Daniel Alexander’s birth by Jeannine Odendaal

13 September 2008

Friday 12 September I woke up with a mission. Cleaning, packing and sorting out our house. I had a friend over for a visit with her little boy of 14 months. My mom left (with my house keys) and we had to call her back to let Susannah out when they wanted to leave. She changed and dressed Aiden and I went to wee….
16h00- During most of my pregnancy I used panty liners but when I got up- I sat right back down because something wasn’t right. Changed the liner and got back up…. Only to find that this liner thing was not working this time!! I told Susannah that I think my water had broken and she was sooo excited. Funny how people want to rush you to hospital when your water breaks. Unfortunately we couldn’t leave the house without keys even if we wanted to…
I changed clothes and called my Doula, midwife and man. Best tip for water breaking… USE A NAPPY as a liner/pad! It actually works. They asked if I had had any contractions and since I had not, said I should get some rest, because most likely he’d only be here the following day. My mom got back and my guests could leave. Hubby got home, sis came by and once they had left we started baking Daniels Birthday cake. Daddy of course started packing all the bags, which he had already done a few hundred times, and would do again before we left for the birthing unit. Once the cake was done we went to Woolies to get so food, snacks and drinks for the birthing unit.
19h00- First contraction in Woolies. And did I know it!! All the times during these last weeks that I had timed my Braxton hicks… little did I know… You know when it’s a real contraction! It was all very exciting.
After that we went by my parents for supper and slowly but surely the contractions starting showing face. We went back home to ice the cake and get some rest. But rest was the last thing I got…
21h00- The contractions were strong and anything form 15 to 5 minutes apart, but still varying so we knew to stay home. I could not take the contractions lying down and all that helped was standing up. I tried sitting back to front on the loo but that didn’t help much. Later I had a shower, because I was advised not to bath since my water had already broken.
01h30- Daddy decided I could not do it alone anymore and called our midwife and doula to meet us at the birthing unit. Luckily they had just delivered a baby and were ready and waiting for us. We packed all the bags in the car, let the parents know and we were off. Ended up driving the wrong way but got there in the end (Men and stressJ)
02h15- We got to the birthing unit and I was in tons of pain and only 4cm dilated. The midwife asked if I had taken anything or done anything to bring on the labour, because the progress was slow and the pain very intense. Fortunately I had not!
Between the bath and the bed there wasn’t much to relieve the pain and soon I was begging for an epidural. I was very lucky to have the doula and midwife that I did, because I was VERY apposed to drugs and caesarians (when I was lucid) They tried to convince me that I didn’t really want it and I’d be fine. I ended up getting a pethadrine/aterax drip, which in retrospect I should not have, because it does NOTHING for the pain, you just get some rest.
08h00- I was finally fully dilated and could start pushing. It’s the most insane feeling, and you cannot help succumbing to the urge. In bath, standing, sitting or lying down. When it was time- it was time! During the whole process the thing I dreaded the most was the internal exams and it was actually quite a joke how I tried to get out of it. And they just got worse. Baby was not coming out despite my very good pushing. They tried to feel the babies head when I push, and the pain was excruciating! Not the baby or I were in distress but they decided to try something called a kiwi-pump which is a small manual suction to try help the baby out. Funny story because the assistant midwife got more than she bargained for when she showed up in all white to help. The pump lost grip and splattered “stuff” everywhere… Quite amusing- even in that situation.

09h45- They told us like the world was over. We would have to go into the hospital to get this one out. I was ecstatic and ready to go even though I was not dressed. They got the wheel chair and took me in.
10h10- Daniel Alexander was born with the assistance of ventoux pump with the 2nd attempt … with doctor having a tug of war and my midwife pressing on my tummy with everything in her. And just like that it was all over!!
My gaenie was not available and I ended up with one that decided on an episiotomy, which I did not want. Also, ended up with a massive tear which took what felt like FOREVER to stitch up. But it was still much better than the dreaded caesarian.
I was breastfeeding and sitting up immediately after and the pain was a thing of the past. All in all it was a complete outer body experience. A woman’s body is an amazing thing and a lot of the finer details were collected from hubby and my doula, because I still don’t feel like I was really there.
We spent the day in hospital and went home the next day. I was up and about with my beautiful angel.

With our next baby I hope that I will be more composed and enjoy the experience more now that I know what to expect. I am so pleased with everything and look forward to my dream water birth with baby number 2.