Ask The Pros
Pregnancy Photos
Pregnancy Calendar
Birth Plans
Birth Stories
Bookstore
Boy or Girl
Cesareans
Chat Room
Complications
Doulas
Educators
Episiotomy
FAQs
Feeding Baby
Fertility
Finding a Class
Health
Interactive
Labor
Message Board
Monitoring
Newborns
Newsletter
Postcards
Postpartum
Pregnancy
Reviews/Awards
Search
VBAC
Week by Week
Who We Are

Three Perfect Sons

Shaun Thomas
12/11/92
7lb 13oz

We had been trying for over a year to get pregnant and after numerous negative tests,we were finally told what we wanted to hear.

After an uneventful 40 weeks,it was discovered,on my last checkup,that my blood pressure was high and that I was going to have to be induced that night.

That night,around 2.00am actually,I had my first of many induction gels inserted to soften my cervix.Mild contractions followed but nothing that really did anything.The next morning I had another lot of gel and was left to see what happened.The contractions got stronger but nothing happened,my cervix was very stubborn.

At 10.00pm that night I was taken to delivery with the news I was only 2cm dialated.I was very tired by this stage and was therefore given a shot of pethadine and sent back to the wards to get some sleep.

The next day felt like a repeat of the day before,with one exception,my waters broke at around 8.00pm and the baby had swallowed some meconium.My waters were green,my long awaited baby was in distress.

After monitoring the baby,it was decided to put me on a drip to quicken contractions.As you can imagine I could not take any more pain,so an epidural was recommended and agreed upon. Inserting the needle was hard, after I first passed out due to low blood pressure,and secondly they went to far and made a hole in my spinal fluid,I was numb from the waist down.Due to the spinal fluid leaking I had a massive migraine,compared to the contractions I didn't care.

The epidural was topped up 3 times,with me vomiting everytime.Finally at 1.30pm, after the doctor threatening me with a c-section,I was 10cm dialated. As I was still under the affects of the epidural and did not know when to push, forceps were used and an episiotomy was needed.

At 2.30pm,3 days later after the first gel insertion,our long awaited baby bay Shaun Thomas was born.He was perfect.

A few days after the birth I needed to have a blood patch to stop the spinal fluid leaking.Finally 10 days after the birth we both went home and became a family.

Kyle Peter
21/1/95
8lb 13oz

18 months after Shaun was born,we decided to try for another baby.I fell pregnant in 2 weeks.

The 40 weeks was not bad,some morning sickness,at 38 weeks I developed an absyss on my perinium,which needed lancing.This made my perinium very weak.

At 5 days overdue,I awoke to mild contractions.Due to my long first labour I ignored them and went about my day.Around 10.00pm that night they were becoming more frequent and stronger and I began to think maybe this was it.As my previous labour was induced I really did not know.

Around midnight we decided to go to the hospital just to check everything was o.k. Upon arrival I was 4cm dialated,I was staying.

We walked the halls,watched television and talked.At around 2.30am I had an internal and was 6cm dialated.It was decided to break my waters and give me some pethadine to relax.I relaxed so much I napped in between contractions.

At 5.10am I was fully dialated and I decided to push on all fours on the bed.The midwife gave me a mirror so I could see.After 40 mins of pushing I watched the head crown and at 6.02am our second son Kyle Peter was born.

Due to my weak perinium and the fact he twisted his shoulders,I recieved a third degree tear.After about 25 stitches I fed Kyle and revelled in the birth.I had my baby in my arms and experienced the wonderful birth I had missed with Shaun.We went home 2 days later.

Tyler James
17/9/96
7lb 10oz

Exactly 1 year later I was pregnant again.After a lot of morning sickness,I went into labour at midnight on my due date.

We arrived at the hospital at 1.00am and 3cm dialated.The midwives were worried about my previous tear and it was decided I needed a senior midwife there at the birth.

I was given a delivery room and told to try to get some sleep and see how things go. The contractions were getting more frequent and I was desperate for someone to break my waters to spead things up.Unfortunately alot of babys were being born that and they convinced me to wait.

At 8.00am the midwives changed shifts and I was assigned a midwife I knew.She gave the O.K to break my waters as I was only 5cm dialated.Instantly I went to 7cm.

I was 9cm dialated at 9.50am and a lip had developed over my cervix which was beginning to swell.I was encouraged to get up on the bed and lean over a beanbag,to take the pressure off my cervix.It worked and instantly I was fully dialated.

Everything then happened quickly and before I knew it my third son was born Tyler James at 10.28am.This time I only had a slight graze which required 2 stitches.

I was thrilled to have another great birth and perfect baby.We went home 2 days later.

I have been blessed with three perfect sons who I love to death.We are considering having another one day.However this time I have been told I may require a c-section,as my perinium is very damaged.I am willing to go through anything to be able to experience that ultimate moment of holding a miracle in your arms.My experiences are similar to what many women would go through.However unique or the same,one thing is for sure,the outcome and the love you feel at the end.