Baby 1: 1 week overdue. Water broke 4am. Went to hospital 7am. They said they would induce me that night if labour hadn’t started. It didn’t start but they were too busy to induce me. I had an hour of strong contractions that night but then they stopped. They didn’t have time to induce me until that night. Put the drip in 7pm (oxytocin) Hated it because I had to stay in bed hooked up to a monitor. They only allowed me out of bed to go to the toilet. Midwife convinced me to have gas, even though I felt I was coping with the pain. I hated it – it made me vomit. Later on I was moaning and groaning and the dr said I should have Pethadine. I hated that too. It made me too out of it to push properly. Amelia was born after 6 hours at 8lb.
Baby 2: 2 weeks overdue. Scan showed low fluid level. Admitted to hospital. Gel applied at 5pm. They said they would break my waters in the morning. Massaged ankle. Started having contractions 7pm. Waters broke 1am. Active labour commenced. Rocked on chair with pillow leaning over the bed. Had a hot shower. 3am went to birth suite and got in bath. Bellahna born in bath at 4.30am, 9lb 9oz. No drugs. Shoulder got stuck on the way out.
Baby 3: 2 weeks overdue. Told I would be induced if I hadn’t had baby by next hospital appointment. Drank castor oil at noon. Cramps started 3pm. Contractions started 6pm. Rocked on chair with pillow leaning over bed. Water broke in a waterfall at 1am. Active labour commenced – 2 mins apart. Went to hospital. Same midwife as last time. Got in bath. Midwife didn’t want me to deliver in bath because got stuck last time. Wanted to get out at transition anyway. Got under shower and rocked on ball. Delivered that way. No drugs. Shoulder got stuck on the way out. Fractured clavical. Clareesa born after 3 and half hours – 9lb 14 oz.
Baby 4: On due date took castor oil at 7am. Mild contraction in evening. Strong contractions 2am. Water broke. Established labour began 2 mins apart. Got in bath. Contractions slowed to 5 mins. Slowed to 10mins at 5am, got out of bath. Walked around house. Contractions stopped at 7am. Intermittant contractions during the day. Went to hospital at 2pm. Walked the halls. Contractions began 10 mins apart at 7pm. Continued all night like that – slept in between. Stopped again at 7am. Gel applied 11am. Contractions began at 12. By 3pm active labour. Walked around, rocked in chair, stood up and rocked hips.
Went to birth suite at 4.30. Lay on side on bed slightly elevated because dr worked out that the reason my previous babies’ shoulders got stuck is because my 2nd stage is too fast. Laying down on left side slows it down a bit and opens up pelvis. I was told not to push. Didn’t need to anyway, my uterus rippled violently and then head was crowning. That was the hardest part. Second stage was a total of 6 minutes long. Deanna was born at 5.30pm – 8lb. No drugs. The only complication was heavy bleeding which responded to a syntocinon drip overnight. Apparently heavy bleeding is common with 4th babies. Something to beware of if your thinking of a home birth. It sounds very appealing but I wouldn’t risk it for that reason.
