Birth Stories

Thanks for sharing Meags! A very intense experience!! You did fabulously! Sounds like your hubby was a great birth partner too. Hope you heal up and feel better in no time and that you get to take your bundle home soon.

Sjoe congrats Meags what a bit of a stressful birth experience but glat Mattieu is doing great and daddy is very proud!

Matthieu’s birth

Labour contractions began at 22 :49 (4 minutes apart)
They began to become more painful in a sense (lower back ache) around 01:30 – time to think of waking up Mael. (3 minutes apart)
Mael wakes on his own and asks what I am doing – I am busy making my mom’s bed for her arrival the next evening!! (Trying to procrastinate and decide if this is really labour or not).
Mael freaks and can’t believe I have had contractions for almost 3 hours and not woken him and why are we not on the way to hospital!!
I finish the hospital bag, finish my mom’s bed, take a shower, prepare the cat’s food for them and we finally leave for hospital at 02:30
It takes 1 hour to get to the hospital and it is very uncomfortable sitting in the car, as before, I was very mobile throughout the contractions which helped for the lower back ache. So sitting in the car was making the pain feel worse and the pressure was becoming more intense. (The whole labour pain thing for me was more an intensity of pressure than a feeling of pain).
We get to the hospital and at 04:00 they check how far dilated I am – I am 5cm. Thank God! My biggest fear was to get to hospital and only be 2cm dilated and feel like I’m dying. The pains are a little stronger now and I need to start breathing through them. I have a birth plan, a birth ball, a song playlist etc. Mael is trying to make sure I get the birth I want but I am now not caring about any of that! He is asking me if I want the music on – I am saying I don’t know…shame poor man…he puts it on anyway. I want to bounce on the birth ball but the pressure is intensifying and now I don’t care to move or anything. I just sit on the bed and start moaning in pain. (Not a soft little moan either which I think scared Mael a little).
No one has called my midwife yet. The doctor on call tells the nurse to check me again at 05:00 and then call my midwife. So at 05:00 I am checked (1 hour since last check) and I am now 7cm and now the pain is becoming rather bad. I know it’s too late for pain relief (plus I was determined not to have any). I am now moaning and crying out rather loudly during contractions. It is the only way for me to cope at this point. I am telling Mael to rub my back (more like dig his fists into it – I am very bruised from it now!) the poor man is trying his hardest and I am telling him it’s not hard enough! After contractions I am weeping and saying I can’t do this anymore. Mael keeps telling me I can do this and I am doing so well and I’m almost there. I am not believing anything he is telling me.
My midwife arrives at 06:00 and checks me. I am 8-9cm dilated (so I am dilating almost 2cm per hour). She asks if I want to artificially rupture membranes. I say yes (even though my birth plan says no). But I am scared as I know this means the pain is more intense and she is agreeing – but reminding me it will be over quicker. So I agree. She ruptures my membranes and we see there is meconium grade 2. This means baby is distressed and has had a bowel movement inside. Midwife is panicked as the meconium has particles in it too – making it more dangerous if the baby aspirates this during delivery. She says I must tell her when I get the pushing sensation. At this point I am feeling great pressure down there, but no pushing sensation. So I am now screaming through the contractions and begging God to please help me! I think Mael is now beyond terrified and scared of what is to come!!
At 06:45 I tell her I think I need to push as now I seem to be bearing down against my own will. She prepares for the delivery and at 07:00 I begin to push. My first push is useless and I push exactly how we tell all our patients not to push! I am pushing in my throat and making noises, meaning there is no energy being directed in getting the baby out. Poor Mael is now fully part of the delivery as he is instructed (by me) to help me hold my leg up while the nurse holds the other one. I finally manage to push the way it should be done but I feel like there is nothing happening. Everyone is cheering me on, the neonatologist and his nurse are there to take the baby straight away to suction and check he’s not distressed. Matthieu’s heart rate is dangerously low during contractions and it is not recovering in between them. I am not put onto oxygen and must turn to my left side between each contraction to try get as much oxygen to Matthieu. Pushing during contractions is exhausting and I only manage 2-3 strong pushes per contraction (pushing for count of 10). I am holding my breath, my face feels like it is going to explode and immediately after I must turn onto my left side, deep breath in through the nose and out through the mouth – Matthieu needs oxygen. Contractions are on top of each other so just as his heart rate is trying to recover, I begin pushing again. Finally the midwife now has one hand doing something near the top of my vjayjay. I am honestly thinking that she is literally trying to stretch it open (this is what it feels like). I put my hand there and tell her whatever she is doing is really hurting. Everyone shouts at me to move my hand as Matthieu’s head is coming out!! She is in fact supporting his head for delivery – not trying to rip me open. His head is out, she is shouting at me not to push – the cord is around his neck. She is trying to get the cord off. Again shouting at me not to push. I am now trying to squeeze to try keep the rest of his body in as my body is automatically pushing him out on it’s own. I lift my head and see she is struggling to hold the baby’s head up and get the cord off from the neck so I put my hand on his forehead to support it so she can slip the cord off. The nurse is not sure what I am doing so she tells me to move my hand – the midwife can tell I am trying to help so she says “No she’s just trying to help me with the cord”. Everyone is tense. It takes a good 10 seconds to get the cord off (that is a lifetime in this situation for all involved!) I must now push so I do and he is out and gives a cry. Mael is instructed to cut the cord quickly so the neonatologist can take Matthieu immediately. Off he goes. I am praising everyone for helping me. It’s finally over! The pain is gone! I could not have done it without Mael, the nurse and my midwife. Each and every one of them was so important in that delivery. I don’t get to see Matthieu for 20 minutes while they are busy with him, but Mael goes over to see him. I ask “Does he have a big nose?” All our scans showed he did! Mael tells me it is a bit big! In the mean time my midwife stitches a labial tear – luckily no perineal tear at all! It is quick and relatively pain free. She examines the placenta with me (I wanted to see it). Finally I am brought Matthieu. At this point it feels like I am just being given someone’s baby to hold. It feels a bit strange really! We try to latch him but he’s not really sure what to do and I am too exhausted to even try pretend I know what to do! I give Matthieu to Mael. I am too tired to hold him now and I get the ‘shaking legs’ which all midwives have seen post delivery! It is uncontrollable and I am cold. All I want to do is sleep. My voice is hoarse from all the screaming.
We are left alone with our baby. I leave Mael to care for him as I am just too tired. Later, we are transferred to post natal ward, where I finally take a good look at him for the first time. He is so cute and looks exactly like Mael! He is also very peaceful and calm. I can see Mael is a proud Daddy! And I am so proud of him for everything he did for me throughout the labour, delivery and for taking over immediate care of Matthieu after the birth when I just simply couldn’t. I’m very lucky 
Matthieu’s weight: 3.289kg
Length: 51cm
Date of birth: 24 March 2011
Time of birth 07:33

