BIRTH STORY
I did try the gas and air, but I didn’t like it at
all as it disturbed my rhythm of breathing and
coping. Once the midwife had told me I was
6cm dilated, I felt a bit relieved and asked for
the birthing pool to be prepared.
The birthing pool
I loved the feeling of the warm water on my
skin and body, it relaxed and comforted me so
much. Again the room had dimmed lights and
Gerrit brought all our things from the other
room. Tea light candles, and my playlist which
I am sure the midwives and Gerrit were sick
of listening to over and over - it really helped
me, though. I heard one or two choruses and
that would be enough to keep me strong and
get me through yet another surge. I had a lovely midwife and
a student midwife and felt so lucky to have two lovely, calm
women there with me. They respected all my birth preferences
and were very professional at the same time.
I wore my red nightdress which was super comfy and
stretchy, and something familiar so I felt like 'me' in it. My
positions consisted of squatting and hanging over the edge of
the pool. I took sips of water in-between surges, and the two
midwives measured our heart rate frequently.
By now my surges were intense. I didn’t want to talk, I
just wanted to get it over with. I kept on repeating the birth
affirmations, 'the surges are not happening to me, my surges
cannot be stronger than me, they are me' and 'the surges are real
but it is not dangerous, just breathe through them.'
My husband sat with me in the pool for a while. I
did not want any touch or massage, I just wanted him
close. I was so tired and felt like I couldn’t continue
for much longer. Not long after, I experienced an
intense and uncontrollable urge to push. I remember
it feeling amazing, I had no words. The midwife
explained that I should stay down in the water for the
birth; when you get these urges to push you naturally
want to move or stand up a bit. I was tired of squatting
but I knew I had to push through.
I felt the head coming out slightly before going back
in which made me feel quite scared as I wasn't sure if
I was doing it right. I stayed calm though, and with
the next surge I pushed hard and pop, the head came out! I could
feel his head and hair, it was like nothing I had ever experienced
before. I also thought, ‘wow, his head is out, it wasn’t that hard!’
- a rollercoaster of emotions. As he had moved position, I had to
stand for one final push. Hector was birthed quick and easy at
1:52am on Thursday 18th July.
A few seconds after Hector was born, he gave us the most
beautiful crying sound I would ever hear and we held him
close in our arms, with a feeling of love, achievement and
totally in awe. It was the most intense and heartfelt experience
of my life. A moment my husband and I will share forever.
I was a little sad that I couldn't catch my baby myself in the
water and bring him up to my chest with the cord still attached,
but it was pretty close and I knew these were just preferences.
Giving birth is unpredictable and I had the chance of having the
birth that I dreamed of, so for that, I am so thankful.
After birth
No one ever really talks about the placenta. After spending a little
time with my husband and son, I started to get surges again.
With the midwife's advice, I squatted low and the placenta was
out. I remember apologising for all the blood on the white towels!
Once we were in one of the delivery rooms, my
"We held him
close in our
arms, with a
feeling of love,
achievement and
totally in awe."
beautiful baby boy lay on my chest breastfeeding
whilst the midwife checked me over. It turned
out I needed to go into surgery because I had
quite a bad tear.
My husband was so supportive. I loved that he
had a calmness around him and sureness when
we had to make decisions. It was about three
hours, a spinal block and catheter later and then
I could hold Hector again and breastfeed him
while chatting away. I felt good. Just extremely
tired. The doctors were amazing!
I was in the hospital for a total of four nights.
The first night was quite terrifying, I didn’t want my husband
to leave. I remember thinking, 'I am now fully responsible for
this tiny human being, not the midwives, I can’t just sleep.'
Gerrit returned in the morning and stayed until late, bringing
snacks and cold drinks with him every time. My first shower was
strange, I was surprised at how much blood there still was. I felt
amazing afterwards, and more like myself once I had put cream
and mascara on.
On Sunday 21st July, we excitedly walked home - the moment
was too big to describe. OUR baby is in his bassinet stroller,
sleeping, on our way home! My legs felt heavy and light at the
same time, but my heart felt even fuller. •
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