Birth story - Thea and baby Henry

*Trigger warning* - use of the word contraction as it didn’t have any negative connections for me.

Pregnancy

My pregnancy was relatively normal. I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes fairly early on at around 22 weeks, I’d had a feeling that I was going to have it this time around so I felt prepared and not scared. I felt comfortable tracking my blood sugars daily and towards 32/33 weeks I ended up having to start injecting insulin - though my partner had to do this as I was too nervous.

I was at the Royal Brisbane Womens Hospital in the Midwifery Led Care Unit, and the only thing that was off the table with the diabetes was a water birth. At first I was disappointed but quickly remembered that my first birth was so quick (2.5 hours start to finish) that it was highly likely my second one would be too quick to even fill up the pool. My midwives were absolutely fantastic and I felt very comfortable in their care.

The doctors wanted to induce me at 38 weeks exact due to my insulin dependency - however my midwife Claire really adamantly told them that I wasn’t going to be induced this early as I wasn’t comfortable with this. She really advocated for me and it was great. Claire and I chatted for a bit and she was so fantastic and basically said I wouldn’t even have to get induced if I didn’t want to - it was completely up to me and she would support me either way.

I did choose induction after loads of back and forth, as I ended up being quite exhausted at the end as I also caught Covid at the end of 38 weeks and we pretty much didn’t know who was going to watch our first son as everyone around us caught it as well. The last few weeks were so stressful, but I’m glad I ended up choosing induction.

Before I get into the induction part I’d like to quickly get back to my aforementioned quick labour of my first son 2.5 years prior; my waters had broken at home and 2.5 hours later he was born. We had gotten to the hospital and I was ready to push, which ended up being quite traumatic for me and I always wished for a “longer” experience with less stress and rush.

Induction

On the 26th of January my partner and I went to hospital to start the induction process. I had agreed to the gel, and at 2.30pm the first dose was put in. I agreed to a cervical check and was 0cm dilated, we were happy and chatted along.

I was eating snacks and my partner and I just sort of hung out. I had a few cramps here and there, but they were at the bottom of my stomach and I just knew they weren’t proper contractions. I knew they didn’t open up my cervix and declined any cervix checks throughout. I felt incredibly empowered doing this - I simply said ”I know my body, and I know I’m not dilating. I will call you when the contractions are coming in.”

At some point the heart rate of baby got a bit fast and they got me on an IV with fluids, this didn’t really help; neither did meditation.

Some of the midwives got a bit concerned, but nothing serious really.

At 8pm my partner had to leave as the visiting hours ended, we agreed he’d get himself some dinner and have his phone on as loud as possible (he’s known to be a heavy sleeper so him sleeping through me calling was literally my biggest concern of that day/night lol).

The midwives wanted to insert some more gel at 8.30 but I declined as I wanted to see whether the cramps were going to turn into anything more serious and whether the heart rate would slow down at some point. At 10.30pm I agreed to more gel and the cramps were getting more “crampy” - but nothing that I would’ve explained as painful or contractions. Just period pains. When they inserted the gel they did a cervical check and I was still at 0 which I had predicted and I had told them was going to happen anyway. They offered some pain relief but I declined as I didn’t feel it was necessary. I used some up breathing through the cramps here and there if I felt I needed to.

I ended up falling asleep until the surgeon came in at around 1.40am. He was explaining that baby’s heart rate was still high and they had been watching it for the past few hours but he wondered if I’d thought of a c-section and whether I was comfortable with this. Literally while he was talking to me I felt a big gush come out and I literally went “I don’t think that will be necessary, my waters just broke.” He looked at me and just said “okay, that’s good.” and he LEFT. I thought he would at least call the midwives or something but he just walked out haha. I pressed the butting to call the midwives and told them what had happened. And then the first contraction hit - and yep, I definitely felt the difference and immediately knew this contraction was dilating my cervix. I called my partner who got on his way to the hospital (and got a speeding fine doing so lol) and my midwife Claire who had gone home a few hours earlier to catch up on some sleep.

When everyone was there I was already in established labour and I was breathing through the contractions using up breathing techniques.

I felt more comfortable being wheeled to the delivery room in a wheelchair than walking myself, so off we rolled to the delivery suite.

By the time we got there (around 2.15am) I was ready to go home and told my partner “I’d like to go home now” and that this baby was coming now. Looking back I know this was when I got a bit shakey because it was happening so fast again after my waters broke and with no ”real” contractions prior.

I got on the bed and laid on my side, instructing my partner to hold up my leg. Claire asked if I’d like to turn on the gas & air and try that and I agreed.

I knew how the gas and air worked and so instead of using it during the contractions I used it between them. I would breathe with the gas between the contraction and during it I used the J-Breath technique I’d learnt about prior. This combo was fantastic and I recommend it to everyone.

At some point my partner dared to lower my leg and I looked at him and yelled “What the FUCK are you doing Harry???”. In hindsight I know I was in transition by then.

At 3.10am I moved and started kneeling on the bed, leaning over the headrest. I knew I was going to start pushing now.

I pushed once, and the head was out. With the second push Henry’s tiny, little body came out at 3.12am. I grabbed him from between my legs and just stared at him. He was sooo tiny compared to my first! Finnegan was born at 3.8ks (8.4lbs) and Henry was only 3.1kgs (6.8lbs), it was one of the first differences I noticed. One of the first things I said was “He’s so tiny!” One of the following things was “oh yep, I definitely pooped - I can smell it.”

Overall this induced birth was so beautiful, so “relaxed” and I felt empowered and in control the whole time.

I’m currently trying to convince my partner to try for a third baby, as I still feel like I want a home birth at some point.