wonderful Kimika, i felt like i was there with you as you told your story, beautiful really! It's probably a good thing i had C-section because if i had to have wonderful birth experiences like that I'd have a million babies.

Reuben is gorgeous and has mommy's beautiful mouth!

MY BIRTHSTORY – REUBEN

Reuben born 14 February 2011 at 00:50
Due date: 2 March 2011
Birthweight: 2.9kg
Lenght: 50cm
Head: 33cm
Apgar 9/10 and 10/10
Normal Vaginal Delivery with light Epidural

The birthstory of my Valentine’s boy goes something like this: (the long extended version..)

35wks 6 days – While driving I got the most intense Braxton Hicks contractions, I could barely continue driving but was not somewhere that I could pull over so kept driving, they continued for about an hour and I felt uncomfortable for the rest of that day. I wasn’t worried since I had a gynae appointment the following day.

Wed, 2 Feb - 36wks – Gynae appointment, she immediately noticed baby has started engaging and commented that the previous day’s activities might be a indication that my body was preparing. Internal examination found that I was 2cm dilated already.. she laughed and said I can forget about 40wks and that baby would prob be born around 38wks. I’m excited although I wont mind walking 40wks since I absolutely loved being preggie and feeling my little angel squirm around in my belly! Baby measured 2.5kg with a slight dip in growth.
That whole week I could feel pressure as baby head dropped lower, also I regularly felt strange surges and stings..

Thurs, 10 Feb - 37wks – Gynae appointment, she said baby engaged even further, my tummy even looked smaller! She did measurements and got a bit concerned as she said baby’s growth has slowed drastically. He now still weighed between 2.6kg and 2.7kg, although his curve showed he should’ve trended towards 3kg by then. Internal examination and she laughed saying I was 4cm dilated already. She said that all I need to be in active labor was contractions! She predicted a easy and fast birth. But her concern was with baby’s growth and gave me a date that the next Tuesday, 15 Feb I need to come in for induction, she was not comfortable with leaving him and not knowing if he was getting sufficient nourishment from placenta and cord. I tried arguing but her concern was worrying.
I barely made it out of the building to start crying!! I sooo desperately not wanted an induction with this baby. My first was the same situation and although it wasn’t a bad experience I really wanted to feel true labor coming on its own time. Hubby and I talked it over and over and eventually decided that we need to trust our dr’s concern. Silently I was praying that this little boy decided to come on his own before being forced into the world!

