The Birth of Paige
24th March 2016
9lb 9oz I 4360g
Going into my third pregnancy I had 8 years worth of knowing, wisdom and some of the most beautiful insights into truly undisturbed, pregnancy and birth with no intervention and allowing my body and baby to birth on its own terms. I knew without a doubt that my third baby would be born at home.
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My third pregnancy was both my easiest and hardest. The first four months were tough with morning sickness and all that comes with those first months of pregnancy. I worked almost full time this pregnancy unlike my previous two, seven and eight and half years previously, and I was that much older too. In turn, however I was healthier and fitter which was a blessing. I exercised often and really listened to my body, resting when needed.
In the last weeks of my pregnancy I really accepted and prepared mentally and emotionally for our baby to arrive when they were ready whether it be prior to our guess date or closer or beyond forty-two weeks. I embraced all the practice surges and really let go of the societal pressures of being 'overdue'.
On the morning of the 24th of March 2016 (I was 40+5 according to dates), it was a beautiful, sunny Thursday and I was completely oblivious that it was the day we would meet our sweet baby. My partner went off to work, I got my two big boys off to school and met a friend for pancakes and quince green tea. It was during breakfast that I had some quite strong braxton hicks but brushed them off as just that when my friend asked if I was okay. I was perfectly fine and completely unaware. I followed breakfast with a big food shop in preparation for the Easter Long Weekend and for the possible arrival of our baby sometime in the next week or so, I didn't want to be caught short with no food in the house for either event!
I spent the rest of the afternoon resting until I picked my boys up from school, prepared dinner and then lay down to rest some more as I was still having frequent albiet mild surges and I was feeling particularly tired. Around 5:30pm I got up to finish preparing dinner and noticed a change in my surges. They began coming more frequently and with a slight edge that felt different. I knew my partner was on his way home from work and that traffic was relentless due to the long weekend starting the following day, so I didn't bother him but sent a few messages back and forth with my best friend who was my student midwife.
I was breathing and swaying through the surges and enjoying the breaks in between while finishing cooking dinner and highly doubting it was labour. My partner arrived home from work about 6:30pm and I informed him that I thought maybe something was happening and in true first dad fashion his eyes were the size of dinner plates and a cider was skulled from the fridge all while he rushed to finish pumping up and begin filling the birth pool! Once I had calmed him, and said there was no rush and we would see how it played out we ate dinner with the boys (he couldn't believe I was eating dinner, mate there was no way I was missing out on slow cooked corned beef and veggies with white sauce, I was starving!!) and I sat at the table bouncing gently on my yoga ball.
My husband and I spent some time setting up our birth space after dinner. Placing candles, my salt lamp and some special things on my birth alter. We turned on the fairy lights, put on our birth playlist and began filling the birth pool.
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I called my mum to fill her in as she was to be the boys support person and called the midwifery group practice as well. My midwife was unable to come for the birth as she had injured herself and didn't want to take the risk. The triage midwife told me they would organise someone else to come, and two midwives I hadn't met before, as well as my best friend and student midwife arrived at about 8pm and 8:30pm as well as my other best friend to take photos and my mum arrived somewhere in there too.
Surges were still the same frequency but slightly increasing in intensity although I was STILL in denial that it was actually labour as I was getting a break in between and able to chat, smile and laugh (it felt so different to my two previous labours which were fast and furious from the get go).
I got in the birth pool at about 9pm which felt amazing. I used water (and had a water birth for my first babe) so it felt comfortable and right. My partner was an amazing support and having my two very best friends there was amazing, and calming!
I was still doubting labour and chatting to one of the midwives after she checked baby's heart rate and she suggested a little nipple stimulation which I hadn't considered or had just forgotten about but I opted to try a few drops of clary sage on a washer to inhale first. After this, the surges continued at the same frequency but were increasing in intensity.
I felt my waters go at about 10:20pm and it was intense, and crazy and out of this world after that! I felt every inch of her coming down as my body started involuntary pushing. I held my hand over my clitoris to apply some counter pressure and relief (this felt amazing) while breathing and guiding babes head into my hand. Her anterior shoulder was a little sticky which the midwife helped to remove (and I roared through as this was so intense and painful) and I then pushed a little more and brought her up onto my chest. It was the most amazing, incredible experience ever. She was covered in the most beautiful snowy vernix and Bob Carlisle's 'Butterfly Kisses' began playing on my playlist as we discovered we had a daughter and our boys a sister.
This was by far my most empowering birth. It was nothing short of perfect and amazing. I am still in awe at my bodies strength and ability.