Birth Stories

Hi there, here is the birth story of my little angel born this morning 12/11/10 at 10:40. Weight 3,6 kg, 48 cm and Apgar scores of 10!!

I woke up at 3:40 am with an urgent need to pee. I went to the toilet and about 3 drops came out. Then I realised that this feels more like a period pain than a full bladder. I got back in bed and had a good surge at 3:50. I woke up hubby, told him that I had a surge and that I'm going to take a bath. He was surprised that I was getting up after one surge, but I knew that this was the real thing.

I had another surge while in the bath, and onother while getting dressed. We quickly got our son and his parafanalia and headed of to Pretoria. We left home by about 4:30 so it was quick!

Got to hospital a litle after 5 am. By then off course my surges stopped... story of my life! Then they started up again when they put the monitor on me. I had a horrible old midwife who kept talking about pain and meds. On the monitor the babies heartrate showed signs of distress. This was at about 6 am.

At 7 am the shift changed and i got a great midwife. Dr came to see me and was truley worried about the heartrate. He said that the easiest way to determine if she truley is in distress is to rupture my membranes (break water). So after being given that as a reason, I let him rupture it. And it had meconium in it so we knew for sure that baby had some distress. Dr asked the new midwife to put me on the monitor and let him know how what it looks like.

The midwife explained to me that my gyni wouldn't say c-sec for nothing, but if he does, I shouldn't argue, we should just go for it. I knew this already, but it helped ease my mind to talk about the posibility.

She put me back on the monitor and I send an sms to a few friends and family members asking them to pray. Then I switched off my phone. The most awesome thing happened about 5 min later. I had a shiver go down my spine that shook my whole body, I felt a divine power intervene. The babies heartrate returned to normal and NEVER changed again.

She was not in distress anymore and we could carry on with our natural birth!!!

Because of the ruptured membranes, things progressed quickly and by the time they brought my breakfast I was 7 cm dilated. The midwife wanted me to take a bath, but after seeing how far I had progressed she recommended that I stay put. I started feeling like I want to breathe my baby down shortly after that.

I think this is where I was a bit early, I should have carried on breathing up with each surge for a little longer. But the surges where pushing down so hard, I could hardly breathe up anymore.

I called the midwife and she moved me to the labour room where she determined that I was 8 cm dilated. I was already breathing down with each surge. The endorphins released in my body was incredibble, my hands and feet where pins and needles and I didn't feel any pain even though the surges where measuring over 140 on the monitor. (at the beginning they told me a good one is about 80...)

This is where things started going a bit pearshaped, I dilated fully and docter came to deliver baby. He is great and all for natural, don't get me wrong, but he believes in purple pushing.

So my way was not working to great and I was starting to feel nervous as I could see he wasn't to pleased with my breathing thing. The next thing I knew, I decided to push and with 3 or 4 pushes, baby was out. But giving up my hypnobirthing breathing made me unsure of myself and that made it impossible to not feel pain, so yes, the last 10 mins did hurt. I tore a bit, but its not as bad as with my first son.

The doc said afterwards that all the epidurals have made them forget the thrill of childbirth.

So at 10:40 am my little girl was born the way (almost) that nature intended it to be. I was a bit disappointed about the pushing at the end, but all in all, it was a great experience.

I felt great afterwards! After breastfeeding, I went for a bath and then went to bath my baby. The staff wanted to take her and bath her but I said that there is no reason for her to leave my sight and that I will do it myself. A few of the staff on the ward has been here to congratulate me on doing it the natural normal way without pain meds. It seems its not done often here…

I'm still feeling great! Its such a rush, I don't know how I'm going to sleep tonight!

Thanks for all your support through the whole week and birth!

Shoo what a long awaited little noonoo who finally arrived on 26 August 2010. My little Noah was my miracle. My second son and brother to my 10 year old angel, Daniel.

I originally fell pregnant in September 2009 and although not planned hubby and I were over the moon. Sadly I miscarried at the end of November. We decided through our heartache to try again. Low and behold a week after the D&C, I fell pregnant again.

As I have always been a very high risk pregnancy, my pregnancy was monitored very closely with my darling gynae, Dr Gerhard Van der Westhuizen. I was 36 weeks along when my gynae decided to do an Amnio to determine whether noah's lungs were developed enough to do the csec at 37 weeks. It was a nailbiting 2 days but the go ahead was given. I was told to be at the hospital at 6 as I would be going in first.........the nerves with all the excitement was unreal.

The night before, I went through stages of panicking to being really calm and then into throws of crying.........was my baby going to be in my arms the next day. I was concerned and anxious but at the same time so elated that I would meet this little man and see who he looked like more. After much deliberation I fell asleep EVENTUALLY.

