Ashlee tells her birth story in her own words…

It’s a bit of a long one! After struggling to fall pregnant, i was lucky enough to have a pretty easy pregnany. I didnt experience any morning sickness or any real pregnancy symptoms however, at 28 weeks I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes (GD). I was told from the beginning that I had a high chance of developing GD due to having PCOS. When I received the news i was absolutely devastated and felt like I had failed my baby. Once I got my head around the diagnoses and overcoming having to pick my finger 4 times a day (I hate needles!), GD quickly became my new normal and honestly it wasnt even that bad.

I had read that most women with GD end up being induced between 38 and 40 weeks and that made me so excited. I had heard horror stories about inductions but that didn't bother me, I just couldn't wait to meet my baby. At my 38 week appointment my OB advised that bub was measuring quite big (I had been told this my whole pregnancy), so we made the decision to be induced at 39 weeks and 1 day.

We had to be at the hospital at 3pm on the Tuesday to start the induction. My partner Luke and I were so excited that the time had finally come to have our baby. Our first stage of the induction was to have the cervidil tape inserted to help ripen my cervix to then be able to place the balloon in.

We waited a few hours for the tape to be inserted as the doctor on that afternoon was very busy. Eventually the tape was inserted at 7pm that night. The tape was in for 24 hours and the next step was to insert the balloon.

I was meant to have the balloon inserted on the Wednesday afternoon but so many women were going into labour that the birth suite was completely full and the doctors were needed elsewhere. I had to wait until Thursday morning for the balloon to be inserted. The balloon was quite a painful experience but once it was in, the pain went away and it stayed in for the full 24 hours. Unfortunately for me, the balloon did not put me into labour. A midwife removed the balloon on the Friday morning and I was left to sit and wait until birth suite had a free bed.

Again it was a super busy week for women to be having babies and we were told that unless i go into spontanious labour, i would not be having my waters broke until Saturday. I was so devasted, all i wanted was to meet my baby. That afternoon a midwife came and did a stretch and sweep hoping it might jump start things.... buuuuut it did not. At this point I was 3cm dialated.

Finally at 2pm on the Saturday, after being in hospital for 4 days without going into labour, we were told they could finally break my waters and it was baby time! We got to birth suite where the doctor checked me and I was already 4cm dialated. I was so excited that I was already at 4cm with no prior pain, I was almost half way! Once checked, I was hooked up to the syntocinon drip and contractions came pretty hard and fast.

After about 2 hours I asked for gas. Gas was absolutely amazing and really helped me control my breathing. I remember standing in the shower with Luke holding the shower head to my belly while I sucked down the gas and danced, it was a great feeling until all of a sudden I got the overwhelming urge to push. I held out until the midwife came in to check on me and told her what I was feeling. She checked me and I was only at 6cm. She told me to try control the urge as pushing to early could harm bub, however the urge was too strong and they recommended I get the epidural. The epidural helps get rid of the urge to push.

From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I knew I didn't want a birth plan. I wanted to go with the flow and do whatever I needed to get bub out safely, so I wasn't opposed to the epidural at all. During the wait for the epidural the montior kept loosing track of bubs heart rate so the clip was inserted and popped on bubs head and all was good. During this time the midwives had a shift change and my Godmother (who we call Goddie) was now my midwife. Goddie was there when i was born and was now going to be the one to deliver my baby. It was so comforting having her there and i instantly felt myself relax.

Once the epidural was in the urge to push completely went away. I will admit, I was a bit disappointed in myself because I was handling the pain well, but the relief from the epidural eventually over rode those feelings.

Finally, 6 hours after the epidural was put in, i was able to start pushing. Bub came down pretty quickly and bub's head was seen after a few pushes, however it was discovered that I have a low pelvic bone and bubs head kept getting caught on it and would not come through. After 2 hours of pushing, bubs head finally came out and after one more push bub was placed on my chest.

Bub decided to come out not breathing so the special care nursey midwives were called in. Just as they rushed through the door bub coughed up some gunk and started to cry. That cry was the biggest relief. Luke and I decided not to find out bubs gender until birth. Goddie went to take bub off my chest to remove the clip and do a quick assessment. After the whole ordeal I completely forgot to ask what bub was. Goddie held bub up and I looked at Luke and yelled its a boy!

At 6:05am on the 12th of March 2023, 1 day before his due date, Leo David Clements was born. Leo weighed 3.6kg and was no where near as big as they thought. I had a small tear that required stitches but other than that i felt absolutely amazing. While I was getting stitched up, Luke went to tell our families who were waiting in the waiting room that a baby boy had entered the world. Leo and I were alone for a few minutes in this time, I had him on my chest and I remember feeling this overwhelming feeling of love and I was so proud that I did it, I had created and birthed this perfect baby.

4 hours after birth I was up and moving. I walked Leo from the birth suite to our room on the ward and that's where Luke and I sat in awe of our beautiful baby boy. We were discharged from hospital the very next morning.

Even though my induction was long and emotionally draining, my birth experience was so positive and just absolutely amazing.

What do you wish you knew before birth?

I like to be pretty informed about things, I did a fair bit of research before birth so i felt pretty prepared. I do wish I knew that you can get an intense urge to push before your body is actually ready. I didn't read this anywhere nor had heard it was even a thing! So I wish I was better prepared to handle that feeling.

If you could, would you do anything differently?

I honestly loved everything about my birth and wouldn't change anything. The whole experience was just so calm, the midwives, Goddie and Luke were amazing and gave me the reassurance i needed when I doubted myself.

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

Luke was so good during the birth and even the days leading up the birth. The days leading up to birth were frustrating and hard due to each step of the induction being delayed. Luke kept me grounded and kept reassuraning me that our baby would be here soon. During labour he held my hand the entire time and never left my side. He is such a patient and calm person and it was so helpful having him remain that way during birth, even when i raised my voice at him out of my own frustratation. 

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

My honest advice would be to have a flexible birth plan and be open to anything, things can change so quickly. I would also say try to enjoy the experience, which I know is easier said than done in that moment, but you will find yourself later on wishing you could be back in that moment. Nothing will ever compare to meeting your baby for the first time.