The homebirth of Maurice Melrose

[homebirthmum]

The homebirth of Maurice Melrose


Spurious labour is what they call it but it feels real enough. At least it’s not called false labor any more, as there is nothing false about it. I am reassured that my body is working now, although the contractions aren’t becoming regular, or aren’t lasting longer than a few hours, my body is working. This lasts on and off for about ten days around the 39 week mark. I try to be patient and wait for you. I spend a lot of time looking out the back window at our big leafless tree, wondering when you are coming. I wonder if you are not happy in your position, and are trying to find a new one, and I wonder if you are strong enough to make your way out, and I wonder how I am going to go with labor this time.

I try to prepare mentally as much as I can. When I do have contractions, I try to open my mouth and breathe….. ‘ooooooopen’ I practice. When I feed Ivy at night they get strong, and I have some idea of how it is going to feel, but I know it will be much stronger. I do fear at times, how strong it will get.

There are nights when I am woken by tightenings and lie awake, wondering if this is it, and it isn’t. I am disappointed, but I try to stay patient for you, and stay focused, because I know you are coming soon. I don’t want to interfere in any way, as I want you to come in your own time. I keep going with life…. Walking, cooking, looking after the girls.

3:14am, Wednesday morning, I am awoken by a tightening. It’s a good one. Strong and deep and I feel we might be in business this time. Are you coming? They stay strong and regular… 5 minutes, 10, 5 again. I am breathing through them. OPEN…. I say to myself. I get up and go to the toilet about 4am. Back to bed and breathing with each tightening. Yep, this is really it.

At 5am I need to get up. I don’t want to lie down any more. I wake Chris, and tell him it’s happening, and that I’m going to the lounge room. “I’m fine, but come down if you hear me” I say. I light all my candles that my women’s circle have given me. They flicker in the 5am darkness. I pace around, trying to find my rhythm, but just can’t. I lean on the couch, no. I lean on a 100 year old wooden chair; better, it’s strong, but not where I want to be. I try all fours on a mattress. Nope. They are getting stronger and I am feeling frustrated, annoyed. I want my Madeleine Peyroux CD and can’t find it so I put on some classical. After another trip to the toilet, I come back and say ‘I don’t like this music’ so Chris finds Madeleine for me and I like her sound quietly in the background.

I wonder if I should call our midwife yet.

As we near 6 am I am fearing the pain of each contraction and I begin to vocalize with it now. I am quietly aware that my 2 cherubs are still sleeping. I try to tell myself that this is normal, my body is doing perfectly. “It’s OK” I say as the rush comes on. It’s partly a statement and partly a question. I know it’s OK but it hurts so much now. I tell Chris to ring Lynne at about 5:50 am. He tells me she is with another woman who lives about 15 minutes away. She says she will come soon, or to ring if I start pushing. ‘Pushing?’ I say… I think that’s a bit optimistic. WE are both having our babies at the same time, and were due about two weeks apart. I find out later that the other woman had much further to go than me, so Lynne was happy to leave her with her support people. I tell Chris to ring Merivale, our second midwife and cousin, just in case Lynne can’t come. She is about 35 minutes away. We also ring Melissa, our support person for the girls, who is just around the corner.

More strong, heavy contractions. I feel I am not coping that well and swear as the next one comes as I just can’t find where I want to be. I have a cry as I hold onto Chris thinking how the hell am I going to do this… I don’t want to do this. “A baby’s coming’ I say to motivate myself. Another one hits….I lean over the couch arm and yell ‘stuff is coming out’.. I truly feel myself open with this one. I head for the toilet.

The girls arise at this time. I hear them but I don’t talk to them. Melissa arrives and I know the girls will be happy with her.

The toilet is better but the intensity is growing. “Just be here” I say to Chris, ‘tell me it’s ok’ I plead. I know that this is transition. He rings Lyn to tell her that “things seem to be escalating somewhat here”, cool as a cucumber. She is on her way.