Goodness, the alarm has just gone off. Its 5am on the morning of my csec........rush rush rush, so what if you get there at 5h20....u excited after all, the anxious nerves a faded memory. I decide to calm down and enjoy my early morning shower with my darling Noah in my tummy for the last time. He kicked and bumped as if to say, "see u soon mom". After my shower I changed and video taped my bump for the last time with a special little message to my "bean". We started packing the car.....when I sat in that passenger seat I realised that the time had come, it made it so much more real. I had turned from a sensitive and worried mom to an excited little girl about to open her birthday prezzies.

We got to the hospital and were second in checking in which worked out great because I got a private ward.....was so happy because i could go through all the motions without worrying about disturbing anyone else or what they thought. I was given the gorgeous hospital gown to put on and was told a nurse would be with me soon. I unpacked my noonoo's clothes, hurrying around the room like a lost fart. Quite honestly didnt know what to do with myself.

I got changed just in time and the nurse came in and hooked me up on the monitor....what a beautiful sound, my Noah's strong heartbeat. I spoke to him and chatted, he must have known because each time I got excited and told him I was so happy he would go ballistic. My husband started video taping the room.....a bit bored at that stage I guessed but excited none the less.

Luckily I "veeted" my nether regions the night before because those disposable razors they like using in the hospital are ummmm a bit tricky LOL. They cam at about 7h45 and unhooked the monitor, u get so excited and edgy when anyone comes into the room because you never know if its that time....I was even eyeing the cleaning lady thinking "here we go" when she walked in the door LOL.

Eventually at 7h55 they came to fetch me for my spinal and delivery. I was very very nervous about the spinal. I can remember with my son Daniel, that it went so smooth also because he was born prem at 32 weeks and everything happened so quickly. I hoped it would be the same. I was wheeled to the pre-op section and was met by my anaethetist. He explained the rpocedure again and took me in. I was trembling, my hubby couldnt be with me for this and I was scared. Okay, my back is as straight as im gonna get it.....1.2.3 OUCH that was freekin sore, relax I kept telling myself, keep still. Eventually he was done and told me to lie back. I felt weird, like he injected me with some major sedative but all he kept asking are your hands tingly....noooo but my freekin body feels wierd. anyway, after about 10 minutes they wheeled me into theatre. Its quite daunting because its a hustkle and bustle place thats such a small area for so many people. Then its the ice cold feeling and lights.....nothing bright or colourful at all and then wait...is that 94.7 on the radio....yip my gynae plays the radio while he does his ops....that calmed me a bit.

Once they had put me on the table, a nurse approached me to say that she would be doing my catheter. I could feel her pul my legs apart and then she .....walked away, yes she bladdy walked away and left my poor moomphie open for all to "checkout", I mean not that they care but a little privacy pleez. Anyway, after coming and going twice she was done and my gynae walked in. He looked all excited because he knows how bad a history I had and he immeditaly calmed me down and made me feel happy and safe. My poor husband is just sitting next to me looking absolutely sexy in the doctors outfit, yes, they ran out of the nirmal clothes so he was wearing a top that said anaethetist on it *winkwink*.

Okay, I see my gynae chatting to his assistant. I ask my hubby what they doing, and he says cutting already. The minute they were in, I felt sheer pain, well it felt like pain but I thought its just my nerves. The pressure, shoo is unbelievable, then its tugging and pulling and tugging and pulling,,,,,,its burning, im sore and im scared but all im thinking is pleez just get my baby out safe and sound. Im too scared to tell anyone but by the look on my face my husband is concerned cause he can see im in pain. I tell him im fine......just waiting for that little cry and the next minute, there is a rush of relief.....he is out, arms and legs open wide but he is out and test driving those lungs like u cannot believe. I start crying uncontrollably because im so glad that after all the heartache and worry he has made it. Thanku God for delivering my angel safe and sound. Okay now back to me, the burning is gone, I reckon I was running on pure adrenalin then because after that I felt nothing.

The gynae gave me a tummy tuck and within 40 minutes from when they wheeled me in my Noah Luke was born at 8h31 on 26 August. I was all stitched up and before we were wheeled out my gynae took my son, wrapped him up, took one looong gaze and put him on me, skin to skin and thats how we were wheeled back to my ward where I was locked in a gaze with my new heaven sent angel while suckling.

Okay gals a bit long but i sooooo enjoyed typing it up.

Have an awesome weekend and to all the preggy moms who will still type their stories, enjoy your pregnancy....it goes by soooo quickly.

I have arrived!


