When Rachael Met Elijah & Noah
Both of Rachael’s sons, Elijah and Noah, were born with a labour induction. She reflects that she had always heard so many “scare-stories” around inductions, but both of her births couldn’t have been further from scary. In fact, she describes them as perfect!
She wishes that there was more positive narrative around births for mums and the amazing process our bodies go through to bring life into the world.
Rachael tells her birth story in her own words…
Both of my sons were born with a labour induction. I have always heard so many scare-stories around inductions, but both of my births couldn’t have been further from scary. They were both very straight forward. We also loved the fact that we were able to arrive at the hospital the day before, knowing that the next day we would have our baby in our arms!
For my 2019 birth, we arrived to the hospital at 2pm on a Tuesday. We checked in, were shown to our room and we could get comfortable while we waited for my obstetrician!
Around 5pm, the induction began - we were going to use the tape, but there wasn’t any left so I had the gel! I had a second dose 6 hours later. I didn’t feel like labour started spontaneously after this. I didn’t really experience much cramping feeling, but I couldn’t sleep. I think I was just too excited!! The night before Elijah was born, I had 2 hours of sleep! At 7am I walked to the birthing suite, my Mum arrived, and then my waters were broken and I started the drip - labour started immediately.
I was still able to bounce on the fit ball, move around a little bit, and generally breathe through my contractions. I ended up back on the bed, trying to mediate through my contractions. The midwife thought that I was asleep, because I was just meditating through the contractions. My husband and mum were both present, and I just meditated through while listening to them chat and banter. It was quite a laid back experience.
After about 4 hours of labour, I was 4cm dilated, however they said that Elijah’s head was pushing against my pelvis and may start to swell and the epidural was recommended to relax my body. I was terrified of an epidural, but agreed. We had such an awesome anaesthetist, and after it was given, I had the best sleep of my life haha! I woke up 5ish hours later to the midwife saying they would check dilation again, and it was time to push!! I started pushing, and every time I remember saying “I can’t do this anymore!”. At one point, I was asked if I wanted to feel my son’s head which was now visible. I declined, but then decided to… it was the motivation I needed to continue!
Soon after, after a total of 50 minutes, I had my first born, Elijah on my chest. I will never forget that moment, the moment of becoming a mum for the first time!! 10 minutes shy of 12 hours from waters being broken to having baby in my arms.
I vaguely remember discussions about blood loss and a haemorrhage but it was dealt with by the medical team while I was in awe of what I had just accomplished. It wasn’t significant enough to warrant a transfusion, so I didn’t pay too much attention to that. I’m also super lucky that I only had 2 stitches!
We stayed in hospital for around 5 days, and then we were discharged… right before the bushfires and all of the smoke!!
For my 2022 Bub, we were induced again. Thankfully, it was right at the end of the lockdown/restrictions, and I was allowed to have 2 support people again - both my husband and my mum. This was really important to me, as I found through my first labour I just wanted to labour in silence and not talk, but it was comforting listening to my husband and mum talk and joke around!
Again we arrived on a Tuesday afternoon, shown to our room and we relaxed - this time knowing how big the next day would be!! This time, I used the tape. A few hours after insertion I went to the bathroom and I noticed it was falling out. I also started to experience very very mild contractions. The midwife checked, said I was around 2cm dilated but there was no need to reinsert the tape. I remember being worried the induction would fail but was reassured that it was a good sign that I was feeling small contractions. I just tried to sleep through it and get as much rest as I could!
The next morning, also around 7am, we walked to the birthing suite where my waters were broken again. My mum arrived shortly after to be my second support person!
Contractions immediately started, coming hard and fast. They were minutes apart. I walked around, bounced on the fit ball and tried to breathe through contractions… but this time I had no hesitation asking for the epidural!!
After an hour, the anaesthetist arrived. This time I needed to use some of the gas while the epidural was administered. After it was, my blood pressure dropped and I kept falling in and out of sleep. They gave me something to bring my blood pressure back up, and once it was stable, I was allowed to go to sleep. Again, I slept through my labour. When I woke up, I felt a pressure down below! We called the midwife in and she checked dilation, it was time!
By the time the doctor arrived (the rooms were just across the way, so it was approximately 5 minutes!!) bubs head was visible. Noah was born 2 minutes and 3 pushes later - no tear at all!!! I couldn’t believe it happened so quickly. Noah was born around the time that my other son was being picked up from childcare.
We called my Dad, and Elijah got to FaceTime with his baby brother for the first time. The excitement in his voice was so beautiful, and something that we will never forget.
Unfortunately, while I was allowed two birth supports, our son was not permitted to visit to meet his brother in person, and visitors other than my husband were limited. To have any visitors, my husband would have to leave and the visitor was then permitted to our room. It was definitely not the same post-birth experience, but it was lovely to be able to have time to ourselves in a newborn bubble before we jumped back into family life at home, this time as a family of 4!
What do you wish you knew before birth?
Not so much what I wish I knew before birth, but what I really wish is that so many people would stop making birth to always sound so horrendous and scary. I remember only being told that it would be the “worst pain of my life” etc. while it was no walk in the park, I wish more people talk about how amazing it is to be in the zone, breathing through contractions, talking with your partner (or support person/people) and revelling in the fact that in mere hours, the family expands. I am always in awe of what our bodies go through to bring life into the world!
If you could, would you do anything differently?
I don’t think I would do anything differently! Honestly, to me, both of my births were perfect. Both of my births brought me two beautiful, cheeky, happy and and amazingly healthy boys, for which I will always be grateful. I had two different obstetricians (both fantastic!!!) as the obstetrician who delivered Elijah wasn’t doing Obstetrics when I was pregnant with Noah. Regardless, my care was top notch both times. I was also super lucky that the midwife who assisted in the delivery, both times, was the same!! For Noah’s birth, she had just come on to her shift and I remembered her instantly, she was just lovely.
What did your partner do that really helped during labour/birth?
He was amazing. If I was hungry/thirsty he made sure I had what I needed. If I wanted a heat pack, he got it. When I wanted pain relief, he sought out the midwives. If I wanted a massage - he was on it! When I wanted to not be talked to, he understood. He and my mum spent most of my labour joking and bantering creating a really good and happy atmosphere that left no room for any stress at all! They both had me laughing at times, and kept each other company both times when I fell asleep haha.
For both births, especially at the pushing stage, the words of encouragement were so important to me, and super motivating. Both my husband and my mum had wash cloths on my head to keep me cool, and did everything they could to make sure I was as comfortable as possible. As I said, I couldn’t have had a more supportive and better birthing experience!
What advice/honest truth would give a mama-to-be about birth?
Breathe through. Each contraction is one contraction closer to meeting your baby! If you need or want pain relief, ask for it! There is no medal for not using it (although power to all mamas who manage!! I got around 4-5 hours in, and while I was managing, I don’t think I could have gotten all the way though!!) Also, advocate for yourself and ask your partner/birth support the same. If you can’t advocate for yourself, make sure you have someone who can!!
Also, trust your gut. This is more for after birth, but always go with your instincts. If you need support for breastfeeding/latching - seek it out! If you think something might be wrong for yourself or Bub, get checked!! Mums have an instinct… trust them!!