YOU ARE MY CHAMPION
This song has taken on a whole new meaning. It will forever be associated with the day that contractions started. The day before Wesley's due date, we decided to go for a membrane sweep. After reading up about it, we thought it will be a procedure worth going for to see if it would trigger labour. The cervix was stimulated, which caused a reflex of contractions in the uterus, and triggered a release of prostagladins. During the procedure, I began to have cramps. Then after the procedure, my cervix which was closed, became 2 centimetres dialated, and the water bag bulged slightly in the opening. I went home slightly sore, but still managed to walk 25 mins to school to pick Erin up. At about 5pm, I felt a big cramp but didn't think much about it. I began to feel cramps after that sporadically. When M came home, the contractions were becoming more regular, so I started timing them. Eventually we decided to send Erin off to R's, inform S and parents, and head for the hospital.
As I packed, I started to really focus, and had the song on headphones. Every wave of the contraction felt like it emanated around my hips. I had to breathe deeply and slowly. On the way to the hospital, I had 2 contractions in the cab, and had to close my eyes to focus. I had a contraction at the entrance of the hospital and the female security guard rubbed my back and said "No one's died doing this yet!" We went upstairs to the Lotus birth centre and was examined. I was 3 centimetres dilated with 1 contraction lasting every 3-5 minutes. The midwife said that they were expecting contractions closer together, but they decided to admit me. We were checked in to the delivery suite. I paced about and tried to relax whenever the contractions came. The student midwifes checked the baby's heartbeat. M made tea and set up the music. I decided to use the shower. As I stood in the shower, the contractions came with 30 sec to a minute interval between them. I took time to savour the normality of feeling alive in between contractions, while bracing for the next. At times I stiffened my body and bent down, which made the contractions feel more painful. I tried to focus on other things, so I prayed for the women in Nebi who used Bruce and Sharon Oliver's maternity clinic, and meditated on the contractions not hurting me, they were just contractions. ( but OUCH they did still hurt) The contractions were like a wave radiating from my uterus to my hips.
The shower helped, but eventually got out of the shower. I think someone helped me into a hospital gown and took off my glasses but I don't remember the details. I held on to the rope which was next to the birthing pool. As I held on, the urge to push came. I had to release such a shout and groan with the push! Gladys asked if I felt pressure. I said yes. So she got the tub filled up, which took about 15 minutes. She didn't check the size of my dilation at all. She said that when I was ready I could get into the bath. (Marj noted that Gladys was "intuitive". Totally agree! Compared to the UCL experience, I kept getting checked for dilation.) I think I had a total of 3 "push" contractions hanging on the rope. By then I was tired, and was sweating like mad.
G said, "You look comfortable where you are." I finally let go of the rope and went into the pool. I had to turn around the other way to hold on to the side handles. The contractions came. I definitely shouted and pushed with every contraction. My hip was quite high up and only my face was above the water. I remember saying "I will be big enough..." (big enough for my baby to come through). I asked the midwives if they could see him. i think there were 2 or 3 contractions. At some point Matt says he saw the water bag burst as a cloud of whitish fluid came out.G measured the baby's heart rate.
"The baby's heart rate is slowing. So with the next contraction, give a big push..."
Visions of the room being filled with consultants came to my mind. NO! I'll push like mad with the next contraction! Matt started praying fervently.
With the next contraction, I pushed like I never pushed before. I hear murmurs of excitement. The head was out! i kept pushing but without the contraction. Then I felt the next contraction coming and pushed again. I could feel the baby coming out of me. They put him on my chest. It was one of the best moments of my life.
It was very wierd to see the light pinkish umbilical cord coming from me and connecting to the baby. After the cord stopped pulsating, G cut the cord. I then went onto the bed where I delivered the placenta. It was a great big blob of blood. The midwives checked for tears. No tears except minor lacerations and the perineum is intact!
Hallelujah.
I was high on oxytocin and adrenalin. It was amazing how my body was a sea of calm after the thunderstorm. Everything was okay and back to normal.
Comments
Post a Comment