Monday morning, 5am, June 7th. That’s 2 days before my official due date, but I’ve been feeling this baby coming for a few days now. We have been down to 5 minutes apart twice now, Friday night and Saturday night, then nothing. Here we are again at 5 minutes apart, but this time I think we are moving.
Chris wakes and I say to him, ‘I don’t think you’re going to work today”. “Good” he says, and rolls over.
April wakes and we wander down to the lounge room for brekky. Strangely she decides that today she would like a feed ( we were down to only sometimes, and not even everyday at times). And it’s a long one. The contractions get stronger while she feeds. Thanks April, glad you know what’s going on and how to help me.
I ring Lynne at 8:30 to say I think we are in business this time. She says she can be there in ½ an hour, so call when we want her. I go for a shower and feel my pelvis moving with the contractions. Maybe we should ring Lynne… I ring her at 9…. “Come on in” I say. “Looking forward to it” she replies.
My sis ter rings and says she will come to look after April. All is falling into place now.
Lynne has a feel of my tummy and a strong contraction comes when I am on my back and gets me a bit teary.” You’re ready to have this baby now aren’t you” she says as she rubs my shoulder. “Mm” I say, and I figure I am.
Away we go to the bedroom as things are getting intense and I want some space. Lynne is with me and just being quiet, or touching me when the contractions come. I need to know she’s there and with me, and I can do this.
The pain is coming more in my back now and Lynne asks me about it as I keep rubbing at my back during contractions. She asks me to be specific about where it is and I try. She tells me the baby may be posterior and that is why it is taking a bit longer. I am surprised that I am so calm and just think about keeping on working, and not to think about it. Part of me thinks it’s just my luck to have a posterior babe. Lynne jumps up on our bed with me and says she is going to do some work on my hips to help the back pain and open up my pelvis a bit for the babe to move through. She digs and pulls at my pelvis as the contraction builds and it HELPS! Yay. “Who needs drugs when they’ve got you” I say. She keeps working on my hips and eventually we get the pain back in the front. This takes us a good hour or so.
Lynne reminds me that I need to wee during this labor (can’t remember why now!) so we head down to the toilet/bathroom. I am so happy sitting on the toilet, I say I think I’ll stay there. I start to feel a bit ‘bulgy’ and Lynne has a look, it’s the membrane. She says that soon it will pop and this baby will fall out. Fantastic! I say but I really don’t believe it (the falling out part!). Now Penny is here too. I know that it must be getting close. I hear April laughing in the next room, playing with my sister. It is a great comfort. Lynne gets the video to film one contraction, she says she wants me to know later how hard I was working. I hold on to Chris’ legs as it builds. “ How Glamorous”, I say, “That will make interesting footage!”
This birth I am really with it. It’s day time, and I am fully aware of what is happening. I feel each contraction deeply, but rest between. I need Lynne to be close, and I need to touch/hold someone when the contraction is at full strength.
Lynne talks to me like I am awake and aware. She tells me how hard I am working. I talk to the baby and say things during the contractions… ‘moving down’, ‘come on baby’, ‘burst’, ‘pop' will you’…. I’m sure it is amusing for the girls. I am quiet and groan deeply with the pain. It sounds like the baby is close. The girls ask if it’s okay to have the baby here in the bathroom. ‘Yep’ I say, I’ll just get on the floor if it’s coming. We laugh. I am surprised at how with it I am this time.
It is near lunch time as I hear my sister making April a sandwich in the next room. We have been at this for a while now.
Lynne says that if I feel like I want to push I can. I try to push this stupid bubble and it wont burst. I feel it bulging, but it wont pop. Bugger. I need a change. The contractions are getting weaker not stronger. I decide to go back to the bedroom.
I am getting tired and start saying things like ‘I just want to go to bed now’ and ‘I need to rest’. The other side of me knows that this is transition talking! I figure we are close but don’t want to think it in case I have ages to go. Back to the bedroom.
The contractions are slowing. The girls have me standing and trying to sort of march on the spot with the contractions to help the baby through. I am tired and I feel that the labor is getting inefficient, and I get a bit frustrated. I just don’t know where to put myself, and I just want to sleep. We try squatting… nope. I need to lay down for a few minutes. Just want to rest. The girls help me onto our bed and I inhale the familiar smell. Wish I was going to sleep I think – ouch, another one. They are getting close now. I lay there and gather myself. When is this going to happen I think. Lynne says she can do an internal if I would like, and we could think about breaking the membrane soon if I want to. I say lets give it until 5pm or so, and see. She’s fine with that.
Suddenly I feel I need to get up and move around. I’ve had it, I think. Lets get this baby out. I stand up and stretch and bend over with the contraction… strengthening now. POP! “Yes!” I say and everyone is happy. Lynne is getting under me like this baby is going to fall out! I feel she is a bit optimistic, but figure she can have a look. My sister and April are in the room. ”Isn’t it a bit soon for them to be in here? “ I say. I look up at Chris and tell him he has to help me with this bit, as it’s the hardest part. He just locks in to my eyes and grasps my hands. April is a saying ‘mummy, mummy’ I can’t look up but reach out my hand and she touches me. “it’s okay” I say to her “our baby’s coming’.

Next one there is a head coming… wow, I didn’t expect that. There it is that familiar stretching feeling…. I push hard… and it just keeps sliding out! I can’t believe it. The girls are commentating… here’s the eyes, keep pushing… nose… mouth… The head is just sliding out. Nothing too terrible. Thank God for that I think. Here we go… ouch, shoulders are big… and GUSH… it’s out! Ahhhh! There is so much water! 3:25 pm

The baby is passed through my legs but the cord is short so I have to bend down to see it. April comes over and sits on my leg and looks at this vernixy, bloody baby…. “Fingers!” she says as she touches the little hand. I am mothering April already, telling her it’s okay, It’s our baby and all is well. I figure I’d better check the sex… “another girl!” I laugh! WE are all so happy. I say I’m too tired to be emotional, and I don’t cry at all. It’s more like I’ve just run 20 k’s! I’m exhausted and high at the same time. We move up onto the bed and April resumes playing with the stethoscope and sonic aid. Chris takes off to make cuppa’s for all. I am dying for a Milo!
I am chatting away, really amazed that she was born so quickly after the membrane burst, and just talking about the whole labor. The placenta practically falls out, no problems at all. We all drink our cuppa’s and chat. She is a good size, beautiful and pink. She latches on for her first feed like a pro and feeds for ages. Isn’t this great I think, we can all have a normal tea and go to bed at a reasonable hour! Aren’t I clever for doing this through the day this time.
Ivy Margaret gets her name, and we tell her that she is loved and so welcome in this family.
I am supremely grateful for this beautiful birth with my husband, daughter, sister and two midwives to guide us. As we sip our cuppa’s and talk about the birth it feels like a community, a special little group who did something amazing today.

Welcome Ivy.