapists and pregnancy specialists to help guide and support me throughout this pregnancy.
My birth started unusual… my waters slowly broke over about 14 hours… I actually didn’t realise they were breaking at first, I thought I just needed to go to the toilet a lot. It all started in the very early hours of the morning around 1am when I got up to go to the toilet… for those of you who have been pregnant would understand this is nothing unusual. But then I had to go to the toilet every 30mins-1 hour for the next 5 hours. Kyle got up at his usual time, 4am, for work and I remember saying to him… ‘don’t get excited yet, and I’m unsure, but I think my waters could be slowly breaking…?’ He of course got very excited and almost didn’t go to work but I convinced him otherwise. I stayed in bed till he got home just resting (you know just in case it was on, resting in the early stages is important). I stopped going to the toilet and thought it must be a false alarm. Kyle came home around 8am with an Acai bowl… OMG! when I saw it I craved it and ate that whole bowl with a big smile on my face.
Later that morning I went around to my best friends house for a swim. It was a beautiful spring day, sun shining and I remember just laying about in swimmers, eating chocolate and berries and reading magazines and the usual girly chats. I told Whitney about my false alarm and how I still wasn’t sure. But I felt so calm and relaxed, and didn’t over-think it as I was enjoying soaking in the beautiful day. I Went in and out of the pool a few times and the third time Whitney told me she read that floating on your back in the water helped to bring on labour. I wasn’t sure that was true but gave it a go. It was bloody hard with a big belly. A few minutes later, whilst still in the pool, I felt a bigger gash of water come out. OMG could this be it. And OMG I’m in somebody else’s pool. I got out and told Whitney, and felt a little embarrassed. She asked me how I was feeling and I said ‘just normal’. I could tell she was a little worried but I didn’t want to worry until I felt I needed to. She research waters slowly breaking. I had no contractions or pains but then she asked has Bub been moving much. Shit I can’t remember the last time Bub moved…
That’s when panic kicks in a little. I called my hospital and told them about my morning…they said come straight in to check. I had walked to Whitney’s so hubby picked me up and I said I just want to go home first and have a shower. No idea why I just wanted to be in water and wash my hair haha. I was super organised with everything packed so had no worries there. On my way to the hospital all I could think of was 3 things…
- I hope Bub is ok… please move.
- What if it’s nothing I feel so silly having to go to the hospital if it’s nothing
- If it is happening I don’t want to be going to the hospital too early. I could be there too long. I had planned to stay at home as long as possible.
A few tests later at the hospital and sure enough my waters were pretty much fully broken. I was given the biggest maternity pad I had ever seen (I mean you hear of these things but seriously I’ve got to wear that). Yet another embarrassing thing to go through… but hey it’s all part of the process. Still no contractions or pains had started. The midwife suggested 2 things stay here at hospital and wait till things progress. Or go for a walk and have something to eat and contractions should start to happen! As we were at John Flynn Hospital in Tugun we decided it was best to head out for a walk along Kirra Beach and go to our favourite burger place for a good eat… Burger Lounge.
Walking along and I start to get some period like pains… waters still slowly breaking and a little bit of blood showing. I kept looking down at my skirt to see if there was any leakage. I remember passing another couple and thought they are also doing the same as us. She was heavily pregnant and walking awkwardly as I was… haha! Get half way along our walk and run in to a client and her family. “You should be due any day now. How are you feeling”, asked my client. I didn’t want to tell her I was in labour right now. Inside I wanted to because I thought this is too funny but thought no this will be a great story to tell her later on. I just replied “Yes I think it’s going to happen really soon”. Walking back and I start to get contractions. We decide it’s time for a burger and to fuel up for the labour ahead. I remember sitting at the table in burger lounge feeling a little uncomfortable as by this point I had massive period pains and my massive maternity pad felt very full. That burger was amazing but by the end of it I was ready to get back to the hospital. It was on. Our baby was ready to enter this world and we were ready for bub.
Driving back to the hospital all I could think of was ‘shit what lies ahead of me?’ But I knew I was ready, I felt in control. After my day in the sunshine and water and eating my yummy food and spending time with my best friend and husband I felt a great powerful and uplifting energy… I knew this would get me through the pain… but still the unsure was evident… How far dilated was I? Will I feel comfortable at the hospital and in my room? Will my labour be quick or long? Will I get in the bath or shower? Will I end up with a cesarean? Whatever lay ahead I felt confident in my body and what it could do…
Join me next week for PART 2 of my Birth story… Sorry thought I’d break this one up…
In Love & Happiness,
Tenille
