Keely tells her birth story in her own words…

I went into premature labour at 33 weeks. Fortunately, this was picked up during a follow up scan, they noticed I had a short cervix. I was admitted the following day, received steroids for her lungs in case she did arrive early and something to slow/stop contractions. I spent three nights in hospital for monitoring, this was during covid, no visitors or partners were allowed in unless I went into active labour. It turns out I had been experiencing Braxton hicks contractions for a while now but I had been assuming this was just the baby in uncomfortable positions.

We made it to 35 weeks which was a milestone as her lungs would now be developed and less of a concern if she arrived early. I lost my mucus plug on the Sunday night and woke up Monday morning leaking fluid, we contacted my midwife and went into hospital to be checked. It was not fluid (a false alarm) so we went home. We went out for dinner that night, I made it to the restaurant, got out of the car and it was extremely clear that my waters had broken (I had the full gush) and thankfully I was wearing period undies! So we contacted my midwife and went straight to the hospital for the 3rd time and straight to a birthing suit, all while I was feeling completely fine and not like I was in labour at all. After monitoring me for a few hours with no progress I was moved to antenatal for the second time and Mitch was sent home. I spent another three nights in hospital to be monitored, thankfully covid restrictions had eased and Mitch could come and visit. After three nights and no progress again I was able to go home on the Friday.  

 If Aria didn’t arrive by 37 weeks I was going to be induced, since my waters had broken.

Saturday (36 weeks 2 days), I woke up feeling different maybe the Braxton hicks felt a tiny bit stronger (not intense) it didn’t last long maybe an hour so I went about my day. Around lunch time I started to feel what I would call uncomfortable; it didn’t matter how I sat or stood I couldn’t get comfy, so I came home. I contacted Mitch and told him I wanted him to come home. So while I was waiting, I started timing contractions (which at this point felt like slightly more intense Braxton hicks), but they were all over the place and very short, I wasn’t confident with the timings so I called my midwife and she said to come in.

We had a short 15min drive to the hospital, contractions were coming but nothing intense. We pulled up in the sit down drop off bay and left the bags in the car in case this was going to be yet another false alarm. We met my midwife in an examination room at around 2.15pm things slowly increased but I still felt like I had hours and hours ahead of me. Roughly around 3.15pm we were moved into a birth suit, Mitch went to the car to grab the bags and by the time he got back to the room in a matter of minutes he said things had escalated from 0-100. I was pacing not really knowing what to do but get undressed, I very soon after made a comment that I needed to go to the toilet straight away and my midwife advised that was the pressure of the baby’s head I could feel. At this point they didn’t even have a canula in me for the antibiotics nor had I been checked to see where I was at. I was checked straight away and told it was time to push! I pushed on my back for roughly 50 mins then out came our little baby girl.

Aria was placed on my chest for a short time before she spent a few minutes with assisted breathing. She was fine, healthy and considered full-term even though we were a few days short of 37 weeks.

I had endured a tear that required stitches, this was by far more traumatic than the birth. I had local anaesthetic which didn’t feel like it was doing anything for me, my midwife attempted to do the stitch’s but it was a difficult angle, the Dr then took over and also struggled. She did manage to avoid taking me to theatre however at this point I was ready to go under. I was offered the gas at the end, and I regret not asking for it earlier however in that state I didn’t know what I wanted or needed.  

I was certainly in shock after an incredibly fast labour, I didn’t have time to think about anything at all, I didn’t have a birth plan and I was never against pain management I just knew once we got into the birth suite there wasn’t any time.

We spent two nights in hospital then took our little girl home.

What do you wish you knew before birth?
More knowledge around breastfeeding. We were on bottle top ups from birth, and I decided to drop the breastfeeding around 6 weeks due to low/almost no supply. I was very comfortable in myself having a bottle-fed baby but it will be interesting to see what happens with the next baby.

If you could, would you do anything differently?

I intended on working up to 37 weeks and as it turns out I didn’t make it that far. I didn’t get a chance to wrap up things at work or enjoy anytime before Aria arrived. Luckily, I was a very organised mum to be.

What did your partner do that really helped during labour/birth?

During the labour there wasn’t much Mitch could do for me as it all happened so quickly. Using his hands Mitch to put pressure on my hips during a contraction and sideline encouragement when it came to pushing, I vocally through in the towel in a few times.

What advice/honest truth would give a mama-to-be about birth?

You will feel like your body will never recover or be the same again and no it won’t be the exact same but it will be close and you will be surprised how one day you all of a sudden you start to feel like you again.