When TARA met LOGAN
Tara thought her waters broke at home, only to find she was losing cups and cups of blood.
Her baby Logan’s spine was against her spine which made for an extremely painful labour. Up and down with her dilation and more blood loss led to an emergency cesarean where they found she had haemorrhaged, had a placenta abruption from the womb and Logan was stuck. The right decision had been made and they were both healthy at the end of it all.
Tara tells her birth story in her own words…
2021 was a rollercoaster and exciting year. Reece and I brought our first home together, we went into COVID lockdown, I sold my beloved apartment, we got our first family pet, Penny and we spoke about starting a family sometime in the next year. Next minute we were pregnant. After a horrible first trimester with morning sickness, I had such an easy and healthy pregnancy up until 1250am at 39 weeks.
I woke up thinking that my waters had broke, to get to the bathroom and find that I was losing cups and cups of blood. After speaking with my midwife and arriving at the hospital, by 230am I was 3cm dilated and having regular contractions. A few hours passed and I asked for gas to take the edge off. It hit 11am and I was 8cm dilated with the end in sight! Logan’s spine was against my spine which resulted in what felt like the world was going to end. I was unable to have any further pain relief as things were progressing and he would be here shortly!
In the bath. Out of the bath. On the bouncy ball. Off the bouncy ball. On the bed. Off the bed. On the toilet. Off the toilet. This went on for what felt like forever, all whilst still loosing blood and having very regular and stupidly painful contractions.
It hit 330pm and I loudly expressed my frustrations to Reece, my mum and my midwife Alli. ‘WHY HASN’T ANYTHING HAPPENED’.
The midwife and doctors examined me at around 4pm and estimated that I had gone back to 6cm dilated with the potential of swelling. I was offered an epidural and some hormones to get things moving along. I gladly accepted both.
The epidural was pure bliss and allowed me to rest and have some food and drink. Another hour or so passed with no progression. I was re-examined and the decision was made that due to the lack of progression and blood loss, an emergency caesarean was required. Finally, an end result in sight!
Apart from being exhausted in everyway possible, I remember feeling scared and somewhat disappointed that my body wasn’t allowing me to push. However, after approximately 14-15 hours of active contractions, and a caesarean, my midwife explained that the blood was due to a haemorrhage, my placenta had abrupted from the womb and Logan was stuck. The right decision was made and the main thing was we were both healthy.
Logan was born at 7:10pm via Caesarean and is a very happy and healthy little boy and I am proud of myself and the birth story I have to share.
Be kind to yourself and remember that you are superwoman! Birth is an amazing experience regardless of how it plays out.
What do you wish you knew before birth?
Literally anything? As a first-time mum, I was so oblivious and uneducated on literally EVERYTHING! But having a supportive midwife made the world of difference because she explained everything and kept us in the loop throughout the whole time
If you could, would you do anything differently?
Absolutely not. I think that it all happens the way it happens for a reason.
What did your partner do that really helped during labour/birth?
He showed his emotions throughout and this was so reassuring for me because I felt like he was so emotionally and physically involved. He also went with the flow which is all you can do in such high-pressure times!
What advice/honest truth would give a mama-to-be about birth?
Don’t have any expectations, go in open minded and let your body do the talking! Take lots of photos and most of all, enjoy it!!