Birth of a drama queen...

It’s a long one, those who know me well enough knows I inherited a tendency to verbal diarrhoea from my mom...

My EDD was 15 September 2008 and we were certain that the young lady was going to make an early appearance... Boy, were we wrong!! On 10 Sept (39 weeks), my gynea’s receptionist said she was sure that baby’s on her way, as I was very ‘puffy’ and my bump had dropped almost to my knees (it felt that way, in any case). When I walked into the rooms on the 17th she asked me whether I had let baby know that the 15th had come and gone and refused to make another prediction as to when little miss would arrive. I reaaaaaaally didn’t want an induction, so when we walked in, I asked the doc if we can wait another week before thinking about it. He wasn’t toooo happy to wait, but after checking me and baba, he was satisfied that all was still well and said we’ll talk about induction on the 23rd if nothing has happened by then. And surprise-surprise... nothing happened!! (Now, up to that point, I had been driving myself to the doc [about 25km’s, a bit far, I know, but I wanted a water birth and that is the closest hospital to us that has the facilities] as hubby worked about 2 km’s from the hospital and it was senseless for him to drive up and down. But by the 23rd he HAD to come pick my up because I just couldn’t fit behind the wheel anymore!!!!)

When we arrived at the doc late afternoon on the 23rd, he did an internal exam and a membrane sweep and told me to come in to hospital on the morning of the 25th (as the 24th was a public holiday) for induction, if nothing has happened by then. When we got home, I had some spotting, which I knew was to be expected after the sweep. I phoned my best friend to tell her what the doc said and while talking with her, I realised that my top was a bit wet – apparently some colostrum leaked from my one boob (what the hell??? Anyone else had this??). I told my friend about this and she said she was sure baby’s on her way.

When I went to the loo before going to bed at about 10:40, my mucus plug came out. Lying in bed about half an hour later, my water broke (what a mess!!!). Luckily I was sort of prepared for it, cause the second I realised what was happening I was out of bed and on the loo, waiting for the worst of it to pass (not a drop in bed, just call me Flash!). Told hubby that I’m going to lie on the couch in the lounge and try to get some sleep (was scared of making a mess in bed) and that I’d wake him when I thought it was time to go to hospital. He still asked how I’ll know and I told him that according to everything I’ve read, you should go to hospital if your contractions are about 5 minutes apart if things are progressing slowly, and about 10 minutes apart if things are progressing quickly...

I got dressed and went to lie down on the couch and sms’ed my mom and sister to tell them that my water broke, that I had relatively ouch contractions, but they were still quite far apart (NOT!) and that I’d let them know when we were on our way to hospital. I timed the next contractions and they were 6 minutes apart! Even before hubby could fall asleep again, I was at his side telling him I think we’d better get to hospital. At that late stage, I decided to rather put my ‘stash’ (bottles of water and energade, sweeties, salticrax, yogisips etc... Labour is long, hard work, isn’t it?!) in my bag instead of in the cool-bag (???were you nuts, woman!?), so about 20 minutes later we were on our way to hospital. Thank goodness it was in the middle of the night, it took us only about 20 minutes (instead of the usual hour+!) to get to hospital, so we walked into hospital just after 12.

Luckily it didn’t take us long to book in and on the way to the maternity ward I had to stop every few steps and wait for a contraction to pass. When we got there, I was examined by the (amazing, wonderful, calm, supportive!) nurse, who told me that I was 5cm dilated and that my water hadn’t broken???? A minute or so later, she corrected herself and said that it was just a little ‘bubble’ of water that had formed, which popped with the internal exam. I was given an enema and after I did my thing, got into the spa bath! What bliss! Hubby was absolutely amazing, whenever I got a contraction and felt the need to lean forward, he would stand behind me and support my back. I think his muscles must’ve been so sore the next day as the bath is a little elevated, but still quite low so I can just imagine that supporting my back must’ve meant standing in quite an awkward position, haha! Things progressed rather quickly (of my whole ‘stash’, I think I drank one bottle of water and a bit of energade, hahaha!) and they had to phone my gynea twice as he fell asleep again after the first call...

