When JOCELYN met ANGUS
My birth with Angus was magical, powerful and filled with so much love! Angus was born on Saturday 22 July, the Monday prior I was unsure about his movements and decided to head up and see our midwife for a CTG. When we arrived he was moving around and doing all the things he should be, but I opted for a stretch and sweep to see if it would help with small cramps I had started having. Being my third baby, I had been having braxton hicks for months and in the couple of weeks before the period cramping had been on and off, so it was a pleasant surprise to hear I was at 3cm already.
That week was very uneventful, we did lots of walking, movement, spending quality time with our two kids, my mucus plug came out and by the afternoon the cramping would appear and then be gone in time for bed. By Friday, my midwife came for a visit and I asked for another stretch and sweep and was at a 4. I told the baby they had to come by Sunday as our midwife was on days off Monday/Tuesday and I wanted her there but in my mind I thought we had days to go.
Saturday morning my husband got up with the kids and let me sleep in, I woke at 8.30 to some stronger cramping than I had been experiencing but still didn’t think much of it. Over the next two hours I realised I had been having tightenings every 10 mins and text our midwife. We decided to keep an eye on them but were all hoping today would be the day. We spent the morning playing, I was rolling on the gym ball, squating, all the things to help the baby descend on their own. Things were very manageable and slowly getting closer together to 8 min intervals but at 2pm I felt like a shower, and they slowed down to 2 tightenings with 20 mins in between. Being a freezing cold day we opted to head to the hyperdome and go for a wander, and that was a winner.
By the time we got home, I wanted some space to listen to my labour playlist, sit on my gym ball and enjoy the process. At 5.30 they were coming every 4-6 mins and based on my last birth (she was born in MAU), I knew I had to have a chat with my midwife to make a plan. My midwife, Lindsay, was great, was all for me being the driver, knowing I knew my own body and what was happening. I really wanted to stay home until I could put Billie to bed at 6.30, and since I was still coping really well we decided together I would wait the hour and then call again, if anything happened in the meantime I would let her know. As soon as I hung up the phone, things started increasing. I could no longer chat to the kids during the contraction, needed to sway and focus on my breathing. We got to 6.15pm and I messaged Lindsay and my student, Madi, to let them know we would definitely be leaving home at 6.30pm. My husband loaded the car, and I put my baby girl to bed with the best cuddles, and some tears from me, knowing how much was about to change for her. We gave our big boy a hug (he could not have cared less, he was having a movie night with Nana!) and off we went!
By the time we had arrived, things had slowed a bit but everyone was telling me they will ramp up again. Brad, Lindsay and Madi set my room up with my fairy lights, my playlist was going, we had candles and birth affirmations up. My birth photographer arrived and then I was left with Brad to focus on me and get comfy in our space.
Within 15 mins things had started ramping up and I needed Brad’s counter pressure on my hips whilst I swayed on the ball. By 8pm, I was ready for the bath and we called everyone back in. I was helped to undress and make my way into the bath. The water was AMAZING! It felt so nice, and I was able to continue using my breath to move through each contraction. There were points when I asked if Madi or Lindsay could see anything, and there was no head showing but my behaviour had changed, the purple line up my bottom was there and I was feeling more pressure.
I had been on my knees leaning over the bath but started to feel pressure and needed to roll. Once I was leaning back, I felt the baby starting to head down more and then the pressure was building ready for me to push. After about 4 pushes, baby was out and I was able to lift them out of the water and onto my chest. I exclaimed “She’s here!!” to which my husband said “Um it’s a BOY!”, clearly that mother's intuition doesn’t work on me. Angus was also born in the sack which was so cool, Lindsay stuck her phone in the water and videoed him coming out which is amazing, and my birth photographer (Autumn Raes Photography) took the most beautiful photos that I am so thankful to have to look over. We spent the next 4 hours cuddling, chatting, had the most amazing shower and then we got to go home. We were in our own bed, snuggling with our newest addition by 1am, ready for Logan and Billie to wake up to a big surprise in the morning.
Angus Bradley, was born at 8.45pm on 20 July 2024, 3.685 kilos and 51 cms long, our biggest baby, the final piece to our puzzle! But after that birth, I would do it again and again, since I can’t I am starting my degree to become a midwife and help woman in the most vulnerable, amazing times of their lives.
What do you wish you knew before birth?
This time around, I am not sure there is anything I wish I knew about birth. But postpartum was hard this time and I was diagnosed with postnatal depression and postnatal anxiety, I guess I wish I knew that even though I didn’t have them the first two times, you can still get it with subsequent births.
If you could, would you do anything differently?
Nothing, it was all perfect. I want to do it again.
What did your partner do that really helped during labour/birth?
Letting me do what I needed, was always there to support me whether I wanted touch or space. Was ready to get in the bath with me when I wanted pressure on my hips and he wasn’t sure he’d be able to reach from the side. Words of encouragement.
And post, he is so supportive, he makes sure I am fed, watered, have time to shower and a moment to myself.
What advice/honest truth would give a mama-to-be about birth?
There are ways to prepare for labour through birth courses, podcasts, meditation apps, use them. It won’t determine your birth but it will assist you to cope through the different circumstances that can occur during labour/birth.