Catherine
Welcome to the world Westley Peter Lang Kriesch
39 + 2 weeks
Born on the 6th of November 2024
Time 12.36 pm
Weight 4.35kg (9pound 9ounces)
Head – 37cm
Length – 52cm
"Motherhood is a choice you make every day, to put someone else’s happiness and well-being ahead of your own." – Donna Ball
It is such a privilege to be invited once again to share in Catherine and Isaac’s journey as they prepare to welcome their second baby. I first had the honour of supporting them in 2022, during the birth of their beautiful daughter, Sigourney. It was a time of heightened challenges, with the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic surrounding us. Now, life feels more settled, and this pregnancy has unfolded in a much calmer and more peaceful space, allowing Catherine and Isaac to fully embrace the joy of this special time.
Catherine is one of those clients who truly makes my heart sing. Throughout her pregnancy, she has shown such dedication to both her physical and mental preparation for birth. She’s remained active, embracing practices like Spinning Babies and the Miles Circuit in the final weeks. Catherine dives into the resources I share, reading articles and listening to podcasts, ensuring she stays informed and confident in her choices.
For this pregnancy, Catherine has chosen to see a private doctor at The Bubble, whose approach resonates with her, particularly in managing her gestational diabetes. She values their shared perspective on navigating this diagnosis while providing a continuity of care. When it comes to the birth itself, Catherine plans to deliver publicly at the LGH, with Isaac and me by her side as her support team.
She’s thoughtfully considering her options, hoping to avoid an induction solely due to GD, but remaining open to adjusting her plans if it feels right for her and her baby. This balance of preparation, flexibility, and trust is so reflective of Catherine’s approach, and it’s a joy to walk alongside her on this journey.
Catherine, Isaac, and I have spent time together catching up, reflecting on labour, birth, and postpartum as they prepare to meet their (Spicy) little boy, as the affectionately refer to him. Little Sigourney always greets me at the door with enthusiasm, eager to show me her room. She potters about during my visit, happily entertaining herself, and when it's time to go, she beams as she waves me off. I think saying goodbye might just be her favourite part!
As her pregnancy nears its end, Catherine is feeling the usual aches and discomforts—lightning crotch pain, heaviness, and tiredness—while also riding a wave of nesting energy. Balancing all of this with working up until the very end, she’s ready to take a moment to pause and prepare before her baby’s debut.
This pregnancy has brought some prodromal labour, clear signs that her body and baby are working together for the big moment. Catherine has also had a few visits to the LGH for reduced movements, and while everything has been reassuringly normal each time, those visits are always a reminder of how precious and fragile this time can feel. Discussions of induction have come up, with the hospital mentioning a waitlist if she chooses that path. The hope remained that labour would start spontaneously, but on
the 5th of November, Catherine received an unexpected call—her induction was scheduled for that afternoon without her knowing.
While initially not in favour of an induction, Catherine decided to head in to check on her baby and see how she felt. That night, she called me, expressing some understandable nerves. Repeated mentions of stillbirth rates had weighed on her mind. These conversations, while based on statistics, can often lack context and leave parents feeling overwhelmed. I reminded Catherine of her love for her baby and her ability to make the right choice for them both. Trusting her instincts, she ultimately decided to proceed with the induction.
Having experienced induction with Sigourney, Catherine knew what to expect, though each birth is its own unique journey. One thing was certain—Catherine approaches birth with focus, strength, and determination, and I knew this time would be no different. As I always say to her “Catherine, we know you birth well “
We are now focusing all our energy on Catherine's birth tomorrow, embracing the journey of a positive induction.
"Birth is unpredictable, but my ability to embrace it is unwavering. I will flow with the changes and hold space for what is to come."
Tonight, Catherine will have the balloon catheter inserted, with plans to be transferred to the birth suite tomorrow morning, hopefully around 6.30 a.m. To help her fill in her time and continue having positive thoughts, I send through some podcasts on empowering induction stories for her to listen to, if she feels like it. Then, I wait for her update.
