Oliver Sam's "Dream come true" Birth Story!

mattiesmum · #1 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 10:39 AM

I Have such a happy story to tell!
I want to start it off by saying how much I owe everyone in this forum. After Matt's difficult birth it was a long journey to acceptance and fear eradication!, however I achieved it due to all the wonderful supportive woman in this forum. The knowledge I have gained here allowed me to really discover so much and I'll be forever grateful to you all. Janet big kiss to you, I'll always think of you with so much love, you are very special.
Now for the story!!!!!!
As most of you know I had lots of pre labour signs in the two weeks leading into Ollies' birth so I didn't think much about it when I was getting fairly intense pains when I went to bed Tuesday night. I slept lightly tossing and turning a bit, but at 4am a "doozy" of a pain woke me up and I sprang out of bed. I knew at that point it was really happening and I hopped in the shower to have a quick rinse before I finished getting my stuff together.I was thinking I had lots of time. In the shower I started having to work through a few contractions, swaying and aiming the hot water at my lower back. I didn't want to get out but had stuff to do so I did,waking up DH on the way and asking for him to make me a cup of tea and some vegemite toast. I was packing a bag for Matt as a girlfriend was coming to look after him. I rang her telling her to take her time and I'd ring her when we were thinking about heading for the hospital. I then had a very long contraction with a very intense peak. I really had to focus and started reading through affirmations and notes to myself to get myself in the right frame of mind for the next one. 3 mins later we were off again and I bent my knees and started doing this agressive low stomp around the lounge room making low gutteral sounds and yelling "yes" when I felt any fear or hesitation. I was well and truly in labour now and left all the "real world" practical stuff to DH. I heard him ring our girlfriend asking her to come immediately (poor love, it was all moving a bit fast for him!). I felt good , in control and very powerful. By the time my girlfriend arrived I finished a contraction then gave her a hug hello and we both burst into teary belly laughs. When the next one came I was holding onto the desk in our office and let out deep down pushy groans and I thought if I'm going to go out to the birth suite I'd better make a move now. At that point I didn't want to go and contemplated having the baby at home but the thought of the birthing tub beckoned me and I really wanted Ollie born into water. I got out the Tens machine for the car trip as I wanted something to focus on that wasn't to do with cars or hospitals or bumps in the road . I knelt up on the back seat and really had to focus. I thought of Ollie and my body opening. When we were 10 minutes into the trip I started going through transition the contractions were pretty much back to back and very long. Due to my restricted position in the car there was more pain than there needed to be.The "Tens"really helped me to get through it (although it didn't stop me swearing at my husband to stop going so fast and hitting so many bumps). He was wonderful during the car trip he joined in my birth song copying my sounds and telling me what a fantastic job I was doing. It really helped I didn't feel alone at all. When we got to the hospital (5.45am) we rang the night porter but he didn't come to answer the door so I was pacing around letting out these amazing sounds. Eventually he came to open the door wheeling a wheel chair There was no way I was hopping in that and I told the poor man in no uncertain terms ( I was definately warrior woman by this stage) I walked really fast up the hall straight to the birth suite, I told DH to go and tell them I was here and to let my midwife know etc. Another midwife came in and could see I was starting to make pushy sounds and told me Marianne was on her way and she'd run a fill the birth tub for me. It was just DH and me in the room and I clung to him at one stage sobbing in a break between contractions but when the next one hit I summoned up this agressive defiance and started stomping around again. Marianne arrived,she was so thrilled with the job I was doing and how far I had come that I really got re energised. I went and had a wee and then yelled out " I'm pushing" I got in the water and was splashing water on my back as I was on all fours dipping my forehead in the water when contractions hit. Everything slowed slightly in the water and I found it more and more difficult to work thru the pain and the enormous pressure I felt. Started telling Marianne I couldn't do it and she just quietly pointed out that I was doing it and doing it beautifully. She said listen to your body Shauna just do what your body wants to do your going to be holding your beautiful baby soon. I had to get through very intense contractions and then my body took over the pushing. It took me by surprise. I enjoyed it, the pain had been replaced by this very satisfying awesome force that at times (when I let it) felt pleasurable and very exciting. I felt him move right down into my vagina and I felt enormous and filled and stretched beyond what I thought was possible. I felt so excited I knew he was so close. Then the burning started and I yelled out "it hurts , no no" I remembered that if I just do little breaths through the next contraction it will give my body a chance to stretch the skin and numb it for me and that's exsctely what happened the burn was replaced with numbness and I knew then I could push him out with confidance. The next contraction I really went for it and my waters broke and he came shooting out all at once, taking everyone by surprise! Marianne swam him under the water back between my legs and I picked him up. DH broke into sobs saying "there he is our beautiful boy and I was laughing and crying and kissing marianne and ollie. Oliver yelled at me because I'd lifted him out of the water and he was cold so I sat back down and we had a cuddle. There a lot of blood in the pool so when the cord stopped pulsating we cut it and we went into the bed wrapped in warm blankets and left to cuddle. I pushed the placenta out with a satisfying plop it had already come away when I pushed Olie out so it was a simple matter to just push it through my cervix with Marianne gently pulling the cord. We spent the next two hours alone DH, Marianne and me, sipping tea and admiring our gorgeous boy. He attached well and had a long feed and then fell into a contented sleep (I swear he smiled at us!) We rang all our loved ones and they all wanted to know weight etc but I said proudly "I have no idea, he hasn't been away from me to find out!) So 7 04am he arrived, 3 hours and 4 mins after the first big sensation. I sayed in hospital for 2 days and babymooned,lapping up the room service meals, time alone together and now I'm home right in the thick of everything again and we are all settling in to "four" instead of "three".
It was the most wonderful loving birth and it fills me up with so much emotion and gratitude. God I love being a woman.

kermi · #2 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 11:06 AM

Oh wow S.... I have tears in my eyes...

What a totally beautiful and inspiring story...

I laughed at the night porter...lol

You have given me much strength - Thank you!

lucky_mummy · #3 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 11:33 AM

Ooooh how amazingly beautiful. I am so very very happy for you. That is an amazing birth, you are such a strong and wonderful woman. Ollie is very lucky, what a lovely start to life.

Isn't it so great that at times when you could have spun out of control, you remembered the little things that made such a huge difference. You did so well!

Welcome little Ollie.

Luv Linda.

mykidsmum · #4 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 11:38 AM

Wonderful story and wonderful birth
Thank you for sharing it with us
Welcome Ollie

Artemis · #5 (**permalink**) 28-01-2007, 11:41 AM

What a stunningly wonderful way for me to start my day - reading your birthstory

And I think you are right - the right kind of support which encourages womyn to face their fears and find their strength is vital and I am so glad that you found just that in Janet and Natural Parenting.

I hope that you enjoy your babymoon and this very delicious time soaking in your newborn son