ANNE HER LABOR STARTED FOR THE THIRD TIME WITH THE BREAKING OF THE MEMBRANES. SHE SECRETLY ENJOYED HER 2 OLDEST CHILDREN FOR A WHILE BEFORE LABOR BEGAN. AFTER THAT IT WENT SMOOTHLY
It’s almost 3:30. I wake up to my youngest son who cannot sleep and wants to continue sleeping between us. Immediately I feel that it is wet between my legs. And I’m very sure I didn’t pee in my bed. Could it be my membranes? Does this 3rd labor also start with the breaking of membranes? Quietly I lay my baby son in the middle, go to the bathroom … check the color of the fluid and find that with every step I take, drops and jets of amniotic fluid are leaking.
Oh gosh … it’s about to start! Today I am going to meet you little girl! Quickly a towel between my legs to catch the moisture and on to the little man; he really needs to go to sleep.
I go back to bed where I indicate to my son that he really can’t sleep with us tonight and take him back to his own bed for a while.
On the attic stairs we also meet my oldest son who needs to go to the bathroom just now.
I tuck him in as well and secretly enjoy this special moment with the 3 of us in the middle of the night. If they only knew!!!
With the wad of towels between my legs, I walk down the stairs, freshen myself up once more and crawl back into bed on a mat and towel.
I wake up hubby, who still slept through everything, and tell him my water broke. I have no contractions yet, my belly is quiet and together we decide to get some sleep while we still can. I still tell him that I hope I do recognize the contraction in time.
I don’t really manage to sleep well, but some dozing off fortunately. Around 5:30, I can’t doze off anymore. My belly is rumbling and the cramps are getting worse by the minute.
How could I have thought I wouldn’t recognize a contraction! I begin to time the contractions and note that they come every 3 minutes and during a contraction I have to fully focus on the contraction. I decide to call the midwife. Nicolette appeared to be on duty. Liked it immediately. She did my 1st child and now we can also finish it together on our 3rd.
We meet at Tergooi hospitals.
The car ride there is somewhat uncomfortable, but with healthy excitement and a lot of desire to meet the little girl we tour to Blaricum.
At the parking lot, Nicolette is already waiting for us at 7:15am. Together we walk to the delivery ward. I am still asked if I have any specifics or a birth plan. I have no wishes. For me, no serene music, salt lamps or other craziness. I know a lot is possible and allowed, but I just want this to be over as soon as possible. I know I can do this, I’m going to do this.
Upon arrival, I was found to be only 4-5 cm dilated. This was very disappointing to me relative to the energy it already takes. But Nicolette indicates that I should let go of the numbers and trust my body and that I am doing very well. I put the switch back on and crawl on my side on the bed and quietly sigh away each contraction. I hear every conversation, but I can no longer participate in it.
It is a wonderful distraction, though. Nicolette sees from me that the intensity of the contractions is increasing even more and advises me to come stand beside the bed. This allows the head to press even better on the dilation edge and the dilation will go faster. I won’t let me say that twice!
Faster = better! With some help, I am right next to the bed and catch the contractions. With each contraction, I feel the pressure increase. At times I just think I’m sinking through my legs. But I am also really trying to help the little girl down by going with the contraction. There is no point in opposing this. I know what I’m doing it for! If after about 45 minutes I really can no longer stand on my legs I am helped onto the bed. Soon I notice that the contractions are changing. Pressure is added. That gives me confidence that I’m almost there. I notice that the contractions are turning into push contractions. I find that despite the pain, I am happy … I am almost there … the finish line is in sight! Nicolette indicates that the advice is to give birth on hands and knees.
During consultations at the practice, this had been discussed, but then I thought; they have gone crazy. How embarrassing that would be!!! I’m not going to get down on my hands and knees there, am I? So I said if you guys really think it’s better, just ask me in the moment.
But now we are in the moment and Nicolette suggests it again. I really trust her guidance completely and turn around on my hands and knees.
By the way, this is not as bad as I thought beforehand.
You hang, so to speak, with your elbows on the headboard which is up and your knees are on the mattress. I actually thought it was pretty ok.
Due to a total rupture with my 1st child, it turns out that given the intensity of my push contractions, it is better not to push with them. The push contractions are also so incredibly powerful now that my body can really do this by itself. So I have to suck away every push contraction.
That took some shifting, but Nicolette coached me through this. I just feel my little girl dropping with each contraction and I feel the head coming. I know that when the head stands, I’ll be there….
the body does flub after that….
so I don’t resist that pain and look forward to our 1st meeting….
But then the head stands, that pain is gone … and then the atmosphere in the room changes. From a coaching voice, I suddenly feel tension in the room. Nicolette raises her voice and tells me to listen now and push with all the strength I have in me. I can’t wait for the next contraction, but I have to push now.
For a moment I feel panic in myself … fear … it’s not going to happen now that something goes wrong, is it?
I realize that panicking now won’t help … in a split second I sigh it away and push with all the strength I have. Nicolette calls even more clearly for me to push. But no matter what I do, no matter how hard I press … I cannot give what they ask. I can’t do that without woe. Nicolette says she’s going to help me…I’m just thinking about the little girl in my belly. We’re almost there…the finish line is in sight…please…but before the fear really gets the space Nicolette asks me to apply strength once more and then I feel it; a small body flubs out of me. Some doubt after all the consternation just now;
Am I ready? Really? Is she there? And then I feel peace again in the room, I get her in my arms…On my knees on the bed I embrace my little girl. She’s here! 10:32am … done! We did it!
