Labour & Birth
Birth Stories from around the globe!
Jul
Tamecka & Zoe – Queensland, Australia
This is the story of how I had my very first brain tickle…and met my son. On the (very early) morning 27th of May my wife and I made our way to the hospital for our scheduled c-section. At 39weeks I was uncomfortable, experiencing pain and was just ready to birth our son. It was like being a child on Christmas morning for us and our extended family. Arriving at the hospital in the dead of winter, rugged up, masked up and carrying a lot of unnecessary bags we were ready.
Fast forward an hour, I finally got into my gown which relief due to heat on the ward to keep the babies warm. At this point the midwife came in to take my temperature, 37.7°, the panic! You have a temperature, you must have covid! Covid protocol initiated. My door had numerous signs put on it, WARNING! The midwife came back in with a Hazmat to inform us I would require a rapid swab, she took my temperature again, it was trending down without any medications, but it was too late she launched the protocol – at this point the door should have been about warning staff that hormonal and pregnant lady was in the room. Swab done, very gentle and not as bad as thought.
I was more nervous about that than my caesarean – because I was still having it right!? Wrong. My OB called, we lost our spot and while the results would be back in 4hrs there was no more times available and because he is also a fertility specialist and wasn’t sure when he could get it scheduled because he was also dealing with a lot of other hormonal women and the OR was booked out, must be a popular place. I cried, my OB asked me to go into labour so we could get a slot. Couldn’t will this to happen. Fast forward to lunch time, still no call, so I called “results aren’t back yet”, 3pm I called “rapid wasn’t ticked by the nurse it could be 48hrs”. At this point picture Edward Cullen crushing his phone to dust, but I needed it to call my OB. My OB followed up this because we were lucky to get a spot for the following morning at 7.30 but without the negative result I was banned from the hospital. We went to bed feeling disheartened, but my OB assured me he was on the phone dealing with it.
We received a text at midnight, results still not back, but he will call in the morning and for us to make sure we drive to the hospital and wait for his call. We arrive, park on the street because no way are we paying for hospital parking again. At 7.29am we receive a call “do you want the result? I’m really sorry, it’s…negative” hilarious man. On we went to the hospital, good temperature – made sure I was dressed for summer though. The moment arrives, I meet the most amazing anaesthesiologist, the cannula hurts more than the epidural going in which amazing. He was so attentive, Zoe attentive, I hate being centre of attention but this is the story of how I met my son after all. The party gets started. A bit of music, some chatter and laughter, did I mention our OB is a funny guy? Serious business now, our son, Owen Michael all 3.626kg of him, arrives screaming at 10.13am. My scheduled c-section didn’t follow the schedule (but neither does Owen) but the team present in that operating theatre that day were definitely meant to be the one presents when our son arrived Earth side. For me, my c-section was an amazing and calm experience and my body recovered brilliantly. I was up walking within 24hrs, I was pain relief free and driving within 3 weeks.
Courtney and Prue – Victoria, Australia
We are a same sex married couple: Courtney and Prue. We always wanted to have a family. It was never a question- we wanted to be mums. For us- IVF was our only option. Before we get into how our first child came into the world- these are some of the steps we had to go through to create her. -IVF consultation -Check-ups/blood work -2 mandatory counselling sessions to discuss the donor program and assess we fully understood the legality etc -Donor program: access to the donor sperm program in Victoria.
Each state is different. We don’t classify as ‘one family’ we are 2 families- so if we both wanted to use the same donor (which we have done) we both had to purchase/reserve his sperm. A man can only donate to ‘five families’ in Victoria. So, we are considered 2 families he has donated to. -laparoscopy/hysteroscopy -monitoring cycles/ovulations/menstruation -egg retrieval -embryo transfer (if you’re lucky and get to that stage) -Before we even had our very first egg retrieval it took about 6-7 months with the things you have to do first to actually get to the baby making stage. It’s quite a slow moving process, particularly as a gay couple or being in the donor program. Prue had spent 3 years trying to conceive via IVF- we had changed clinics, donors but sadly it just wasn’t working. She had some pre-existing fertility struggles that we only found out about once she tried to conceive (endometriosis and Adenomyosis) that were heavily impacting her egg quality. We didn’t know that prior to IVF- but some investigative surgery located significant Endo and Adenomyosis.
