The Business of Being Born Message Board

Baby’s Birth Date: 17th August 2007

Monday 20th of August at 3.15 AM my waters broke while I was sleeping. I couldn’t believe how much water came out - my husband was grabbing lifesavers! ha! That wasn’t quite what I had in mind with my planned ‘water birth’.

Anyway, we both got up and had showers because I had a feeling the surges would start soon because I was so relaxed. I stood in the shower with warm water running down my belly and back just to relax myself for the upcoming events.

Then we both went back to bed where we slept while we waited. My hubby was excited but we both decided to sleep because we knew that I’d need the energy.

At about 4.30 AM mild surges started to come so we started timing them at between 10-13 minutes apart. I slept in between but kept watching the clock at intervals. I was already doing my relaxation breathing that I’d practiced for months and months.

By about 7.00 AM the surges were about 8 minutes apart so I got in the shower where I did some visualisations and more breathing under warm water. That sped things up A LOT. I was visualising the opening flower and the blue ribbons - this was so effective because all of a sudden it felt like my surges took on a life of their own.

I got out of the shower and we decided to go into the birthing centre. I was checked but they didn’t think I was in ‘active labour’ so sent me home. I was breathing through the surges quite easily and was focused on the visualisations - opening my cervix.

We went home and I got back into the shower, this time I was kneeling on towels and the hot water was going straight onto my back - it helped me to go deeper into my birthing body. I felt the kneeling position took pressure off and allowed the surges to ease things along at a more manageable pressure.

When I got out of the shower, 11.00 AM my surges were about 4-5 minutes apart so we headed back to the birthing centre. Walking into the birthing centre at this stage was uncomfortable. As soon as they showed me to the delivery room, I knelt down on some pillows on the floor and carried on with my breathing and visualisation. At this point I was 4-5cms and filling the big balloon and visualising the opening flower - concentrating on keeping my cervix soft, healthy and relaxed.

The midwife kept trying to get me to take gas and air, but because it was a mouthpiece, it confused my relaxation breathing techniques. I just gave it back to her and said I was fine with what I was doing. My husband explained to her about the hypnobirthing and that I didn’t want any pain meds or interventions.

They filled up the birthing pool while I laboured on my hands and knees. I went into the water birthing suite around 12.30 PM and got straight into the pool - it was HEAVEN! I was on my hands and knees again in the pool with my right hand holding onto one of the handle grips. My face was down toward the water and I was able to focus on my breathing much easier.

By about 1.00PM I was 9cm and actually moaning through my surges, it helped me relax my face to be able to moan as loudly as I needed. As my surges progressed it became louder - but the moaning/roaring really helped me relax for some reason. I even roared into the water; that was great.

I heard the midwife comment on what a powerful delivery this was. They were saying how amazing it was that this was my first delivery. My husband kept reminding me about the opening flower and how relaxed and healthy my birthing path was. He kept bringing me ice water too - which helped a great deal.

The midwife just kept checking the baby’s heartbeat - which continued throughout the delivery as healthy and strong.

Finally at about 1.20PM I was feeling around my vaginal walls with my fingers and could feel the top of the baby’s head so I started massaging the perenium and other tissues around the opening. As soon as I could feel her head, it set me on a more determined mindset.

Every surge started to feel stronger and I started breathing her down (with alot of roaring). At some points it was impossible not to push, so near the end, I was pushing but trying not to hold my breath. The midwife had actually been telling me to hold my breath and push, but my husband told her that I didn’t want to do that so she stopped talking about it.

I eased her down the birth canal for about 20 minutes with strong breathing and my hand was on her head the whole time. I was stroking it with my fingers to let her know that everything was ok. Finally - at 1.39PM I eased her head out past the perenium and the tissues just folded out nicely. I was sort of in a squatting position at that point in the pool and my hand guided her head out. I was pushing the tissues gently in a circular motion around her head so she could come out without tearing.

Once her head was out I leaned back onto the seat in the pool and with the next surge pushed her body out.

The other thing they wanted to do was give me an injection to help the uterus contract and birth my placenta. But my husband told them that I didn’t want that so I birthed the placenta naturally about 20 minutes later.

My uterus contracted naturally and with breastfeeding it has gone down into position without any assistance. `