I am not afraid that there is no midwife. I am struggling with feeling so out of control. It is so strong now and I feel the baby is close… either that or I have along way to go at this level of intensity. I hold onto Chris as the tightenings come. No more ‘oooooooooooooopen now’, I realize I am breathing quickly with each one, kind of panting. He is solid as a rock and tells me it’s ok.

Here’s Lyn. She stands back and watches while I hold onto Chris. She talks to me gently…. ‘your baby is coming quickly Rach. Where would you like to have this baby?’ ‘Not here!’ I say with a laugh, in our unrenovated 40 year old toilet with broken tiles on the floor and a distinct smell of old man wee that I can’t get rid of. “Bedroom” I say quickly as another one hits. We walk the long walk of a Victorian hall. I laugh as I see myself walking like John Wayne. A baby’s head is almost there. I am thrilled that I make the whole length of the hall without a contraction. Lyn gets a couple of bean bags, puts two pillows on top, all on our bed. I am finally comfortable. Ahhhhh…. This is the spot. I have finally found where I want to be. Next contraction… I feel that head coming down but am surprised that it is not hurting that much. I can’t believe that this is almost over, and smile as I know it is still dark, and I will be holding my baby any minute. I am in a very different place mentally to where I was only an hour ago. I feel happy, elated and very ready to let my baby out.

Ivy comes over and gives me a kiss. April and Melissa are sitting in the hall outside our room as I look back over my shoulder. Merivale is in the hall too. I think they have a great view (my bum!).


I feel a stretch…. Then back in. ‘Oh, It’s gone back in’ I say with a sigh. I have Chris up near my face talking to me, and Lyn sitting next to me, and talking to me. “OK Rach, we have a head or a membrane here, do you want to feel?”. I feel and am not sure. “oh, looks like it’s both!” she says excitedly. HERE IT COMES! A tiny sting and a big S-T-R-E-T-C-H… we have a head. I reach down and hold my baby’s head in my hand. “Oh wow it’s in the membrane!” says Lyn excitedly, “what a lucky baby!’. I hold my baby’s head, relaxed now, happy, knowing that it will be only moments before I see this wee one for the first time. I hold the cushioned head in my hand, waiting, silent. “Oh look at that, it’s waving”, says Lyn “your baby is reaching a hand up Rach.”
Then…. GUSH, there is a big pinky, purply baby underneath me. “where’s my baby, where’s my baby” I say as I lean back to lay eyes on him for the first time. And the very first thing I notice is that little penis. “A boy!” I say, as I pick him up.

There are sounds of great joy, tears and laughter from everyone as I pick him up. The air is heavy with the smell of birth. Maurice Melrose has arrived and we all begin to adore him from this moment. I am amazed that less than four hours after the first tightening, I am holding my baby. “Ah, that was so easy!” I say as I recline back to snuggle my slippery, wet boy and I secretly decide that this will not be the last time I bring a baby into the world.

[Dinah]

What a beautiful story! thankyou for sharing. you are an inspiration to women!

[Ayla]

What a beautiful story!! *gush* And just by the way, the description of your house sounds divine!

[Anaed]

wahhh just beautiful!!
Thank you so so much for sharing. *hugs*

[hespera]

so beautiful. thank you for sharing...

[sarasvati]

Oh Wow Rach! I felt the same about not knowing where you want to be, struggling to find the rhythm. And that feeling of opening... beautiful beautiful story, thank you for sharing!

[Astarte]

Ya did good Rach
Really beautiful story xxoo

[Unhindered]

I am all teary eyed that was beautiful.

What a special birthing day story to share with your son.

Thanks for sharing.

[artemis-of-the-eucalypts]

Rach what an amazing, calm serene picture you paint of his birth. Thankyou so much for sharing.

[Laiste]

You are brilliant. Thanks so much for sharing such a wonderful story.