We had a busy weekend, I still had orders to do and we still had a birthday party to attend. Jacqui booked me for a last minute maternity shoot on Saturday (thank goodness!) Since earlier in the week Ive been having lots of extra discharge and was sure it was my mucous plug coming in bits. Saturday I started noticing a light pink tinge in it, thought maybe it was the bloody show? Hoping it was!!

Sunday, 13 Feb I went shopping with my mom, for all those last minute goodies.. also wanted to buy some smaller newborn stuff since I knew baby was going to be below 3kg. Throughout shopping I could feel slight surges and stings.. thought it was my legging pants squishing baby’s head
Got home and took a bit of a nap. I got a sudden urge and did all the laundry and also started repacking my whole bag and baby’s bag! My mom said that was the clear sign something was up!

At about 19:00 on Sunday I felt tightening/pulling sensations very low, almost just above my pubic bone, much like light menstrual cramps but not enough to suspect labor contractions. I was still thinking it was my leggings that was too tight. Was a bit irritated and just wanted to finish the ironing!
Just before 20:00 I started timing the surges but they were so irregular that I was sure it was a false labor (hoping it was true labor!) They were all measuring between 20 and 30 seconds but was varying with sometimes 10 to 40 mins apart! Hubby was sure it was the real thing and was trying to convince me to go to labor ward. Hey, I still had to bath and do a Veet round just in case.. my Brazilian was only booked for the 25th! Here I started doing my hypnobirthing techniques for breathing with the surges and they worked perfectly!

21:30 I was still in a bit of denial about being in true labor, it was not painfull and the surges were still all about 30 seconds long and were varying now between 5 to 10 mins apart, still not regular. I decided to take a bath and see if they lessen but only a few mins into my bath I told hubby that they were def the real thing. He phoned the labor ward asking them what to do (I think he already started imagining delivering the baby in the car). The nurse told him to rather come in and they will check. I spoke to her too and told her Ive been 4cm dilated and had a bit of bloody show and contractions were varying. She said I def should come in. I asked her please to promise me they will send me home if it was not true active labor.. hehe..

So I washed my hair, dried it and packed my final things. Hubby by now was so anxious to just get going, he kept packing stuff in the car that wasn’t ready to be packed I was still doing great, the surges was intense now and when one came along I had to stop what I was doing to breathe with them. But I was smiling all the way, it wasn’t nearly as bad as Ive heard! We left for hospital 22:30, the surges were still irregular but they were getting longer – about 30 to 40 seconds each.
On our way to Kloof we were laughing saying how perfect this was! We both so dreaded the induction and now everything is happening like we prayed it would! The whole timing of surges, driving to hospital.. all the excitement.. just perfect!

22:45 - Arriving at the labor ward they were waiting at the door I did the urine sample etc and they put the monitors on me and baby. Baby was doing perfectly and my contractions were measuring well. The midwife smiled and said I wont be going home.. I kinda guessed as much as just then I had a major surge! She did a really uncomfortable internal and said I was 6cm dilated. She said some other stats about efficacy and station but I cant remember them. I mentioned to them that with my first baby I dilated very fast from 4 to 10cm.

23:30 - I decided to have a epidural after they promised me that the anaesthetist specialises in doing light/walking epidurals and that I will be able to still feel contractions etc. The contractions were coming along perfectly and getting stronger with each one. I was still doing my slow breathing technique to make the surges more effective. By now I had put on the hospital gown. They had put me in labor room nr 2, the exact same room where my other little boy was born! Hubby had gotten all the bags from the car and was smiling to me from the other side of the room, asking regularly if I was doing ok. I think he was still a bit baffled at how fast things were going. All the excitement of the whole night had raced up my blood pressure a bit and it was hanging around at 140 - 150, and I started getting a bit of the shakes, but inside I was still quite calm and relaxed.. must’ve been the adrenaline? They phoned my gynae informing her that I was there and in active labor. She said they need to phone her as I progress.

