All worth it.

MooMa · #1 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 12:33 PM

I struggled out of bed to go to the loo at 11:30pm Saturday. On the way out of the bathroom I thought I may have wet myself, but decided that was unlikely and woke my husband to tell him that I thought my waters may have broken (which they had).

We phoned the hospital and they said stay at home and then we phoned my sister-in-law who was one of my support people and had to drive from Gympie to Brisbane.

Contractions started, erratic but not painful. S arrived. We all joked. Ouch...let's go to hospital. Monitored me. Sent home.

Ventured back to hospital some time later. The car ride was noticeably more uncomfortable. I was doing great with my TENS machine until I was told by MW that I wasn't progressing quickly enough and I would have to go to the Post-natal ward. So off we went and I was stuck in the room that was to be mine after I had my baby. There was another woman in the room who had already had her baby. I felt so awfully self-conscious that suddenly the pain was REALLY bad. I went into the showers with S (hubby wasn't allowed in) and new mothers kept knocking on the door and asking if I was ok because they weren't expecting to hear a woman labouring in the PN ward. I decided it was all too hard and humiliating and went back to my bed where I started begging for an epidural. The MW took me back to the labour ward.

She did an enternal and I was only 3cm (I think this was around 9am ish). I was begging for an epiduaral and she asked why I wanted one (she knew I wanted to have a natural birth). She convinced me to try gas instead. I'm so glad she did because it gave me something to focus on and I managed to get my breathing under control and regain some sense of perspective. I even regained some sense of humour. I moved into the shower where there was a gas outlet when my contractions got stronger. Hubby and S rubbed my back and gave me water and were marvellous. I moved from chair to birth stool and MW suggested I get on the bed.

She did an internal and being on my back was absolute agony. Finally that was over and I got on all fours. After a while I felt like pushing. The gas was put away. The position I was in didn't seem right so I got on my side at MWs suggestion. This was better. Pushed for ages, finally it was happening. Baby's head was half way out and one of the MWs joked not to push baby out yet because "Shudd-upa-ya-face" was on the radio and it was an awful song for a baby to be born to. After about an hour and a half of pushing Madeline was born at 5:35pm Sunday. MW put her on my stomach and Madie nuzzled me but wasn't interested in nursing. She was beautiful and we were both exhausted.

I'm really pleased with the birth and that I got through on gas. I will not hesitate using it for future births. My midwife was so helpful and helped me stay true to myself. My hubby and S were fabulous.

I am still disgusted (six months later) that I was stuck in the PN ward to labour. I am still really angry about the destruction it did to my state of mind. I'm mad that an otherwise beautiful and empowering experience was tainted by "hospital policy".

But it was all worth it.

LibbyK · #2 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 01:28 PM

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter.

That would have been horrible to have to labour on the PN ward.

rebjm · #3 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 02:55 PM

Thanks for sharing your birth story. I tend to wonder why I wasn't offered gas rather than straight to the epidural. I'm glad your midwife helped you stick to your birth plan. Not a nice place for you to labour though, I recently heard about another woman having to the same for many hours (RBWH?) but she ended up with a C-Sec.

YOu might want to look into the BC for your next bub (if you didn't already for this one)

~Harmony~ · #4 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 03:06 PM

Welcome and thankyou for sharing your story! I'm glad you had a supportive midwife and a (mostly) beautiful and empowering experience

MooMa · #5 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 03:23 PM

It was the Mater (public). I didn't really think about BC when I was pregnant, I just assumed since I was the one in labour, I'd get to do things my way (ha, ha, ha, silly me). I'm already thinking about BC for next time, but I do like the option of gas. They don't have gas there, do they?

clea's*mum · #6 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 10:13 PM

Congratualtions, sounds like you did really well considering the circumstances. i cant believe they didnt put you straight into a labour ward, after all state of mind is everything. Sounds like you really held it together well and it ended up being a wonderful birth.

**moneypenny** · #7 (**permalink**) 13-03-2007, 10:13 PM

Quote:

They don't have gas there, do they?

Yes, they will/can use both gas and pethadine in the BC. They won't offer it to you as such, but if you request it and you have already discussed it with your midwife, you would be able to get it. I think there is such power in sugguestion though, and that is why you would be offered natural pain relief first.

Congratulations!

gentleness · #8 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 12:30 PM

Congratulations, and thanks for sharing your story

MooMa · #9 (**permalink**) 14-03-2007, 03:18 PM

Thanks, I'll be sure to put my name down for the BC next time then.

Little bean · #10 (**permalink**) 19-03-2007, 10:47 AM

Congratulations on the birth of your baby.