On 28th February 2023 I had an induced labour at the Canberra hospital. I was induced to avoid going into labour at home.

I had my amazing continuity midwife and my husband by my side. My midwife laughed that of course she had lunch plans and I insisted that she still keep them. 

After my waters were broken, we started the pictocin drip and shortly after at 11am I asked at what point I was in labour and I got told “Right Now!”

I asked at what point I should ask for an epidural and my midwife laughed and said I wouldn’t need it, after 15 minutes on the pictocin she increased the dose of medication by triple the rate. There was a reason we got along so well, we were both efficient! At this time I got told to call my birth photographer to join us. She made it just in time! 

I moved from the exercise ball to my knees and used gravity to help. My daughter Nellie Bloom was born into the world after a smooth 42 minute labour at 11:42am. 

After Nellie’s weight and all her health checks were complete, my midwife turned to me with tears in her eyes and said “you did it”, I hugged her and said “No, WE did it!” 

Nellie immediately latched and we were breastfeeding straight away. 

My mum bought my eldest in at 12:30pm to us so she could meet her new baby sister. We stayed at the hospital for the mandatory 4 hour monitoring period and went home, we were lucky enough to be home in time to miss peak hour traffic on the same day. 

What do you wish you knew before birth?

Having been through this before, I knew what to expect and how to prepare myself for the only thing you can’t really prepare for. 

If you could, would you do anything differently?

No, it was perfect and quick. 

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

My husband held my hand the entire time I was in active labour. 

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

It was on my birth plan to have an epidural or gas, but when it came time to it, I could manage the pain on my own. Trust your body and work with it. 

Also, if you can get a birth photographer, you won’t regret it!