When he arrived he said he thought it was best if I got out of the water as he would probably have to help babes out. I got out (hanging onto the bath for dear life half-way out as a nice big contraction hit me!), got onto the bed and 10 minutes later, Shevaughn made her grand entrance at 03:45, weighing in at 4,3kg (no, I’m not dyslexic, that is really FOUR. POINT. THREE. KILOGRAMS!!!), 55cm long, 9/10 on both her Apgar’s, only 5 hours after everything started. Hubby cut the cord (I was completely stunned, as I didn’t think he’d do it... afterwards he admitted that the doc just shoved the scissors into his hand and he was so in shock and awe that he didn’t even think about it twice) and she was given to me almost immediately to hold and cuddle while doc sewed me up (which was the most painful part of the whole birth for me, haha, I’m TERRIFIED of needles of any kind!). The pead arrived and she was weighed and examined, I nursed her, hubby got to hold her a while and then she was taken to be put in the incubator (standard procedure??) and bathed etc. I had a quick shower and walked myself to my ‘after birth’ room (private room, thank heavens!).

I remember feeling both horrified and proud of myself afterwards: horrified as I know for a fact I must’ve kicked my gynea quite hard in his ribs (NOT my fault, I can’t help it if he decided that’s the best place for me to put my foot so that he can get the suction-thingy in....) and I knew that I must’ve made one hell of a noise; proud as just before Shevaughn was born I felt sick and had the presence of mind to very politely say ‘I want to throw up’ and not to utter the (much more crass) words that I had actually been thinking at that point, hahaha! Have to share this as well: just before Shevaughn was born, Armand told me to hang on “jy’s in die pylvak” (you’re in the home stretch), I thought it was incredibly funny and to this day it’s a running joke in our household. He says he has no idea where he got it from, it was just the first thing that came into his mind at that point!

I couldn’t sleep at all that whole morning and when I finally got to hold her again, I just couldn’t stop looking at her! Shame, she really cried A LOT that first day or two and afterwards when the (new!) pead examined her, she told us that she must’ve broken her collar bone during birth (we noticed a little ‘bump’ between her neck an shoulder and asked the pead about it)! I’m still livid with the pead that examined her at birth for either not picking it up or just not telling us about it!!

Although I had really hoped that she’d be born in the water, I wouldn’t do it any differently! It was the most amazing experience!!

Its beautiful .......

Nice story!

Sorry for the giggle, but also a beautiful story to treasure.

No need to apologise, Ilze, it is sooooo worth a !

She is so gorgeous. You must be so proud.

Thanks Emerald! She is the light of our lives and really worth all the heartache and tears we had to endure before she finally joined us!

Wow, stunning storie Karien! Sy weet hoe om 'n "entrance" te maak!

Kan nie glo die tyd gaan so vinnig verby nie, ek onthou daai dag ook soos gister!

Respect girl. 4.3KG's.....I couldn't even imagine!

What a lovely birth! And all alnatural! Amazing! Well done!
My cousins boy was 4.5kg and she couldn't manage natural even though that is what she wanted. So I extra well impressed!

Wow! Dat sy nou so 'n entrance sou maak!

Sy is die mees adorable dingetjie, 'n regte ou ligstraaltjie!

xxx

awesome! For me, that membrane sweep was the most uncomfy (and the suction thingie) of the whole birth experience... Good job!

Wow madam-what a story...
Thank you for sharing it wih us.

Shoo! What an experience!
Thanks for sharing!!!

Hi Karien

Thank you so much for sharing your amazing birth story with us. You can be really proud of yourself girl!!!

I am sure you are still enjoying motherhood to the fullest.

Take care
Luv
Zel