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Leah's Birth

I became pregnant after 5 years of infertility. I was elated about being lucky enough to fall pregnant but frightened that my luck would run out. I read everything I could lay my hands on about pregnancy and childbirth and I wanted to enjoy the experience. I chose my doctor because he was known to be less of an interventionalist, prepared to allow the midwives to do the work. I considered as it may be the only time I gave birth I should be aware of everything that was happening and "enjoy" it as much as possible. I planned to stay at home for as long as I could when I went into labour. However I developed Gestational Diabetes in my eighth month (so I guess my luck ran out in that regard) and that wasn't to be.

I was admitted to hospital two days before my due date. My doctor wanted to induce me at term because I had developed Gestational Diabetes. I was put into a private room to wait with my husband. My doctor arrived and inserted some prostaglandin gel after which I was placed on a foetal monitor. I had 2 tiny contractions. Baby was doing fine and not wanting to budge so my husband was sent home and I settled down to wait. The doctor planned to return with more gel in the afternoon. Unfortunately due to emergency surgery he didnšt arrive. The sister came and felt my stomach at 10 pm and told me that I was having contractions. I just thought my back was aching, the baby was moving and I needed the loo a lot. I settled down to sleep but pains were waking me every 15 minutes. I placed a TENS machine on my back and it dulled the ache enough so that I slept through to morning.

In the morning everything had stopped. More gel was used and nothing happened. At 1:30 pm my doctor decided to rupture my membranes. I was only 2 cm dilated. We both headed down to Labour ward. After the deed was done (OUCH!!) I had a canular placed in my left hand and was popped on the foetal monitor again. I had my first ripper of a contraction at 2:00 pm. My husband arrived and we started labouring. Every contraction I felt as if I needed to pass a motion. So my husband spent the first hour walking me to the loo waiting outside and then walking me back. I asked for gas for pain relief and was offered pethidine or a bath. I opted for the bath. That worked wonders until around 5:30 when the contractions became far more intense. Something I would have thought impossible. I called them piggy back contractions because there was no break in between them. I also realised that this wanting to go to the loo feeling was a desire to push. I got out of the bath and was examined at around 6.30. The nurse said nothing so I asked her how dilated I was. 2 cm!! I burst into tears. I wanted to push so bad. I was given pethidene and Phenergan which made me fairly oblivious to the contractions. I came to at 8.30 wanting to push again and was told not to. I was given another shot of pethidene and some valium as trying not to push was making me very distressed.

My husband tells me that at around 9:15 the midwives decided to let me push and my cervix dilated very quickly. At around 9:45 I was rolled over onto my aching backside. I had been comfortable on all fours using my husband as a dribble pillow and I voiced my protest. But the doctor wanted access as the baby's heart rate was slowing (he didn't tell me this until after). It was a relief to finally be able to push though it took me a while to turn around from holding myself back for so long. I got to use the gas at last but the most benefit I got from that was having something to bite on instead of my husbandšs shirt.

Leah Eden Avril Hinds was born at 10:13 pm to cries of "It's a boy!" from her father who will never live that mistake down. She was a little high (valium) but scored full marks on her APGAR, wonderfully pink and so beautiful I couldnšt take my eyes off her. She fed for the first time 5 hours later.

Leah weighed 7 pounds 31/2 ounces and had a scratched head from where my membranes were ruptured. I was lucky enough to not tear and didnšt require any stitches. I did develop a uterine infection in the following week.

Leah is now crawling around spending her days delighting us, her nights keeping us awake.

As far as forgetting the pain of childbirth goes. I will never forget it. But I know that I got through it once so I could do it again.

Petra Hinds