All over her uterus, ovaries and colon. The surgeon who located it was gobsmacked she had lived with it for so long or that she hadn’t been referred for laparoscopic surgery earlier. Sadly, multiple visits to GP’s at a younger age and even earlier fertility specialists- never explored it or investigated it. With 2 of her egg retrievals- 0 eggs made it to day 1 . The long term impacts of 4 unsuccessful retrievals had an emotional and physical impact. Prue had done everything imaginable (fertility diets, specialists, surgeries, specialised medications, vitamins, naturopaths, acupuncture, change of clinics, change of donor sperm. It hurt. Something she wanted so badly and it just wasn’t happening. So, we reassessed. Our end goal was a family, so we made the decision to try with Courtney and Prue again after she’d been given some time to recover from the toll of IVF and heartache. We had considered reciprocal IVF- (Prue carrying Courtney’s embryo) but Prue wanted to try again with her own eggs, at least once after she had given her body a chance to recuperate.
First, we would explore Courtney. Fortunately, Courtney fell pregnant on her first retrieval and first transfer. A bit bittersweet, but so, so exciting for both of us. We were having a baby. That’s all we ever wanted. The pregnancy itself was relatively uneventful until the 34 week scan. We went in and sometimes you can just sense it’s not good. The sonographer was unusually quiet. We got a phone call within hours of leaving and had to return to hospital. The baby was breech (this wasn’t a surprise- always had been) but it had be found that Courtney had oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid). This meant the baby wouldn’t turn naturally and had zero chance of turning without the fluid. It also meant increased monitoring was required due to it impacting the babies chance to thrive due to decreased oxygen supply/nutrients getting to the baby through the umbilical cord. We went to the hospital and they mentioned all of these big words and medical terms and we just wanted to know the baby was okay.
It all happened quite quickly after that- met with our OB the next day, she discharged us to a gynaecologist who told us the baby had to be born via a C section. He booked us in for a c section at 37+4. We had previously Imagined the birth, what it may be like etc. We were realists though- and whilst an elective C section wasn’t part of the plan, we just wanted our baby healthy and if this was how it has to enter the world, then so be it. We just wanted a healthy baby. After meeting with the surgeon- we left the appointment knowing the day our baby would be born (if it remained healthy). What a surreal feeling. Knowing on a Tuesday in 3 weeks your baby is arriving. From then on, for 2.5 weeks, Courtney had to go to the hospital daily for monitoring scans to ensure the baby was still growing and thriving. It was all a little overwhelming. The staff/nurses were amazing. Cannot fault them.
We went to bed on Monday, May 24th, knowing that we were 2nd on the list for an ‘elective’ (we didn’t elect shit) c section. When we woke up- we looked at each knowing this is the last time we would stand in this house together as a couple. Next time we were home together we would have a baby. We cuddled for what felt like an eternity. A new, big change for our relationship. Parenting together. Raising our baby. We got in the car, bags packed and ‘checked in’. Within 40 minutes of getting set up in the room, changed, Courtney was wheeled down, alongside Prue to the surgical area.
The team, staff were amazing. The adrenaline started to kick in and it became quite real. You don’t picture your babies entry into the world being so surgical but it was what it was. We didn’t honesty care- we just wanted to meet our baby. Holding hands, within 7 minutes of having the epidural our baby was born. A girl. We didn’t know what we were having, so it was a lovely surprise. She was just perfect. Absolutely perfect.. She was handed to Prue and it was the most surreal thing- laying there (presumably getting sewn back together) whilst your wife is holding our little girl. That little thing you felt kicking and moving inside of you, out into the world as a real person. Our person. As a couple- we didn’t have huge birth plans. Our only plan was: healthy baby. However that looked- we would get on with it. We spent 3 days in hospital together before we started life back home as mums. Since our daughter’s birth we’ve had another 2 egg retrievals. Unfortunately, Prue’s retrieval resulted in 0 embryos so we decided to try reciprocal IVF (Prue to carry Courtney’s embryo). Courtney had another egg retrieval and the best embryo was transferred to Prue… And now… Prue is pregnant with our second baby- Due January 2023. So, we now prepare for another baby. We cannot wait. We feel incredibly fortunate. IVF can be truly traumatic for so many couples and individuals. Something they want so badly, and it’s just not working for them. It’s such a draining, isolating, emotionally and physically taxing process, private and heartbreaking thing to go through. Whilst some couples do get some great results (baby) it’s still something that is really hard to go through. No one can really understand what IVF is like unless they’re going through it. It took us 6 egg retrievals, god knows how many needles and easily $80,000 to have our daughter and unborn child. Many other individuals and couples are still working towards their baby having endured so much more. We wish them nothing but the best. We see you. X
Olivia – Auckland, New Zealand
I’ve been asked a few times this week about August’s Birth, so thought I’d put the story here so I have a reference point.
