The Big '1'

It's one year ago today that my baby girl came swooshing out into the world. This is her birth story.

The day before Tiny's birth, we decided to treat ourselves to a meal out. Actually, it had become some sort of - quick every week before the birth of this baby let's go out and make the most of it. I walked around the restaurant and remember clearly the feeling of walking like a waddling duck. I visualised the head waaaay down. In my heart, I knew the little babe's birth was imminent.

We got home. The Doctor was sleepy, and what two and a half year old wouldn't be at nine pm? We tucked him into bed, then I had a mini-freak out. I'd been experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions all day, I'd had my hair cut, been to the beautician. I'd gone into lockdown - it seems I know when birth is on the horizon because I start not answering phones and emails.

Anyway, back to the night before. I had a mini-freak out. I decided to quickly read through my friend Sheila's book because for my second birth, I'd done very little reading. I thought, yes I better write a birth plan, though Matt and I pretty well knew what I wanted. And then I thought, hmm, things are going along, maybe I better pack a bag.

We went to bed, I slept 'til around 4am. Woke with contractions getting ever stronger. Dozed a little, then got out of the bed around 5:30am, and as I did - guuuushhhhhhhhhh.

"Oh my, I think my waters have broken." I grabbed anything I could to mop up the Niagra Falls. Raced into the bathroom. Contractions continued stronger from this point, and Matt called the birth centre. By this stage the Doctor was still asleep. In my mind, I was waiting for the little man to wake. If I had had my way, I think I would have liked to home birth, but NSW laws are ridiculous, and it's a little too costly for us at the moment. Birth centre it was. A birth centre across the city, at least 40 minutes drive, could be an hour and a half in peak hour.

I asked Matt to put the bath on. I was determined to labour at home for as long as possible, and to hopefully wait for the Doctor to wake up so I could say goodbye.

Matt told me there wasn't time for me to have a bath and that we should go. He was thinking logically, he (and the midwife) thought things were going to hurry along, and I think he had visions of me birthing on the side of the road. I had discussed the possibility of this with the midwife previously. So while Matt was putting the bag in the car, I snuck into the bath. I felt so scheming. So clever. The Doctor was still sleeping. The one morning he ever sleeps in.

I rode out those contractions, they were coming harder and more frequently, and then when it got a little too much, I told Matt it was time to go. I had to sneak in to say goodbye to the Doctor. I got half way in his room and ---- bIIIIg contraction. I snuck out. I had to keep breathing. Keep breathing.

The car trip was comical.

My first birth (with the Doctor) my sister came with us. She drove. She's cool under fire. Matt sat in the back of the car on that trip. I felt every bump of it.

So this trip, Matt's tension just made me laugh. I couldn't help myself. He was hilarious. We were making very good time careening through the tunnels. By this time it was around 7:30am. We were talking, I was breathing, I was getting ready. Then we were coming 'round the last bend in the last tunnel and I started to transition. Ah transition. I think the hardest most panicky part of birth for me. But this time I said, "We're really not doing so well - we're not there. I need to get there." I remember a semi-trailer on the right of our car. I remember Matt looking at me a little horrified at what I had said.

We raced into the birth centre. Jacquie, a new midwife was to be with us. And the midwife that I had been seeing throughout my pregnancy, Tess was on duty. Familiarity. Ah.

It was the same room the Doctor was born in. Double ah.

I got into the bath. I laboured for a while in part-darkness. Silence. Just Matt and I. The midwife occasionally coming in. Then I felt Tiny's head click into place and I told Matt it was time to push. I held his hand tight and pushed. I remember feeling her feet kicking the sides of my belly. Incredible.

Fifteen minutes, and no lie, Tiny just swam out - a beautiful water birth. Just swam like a little goldfish. Sweet babe of mine. I had to do some crazy leg manouevring as the umbilical cord was a short one, and then that babe lay in my arms. Oh my. My little vernix covered baby. Two weeks early. My sweetheart.

So my darling Tiny, I'm so glad you are here with us, shining smiley baby girl. If we can't get you a pony, will one of these do?