When JOHANNA met DAISY
I was pretty lucky, I had a relatively easy pregnancy. I was still able to walk the dogs, go to the gym and work as I would normally. The last two weeks were tough, I was slow, sore and felt really puffy. Every day that I went past my due date felt like it was going in slow motion.
We were fortunate to be a part of the continuity midwife program through Canberra Hospital. Our midwife Gabby was so amazing. At our 41 week appointment I was keen to get things going, spicy food, pineapple, curb walking etc. were proving unsuccessful for us. Gabby did a stretch and sweep to give baby girl a hint that we were ready for her arrival.
The next day I was having period like cramps all day, every 5-10 minutes, this was so exciting, I felt like it was finally happening. By dinner time the cramps had gone and I felt so disheartened, only to be woken up at 11pm to intense contractions. Lots of breathing and going in and out of the shower helped a lot. The next day, my partner Dean put on my favourite movie, Love Actually, as a distraction and he was timing my contractions. At about 2pmcontractions were 3-5 minutes apart, Gabby came to our house to check me, I was 6cm dilated - it was go time. We gave Gabby a head start to the hospital while we packed our things and got ready to leave the house for the last time just the two of us. The 15 minute drive to the hospital felt like the longest drive in the world, I had 4 or 5 contractions along the way and another in the middle of the carpark.
We met my Mum at the birth centre, and headed to our room. I had low blood platelets, so had to have a cannula put in just in case, my pregnancy puffiness made this difficult and it took three goes to find a vein that would cooperate. Mum ran the bath for me, which gave me such relief once I was in there. Another 45ish minutes of contractions until my body gave me an incredible urge to start pushing. I remember yelling out “Gabby she’s coming!! Am I allowed to push?!” It wasn’t until I’d been pushing for about 10 minutes that I felt a pop and that was my waters finally breaking. Not at all like in the movies, I didn’t know that waters could break so late in the process!
Dean squeezed my hands through every push, Mum was my water girl (a drink bottle with a straw is an absolute must!), and they both were giving me words of love and encouragement, I couldn’t of done it without the loving presence of both of them.
After 2 hours of pushing, it was time to move things along. An episiotomy was suggested, I gave the okay - I was open to whatever the professionals thought was best, I trusted Gabby fully. Four contractions later and my beautiful Daisy was in my arms at 6:28pm. I had skin to skin with Daisy straight away, while we waited for delayed cord clamping, Dean cut the cord and then he was able to have his skin to skin time. The midwives were amazing, we never felt rushed, they let us take all the time we wanted to enjoy this special moment. We were so overwhelmed with love and joy for this perfect human we had created, 3.5kg and 53cm of perfection.
What do you wish you knew before birth?
Natural birth is intense and painful, but so incredibly empowering. Our bodies are built to do this and your body knows what it’s doing, trust it.
If you could, would you do anything differently?
I honestly wouldn’t change a thing, I feel so lucky to have had such a positive birth experience.
What did your partner do that really helped during labour/birth?
I was so grateful to have Dean and my Mum as my birth team. Dean was amazing, he encouraged me, he squeezed my hands, let me lean on him, he did whatever I needed him to do without a second thought. Birth seriously bonds you with your partner and makes you fall inlove all over again. Mum had my water ready every time there was a rest, she stroked my head and made sure I was comfortable, it was so special to be able to have her there.
I couldn’t have done it without them.
What advice/honest truth would give a mama-to-be about birth?
Trust your body, it knows what it’s doing!