A Positive Birth Experience – Part 1

Submitted by autumnbronze

This was a long awaited and much longed for baby.  After like 4 miscarriages, finally managed to sustain the pregnancy beyond 4 mths.

Only managed to breathe normally during gynae’s appts after surpassing the 6 mth mark. Prior to that, always prayed and hoped for the best but expected the worst. Now, told myself that if really water bag leak again, there is a chance for the baby to survive.

In the meantime, told DH that I was determined to have a positive, normal and WATER birth. This was v v impt to me cuz EVERYONE (my peers) I knew had a negative birth experience and even my mom predicted that I’d have a difficult birth cuz I was already in my thirties. I was not going to have that. He was like "Are you sure, what on earth is a water birth?"

Got him and myself enrolled in a pte pre-natal class conducted by a doula. DH was skeptical at first about this, but he ended up looking forward to the classes at the end of the day Learnt the art of positive visualization to encourage a positive birth. Unfortunately, doula was going overseas during my due date so could not have a water-birth with her. I also did not want to engage someone that I was not familiar with at the last trimester of my pregnancy. So I signed up for pre-natal yoga instead.

So for the last 2 mths, got DH to perform perenial massage with oil because I wanted to avoid an episiotomy. Every night b4 going to bed would listen to soothing music and visualize a full head of hair crowning

Was due on the 9th of August 07 but on the 2nd, woke up at 3 plus in the morn. Got up and when I stood up, my water bag burst. Wiped away the wetness and went abt packing my bag. Washed clothes in machine and dried them.

At about 5.30 in the morn, woke DH up, said I had something impt to tell him. He said ok and went back to sleep. Woke him up 15 mins later and told him that it was urgent. When he woke up and I told him about my water bag bursting, he asked, "Is this a drill?" I didn’t know whether to or .

Can’t remember what time the contractions started. Didn’t want to go to the hospital cuz I knew they would strap me down and won’t let me walk. Went to the bathroom to take a shower. Didn’t want to come out. DH calmly shaving. Then he asked me if I wanted milo. I snapped at him that it was already 10 plus in the morn and since 5 plus, he has been doing his own things (actually, it was his own way of coping with his wife in labour ).

By then contractions getting frequent. Could not sit or lie down. Could only walk and everytime contractions reached its peak, I would have to put my hands agst the wall and bend my knees. But I followed thru with the breathing and did not resist the contractions.

By 11 plus, DH was getting nervous, contractions were frequent and I was reluctant to go to the hospital. For some strange reason, I wanted to deliver in the shower and asked him to call gynae at NUH and asked her abt it. That was the last straw for him. In his most stern voice, he said "we’er going to the hospital NOW." I complied and off we went.

Had to kneel doggy style at the back of the car as sitting was painful. Contractions getting v v fast and frequent. When arrived at the hospital (DH had called b4 leaving), someone came out with a wheelchair which I refused. They insisted and I retorted back, "you don’t want to argue with a woman in active labour!" So I walked all the way to the ward, pausing many times to put my hands on the wall and go along with the contractions when it reached its peak. Got a lot of stares, didn’t care. So stylo somemore, I chose to wear my yoga pants and blouse

Finally reached ward, settled in, nurse checked and said was almost fully dilated. This was at 12 noon. True enough, they strapped me down and didn’t want to let me walk anymore. DH had to force them to let me drink milo as I was tired. Couldn’t even relax in the water tub as time to push soon.

DH had refused to face towards my legs and cut the cord but relented when baby was crowning (can’t stand the sight of the blood lah). True enough, it was a full head of hair. By 2pm, I had delivered. Took me 2 hours since the time I checked in. Gynae/Obs reprimanded me nicely for coming in so late. But she was v v pleased with the easy birth.

It was the most happiest day of my life (besides meeting DH and marrying him of course). I had kept that personal promise to myself. I had had a positive birth experience