Marilé's birth

Sooooooooo, maybe let's start with:

Monday, 7 November
I decided to go to the mall, had a few "last minute" things I wanted to get, tried going to the bank (I am dumping ABSA for FNB) but I barely made it through shop no.1 then I decided to go back. Had these nice lightning bolt shooting pains coming out my V-jay. Monday night I told DH and he confirmed, that my stomach looks (and feels) like it has dropped quite a bit...

Tuesday, 8 November
I had the runs (put it down to nerves as I knew - "tomorrow is D-day", going in for the induction), did 6 loads of laundry, washed all the inners for both car seats, unpacked 5 boxes still lying around since the move, sorted the ironing, did dishes and cleaned M's room. (I probably should have known, the uber nesting wasn't me, intentionally) That night I had continuous BH (not painful and no other signs) and then from about 21:00 I had 3 contractions all in the lower back, 5 mins apart, but it stopped, so I wasn't worried. I have had similar ones before with nothing to show.

Wednesday, 9 November
4am - I woke from the same back ache (contraction) I had the night before, and found it odd, as I haven't been woken by them before. I got up to go to the loo for my morning drill and as I walked back to bed I felt a gush of water. Went back to check and it was clear water, my undies were wet right through. I woke DH, with the alarm that my water broke. We called my brother to come as he is closest to us, and he could wait here till my mom arrived to tend to Josh. I had another gush of water. We both took a shower, I washed my hair, shaved, looked for something to dress in (I didn't bother to put out clothes the night before as I knew I only had 1 day left... ha ha ha) Painted my face, got the bags, had some coffee and said goodbye to my "baby" (who by the way, had turned into a giant by the time I got home)

5:15am - Arrived at hospital, DH dropped me at the door and went to park, I felt the 3rd gush of water. We walked to the maternity ward, checked in, they gave me the awful green gown to put on, checked my underwear to see the "waters" tested urine, blood pressure etc and hooked me up to the monitors at about 5:30am (DH went to reception to get all paperwork sorted) I had 6 contractions from 5:40am - 6am. They did a check and I was 3cm dilated. (Active labour officially started)


6am onwards - I walked through the contractions, they weren't intense (yet) and DH rubbed my back, which helped a lot. Meanwhile they brought me some tea and a menu to order breakfast as I was starving, the canteen wasn't open yet and breakfast is only served at around 8am (we told the lady that we are fairly certain that I won't make 8am) She managed to find me a slice of bread and margarine. I had about half, then started getting nauseous, so I spat it out and just kept walking, I knew it was getting close now.

Round about 6:45am - Contractions came in a wave one after the other and DH called the nurse just to come and check how things are progressing down there. I was 4cm dilated, the nurse gave my cervix a good stretch and I was suddenly 6cm dilated. I also started hopping around on the labour ball as that helped ease the pelvic pressure.

7am - I asked for something to ease the discomfort as it started getting rather intense (the all familiar ass cramping, lower back pain)
Options given: Gas, Pethadine, Epidural. I opted for the gas. I moved to the delivery room, worked through a contraction in the hallway, got hold of the gas, sat on my ball and sucked the living daylight out of that thing. I started feeling the "high" and it helped.

7:09am - The nurse left and I worked through the contractions, DH helping with the back rubs. Contractions were close, and the doctor has been notified again (first call was made at 6am, so he was aware of my progress) She said that as soon as I felt the need to push I should buzz them, but it will probably still be a while.


Round about 7:15am - I felt the need to push, DH was still giving me some words of encouragement, rubbing my back and praying over the delivery when I ordered him to push the button! Nurse checked, I was 8cm dilated, so I couldn't push just yet, I stuck to sucking gas for about 5 minutes, then it was full on, the head was there, they phoned the gynae (who was already in the hallway) and they took the gas away. He walked in and it was time to push...

Worked through about 3 contractions to push her out. I have to say, this part was much different to Joshua's birth, as he was helped out with the ventouse, so I didn't really work through the whole "push, stop, head sitting there, feeling like the biggest drol ever, waiting for the next wave to come and then push again" Also I couldn't remember the burn, but even that wasn't AS bad.

7:38am - And she's out!


We waited a good while for the placenta to pass, doc stitched me up - had a smaller episiotimy cut than with Josh and a tiny tear at the top. They cleaned me, I got up, went back to my room, took a shower and we were wheeled down to the maternity ward. Active labour - 1 hour 45 minutes.

Hello precious girl:


Marilé Shiloh de Villiers, born 7:38am, 3.52kg's, 48cm tall, HC: 35cm.

yoh Monz

WOW Monz. Well done!!!!

Wowie - What a wonderful birth story!

Flip girlie, you make it sound sooooooo easy! Glad all went well!

Beautiful, ek is skoon tranerig

Wow, what a lovely birth story, sounded so uncomplicated, you so deserved it after your pregnancy :-)

I loved the

said goodbye to my "baby" (which by the way, had turned into a giant by the time I got home)

Thanks for sharing! She is beautiful and so pink

Thanks ladies, as I told BB today, I am extremely grateful that it was quick, if I had to endure the labour over hours, I probably would have been singing another tune. Bel, it's shocking how I babied (right word?) Josh up until now (unintentionally I think) and it took a new baby to make me realise that he had turn into a little boy LONG ago!

Ek het regtig nie woorde nie, sy is ongelooflik!!!

And for sure you make it sounds so easy! thank you so much for sharing

Awesome storie! So bly alles het goed afgeloop! xx

wow well done monzie- once again so proud of you bud- you have a beautiful family!!

Thanks for sharing. You are right that green gown is awful lol

haha you such a funny girl! loved the "drol" bit. Thanks for sharing

That was such a lovely birth story Monz!
You had me in tears, thanks so much for sharing it.
And well Done on such a lovely birth.