Finally at home!

Hi Ladies,

Finally a moment to write my birth story. so this is how it happened.

Last week wednesday 27 October, I had my first appointment with our New Doctor, we decided to change Doctors at 38 weeks, as our Dr no longer wanted to suppost us in having the birth we wanted.

Last week Thursday night (28/10/10) I started to feel withdrawn and quiet, nothing I could put my finger on, I had lost my mucous plug two weeks before and had started to have practice surges (contrations).

I woke up last friday morning (29/10/10) at 2am with surges, but I thought they were still practice surges and went back to sleep. At 3am I woke up again and went to the loo and saw a bloody show on the toilet paper, I woke my husband up as I though this could be the start of labour. we got back into bed and tried to rest, I was having 3 -4 surges in an hour.

At 5am I couldnt stay in bed any longer, I was excited that this might be it and that our daughter may arrive soon. I had a cup of tea and some toast and read some threads on moomie. At 5:30 my husband got up and we started to time surges, they were 7 - 10 minutes apart , but we were still not sure whether this was actual labor or not, so we watched some tv and I bounced on my birthing ball. The surges started to show a pattern and were now 6- 7 minutes apart, I decided to get in the shower and we would then head to the hospital.

At 7am our domestic worker arrived and we left for the hospital, we sat in traffic for a while, but I was fine, we had the affirmations cd playing in the car and I was relaxed, thE surges were now 3-5 minutes apart and were starting to get a bit more intense ( I felt more pressure than pain), but I still wasn't sure I was in labour, I thought we might get to the hosiptal and be sent home.

at 7:30am we arrived at the hospital and the midwife did an internal exam, I was still relaxed and calm, I was already 6cm dilated. The midiwfe told my husband to go get the paperwork completed so that she could admit me.

we got into our room at around 8:15 and I put my Ipod on with the rainbow relaxation cd and I walked around the room and supported myself on the edge of the bed during surges while my husband rubbed my back. My husband put the burner on with some oils and some relaxation music.

My Dr was finishing with a C section and arrived to check me at around 10:30am, At this point I felt thrown off, as the midwife and Dr disagreed as to how far dilated I was -the Dr said I was still only 6 -7 cm dilated and said he would be back later to check me, I trusted my Dr and was happy to let things go at thier own pace.

At this point the surges were coming every 3 minutes and were very intense, I started to feel pain and was offered an epidural, which I said no to. I had to get my mind back into a relaxed state and kept telling myself that the surges were pressure and not pain and continued to breath through the surges, my husband was very supportive and was apply pressure to pressure points in my hand to help.

At around 11: 15am I started to feel the urge to push and the midwife checked me and my membranes ruptured, she called the Dr, he arrived at 11:45 and said I still needed to thin and open a tiny bit and he would like to give it another 45 minutes, I was happy with this. During this time, I felt like the surges were very intense and so I had 3 puffs of gas, it didnt really help, but it made me feel in control again and that I had options. I started with J breathing during this period

At 12:35 my Dr arrived and I joked with him saying I wanted my baby out by 13:15. Although it is not in line with Hypnobirthing, i felt the urge to push and decided to go with my body. My baby had a big head and so it was difficult pushing, my Dr suggested Squating and after squatting through 3 surges, I lay in semi reclined position and the Dr said I was tearing and he would need to cut me which he did, the midwife took my hand and I felt the tip of my babies head and this was a wonderful motivator ,2 more surges and my babies head was out, a few surges later (her shoulders got stuck) and the shoulders were out and then the rest of her body.

The Dr lay her flat ont he bed between my legs for a minute to ensure she got all the oxygen from the cord and then placed her on my chest , my husband cut the cord, once it stopped pulsating.

The Dr then delivered the placenta and stiched me up, he showed us the placenta, what an amazing thing. I didnt really pay much attention to all of this as I had my baby in my arms, skin on skin and this was wonderful. I couldnt believe she had finally arrived.

Paige Bailey was born at 13: 25 ( 10 minutes later than I had joked with the Dr about ) and weighed 3.71kg's and 50 cm long.

The Dr was so impressed with how I handled the labour and could not believe I did it with no serious pain relief.

I believe the hypnobirthing helped, I just wish I had started the relaxation techiniques sooner, I assumed I would have time once we got to the hospital, but things happened so quickly once we arrived, I didnt have much time.

