The Birth of Kaylin

Well, I thought, its quiet in OPM today as everyone is on leave and I might as well post my birth story of Kaylin born 20 months ago already. So here goes.

I was 37 weeks when I was told that my baby is fully engaged and we can expect things to happen quite fast from here on out. Based on the infomratin provided I went on Maternity Leave and finished off last minute shopping etc. Well and so the waiting started, luckily it was winter, raining and pouring outside, so with chips in hand and remote control in the other, I was not complaining, this was at least fo the first week or so. Thereafter, it became too much, every toilet visit became a routine check up to see if anything seem abnormal, but nothing. Well, I was soon to learn, that doctors (bless them) and all their years of studying meant absolutely nothing to my little angel as she would decide when she was going to enter this world.

And so because she had been fully engaged and everyone waiting in anticipation, I was now visiting the doctors office once a week. Well, on the 22nd of July 2008 I was to come to hospital if nothing happened yet and would be induced the following day. Well, once again, this little one showed them that she was okay and not going anywhere. The doctors monitored me and about another 9 of them standing there (students) having to explain why I would be sent home again, yes you heard right, they were sending me home. Well, it would appear that everything is still 100 %, Kaylin was fine where she was and would come when she was ready.

So off we went, back home and was to return on the 27th July 2008 if nothing happened yet. So those few days seemed like an enternity. On the evening of Sunday 27th July 2008 I returned to the hospital and was booked in (why on earth you should be there so early and you know you will only be induced the following day, is beyond me). But anyway, so boring I lay there , mommy next to me and down the hall, screaming and shouting as they are in labour and I am just relaxing and apparently so was Kaylin.

On Mondy morning 28th July 2008 induction would start as I was then 41 weeks + 4 days , they did verything they had to and all I could do was check that in every file and on every arm band they didnt accidently write that it is C-sec. So at about 10H00 the morning I had to have 3 drops of "somehting" and then off course nothing happened for the next 4 hours. Every 4 hours they would give me these drops. Then I was connected to the machine and baby and myself monitored. After the second dose and at about 6pm that evening, I was apparently having contractions, so the machine said . And then my mom and hubby visited and we chatted for a while and they asked me how I was doing and just as Im about to answer, its a breeze, it started, I had this stabbing pain and the monitor off course indicated this and the nurse checked it and said, that was a nice one, but still they were like far apart and not as painful. Well, that evening passed and, mom and hubby went home and it was jut me and the monitor.

As the 29 July 2009 drew near, the early hours at about 4am, I was holding onto the bed as though I was going to get freaky with by hubby , but that was the last thought on my mind. It being my first child, I called the nurse to come check and she was so happy and did an internal and said, beautiful mommy, well done! There was nothing beautiful at that time for me. Anyway, so it stopped and nothing much again, now and then it would come and go and then suddenly again at about 06am they asked if they should call my hubby which they did, because if he were to drive during morning peak, he might miss the birth. So at this stage I was apparently 6 cm. I was getting ready to move over to the active labour ward and there we all waited, Kaylin was still doing fine, but my water wasnt breaking. They did internals continously, but nothing.

I remember the midwife saying that they need to call the gynae, becuase if nothing happened and waters didnt break etc by a certain time, a c-sec would be considerd. Well, they should have said that long ago, because this is the one thing I really did not want. So, just as she is leaving, I yell at my hubby to call her because I needed to push. My hubby still said, but your water hasnt broken yet - I gave him one look and shouted, get the bladdy midwife, I need to push Now the action started, the midwife came in and calmly said "but mommy, your waters hasnt broken yet and you cannot push until you are fully dilated", bearing in mind that 10 minutes prior I was still about 6 cm dilated - where the other 4 cm went - no one knows, because when she checked, the waters just came gushing and she said, mommy, you are 10 cm dilated, you can push when you fell a contraction, this was at about 10H50. Well, another problem , I didnt have a contraction, but felt the urge to push and suddenly I just felt this contraction - a stabbing pain and gave a big push and now everyone was cheering, well done mommy, I feel the head, I can see it, you doing well. At this point, I ask hubby to pass me some ice and he asks, dont you want some engergade and again he has not learnt yet, I want ice . So, Im chewing my ice and then another strong contraction comes and I gave another push and the head popped out, I though wow, halfway there and then the last and final push and there we Kaylin born at 11H15 on Tuesday, 29 July 2008, weighing 2.910 and 57 cm, HC 36. She was placed on my chest and hubby cut the cord and as I mentioned before, I thought, its over, its done, ok, take her now, I want to get cleaned up.