23:50 – Anaesthetist arrives and does the epidural. The worst of it all was bending over while having very strong surges as you cant breathe properly. Hubby was doing so well here, he remembered to do the light touch that I explained to him from the hypnobirthing So he was lightly doing strokes along my shoulders and neck.. so sweet.. he probably saw the long needle!
After a short while I just felt a warm sensations flowing from my buttocks down my upper legs, that was as much as I felt from the epidural. I could feel the edge coming off of the surges but I could exactly still feel their intensity and had to close my eyes and breathe through them. The dr made sure my bp stabilised before he left.

00:30 They did an internal and was quite surprised to find me already 9cm dilated. The midwife said she could feel the membranes bulging and the head very close. The other nurse phoned they gynae telling her the news and that she must hurry. The midwife was planning to rupture the membranes but decided not to as she was sure the baby would be delivered too fast for the dr to be there. As she decided that and was feeling how the baby was positioned I felt a huge surge coming on and with that the membranes bulged so much that it ruptured, squirting her all over the arm! I couldn’t believe the force with wich it ruptured! It actually did make a popping sound as so many women described! We laughed so much at this.. she said she suspected it might happen as she could feel it bulging with the surge.. All I could do is apologise She then put on her gloves and said she hopes gynae is not in time as she just loves delivering baby herself. I must just take a moment here to say what a lovely midwife we had!! Real old midwife.. must be around 60? Full of jokes and soft caring touches.. just love her to bits! I felt totally comfortable that she was with us.
By this time I could clearly feel the strong surges and a strange sensation low down that baby’s head is right there.. ready to be born.. Its the most amazing sensation to feel that feeling that your baby is ready. I was told not to push and to just hold a bit for dr to arrive.. but the sensation was so strong that I knew I could not hold it off, so I silently did the birth breathing.. it just felt right!

Aprox 00:40 – Gynae arrived in a dash, with her sleep wrinkles still on her face, but she was smiling away. She said she suspected something like this was going to happen. She did an internal and could feel the head and even a little ear This is where it was so perfect.. I could feel the precise surge that started along with that awesome sensation of needing to breathe baby to birth. So hard to describe in words.. and there was no pain.

With the next surge I was told to push, but I did not do the pushing as they said, I just silently continued to direct my breath towards delivering baby. I could feel his head stretching the perineum. With the next surge I could feel a stinging sensation as the head crowned.. Hubby just continued telling me how great I was doing and that baby is almost there, just one more breath. I focussed once more and his little head was born, he started crying right there with his body still inside.. he just couldn’t wait to make himself heard.. little rascal!

His body was born in the next surge, I hardly felt that and he was placed on me.. all covered in vernix! He was so cute right there.. My Valentine, all white, purple and wrinkled, and a perfect head of dark hair He stopped crying the moment he was placed on me. We cuddled a while and they then took him to be weighed and swaddled in a comfy towel. Dr delivered the placenta and stitched me up, she had to do a small cut but I never felt that. The total time of active labor was about 5hrs! By the time the gynae left the epidural had completely worn off but I had no pain or discomfort.

We were then left to cuddle with our boy, take photies and breastfeed him.. we were smiling like silly children.. we had just experienced the most amazing and perfect birth, just like we had been praying for! Our dear Lord has once again blessed us with a gorgeous little boy, healthy and perfectly formed.

Me and little guy with our wonderfull midwife Robbie:


My baby boy

Due date: 1 Jan 2011
Baby Born: 7 Jan 2011
Time: 10:20pm
Wieght: 3.66kg
Height: 53cm

Hi there

What a long wait it was but finally I had the privilege to hold my little girl in my arms on Friday night. It was the best birth experience I had ever had and could have asked for.

During the day on Wednesday I lost my mucus plug and thought tonight is the night you can imagine how disappointed I was when waking up the next morning and still no baby. So I made peace and accept the fact that she will come when ready.

On Friday evening my oldest girl asked if we could go for a walk. We just walked around the block and I came in to make dinner. I was sitting at the tv when I got a real sharp pain and I knew something is cooking. I went to take a bath and when I was finished I knew its time, but still didn’t had any major contractions. DH phoned his parents to come and stay with the kids – this was at 8:15pm

We got at hospital at 8:45 and then it became real intense. My midwife examined me and I was only 3cm dilated and thought o boy this is gonna be a long night. A week ago I asked my midwife not to give me the gas even if I ask for it because it only makes me feel out of control and while lying there with pain I thought maybe it was a mistake, but anyway she broke my water and contractions became more intense , but I breathed through every one so nicely. But I couldn’t have done it without Petria, that’s my midwives name. I then realize what an important role they play in assisting woman in labor.

