Theresa

Theresa, the eldest of her five children, was born in January 2004 at 41 weeks after 28 hours of natural labour. “She was born with an emergency caesarean after sitting at six centimetres for eight hours,” says Naomi. She still doesn’t know why her first child was in distress as it didn’t happen with any of her other four. “The caesarean was a traumatic, scary experience and I never want to repeat it,” she recalls.

Joseph

“Joseph was born at the end of December. He was my first son and also my first VBAC,” she says. She admits that people did warn her about VBAC’s. “I heard the usual stories of uterus rupture etc, but I knew what I wanted and most people didn’t say anything to me. If they felt feared, they didn’t tell me. I didn’t have internet, so only my family knew my choices.” Naomi went into labour naturally on her EDD and a gynaecologist was on call for the birth. It was 12 hours long. “This birth left me elated that I proved everyone wrong! In 2005 a VBAC was not all common and everyone was sceptical about my chance of success.”

Claire

Claire arrived three days before her due date in mid-2008. “I had another VBAC with a female GP. I did not want to use a gynaecologist and we did not yet have a midwife in Port Elizabeth, so I chose a female GP. The birth took 24 hours. This was a very good experience because as a woman she understood my needs in labour far better than a man.”

Philip

Though Philip’s birth was a VBAC, Naomi says that it was not a good experience. “I was going to have a midwife delivery, but she miscarried two days before my EDD and my back-up gynaecologist was away. The only gynaecologist left was very pro-caesarean and terrified of VBAC’s. I went into labour on my EDD and while Phillip’s birth left much to be desired, we needed to use a vacuum extraction due to the doctor freaking out and making me lie flat on my back! I’m just grateful he didn’t decide to cut.” Naomi was glad once it was over.

Thomas

Naomi’s youngest, Thomas was born in 2013 three days before his EDD. “His birth was my first that was totally intervention free – no painkiller, unwanted examinations or monitors. I had a midwife delivery without a doctor in sight,” she tells. She also felt most connected to this birth and experienced a feeling of euphoria and elation lasting for weeks. This experience stood out most for her as it showed her that women left to labour and birth in their own way has an easier, less painful and smoother experience.

Notable Difference

Naomi says that she did not breastfeed her first baby for hours after birth and consequently struggled for eight weeks to get it right. “My other babies breastfed directly after birth and had no breastfeeding issues at all.”

Don’t forget Dad!

“My first experience of a birth as a dad was an unexpected emergency caesarean. I was very nervous about this life-changing event. But overall was excited to meet my first child and overwhelmed when I did. My wife had subsequently had natural births. The build-up to the due date and wondering when the contractions indicating labour would begin is exciting but nerve-wrecking. It  is an indescribable feeling realising that very soon you’ll be meeting a new child,” says Naomi’s husband. - Zanri Kotzé

Babies’ weight

• Theresa 3.07 kg @ 41 weeks
• Joseph 3.16 kg@ 40 weeks
• Claire 3.54 kg @ 39.4 weeks
• Philip 3.79 kg @ 40 weeks
• Thomas 3.25 kg @ 39.4 weeks

Books read: Ina May Gaskin

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