Jess tells her birth story in her own words…

Baby #1 - Pip

In September of 2021, only a short time after having my implanon removed, I found out I was pregnant with my partner Sam and I’s first baby, due May 2021! 

My pregnant was very straightforward and without any complications, and I was accepted into the Birth Centre program at the Centenary Hospital for Women’s & Children. After passing my due date I went into spontaneous labour at 11pm at 41+3. 

My first labour and delivery of Pip was pretty much what you might describe as a series of unfortunate events… I lasted as long as I could at home, before we headed into the hospital at 5am. I had an intense back labour, where my body’s reaction to the pain was to vomit. At 8am, my waters broke at 8cm, in my waters there was meconium (baby’s first poop) and I required additional monitoring than what the birth centre could do, so I was transferred to the birth suites. I was able to labour and dilate fully with just gas and air, but after being fully dilated for over an hour it became apparent that she was stuck… well and truly stuck…. She was posterior (face up) and we were transferred to the operating theatre for a spinal block (oh sweet pain relief) and an attempt with forceps. At 11.56am on June 8 2021 Philippa arrived via the sunroof and came out screaming - it was a glorious noise! 

Baby #2 - Maggie

In late 2022, my partner Sam finally put a ring on it and our wedding plans were stalled by the discovery we were expecting our second little girl, due July 2023. 

Up until my 20 week scan, I had been approved by my midwifery team that I would be an ideal candidate to attempt a VBAC after successfully dilating fully in my previous labour. 

At my 20 week scan, it was discovered that I had Placenta Previa…. What’s this you may ask? My placenta was extremely low and made itself very cosy on top of my cervix, meaning my dreams of a VBAC were not to be, the sunroof was the only exit option. 

Upon reviewing the report my GP informed me that my complete Placenta Previa (Stage 4) was easily managed but if I was to have any bleeding I would need to present myself to the Maternity Unit ASAP. 

At 30 weeks I woke on Mother’s Day to release I had my first significant bleed. I rang the Maternity Assessment Unit (MAU) - which is essentially Emergency for pregnant women - and they encouraged a swift arrival into the hospital….this was the first of many hospital admissions over the coming weeks. 

At this first hospital admission we were briefed that there was a very likely chance we would be having a premature baby and if I was to have a major active bleed the only way they could stop it is to delivery the baby. We were given scary pamphlets on ‘Babies born before 32 Weeks’ and for the next four weeks I was in and out of the antenatal ward. 

After my third bleed at 32 weeks we opted to have the steroid shots to increase the baby’s lung development. We also had the game plan to ideally make it to 37 weeks… our fingers and toes were crossed! 

On Sunday 4 June, I was admitted for the 5th time in four weeks and I was told I’m staying put until my caesarean at 37 weeks (28 June)…. This crushed me as I was determined to try and be home on the 8th of June for Pip’s 2nd birthday… I knew all the Midwives, Nurses and Doctors on the ward at this stage and they all knew of my desire to be able to celebrate Pip’s birthday at home, so the doctors arranged for a leave pass for the afternoon of the 8th so I could head home for a few hours, this was almost derailed the night before when I passed a clot but the doctors assured me there was no further bleeding so I could head out for a few hours.

I was due to be picked up by Sam at 1:30pm, but at 12:45pm I stood up and started experiencing a large volume of blood loss… immediately I pressed the call button for my midwives who immediately pressed the giant red call button where I was told it was go time…. I called Sam at 12:52pm telling him to hurry as we were going to have the baby. 

The next 20 minutes I was poked, podded and ran through the hospital to the operating theatre, and before I could fully process that we were having our baby, the doctors and nurses were assuring me that they were about to pull the baby out, thankfully Sam made it in time (with 90 seconds to spare) before our sweet Magdalene was born at 1:22pm at 34 weeks and 1 day, crashing the birthday of her older sister.

Maggie was brought by my head for a quick hello before whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for additional breathing support and monitoring. Sam followed her up to the NICU and was sending me updates and photos while they finished my caesarean. I made it up to the NICU the following morning to have my first cuddle with our Maggie girl. 

Mags was transferred from the NICU to the Special Care Nursery after 7 days. And finally on the 27 June, after 19 days, we headed home! 

Since then Mags has thrived and it’s been such a delight watching our girls grow together. 

What do you wish you knew before birth?

Knowledge is power but you need to have the confidence in your care team to guide you when you may feel overwhelmed in the moment. 

If you could, would you do anything differently?

No there isn’t much I could have done differently, both my deliveries needed more than I could do and I’ll forever be grateful for modern times to get my girls safely in my arms. 

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

Sam was my safe haven in both deliveries. When things were getting scary in Pip’s labour, he had a poker face and was able to reassure me that we were going to be fine. 

And most importantly in Maggie’s delivery, he had next to no time to process what was happening, one minute he’s running on the treadmill at home, and then 20 minutes later he was in scrubs in a operating room holding my hand. 

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

Don’t think that anything less than your birth plan is a fail…. You are doing something incredible and your prize - that sweet squishy baby - will be well and truly deserved and worth it.