So, I delivered the placenta and they stitched me (3 stitches cause I tore) and then was given the go ahead to go freshen up. What a great feeling. At this time, hubby was long gone with Kaylin - not a care in the world about the "fat mamma" that just worked so hard. So only after I was cleaned up, I went to my room and there they were, hubby with my adorable little angel and granny had also arrived at that time. I gave her, her first feed, burped her and then they fetched her from me. ( The hospital fetches the babies after you have given birth as the mommy needs to rest ). So they are taken to the nursery and looked after and you sleep, which I did really well as I chased hubby and granny home. I slept for about 4 hours which felt like an eternity.

Well, as my daughter was born with an ear skintag which we saw and the doctor explained that its nothing to worry about and that the pead would come and check it out and explaint o us what it is, this was now to be done when I awoke. The pead came to see me and explained to me that the type of skin tag she has is normllly associated with kidney problems amongst others therefore certain tests needed to be performed. Well, the physical skintag was not once a problem to me, but once they were to take her for tests, I actually asked the midwife to go along as I couldnt do it. So for 15 minutes I waited for her return and they told me she didnt cry, just made a funny sound ( probably for the cold gel they had to apply ), but otherwise she was fine. I waited for the test results for about an hour and then they confirmed that everything is 100 % and that the skintag in fact was of such a nature that it could be removed and various options are availbalbe. Well, bad mommy I have been, it has not been removed yet and I will have to do it soon, because the older she gets, the more difficult it becomes.

But that is the least of my worries, becasue I am just thankful that I have a healthy beautiful daughter! Mommy LOVES you angel

Ah you make natural bith sound so easy!

Well done mommy!

Haze, you know what? I pray to GOD that the next birth is just as beautiful and "EASY"

I am so blessed, my pregnancy was flawless, no swelling, no morning sickness, no headaches, no BP problems, NOTHING, NOTHING! The current pregnancy is the same, so I am scared to death that the birth might not be as "EASY" as it was with Kaylin, but all I can do is pray.

Did you have natural birth Haze?

Wow you had such an easy birth,beautiful story,all worth while in the end.

Natasha, I dont know if this helped, but I was so focused for most of the time as I knew that it was important. I also went to 3 ante natal classes only, but believe me, it taught me a lot. I asked a lot of questions, scenarios etc. so in a sense I was prepared. The one thing I remember was that I was told (taught) that your cervix etc is a muscle, so if you were to stress, it would pull tight and slow down birth and I relaxed all the way. And also that shouting and screaming makes you tired and you need that energy to do the actual work, which is pushing your baby out to safety. I could be totally wrong, but I think these thoughts helped me a lot.

What an interesting story!!!! You see, they will come when they are ready, not when the doctors say so!!! My doc was convinced that my boys would be born at 30 weeks - well, I am now 35 weeks and they are still snug and safe - TOUCH WOOD!!!!!!!

Yes Eve and in your case, we are all glad that the doctors were wrong

I am not complaining, but my daughter pulled a fast one on me as I was a month at home waiting for her arrival - not funny I said with this pregnancy I will work until my water's broke right here in this office

I also had a perfect pregancy with no problems at all.

I wanted to have a natural birth but Damion couldn't engage due to Cephalopelvic Disproportion (sp?) I have a VERY small pelvis and Damion was big... I was in full on labour and he couldn't engage at all - my gynae who is a firm beliver in natural birth said to me the only complication in my pregnancy was that I had to have a c section... D was born at 36 weeks and weighed 3.6 kg's...

I'm hoping that if I have another baby I can try natural

Haze - natural birth is not a complication my hun - its an alternative means to get your baby to safety and to ensure that mommy is also safe to take care of this beautiful being and you did a great job

If it is your wish to have natural birth then I pray that your wish will be granted, however, should it go the other route again, know that it is all good and that there is a reason for everything.

I really dont mind how I give birth as long as I have a healthy baby!

That's right !!!

wow girl.i also want to go natural.u r one strong woman!

Thanks Vivla.

CB my birth with Dylan was so similar. I was also induced and in labour for ever when they wanted to prep me for a c-sec, I suddenly felt Dylan in the birth canal and ready to be pushed out, they were shocked!

DJG....yes, these kids are amazing hey, they come when and how they want to...