It was 9:30 pm and my waters had broken about 15 hours previously, when
the first contraction hit. We got out our bottle of Beyerskloof
Pinotage bought for the birth and sipped away on good wine while I sat
on my physio ball, breathing and timing the contractions at 15 minutes
apart! I managed to lie down and rest in my bed, with Adi )my husband)
timing the contractions while I slept for an hour.
It was 9:30 pm and my waters had broken about 15 hours previously, when the first contraction hit. We got out our bottle of Beyerskloof Pinotage bought for the birth and sipped away on good wine while I sat on my physio ball, breathing and timing the contractions at 15 minutes apart! I managed to lie down and rest in my bed, with Adi )my husband) timing the contractions while I slept for an hour.
At about 1:30 am Adi called Neomi (my Doula) and we set off for Ilan’s , Adi having to stop driving at each contraction as the jolting of the car just made it all a bit intense! When Ilan checked for my dilation I didn’t really want to know how much it was, as I was scared that it would still be 2cm (what it had been when he checked me earlier in the day before the contractions started) and the discomfort was not producing results…. It was 3cm, which was a bit of a bummer! Tali (Ilan’s partner and a hydro therapist) and I got into the large pool and I found myself just wanting to be left by myself with Adi sitting near enough for me to touch and be comforted by him through, and after each contraction. I kept feeling like “this is not really happening… am I really in labour???”
I felt myself losing track of time and anything other than the contractions and the changes I felt in the prompts from my body. I started to get tired in the pool as I could not find a comfortable way to relax between contractions- so out I got. I was checked and found to be 6 cm dilated. Again, I was a bit discouraged and started doing the math of how long this was all going to take. I remembered from antenatal classes that the pain just keeps getting more and more intense and I was not sure how I was gonna manage if it got much more intense.
By now I was totally in my own world and not at all aware of who was massaging me (both Neomi and Tali were doing a fantastic job) or where anyone was other than Adi. Adi was a rock throughout, giving me a point of focus and support and love that I could not have managed without. When I needed to push against something - he was there to give me a contra-force. When I needed to be supported if a contraction started when I was standing – he was there, just supporting and loving me.
The pain did not get more intense. At least my experience of the pain was greatly reduced! I was able to rest between the contractions and just disappear into my own world completely…. I was dimly aware of contractions and think I even fell asleep…. It was almost like a deep, deep meditation.
I remember Neomi suggesting that I get some fresh air and walk around a bit and I stood in front of the sliding door and breathed in some fresh air, which was glorious! And then I was in the birthing pool. Again, I could not find the right position – the position that left me the most comfortable. Adi got into the pool with me and I just moved around trying to find what was going to be the most comfortable position with Ilan guiding and encouraging me all along the way. I remember being so reassured whenever he checked the baby’s heartbeat with the Doppler – it was such a steady heartbeat I knew my baby was fine!
I kind of suddenly found myself in a birthing position with Ilan and Neomi encouraging me to push the baby out. I thought it was all happening a bit fast and was thinking that stretching the perineum needs to be a slow process and I didn’t want to push too hard or too fast. Ilan was telling me that I could reach down and touch the baby’s head, but I didn’t want to – I felt like it would break my concentration. I think about 4-5 contractions later the baby was out and in my arms…. Quiet as a mouse and eyes wide open, alert.
The next period of time was a rush of energy as Baby, Adi and I moved over to the bed. I was on a complete high and just overjoyed to have given birth to a healthy baby boy naturally – just how I had wanted to! I became aware of Ilan worrying that my placenta was not being delivered and in what felt like a mad rush for me, but was actually about an hour, Ilan did everything he could to dislodge the placenta. This hurt more than any part of the birth! The birth ended with me being transferred to hospital for the placenta to be removed. Not quite what we had planned or imagined, but I was so grateful to have Neomi and Ilan with me through the whole process and know that Ilan was performing the procedure. I was in good hands. Tali was able to support Adi with handling a new born baby and getting them to the hospital to join me. All in all the whole team were just awesome and more than I ever could have asked for. I knew that I could give birth naturally despite the many reservations around me and people warning me that I could be risking my life and the life of my baby - I had the confidence and passion to do it and I did!
Our son, Hillel was born on Monday 18th February 2008 at 7:40am weighing 3.430kg.
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