Thursday 19 May 2011

Now We Are Six

This time six years ago I was in pre labour. I walked over a kilometre to the supermarket to buy lemons to make Labouraid. I dropped into the DVD store to hire Sex and the City. I stood next to the rows of DVDs in a contraction and rode out that wave. I walked over a kilometre home, stopping intermittently as the intensity increased. I imagined that small babies head knock-knock-knocking on my cervix. I am the Queen of visualisation, thank you Marie Burrows.

I got home. I squeezed those lemons. I made the Labouraid. I spilt it all over the kitchen floor. Later it would explode over the floor of my sister's car on the ride to the birthing centre. Sorry about that, Choc.

I ate spaghetti bolognaise. I went to bed. I vomited up spaghetti bolognaise. I woke up later. I went into a darkened room. Matt turned the light on. I turned the light off. Matt turned the light on. I turned the light off. I laboured at home. The intensity turned up a notch or two. Matt turned on the light. I turned off the light and screeched "YOU BETTER START ANTICIPATING MY NEEDS!"

Matt called the midwife. The midwife told us to wait. I knew I couldn't wait any longer. Mother's instincts. My sister arrived. We three drove like the clappers at 5am down the highway, to the birthing centre, behind a garbage truck, in half light, into the tunnel, we drove. Every bump I felt as I continued riding those contractions.

We arrived and I tore off my clothes. It was all I could do. I got into that delicious bath. I laboured. We waited. Matt went to sleep. Matt woke up. I got too relaxed and my contractions stopped. I had to get out of the bath. I pushed. Two hours of pushing. I got tired. I screamed "COME ON!" like Lleyton Hewitt. And then I held that wee baby, I held that warm, beautiful, loved baby against my chest. That warmth.

I'd do it all again in a heartbeat for my beautiful soon-to-be six year old. My delightful, talkative, bright six year old.

17 comments:

Kat - TeamKitten said...

awwww so lovely! i love hearing birth stories - they never get old. And i always get so nostalgic and teary too. wonderful story - congrats on having a big six year old! xox

Vic said...

What a lovely birth story Lexi - thanks for sharing!

Which birth centre did you go to? I had Punk at the RPA birth centre & it was lovely. Painful as all hell, but lovely too. ;)

Rachael @Mogantosh said...

Beautiful birth story Lexi. And happy birthday, little guy!

deux chiens et un garcon said...

These stories always being a tear to my eyes.

Happy birthday young man.

jill

Mon Alisa Design said...

Happy birthday sweet boy :)

Shelley Trbuhovich said...

oh sweetheart - crying! well done mama, happy bday dr. x

Megan.K. said...

Oh Lexi, what a beautifully told birth story. And look how tiny and absolutely perfect he is in that photo.
Happy birthday Doc. Six - Wow!
xo

Adriana said...

So nice.
I love hearing birth stories.
I guess all mothers do...

Happy Birthday to the little man!

Michelle said...

So beautiful Lexi, I"m a little teary now. What a sweet tiny baby he was.

Happy Birthday to the Dr, hope you have a lovely day celebrating.

xx

Cath @ chunkychooky said...

yay! What a lovely story. I got to relaxed in the bath too!

suzy said...

Happy Birthday Doctor!

Such a wonderful story.
Make sure you and Matt share a moment today. You both got your beautiful son to No.6. Deserves a wine, a kiss and a chocolate.
xxx

sophie said...

So beautiful Lexi - loved it. It's amazing how we can forget everything but those birth memories remain crystal clear.

fast times in münchen. said...

Aw Lexi, thanks for sharing. Wow, this sounds very similiar to Oli's birth story. The long (LONG!) labouring at home, the pushing for 2 hours, the gift of a beautiful boy at the end for all our hard work. Except our vid of choice was The Beach...i think.

Happy 6 years to the little man and happy 6 years to you mama.

xxx

Ps I can almost catch a whiff of that sweet new bub up there.

Marian Hazel said...

happy birthday Dr!

patchworkoncentralpark said...

Your blog always makes me smile Lexi. Happy Birthday to your little one. Eat a lot of cake!

Little Pinwheel said...

happy number six! Makes me cry..... those beautiful memories. He had a whole lot of hair! Enjoy your weekend x

mama bear said...

I love that story Lex. And baby boy, he's so sweet and teeny. Happy sixth little Man. xx