On Sunday, I went in to be checked for lower insulin requirements (this can be normal with gestational diabetes towards the end) and reduced foetal movements. Everything appeared fine on the first scan and CTG, however my doctor wanted to check his measurements so called in an external sonographer to check his growth rather than waiting until my scan the following day. At the growth scan I had a feeling something was up when she said his estimated weight was 3.4kgs (his previous had been 3.8kgs). He was otherwise healthy and fine. The OB came in and asked if I wanted to be induced tonight or tomorrow morning. Fortunately they didn’t have a bed for me that night and while it was important to get him out, it wasn’t critical and fine to wait.
The next day I went in and had the balloon catheter inserted around noon and spent the day chilling out in the room, wandering around the hospital, etc… the first few hours after I had some contractions but they subsided and then I didn’t have much going on for the rest of the day. At 3am I went to the bathroom and the catheter came out naturally.
At 10am the next day, I was taken to the birthing suite, hooked up to a whole lot of monitors to make sure the baby wasn’t in distress and my waters were broken. They started a cintocin drip around the same time and by 2pm I was having some pretty decent contractions. August was coping well with everything (as was I), and the doctor came in to check on him and advised me he was still very high in my pelvis but I was progressing well at 6cm. By 3pm, I asked how far I was as I was at 8cm and the baby was still at -3cm. We had a chat and realised no matter what at this stage he’d need help and there was no way I wanted to feel an episiotomy or forceps, etc.. so opted at that point for an epidural (I had gotten that far with no pain relief). By 4.30 I had the epidural and he was still at -3cm.
The midwife and doctor went to dinner around 5.30 and I snoozed off and on until they got back. At which time he was still at -3 and I was still at 8cm. He still had a strong heart beat and the epidural was wearing off, but I could only feel the contractions in my right hip.
The doctor asked me if I was comfortable getting him out through a c-section as while he was fine it would be quite the miracle if he actually managed to come out given he’d been stuck at -3cm for so long now. We decided on the c-section and she went to put us in line for the Operating room. My midwife knew how much I’d been enjoying the view from the birthing suite earlier in the day and turned all the lights off and moved the bed to the windows so I could watch the lights coming on over the city and topped up the epidural. Twice, because I could still feel the pain in my right hip.
At 7.45pm my OB demanded another Operating room be opened because she worried they’d just keep pushing us back… and at 8pm I was wheeled in. He arrived in the world at exactly 8.15pm and I wouldn’t change a thing about his birth story. It may not have been what I envisaged but it was still perfect and calm… which was exactly what I wanted.
Alicia – Queensland, Australia
After a few rounds of IVF and multiple unsuccessful frozen embryo transfers, we made the big decision to change fertility specialists and transfer 2 embryos at the same time. Knowing the risks of a multiple pregnancy, we were nervous, yet hopeful that this was going to be the one. After finding out we were pregnant with twins, we were shocked. I mean we knew it was a real possibility, but after so many failed transfers, we just weren’t expecting it. I can’t even explain the emotions we had, there were so many. Happy, excited, scared, were a few that come to mind.
Pregnancy after IVF is intense. You question everything and it can be so easy to fall down a rabbit hole of google searches, but given that I am a midwife, I know there are so many variables in early pregnancy and I just had to sit back, relax as much as I could and really just go with the flow.
