Labour Round Two

I had such a peaceful and calm labour with Lexa so I thought that I wouldn't get nervous about my second labour. I was quite surprised that I was more nervous to give birth the second time round.

I started practicing my hypnobirthing as soon as I found out I was pregnant so I could get in the right headspace as this really helped with my first labour. While listening to my hypno tracks I would also visualise how I wanted my labour would go.

Due to the issues I had with my first pregnancy, I was monitored a lot more closely and had extra scans to keep an eye on my little man. I didn't mind this as I only had 3 scans with Lexa so I liked being able to see my little man.

Around 26 weeks I was told the Leo was on the slightly larger scale being in the 90th percentile. My midwife, Chloe, said that I may need to be induced depending on how big he grows, but not to worry about anything until we speak with a Doctor.

I saw the Doctor 2 weeks later and she was not concerned, but sent me for a second glucose test to make sure I did not have late onset gestational diabetes. She also mentioned that a C-Section may be required if he hit a certain weight, which scared the absolute hell out of me. I left that appointment rather scared and quite upset.

I had my second glucose test and it came back negative, as I presumed it would. However, thanks to the lady digging a needle around in my arm trying to find a vein I nearly passed out.

I was also sent for further scans to make keep an eye on bubs growth and make sure he did not have any major growth spurts.

Leo continued to grow at a steady pace, but he was always classed on the larger size. So the looming thought of C-Section kept playing on my mind.

Before I had my next appointment I booked a healing session with Seventh Sense- Mind, Body and Soul. I did one of these session with my first pregnancy and I was amazed at what Karelene was able to bring out in me. This session was no different, she was able to know my feelings without me saying much at all. We spoke about my birthing fears, ways I can speak up for myself and other emotions that were not related to birth or pregnancy, but were impacting me. I walked away from the session feeling empowered and powerful.

A few days after my healing session I had an appointment with Chloe and the Doctor (around the 37 week mark), the Doctor said she was pretty confident that I should be able to have a natural birth as he had not hit 5kgs. She also said that I was more than welcome to have an induction if I was worried - anywhere after 38 weeks.

I spoke with Chloe as I was leaning towards an induction as I really did not want a C-Section if I could help it. I had an induction with Lexa and it went so well, no complications and everything went naturally after the cervidil gel. Chloe explained that my first induction was a rare experience and it could have been because I had cholestasis. After a lengthy discussion and speaking with Dylan, I decided to book an induction for the 40 week mark. This gave me time to get a stretch and sweep and try and bring my labour on naturally - all approved by the Doctor and Midwife.

I was allowed the use my pump to try and build up a colostrum stash, I continued with my exercises and tried 'labour inducing' workouts, would lunge up the stairs, did some stretches suggested to me by Chole to help open my hips, upped the sexual activity to help my cervix and went to see my acupuncturist Rae.

I had my first acupuncture appointment on the 10th of Nov 2020, my stretch and sweep booked in for Monday the 16th and two follow up acupuncture appointments for the 17th and 21st.

On Thursday the 19th of Nov 2020, I contacted my midwife team as I feeling less movement from Leo. I was hooked up to machines to track him and make sure everything was okay. After around an hour of tracking I was advised that I could go home as everything was okay. The midwife on also advised that if I went into labour in the next 48 hours the protocols is to have machines monitoring bub due to the reduced movements. I shrugged that off as I did not think I would be back within the next 48 hours.

My mum came over that same night and jokingly said maybe this is the start of your labour, as people had mentioned that they went into labour after a day of reduced movements.. I just laughed this off and didn't think anything of it (I had not even packed Lexa's overnight bag).

At 9pm I did my nightly pump and felt tightness in my stomach, I put this down to Braxton Hicks- I didn't get these with Lexa as she was induced rather early, so I didn't know what to compare the tightness to. I then woke up at 1.30am on the 20th of Nov and the tightness was more intense. I managed to get back to sleep and woke again around 3am and they were coming on strong. I then lost my mucus plug so I called my midwife team, I was advised that I could stay home until the contractions were closer together and lasted for 1 minute or my waters broke.

I contacted my mum to let her know what was going down. By the time she got to our house it was around 4am and we were in the car by 5am as the contractions were really ramping up!

I was lucky that when we arrived in the maternity ward, I had my choice of birthing suites - so I choose the one with the bath (also happened to be the same room I gave birth to Lexa). The midwife on at the time contacted Chloe on her personal number as she was not on that morning, however, she wanted to be there for my labour. When my cervix was checked I was already 8cm dilated.

Once the bath was full, I spent most of my time in there. My contractions were really starting to hurt in my lower back, so I asked Dylan to ask the Midwife to get me some drugs. She let me know that if I wanted morphine I would need to get out of the bath, however, if I wanted to stay in the bath she could set the gas up for me. I opted for the gas as I did not want to get out of the bath.

I honestly do not think the gas helped at all, it felt like it had no affect so I gave up on that. By this time Chloe had arrived and she wanted to check my cervix again. We got out of the bath and on the bed; my cervix was fully dilated and only my membranes were left (waters still had not broken). Chole gave me the option of waiting for them to break naturally, which could take another hour, or she could break them for me. I got her to break them for me then and there.

I spent more time then I liked on my back on the bed (a position I didn't want to birth in), after a while Dylan helped me into the shower. While in the shower my lower back and bum was in so much pain, I again asked for the morphine. Chole said that it should only take around another 2 hours and was I sure that I wanted drugs, I immediately said yes! She then asked if I would prefer to take the sterile water injections over the morphine as they do not have any affect on bub. I opted to take this, however, they require two people to inject and the second person never showed up! So NO pain medication ever came!

At some point I was back on the bed, for another check maybe - I honestly cannot remember. I again spent way too much time on my back, Chole couldn't even convince me to get back into the bath (which I do regret as I had the opportunity to have a water birth). Eventually I turned around and got on my knees and leaned over the bed. I cannot entirely remember why or what but something was starting to concern the doctors and I was advised that I had about 30mins to get Leo out before they wanted to talk about intervening. I was determined not to have an unnecessary intervention.

With this birth I had to push like really push, to the point where I was screaming not because I was in pain, but because I needed to let it all out. I managed to have him out and in my arms within 33 minutes!

I had so many emotions and broke down in tears holding my gorgeous baby boy in my arms. We got to do delayed cord clamping and Dylan got to cut the cord. I'm not sure if it was adrenaline or something else, but all of a sudden my entire body started shaking to the point where my teeth were chattering. My midwife got me a nice warming blanket and once I got my breathing under control I was able to calm my body down.

This was such a different labour experience to Lexa, but I again somehow managed it without pain medication (minus a little on the gas) which truly amazes me. I can barely keep it together if I cut my finger haha!

The female body is amazing. We are able to grow and give life. Yes we go through a lot of changes which affects us both physically and mentally, but in the end it is entirely worth it.

One thing I would like to say before ending this blog... your body goes through 9 mths of changes please mummas give yourself time to heal and recover, it will take time to get into some kind of normality,. The forth trimester is just as important! You will learn something new each day. Just make memories and cherish these memories as kids grow up way too fast!!

I hope you enjoyed this blog!

Kιɾʂƚιɳ Sιɱαɾα xx ♥