*Not up to speed? You can read Part I here.
... Not really keen to have an internal done with my children out running amuck in the hallway, we made the 30 minute trip to drop them off at MC's folks before setting out for the hospital. In the car, I think I wrestled against maybe two or three 60 second contractions? To me, things did not look promising.
"Oh my goddddd," I wailed in my head "This Panadeine Forte isn't going to knock me out and I'm going to contract like this for a month and I'M GOING TO BE MOTHERFUCKING PREGNANT FOREVER! Why did I think this is a good idea? WHYYYY?"
When we got up to the delivery suites, we were greeted by a Midwife who informed us that Geesje was making "a day of it" (ie; a few of hers AND Rochelle's girls, myself included, were hanging out up in the suites with impatient babies wanting to arrive early) we'd have to sit outside until she could see us. Awesomeness. I resisted pulling the "Don't you know who I am? I'm kind of a big deal (on my blog), I'M GOOD GOLLY MISS HOLLY!" card and settled in out in the same waiting area my Mum and sister sat in almost five years ago, awaiting the arrival of Amelia. "Maybe she's drawing this out because she wants Rochelle to deliver her?" I told MC "Thank god she's back tomorrow!"
Geesje settled us into the consult room a little while later and we exchanged the usual pleasantries - "How are you feeling?", "Can you just yank this baby out now?", "Have you had much sleep?", "Why is my body insistent on being a bastard & putting me through thiiiis". She gave me one of those amazing, reassuring Midwife smiles and hooked me up to the foetal monitor.
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| Babies? We got that shit sorted. iPhone games? Trickier business right there! |
Now when I was in labour with Amelia and we were waiting for a space in the theatre, I remember MC & I being extremely attentive to each other, holding hands and all that kinda lovey crap you see in the movies. We were anxious and excited and abit scared of the unknown. This time though, we were old hands at this baby thing and while the anxiety and excitement were there, we spent most of the time in that consult room, playing games on our iPhones. As you do!
After 20 minutes and one half-assed contraction on the monitor, Geesje was satisfied all was well & we began the "Sleep is best, you need to conserve energy, here are some painkillers" talk. I had the exact conversation with Rochelle when I was labouring with Oscar and I couldn't believe 3 years later, here I was again. Damn! We agreed that she'd do an internal though - Not an enjoyable experience but we both thought that having abit of confirmation that something was happening would hopefully pacify me some before heading off back home again to pace my hallway like a madwoman.
You know those faces that doctors and nurses pull on TV when something's up? The ones that fill you with sudden suspence? Yep, Geesje flashed us one of those looks while she was doing the internal and said "You are not going to believe this. No, really. I don't even believe this!" and then it felt like a million years passed before she said "You're 7cm dilated already, you're not going home!"
E3IJWQFSJV83812 HOW THE FUCK CAN YOU GET TO 7CM WITHOUT REGULAR CONTRACTIONS?
I don't know but I did it and we were going to have a baby before the day was out!
Just after 2pm, I found myself in a birthing room. Say whaaaaat? Wasn't I going to be pregnant forever? Wowsers! I sent MC down to the car and just as I saw the back of him, an almighty contraction kicked in. Then another. And another. They'd gone from 10-15 minutes to roughly 3 and I think my Mum walked in to find me, hunched over the bed and moaning. But none of that mattered because my Mum was there - A big thing for me as she wasn't able to be in the theatre when Amelia was delivered and was looking after Amelia when Oscar was delivered.
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| So I tried to snap one last belly photo when the mother of all contractions struck - Pretty, huh? |
I'd had these plans (well, not so much plans, more desires) to be active during labour this time around and also, try to manage the pain in the bath. Maybe birth even in the bath. I found myself soaking in the spa bath but for the life of me, I just could not get comfortable. The contractions were coming fast and thick - They were so intense and I could feel that all familiar sensation of being split in two. I guess if you were visualising during labour, this would be the part where you visualised your pelvis separating or somethiing. I don't know, that was the part where I wanted to cut a bitch. The intensity, the back contractions, OH MY GOD! And for those of you who remember MC's hilarity during my labour with Oscar, the answer is yes - He did say something stupid this time around too! As I climbed into the spa, he howled like a wolf. You know how wolves howl at a full moon? Oh yeah, he totally went there!
"What's the time?" I asked MC, who was sitting on the side of the bath next to me. He showed me the lock screen of his phone - 3:15pm. God damn it, it felt like hours had passed in that bathroom but I had only been in there for a mere 30 minutes! I sank back in the bath, preparing to feel fully sorry for myself in the short gaps I had between contractions when I was suddenly overcome with a pushy feeling. Oh ... my ... god. HOLY SHIT. LIKE LITERALLY. DO I NEED TO POO?
The whole affair intensified from there on in where of course, I didn't need to release anything other than a baby! MC helped me over to the bed and despite my desire to move around during contractions, I insisted on laying down. I can't explain why but when I labour, it feels like I have to huddle up in foetal position to conserve my energy. It's as if everything else requires too much energy and effort. By that point, my waters still hadn't broken and I felt like the pressure of each contraction was sending me crazy. At one stage, I grabbed MC by the collar of his shirt and reefed him down to me. I'm surprised I didn't rip his shirt while doing so! Mental labouring woman? You bet your sweet ass!
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| With Mum there, we were able to have this special moment captured on camera! |
The magical words escaped my lips soon after - "Can I have some drugs pleaseeee?" and if I hadn't been in the throes of a nasty-ass contraction, my whole world would have shattered when Geesje said no. "I don't think you realise how far you are," She said "I'm going to break your membranes now and then it's about time to push?" Um, WHAT? Already? Wasn't I supposed to do this for hours before we got to this point? WINNING!
I can not describe to you the relief that coursed through my body when my waters were broken - That insane in the membrane pressure subsided and I felt enough mental clarity to focus on birthin' that babeh! Before we knew it, I was pushing and groaning and remembering why they call it the ring of fire and then BAM!
Abigail Violet was born at 4:15pm into Geesje and her Daddy's arms. At 6lb 14oz and 50cm, she is my smallest babe and truly an itty bitty girl!
She fed within minutes and when the time came to dress her, I was absolutely gobsmacked to find the 0000 Wondersuit that I had lovingly packed for her was about ten times too big! Never, ever did I think I would have a babe in 00000 especially after Oscar came out, immediately rocking the 000 wondersuits!
Just 3 hours after getting to the hospital for a whinge and some panadeine forte, Abi arrived and 4 hours after giving birth, we left the hospital with a gorgeous new baby in our arms. Unbelievable, right?
And isn't she just divine?
