Labour Scared the Hell out of Me

As much as I wanted to start a family and fall pregnant, and as heart breaking as each month of getting a negative pregnancy test or my periods coming was.. there was a tiny (I mean tiny) sigh of relief as the thought of going through labour scared the absolute hell out of me.

I had heard all the horror stories from my friends, I heard about all the tears, complications and pain.. this certainly did not help calm my mind at all!

What really surprised me, was when did fall pregnant I was to excited to even think about the end game, about that impending doom of labour I was just so happy to have finally fallen pregnant and I knew I wanted this to be a memorable and happy experience.

Around the start of my second trimester I decided it was time to start learning about labour and giving birth… this is when I cam across Hypnobirthing and the Calm Birth Experience.

I started reading ladies birth stories using this method and how they managed to go through birth calmly and with no pain medications. At first I was a bit skeptical, but decided to do some more research and everything I read had me engaged and wanting to know more. I decided I was going to use this method for my labour.

I found a few different companies and even found a local lady that ran classes. However, I nearly had a heart-attack when I saw the prices for these classes- both online and here in town. We could not afford this on top of everything else we needed to buy being first time parents.

Instead of throwing in the towel I managed to find free downloads of hypnobirthing tracks and also some free documentation on the breathing techniques.

I would listen to my tracks before going to bed and would practice the breathing techniques varies time throughout the day. Listening to the tracks while in bed, certainly calmed my mind and made it so much easier to get to sleep.

In my third trimester, I started going back to Rae my acupuncturist to help get my body ready for labour. I started drinking raspberry leaf tea from Maternitea as I had read that this also helps your uterus get prepared for labour and also did perineal massage every night after my shower.

Just after 36 weeks I went in for my midwife appointment to go over my birth plan and also get the go ahead to start hand pumping colostrum. After the knowledge I had gained from classes and online research, I decided that I wanted to go pain medication free (for as long as possible) and give birth on my knees or all fours. I also wanted to use the bath/shower if the room with the bath tub was available when I went into labour (there is only one room at our public hospital).

As I know labour is extremely unpredictable I did also tick to have all pain medication on standby just in case; this way the doctors would not need to rush and get it if I changed my mind half way through.

It was at this appointment I was mentioned that in the last 2 weeks I had extremely itchy skin and noticed that my urine had become quite dark. (I had Google this myself the week before the appointment and diagnosed myself with Cholestasis, however, everyone I mentioned this to said itchy skin was normal and to stop over-reacting.) I am so glad I listed to my body and bought this up with my midwife as she sent me straight to the hospital for some blood tests.

They would not let me leave the hospital until my tests were finalised in case I did have Cholestasis. I sat around for about 5 hours waiting for my results. Around 6pm that same day Frankie (my Midwife) came in with a Doctor advising me that I had tested positive for Cholestasis and my bile levels were extremely high.

Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, commonly known as cholestasis of pregnancy, is a liver condition that occurs in late pregnancy. The condition triggers intense itching, but without a rash. Itching usually occurs on the hands and feet but can also affect other parts of the body. Cholestasis of pregnancy can make you extremely uncomfortable. But, more worrisome are the potential complications for you and your baby. Because of the risk of complications, your doctor may recommend early delivery.

I was advised that I would need to be induced at 37 weeks, which was only 4 days away! I was still scheduled to be at work next week. I was not prepared, I had not even got nappies!

I was nervous but excited as we were getting to meet our little girl this weekend!

I contacted Rae (acupuncturist) to cancel my Saturday appointment due to my induction. She managed to fit me in on Tuesday and changed up and appointment to help my body go through an induction.

I was advised that as this was my first baby that the induction would probably be around 24-48 hours. I was booked in for 8am Thursday morning 01/11/2018 to begin and had a follow up appointment booked for Friday morning to have my waters broken (unless it happened naturally before hand).

I had the usual stuff in my hospital bag, plus a Nintendo Switch to keep me entertained.

I was induced with the Cervidil gel and immediately started feeling small surges (terminology for contractions in hypnobirthing). Frankie advised me to watch the clock and time the length and distance between each surge. As I was not expected to go into full labour I was left in the hands of the other midwifes.

Dylan also left as he had to finish off getting the house ready for our little bundle of joy. Around 3.00pm I texted him to come back as I was bored.. yes I was bored going though the first stage of labour.

I still remember the next part as if it was yesterday, I was lying on the bed and Dylan was sitting on the chair beside and we were talking. I started to feel a surge coming I got off the bed to lean beside it, just as I got off the bed I felt a pop and then it felt like I had just wet my pants. I told Dylan that I think my waters just broke, as I pulled my pants down water gushed out and we pressed the button to call the midwifes.

The next part just went by in a blur… I was put in the birthing gown and walked to my first birthing suite. I walked into the suite and was blinded by the amount of sun that was coming through the windows. I was advised to get on the best so they could check how far I was dilated. Before they could check I had another surge and was also informed that Frankie had arrived and the birthing suite with the bath tub was free!! As my waters broke naturally I was not hooked up to machines and could use the tub.

So I got off the bed and walked into the second birthing suite. Frankie already had the curtains drawn and the essential oils were in the diffuser. I got onto the bed in this suite and Frankie checked my dilation, I was at 4cm. Once the bath was full of warm water Dylan helped me into the bath and I lay in there for about 1 hour. After this time I was advised that I was fully dilated and needed to get out as Frankie was not registered for water birthing and neither were any of the other Midwives on.

I leaned against the side of the bath on my knees grasping Dylan’s hand. I could feel Lexa was ready to come and could actually feel when her head was near to crowning. I did not push during my labour and used the breathing techniques I had practiced.

I have an extremely low pain threshold, so looking back at this labour I was extremely surprised that I did not even think about asking for any kind of pain medication.

At 7.11pm Thursday the 1st of November 2018 our beautiful Lexa Eevee Altaria was born.

I still remember her being passed up between my legs, pure happiness and relief rushed through me. She was perfect, she was here, now it was time for the next chapter of our lives!

I hope you enjoyed this blog!

Kιɾʂƚιɳ Sιɱαɾα xx ♥