Birth story: chapter three

Chapter three: high

So suddenly there was a good looking student doctor introducing himself to me, and a contraction comes on and I’m trying to be polite. The midwives offered me sterile water injections as I was in so much pain and it was mostly in my back. The catch was I had to be incredibly still as a contraction came on for them to put it in. Didn’t think I’d be able to. So I declined.

Then one of the midwives suggested I tried the gas. I hesitated but agreed. This is where the real fun began.

As instructed I inhaled the gas as a contraction came on. I thought it may taste foul, but it didn’t taste like anything. But boy, did it have an affect! I started saying “wow! That is great!” I turned to Hendrik asking if he wanted some. I then recall laughing hysterically. I was definitely on a high. Did it do anything for the pain? Probably not. But it was great!

Despite not being allowed to have a waterbirth, I could get in the bath for pain relief, which was bliss. We all wandered down to the bath room (I stumbled down there). We took the gas too. In I got into the bath, fully naked. It was nice. Except for the fully naked part. I had actually packed Hendrik’s bathers as well so that he could get in too. Didn’t happen. Hendrik ended up going downstairs to get some sushi. He asked if I wanted any. Of course bloody not!

While Hendrik was gone, I was laying there naked in the bath feeling rather awkward. I started talking to the young doctor… “So…. Which uni do you go to? Oh… Monash! Right, I wanted to go there.. I went to La Trobe..” You know, small talk. As much as I could to distract myself from being big fat and naked in a bath with people watching.

My contractions were getting stronger and that urge to pee was not going away. I couldn’t though no matter how I tried. I sucked and sucked on the gas like crazy. Jess checked the baby’s heartbeat. It was over 165. They told me they would check again in 5 minutes and if it was still at that rate I had to get out.

Hendrik came back and said that my Mum had been trying to call. I really didn’t want to worry her, but obviously when she had tried the home phone, my phone and Hendrik’s phone for a number of hours and couldn’t get through she was getting suspicious… and worried. I actually planned not to tell anyone, including my parents until after I had given birth. Hendrik asked if he could call her, and I agreed. She needed to know that I was okay. He went outside and made the phone call.

Meanwhile, Jess checked the heart rate of the baby and it hadn’t gone down. I had to get out of the bath, which was a real shame because I was really enjoying the warm water. Hendrik came back in and said that he had spoken to my Mum, and that she was very happy.

Suddenly when I got out of the bath, got my clothes back on (no bra, no undies. Who cares), I began to cry as I made my way back to the birthing suite. Jess asked what was wrong, and I couldn’t really pin point it. Then she said, “okay, that’s enough gas I think.” Apparently it can make you teary if you have too much, and I’d obviously been having too much of a good time.

The good-looking doctor had gone to lunch. I was alone with the midwives and Hendrik. The contractions were becoming unbearable. I tried the gas again but it had lost its affect. I was sucking so hard and then just screaming because it hurt so much! Then between the contractions something remarkable happened. I was on the biggest high I have ever been in my life. One midwife came over to me and checked my pulse. I looked at her eyes. They were this beautiful, greeny-bluish colour, just like mine. I then told her, “you have such beautiful eyes”. Jess came over a bit later and I noticed her eyes were the same colour. “You have beautiful eyes too!”

The contractions grew stronger and the midwives had to put a catheter in to drain my bladder as I felt so like I needed to pee and couldn’t. It didn’t hurt nearly as much as I feared it would, and it definitely took away that horrible, uncomfortable sensation.

Jess then said she was leaving and I was mortified. But she left me in the hands of another midwife that told me I had to stop screaming. Her name was Kelsey. Kelsey told me that the pushing part is easier, because you can actually focus on putting the pain somewhere. Pfft. Yeah right?

Then a mega beast of a contraction came. I screamed like I was about to die. I was now in so much pain. I asked for what I never thought I would, and that’s an epidural. The midwife almost laughed. It was way too late for that. I started saying some really stupid things like, “there’s got to be another way!” and “I don’t want a baby!” I think the midwives are used to this.

Then suddenly, there was a very weird sensation. I felt something leaking. And then I gave the biggest scream I have ever screamed in my entire life…

(to be continued...)