At about 9 weeks pregnant, I was at work on shift when I felt a big gush. Terrified, I ran to the toilet and there was so much blood, I put two pads on and soaked them in minutes. I had to go and tell my colleagues what was happening as I knew I needed to go home. The bleeding slowed down and I sat in the tearoom for a few minutes just to make sure it had settled before I headed to the car. I was certain it was all over and I had miscarried. It was 8pm at night.
The next day we got to the fertility specialist for an ultrasound. We were still pregnant, but one baby wasn’t doing well and we were prepared for the likelihood that we would lose that one. The next scan a week later confirmed that to be the case. They call this vanishing twin syndrome. We were pretty gutted.
From here on – the rest of the pregnancy was very uneventful. We got to 41 weeks and decided on an Induction. I had thrombocytopenia and my platelets were dropping pretty rapidly. We went into hospital for assessment and I was already 2-3cm dilated, so there was no need for prostaglandins. We went home to return in the morning for induction.
We got home, had curry for dinner, bounced on the birth ball, watched some tv in peace and then it was time for bed.
I lay in bed and I was feeling really restless, nervous for the day ahead of me, excited to meet our baby. I tried so hard to go to sleep and I just couldn’t. All of a sudden, I felt this pop, I knew exactly what it was but I didn’t feel any gush of fluid. I hopped up to go to the bathroom and there it was. A quick hop and awkward run to the bathroom to avoid drenching my carpet in amniotic fluid and I just made it. The bathroom copped a tsunami. So much fluid. I couldn’t stop smiling. I never wanted an induction.
I jumped in the shower, cleaned myself up and put on a Huuugggeeee surfboard sized pad. I was not contracting at all so I called the hospital, just to let them know that I had ruptured my membranes and I would like to stay home and await labour. It was about 1am at this stage. I hopped back into bed, turned the lights out and lay there, knowing there was no chance I was going back to sleep. After about 30 mins I started having some cramps which escalated very quickly. We hopped up, woke mum, and called our amazing friend Sonya to see if she could come and look after our daughter so mum could come and be with us in the hospital when it was time to leave.
Sonya arrived and I was contracting very regular at this point, 3 contractions in 10 minutes, lasting about 40-50 seconds. Sonya started rubbing my lower back during contractions and in between we were having a few laughs and it was really chilled.
It got to 2.30am and I decided I wanted to go into hospital. I was coping well at home, but the contractions were getting intense. I really wanted to get into the birth pool and just let myself fully relax without worrying about when I should leave home.
On arrival, the entry to the maternity unit was shut so we had to enter via ED. I was informed that the wardie would be here in a few minutes with a wheelchair to take me to birth suite. I assured them I was fine and that I could walk but they wouldn’t allow it. The wardie arrived, a young, terrified looking gentlemen, who pushed that wheelchair so fast I forgot I was even in labour. I got to birth suite and was taken into my room. The bath was running and ready to go. Hallelujah.
A quick examination and a listen in to baby and I was free to move as I pleased. I was 5cm dilated. The room was dim, and the birth pool was lit with a nice blue light. A few contractions and some rocking back and forth with my husband and it was time for me to get into the birth pool. That feeling was incredible. I felt weightless and warm.
I started on some gas as the contractions intensified. I was on all fours as this felt the most comfortable. Both mum and Miki were by my side, Miki holding my hand (or I was breaking his hand, I’m not sure) and mum putting cool wet cloths on my neck and holding my water cup. They did exactly what I needed them to do. It wasn’t long before I started feeling the urge to push with contractions.
At 4:24am our baby entered this world. I remember the midwife saying, pick up your baby. I was so immersed in pushing that I didn’t even realise he was born. I turned over and I brought him to my chest. It was so magical. After a few moments I was reminded that we didn’t know what we had and that I should check. We had a boy! I am so pleased we left that surprise until the birth. After a little while, I hopped out of the pool and into bed where I birthed my placenta and had some skin to skin and cuddles with our precious newborn baby. We opted for a discharge from birthsuite and at 11am – we left for home. Our 10 year old didn’t even know I had given birth so you can imagine her face when we turned up, little Hugo in tow.