The dr came in at around 9:30 just to check up on me and said she has some other patients to see she will be back later, Petria did another internal and I was 5cm. After about another 30min she looked at me and asked if I wanna push and I just nodded she did another internal and I was fully dilated. She phoned the dr and said she must come quickly and when she looked back at me Bernice’s head was already out. Two more pushes which didn’t felt like a push cause I just followed my body and she was out. When dr arrived she was lying on the bed and I was a proud mommy.

In Frankfort where we live we have a private clinic and there are 3 private rooms for new moms. It is so comfy it feels like home and when you do natural birth you do it in the room no theaters or such things.

I am so blessed and feel like having more babies if I knew the birth process would be the same.

I praise the Lord every day for my precious bundle of joy.

The birth of My Baby Girl Tshepisho

I LOVE YOU BABY

Due Date: 04 September 2010
Baby Born: 24th August 2010
Time: 23h45 pm (Tuesday)
Weight: 2845 kg
Head: 35 cm
Height: 55cm
C-section + x2 Epidural


Morning ladies,

I finished at work on a Friday the 20th Aug 2010, the weekend was ok. Monday on the 23rd Aug 2010 in the morning at 8h30am I started feeling like contractions but they lasted for like 5 to 10 seconds, I was monitoring them but I kinda like ignored them. During the day at about 14h00pm they stopped and came back at 17h00pm they were still light, I keeps on checking if my hospital bag is near me and ready. At 22h00pm I started feeling like now I can’t take the pain anymore, I was with mommy she said no Lerato just wait, there is no need to rush to the hospital wen there is nothing, so I went to sleep Then at 02h00am Tuesday I felt that now I can’t take it anymore, I called hubby, he got home at 03h00am then he rushed me to the hospital. At that time the contractions lasted for a minute and I was feeling the HEAT

I was admitted at 03h30am the nurse’s kept monitoring me, wen I got there I was not dilated yet, the contractions were getting mild now. At 09h00am they gave me Phethedia after taking it, I felt beta and drowsy, so I slept, at 12h00 midday TUESDAY they took me to the delivery room the nurses said there is progress and I was not dilating just the contractions were getting bad. As I was in the delivery room at 13h30 I told the nurse I can’t take the pain any more I want Epidural, The Anesthetist finally arrives & did the epidural, it was then 14h00pm so now I’ve been in labour for 11 hours and still no dilation but the contractions are higher than my Baby’s heart rate. Well I was in bed in the hospitals gown, waiting for the show to start. Gynea kept on coming to check how I’m doing and still no dilation, Hubby was so worried and he had a nap in the car while I was waiting for the show to start. He can back at 16h00pm still nothing. At 19h30 the epidural was wearing off, so I asked for another one they said NO yeses!!!! I wanted to cry then. Every one calling, asking if I’m ok, has the baby arrived, I ended up switching my phone off. I was now getting irritated with everyone. Hubby holding my hand as if he wanted to take the baby out, Gynea came an said now they must Induce as the contractions were higher an still no dilation. Gynea said he’ll be back at 21h00pm so I waited for him till I decided to call him on my cell he was at the hospital at 22h00pm, he checked me and said I’m 5/6cm. I was in tears, I was so helpless, feeling that it’s enough now I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE, thinking that it’s been long and surely the baby is getting distressed I TOLD HIM I WANT HIM TO DO A C0SECTION. He asked am I sure I told hei what do u mean am I sure??? Then he said if u want for another hour or 2 u can have your baby naturally, I said NO way’s I’m tired take the baby out

They organized everyone and rushed me to theater, I had the Epidural again and wala!! At 23h45 they took my baby out, I was crying, tears of joys, they brought my baby to my face, I kissed her. I wanted to hold her but I couldn’t as I was lying on that thing…

They finished with the stitching and took me back to the delivery room as it was full, it was then 12h30am Wednesday morning. I was shaking I have a blacked with me so the nurse’s also gave me another one, hubby left and I went to sleep , 06h00am they brought Moomo!! Ohh I was so happy, smiling alone and she would look me straight in the eyes.

Ladies that is my birth’s story, its one experience that no one can take from you

Lela
Tshepisho is now 4 months 2wks 6 days