Erin tells her birth story in her own words…

I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes when I was about 25 weeks pregnant, I was then put on insulin at 30 weeks. This meant I needed to be transferred from Queanbeyan to Canberra Hospital (TCH), which was a daunting experience as I had up until then received all my care at Queanbeyan.

I then got COVID at 37 weeks pregnant and had very low iron and required an iron transfusion. I was then told I’d be induced and was given a 4 day window by TCH and they would contact me to come in to be induced.

I got called in on Sunday 20th March (which is the day my sister gave birth to her first baby Heidi!!) 

The induction process was loooonnnggggg. I had to be assessed and then had a balloon catheter put in which was just so weird and uncomfortable and it was one part of the whole process that I absolutely hated. That was in for 12 hours and we were required to stay overnight for observation.

Around lunchtime the next day I had the catheter taken out (and yes it looked like an actual water balloon) and then had my waters broken, with yes something that looked like a crochet hook.

Then my contractions started. I wasn’t really sure what to expect from my contractions but boy did they come on hard and fast. I was given an epidural (amazing) and I plan on having one of them every time I give birth! I had to have the general anaesthetic done a few times as I still had feeling, however once the epidural was administered I felt so much better.

Things progressed very quickly and there were some issues and I don’t remember much after that except:

• There was around 10 medical staff in the delivery room

• Holding Maggie for the first time and having my husband tell me she was a girl 

• Having a postpartum haemorrhage and losing 1.7 litres. I had a 2nd degree tear and an episiotomy. 

• Maggie being taken off to have tests run and vitals checked almost immediately 

• Me vomiting horrendously and shaking and sweating and watching multiple nurses trying to put cannulas in my arms and it wouldn’t work (I had so many bruises) 

• Being told Maggie was at risk of sepsis and being taken off for blood draws and testing

My husband remembers everything that happened, I think I was just in shock and there was so much happening. We stayed at TCH for 5 days and had round the clock tests everyday. Maggie didn’t have sepsis and I healed much better than I thought I would! 

Eight months down the track I still don’t remember much of what happened but I’m not worried about giving birth again because I received amazing support and I got my beautiful Maggie out of it all and boy has she kept us entertained!! 

What do you wish you knew before birth?

I enjoyed reading about the labour process especially because I was induced and I wanted to know all the pros and cons. As I was a late transfer from Queanbeyan to TCH I would have liked to meet a midwife before my due date just to ask questions and get some more information which was something I missed out on. 

If you could, would you do anything differently?

I don’t think I’d change anything, overall I was really happy with the support and care I received before during and after giving birth. I will be interested to see if my opinion on this changes next time I have a baby!! 

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

As it was a whole new experience for both of us he was super supportive and reassuring especially with everything that was going on. After I gave birth to Maggie she needed to have some tests by the neonate doctor and he stayed with her as I was unable to be apart of that process and that was so reassuring for me. He loves telling the story of how Maggie was born as we are one of the first people in our friendship groups to have a baby, so not sure if he is trying inform the couples or scare the couples! 

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

It’s hard and the labour process can change at any time. I had zero expectations going in and the only ‘birth plan’ I had was that I wanted to avoid a c-section and a episiotomy. I almost had a c-section and I had to have an episiotomy! I think just be aware of what you’d like but also know that the doctors and midwives are the professionals and they have you and your baby’s best interests at heart.