A birth story (2)

I'm a bit slow with posting birth stories, as Lilah is now 3 months! But I didn't post Eliana's birth story until she was 7 months old, so I guess 3 months late is not so bad...

I spare you the details, but birth stories are not for everyone. If you do enjoy reading them, read on!

Friday, May 27th 2011

I was four days past my due date. Contractions started at 2pm. They came every hour or so and weren't so bad. I didn't get Braxton Hicks contractions in either pregnancies, so this was a good sign. I slept well that night but woke for each contraction that came every hour or less.

Saturday, May 28th

On Saturday I wanted to stay active to try and bring on labour. I vacuumed the house and then after a bacon and eggs brekky, Nate, Eliana and I went to the Dubbo Zoo park for a coffee, morning tea and walk. Contractions came every hour or so.

At 2pm I had a spicy vindaloo lunch, made by my Dad, and we added extra fresh chillies. After that, contractions started coming every 5-8 minutes and were approximately 30 seconds long. They started stopping me in my tracks. It's funny to see the difference in how I handled labour. At this stage with Eliana (or before) I was on all fours breathing through contractions. During this stage with Lilah, I played with Eliana and we ran up and down the driveway! :)

At 4pm contractions were anywhere between 2-6 minutes apart, and 30 seconds long. I rang the hospital at 4:45 and they told me to have a hot shower and come in when contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and 60 seconds long. After the shower contractions started coming every 2-3 minutes and were quickly growing in intensity. I cried after 1 contraction.

At 5pm we decided to make our way to the hospital, so after packing last minute hospital needs we arrived at the hospital around 5:30. (I was in the room next door to where I was born 30 years ago.) I was 8cm dilated.

The midwife asked if I minded a student nurse observing. We had no problem with this and it turned out to be quite a blessing. As the midwife talked through the labour process with the student, she was full of praise and encouragement for how I was coping. The affirmation was amazing in how much it helped me through.

Nate started recording contractions but by 6:20 they were too long and close together for him to record, as he was constantly at my back massaging me. I had a hot shower and bath after this for about 30 minutes. Contractions hurt and I moaned a lot. My lovely, gentle mother was able to be calm and quiet through the labour of all four of her children. I did not inherit this gift!

Earlier, I had asked the midwife if I needed my waters broken, because I did with Eliana. She said that she could break them if I wanted, and that the baby would come about 10 minutes after that, but she encouraged me to hold off and let them break naturally, as I was "coping so well." It was tempting to have them broken, but once again her encouragement kept me going. About 15 minutes after the bath I prayed that God would let my waters break naturally because I didn't think I could last much longer. They broke within 5 minutes. God is so very kind.

About 10 minutes after this I was on all fours on the bed, shrieking and screaming through the last transition. Nate later told me that he thought I went a little insane. My excellent midwife, Judi, told me to hold it together.

At 7:40pm I was ready to push. One big push brought the baby's head in view. Judi told me to slow down and coached me through pushing without having any tearing. It was soooo hard at the time to go slowly, but in hind site, a milllion times worth it!

At 7:49 our baby was born. "It's a girl!" Nate said. Beautiful Lilah Belle. Nate cut the cord and handed me our precious 8lb, 15oz. girl. She started nursing straight away.

It was a much smoother birth process, and praise the Lord, Lilah was healthy. According to Judi, labour started when contractions were 2-3 minutes apart, which put it at about 3.5 hours. For me, the shorter labour was 10 times more intense than my long labour with Eliana. Not long after giving birth, Nate asked me which kind of labour I would prefer. At the time, "neither" was all I could say, but now that the labour pains have been forgotten because of the joy it brought forth, I would definitely opt for Lilah's labour.

I thank the Lord for our little Lilah, and for the many answered prayers that came with her, and again I thank the Lord for my most attentive, serving, amazing husband, who is the best daddy to his girls.