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Week by Week

Ariana Rachel Goodman

My pregnancy was wonderful. I practised plenty of yoga throughout, read every available book on pregnancy, birth etc and attended a variety of antenatal classes. My husband, Michael, and I were sure we must be the first people ever to have been pregnant!!! The pregnancy went very smoothly and even though my due date came and went and I was anxious, everything was fine. On the Friday (9 days later) I had an antenatal appointment with my obstetrician ( I really hoped it would be the last). As it turned out in the morning I suddenly had a 'show' and was over the moon. Something was about to happen. After the visit to the hospital I was given the homeopathic remedy caulophallum to encourage my contractions to start. That was at 2pm. By 4.30pm my first contraction happened. I was with a friend and my brother and was so excited but kept so quiet, because I suspected this would be a long slow haul and I didn't want any pressure from family knowing I was in labour too soon. Eventually they left and my husband came home. I told him immediately. And we timed every contraction together.

From the first contraction I felt until the last they were all about 5 minutes apart, and thankfully all very bearable and copable. In fact it never once crossed my mind that I was actually in any pain yet, and was convinced because of the lack of pain that it HAD to get painful before anything positive would happen. After a big meal we eventually went to bed. I couldn't sleep because I wanted to sit on the floor and breath through my contractions, and anyway I was far too excited. I recorded every contraction and timed it and had a night full of this. By early morning, (after speaking to the hospital on several occasions through the night) I decided that although I didn't feel much was happening, I wanted to be in the hospital, for reassurance sake.

We were shown our room and given a good breakfast and I had loads of hot water bottles to hold and I did loads of pacing up and down, breathing and also sitting astride a chair onto a beanbag whilst Michael massaged my lower back with aromatherapy oils. By about 3pm (and after a delicious stir fry lunch! - which I threw up later on) we went into the birthing room and I got into the luxurious hot water birthing pool. It was sheer pleasure. Sometimes I laboured in here, sometimes I got out and sat comfortably on the toilet seat with plenty of cushions all around my back and sides, leaving a nice comfy opening on my perineum etc.

The pain relief, other than water that I used, was plenty of homeopathic rememdies and lots of massages. I drank loads of cammomile tea and honey and water. The room was dark, save for a few candles burning. I can't really remember the choice of music my husband decided on but I have a feeling it was 'Fairground Attraction' although I remember 'Genesis' loud and furious at one point. I felt very calm and went with my contractions each time a wave passed over me. I closed my eyes, and breathed, half visualising and half aware of my pelvis and the baby and the opening of a flower..... The worst part of it all was the exhaustion. By now I was so tired. I was offered an epidural to help me sleep, conserve enery etc, but I was shocked and quite frightened by the suggestion. I automatically assumed, being so far into my primitive brain, that epidural meant something was terribly wrong. I was reassured by the midwife, and went back into my trance. I even managed in between the 5 minute contractions to fall asleep.

Just to tell you, I had my midwife and my husband in the room with me. Although I was under obstetric care I was happy not to have him there. The less people the better. I was terrified of being 'observed' and made to feel like some kind of animal.

It must have been about 8 or 9pm and I went back in the pool, for warmth and to ease the pressure off my legs and uterus. Suddenly after no warning, I felt this almight urge to poo! We all realised then this was it. We reached down and felt the baby's head.

It took a good 5 or 6 contractions which were real trememdous pushes,, and felt very much like the burning sensation you feel in a 'chinese burn on your arm', until Ariana's head came out under the water. Wow! We waited another few minutes until eventually I felt like another urge to push and at 10.30 Saturday night she was born in the water.

My feelings at that moment were just amazing. I was so awake, amazed, flabbergasted, delighted, ecstatic, happy and tremedously on a high (which I never came down for three weeks later and then with a terrific bang). Every emotion under the sun I felt. Cor it was just brilliant. I just sat with my new little miracle in my arms, just so emotional and just so in awe of her and with what just took place. I couldn't believe that this 7lb 12oz baby who looked gigantic was just a few minutes before, inside me. Oh it was wonderful.

Jacqui & Michael Goodman
London