Written by mum, Meg.
I was absolutely feeling fed up with being pregnant. I felt like I’d surrendered all I had and was feeling so down that baby still hadn’t come. My cousin and her baby girl came for a visit and I had some lovely cuddles with her bub. We joked about asking her to tell her new friend to come out now. I said goodbye to my cousin and at around 3pm in the afternoon I started what I thought were Braxton hicks. I was in denial even though I was 9 days past my ‘due’ date. 4pm came and my husband, Damian, was home from work. I told him what was happening. After a quick call to my mum – Damian and I decided to feed the two kids (Jules 6 & Freya 2) and bath them and get them to my mums. I rang Margaret to let her know what was happening. As we hopped in the car I grabbed the TENS and rescue remedy just in case. We arrived at my mums and settled the kids. I had a few contractions and decided to put on the TENS and drive the 20 mins home. I spoke to Margaret again as I was feeling a bit apprehensive and I asked her to come over. At home Damian and I did some house work and we timed my contractions. They weren’t very consistent and I was still in denial. Margaret arrived and we chatted for a while. I tried some different positions and tried to rest. Nothing much was happening but I didn’t want Margaret to leave, I felt safe with her there. I hung out on the floor with the birth pool, draped over the couch and sniffed clary sage. Margaret suggested I try some contractions with one leg on the arm of the couch to help baby turn. We also did some acupressure on my ankles. It must have helped because I found myself having to moan a little through the contractions …things start to get a little foggy here. I listened to some music and swayed.. Damian did some counter pressure on my back and Margaret did acupressure on my ankles. I was still in denial! I marched up and down the hallway briefly. I thought I wanted a shower but couldn’t work up the courage to take off the TENS. Time passed and I was too focused on focusing that I didn’t really notice much else. Damian and Margaret filled up the pool and the hose jumped out and went all over the floor which was rather comical. I saw Margaret setting up the couch with a drop sheet and towels. I thought to myself how wonderful it was going to be when I could sit there with our new baby. The next thing I knew, Margaret was reminding me that I didn’t want to push.. I was looking at my birth affirmations and telling myself to breathe. It Hurt!! This babe was hard work, my other two weren’t like this at all. Finally I could jump in the pool! I felt like I dived in. It was lovely and warm. My body just took over from here and I started to push. I could feel baby’s head and the membranes were still intact. As his head came out I thought.. ‘next contraction and he’ll be out’ but he had other plans and whooshed out all at once! I was only in the pool for 7 minutes before our baby was born.. in his membranes, all 9Ib6oz of him at 12.15am on the 19th April. We cuddled in the pool for a bit and then finally I got to sit on the couch with our big boy in my arms. What a relief it was! Margaret checked us over while we waited for the second midwife, Kelly. When she arrived, they went out to the kitchen while Damian and I enjoyed our new son. After some bustling about, cleaning, food and cups of tea, around 3am Margaret and Kelly left with me and baby tucked up in our own bed. It felt amazing!
It was my hardest birth but by far the best. I’d never birth my babies any other way after having such an amazing experience. I will be forever grateful of Margaret and what she helped us achieve.
