Maisie's Birth Story

20th April 2021

At 38 weeks after two stretch and sweeps, eating all the food to help bring on labour, trying EVERYTHING to put an end to what was a nightmare pregnancy, at 2cm dilated I was on my way to be induced due to my gestational diabetes, I wish it was earlier due to my HG. I was alone. Partners only welcome in the birthing suite (thanks Covid).

The balloon was inserted to ripen my cervix at around 2pm on the 19th of April, it was a relaxing (only slightly uncomfortable) afternoon. At 7pm I was taken to a shared hospital room with three other mamas-to-be who had also started induction that day. We shared one bathroom and in HG style I spent all evening until 2am vomiting and hogging our only toilet. The kind nurses tried everything to stop my vomiting without luck. I felt so guilty - I am very aware how often pregnant mamas need to pee.

The next morning I was the last to head down to the birthing suite. I text James to let him know it was go time! I WAS SO READY TO BIRTH!

Mia and Maple were completely natural births, which I found a little traumatic (I even broke my coccyx bone giving birth to Maple) I opted for an epidural with Manning (I loved birthing Manning and was hoping for another epidural) Although with Maple I was in hospital to be induced I had never had to use oxytocin before as contractions started without it. Fourth baby I thought would ‘fall out’ at home, but it wasn’t to be.

James arrived as my waters were broken, I still wasn’t progressing, no contractions and no dilation.

Still nauseous and vomiting.

The midwife hooked me up to a machine and administered oxytocin. Boom! Straight away those all familiar contraction pains started, I was up walking around, swaying from side to side, grabbing James’ hand tightly and trying to calmly breathe through the contractions. My mantra was ‘Every contraction is a step closer to no longer feeling nauseous and meeting my baby girl’. I felt like I could no longer stand up, I was feeling slightly ‘out of body’ and my voice was getting demon-ishly low so I asked for the epidural. The angel that was my anaesthesiologist appeared fifteen minutes later, I somehow sat on the side of the bed and curled my back like a prawn. In this position the most ridiculous thing happened… For the past two months I had been going to the toilet frequently to do the smallest tinkle, in this strange position the flood gates were opened and I did the biggest, longest wee I have ever done! Covering the hospital floor, I wanted them to say, it’s your waters breaking (again ha ha ha) but it was wee, a huge flow of wee… Dignity gone, the epidural was in and it was INCREDIBLE! I referred to my birthing experience as a stay at a luxury day spa.

After an epidural (for me) I feel focused, in control, I have full memory and awareness of what is happening. I had the A team with me, we laughed and had a wonderful time preparing to push. When it came to pushing I could only feel the slightest tightening and joked about missing an opportunity to push as I didn’t feel a tightening. I only had to ‘gently’ push for fifteen minutes and Maisie arrived earth side. I cried and cried and cried. The nausea and vomiting had ended and my beautiful baby girl was safe in my arms. With two chin dimples, cheek dimples like Manning, a big smile like Maple and long fingers like Mia. I had to ask if she was okay because she didn’t make a sound. She was so calm and content after what I can only imagine was a rough day for her.

James and I couldn’t stop staring. I birthed a giant placenta, my small first degree tear was stitched up while we were still staring and snuggling. At 38 I had packed adult diapers this time around to prepare for the aftermath, unlike my first birth at 18 - totally unprepared I packed a bag of g-strings.

Maisie’s blood sugar levels were tested shortly after birth and she had to be taken to the Special Care Nursery, which was difficult, however it allowed James and I to feast on creamy prawn risotto and I was able to get a little rest as she fed on the colostrum I had been expressing. I was then able to be with her all day in the SCN and every three hours overnight to establish breastfeeding, Maisie is the first baby I have found breastfeeding ‘easy’. We were able to go home when Maisie was two days old, with help from formula to perfect her blood sugar levels.

She fits perfectly into our crazy family, the kids adore her.

Healing, learning, navigating life as a mum of four.