I am so glad I had the birth I wished for, we remained flexible about our birth plan and trusted our Doctor. I feel I have accomplished something wonderful

My birth story with Em

I had gone to the Dr in the morning for a scan, and mentioned that I was having increasingly long Braxton Hicks. He did and internal and asked me to come back on the Thursday (This was the Monday) and they would give my steroids and monitor me, and would do my C-section on the Friday. (I had already gone into labour at 32 weeks, which was held off, so we knew we couldn’t make it full term)
That night I walked to the shops, made dinner and started watching Desperate Housewives, and I started having serious pains. I was determined to finish me season on Desperate Housewives and was refusing to admit that I was even in labour – I’m sure DH knew as he insisted on me timing my “contractions” which were about 20seconds long and 3min apart.
Anyways I convinced him to go to bed, and eventually at about 1am I admitted I might need to go into hospital. DH phoned the midwife and she told him to let me shower and have something to eat and then come through. I stood in the shower and was most upset that I would miss my pedicure on the week-end (never mind I couldn’t even see my feet)
We went through with hubby taking photos and getting bags. And went straight to the delivery area. I was strapped to a monitor and discovered I was already 4cm dilated. DH filled in the forms and held my hand as the contractions hit. I was still sure this was a false alarm, and then suddenly I was told my C-section would be in 2 hours it hit me that this was really it. We sms’d close friends, and phoned the grandparents.
I was prepped, give my meds and taken through to theatre. DH got into his scrubs, and I was given my epidural. I waited calmly while the doctors “pulled” around in my tummy – felt just like LO was moving a lot. And then I hear a cry, a beautiful cry. And the Dr told me I had a daughter – during the pregnancy I was sure I was having a boy, so I just looked at him and said “what?” and he held her legs apart and showed me that I indeed had a daughter.
She was born 10min after the Dr arrived! My most precious memory of the birth was when she was taken out, and started to cry her daddy said “Hello my girl” and she stopped crying. He held her and passed her to me to hold while they stitched me up. Then he took her off and did 30min of kangaroo care while I was in recovery. I was breastfeeding 40min after she was born, and it was bliss.

Ladies here is my birth story, hope u r ready.

Ok my due date was the 31st May...but had talked with my gynae to induce on the 22nd as it was bd's b-day, so we wanted to make it extra special 4 them to share a b-day....haaahaahaaa my lg said no ways!

Ok I too ml on the 7th May...on the 14th May I woke up with so much energy and cleaned my place, changed lined...u know spring cleaning samampela...later that evening when bd comes from work he was amazed at all the work I did...so u know men coz, he was like ok love seeing u r close to giving birth please give it to me 4 de last tym....heeeeee I did ladies and it was the best...ok then he complained about stomach cramps soon afterwards. He had ENO, and we slept.

At about 11pm I started having stomach cramps and he was ok by that time and fast asleep and I remember thinking to myself...its not fair, he's passed it on to me...Then suddenly I had a lose tummy...through all this he is fast asleep. Ok this is my 2nd baby but didnt know wat 2 expect as I was induced with my 1st. So I took out my Jonhson & Johson wonder book to check, ok I thought maybe but wasnt convinced. At 11:45 I knew for sure I was having labour pains coz they were coming 5 min apart. Can u believe I only woke bd up at 2am...that's when I couldnt handle the pain. Fine he woke and and wanted 2 take me straight 2 hospital, but I told him lets wait till morning as my 1st labour was 13 hours to I thought this would take long and the hospital environment is not so friendly no matter how good the hospital is...I wanted to manage the contractions at home and leave when I feel I cant take it.

We kept on managing with the breathing and he kept on massaging my back...he was so supportive but still thought we should go to hospital...ok then they started coming on strong and I kew it was time to go. So we left home just before 6 and got to the hospital...when we got there I knew it was time to push...and the midwife in charge just saw by looking at me that I was ready and she shouted "DELIVERY ROOM"...She asked why I had stayed at home so long and if this was my 1st child when I told her it was my 2nd she said "you know too much my baby"...she checked and told me they cant even give me an epidural, called my Gynae, and he said he was on his way...haaahaaahaaaaa in that time I told her I ush...and yep the baby's head was coming...So she called 2 nurses and they delivered my baby...out she came with a loud scream so they said she took after her mom as I also made a scream when I pushed

Amahle was born @ 37 weeks weighing 2.69 on the 15 May 2010 @Brenhurst Clini and the staff there was amazing, they are realy wonderful...Guess where bd was ??? Outside the delivery room, only came in when baby gave her 1st scream of life...so they called my Gynae and told him everything...he only came later on...that's my birth story ladies...

Bd is a proud dad of 2 gals, and wooooow it was like the 1st time around...he called almost every1 telling them about Amahle's arrival...

I'm just bumping this...

Feels like no-one is really telling their birth stories anymore?

Please ladies, share those magical moments with us!