Catherine informs me that at midnight —the balloon has fallen out. This is awesome news, a great sign that her cervix is soft, stretchy, and already dilating. Feeling a wave of excitement, I know I’ll be up bright and early, ready to meet Catherine and Isaac in the labour ward as this next chapter unfolds.
Birth Day 6th of November
"When a woman gives birth, she is not only bringing a child into the world, she is bringing a new sense of strength and power into her own life." – Unknown
6.30 am -I am up bright and early as Catherine and Isaac are moving to the birth suite to get ready to have her baby. Catherine is always so chilled, so there is a calm feeling of excitement in the air when I arrive to support them on this special day.
Catherine's baby is being monitored, and this morning our friendly midwives have been working to get the Novi wireless monitor to function effectively. This monitor is great for moving around freely without the hassle of cords, making it much easier to labour in. However, in my experience, it rarely works properly—and today is one of those days. Eventually, it will need to be replaced with the regular monitor once the Syntocinon is administered.
On the positive side, Catherine will be able to use the TENS machine later this morning, and we can enjoy music through the Bluetooth speaker. I set to work creating a calm and comforting atmosphere in the room—soft music playing gently in the background, a flameless candle glowing with the affirmation "I’ve got this", and a diffuser filling the air with a soothing, calming scent.
Catherine has been experiencing some mild sensations, and it’s discussed with her that waiting a few hours after her waters are broken might give her body the chance to start labour on its own before introducing Syntocinon. When her waters are released, they’re beautifully clear, and the baby is very happy. Catherine’s cervix is soft, stretchy, and already 4cm dilated—such encouraging signs of progress!
"A positive birth experience begins long before labour starts—through trust in your body, trust in your baby, and trust in your support team." – Unknown
After Catherine’s waters are broken, she gets up from the bed, and I bring out the birth ball to see if we can encourage her labour to progress. She alternates between standing , swaying and sitting on the ball, using movement and gravity to her advantage. Combined with her positive mindset, it’s a fabulous start—and Catherine certainly has all of that.
Isaac adds to the atmosphere with his cheerful, calm, and supportive energy, keeping the vibe relaxed and uplifting. To further encourage labour, I incorporate acupressure and acupressure needles. Catherine is on her way to meeting her baby, and that’s so exciting.
At 9 am, Catherine is asked to return to the bed briefly so the midwives can try to pick up a good trace. These monitors can be such a challenge! Eventually, they’re removed, allowing Catherine to move around freely, and the doppler is used instead for intermittent monitoring.
In between supporting Catherine, we chat about baby names. Catherine and Isaac named their daughter Sigourney after Sigourney Weaver, inspired by the movie Alien, so I can’t help but wonder if this baby’s name also carries a special meaning. With Isaac’s love of Pokémon memorabilia, I even suggest it might be tied to that. I don’t guess the name, but when I see the gift Sigourney has for her baby brother, it reveals the answer.
Westley! At first, I don’t make the connection, then Isaac enlightens me —Westley, from The Princess Bride. What a perfect choice for their little boy!
At 10 am, Catherine is back on the bed as the midwives prepare to start the Syntocinon drip. While her contractions are present, they haven’t gained much strength, and since her waters have been broken, the midwife kindly explains that there’s now a time limit when it comes to inductions. To start gently, they decide to administer a half-dose,
Hoping it will be just enough to help Catherine’s body take over and get labour moving, I have a strong feeling this will be the case.
However, monitoring issues arise again, and the midwives request to use a scalp clip for better accuracy before starting the Syntocinon. To place it on the baby’s head, they need to perform a vaginal exam, which reveals that the baby’s little hand is up near his head. The midwife gently tries to move it away and shares the moment with us—the baby briefly grabed hold of her little finger. While it sounded cute, it was far from ideal, as having his hand next to his face presented potential risks, including the possibility of the umbilical cord slipping through the gap —a complication no one wants. She decides to call in the registrar for a second opinion.
Catherine remains astonishingly calm throughout, even as the discussion of a potential caesarean comes up if the baby’s hand hasn’t moved in the next exam. Her only request is that Isaac be with her in theatre, and of course, he would be permitted into theatre to by her side. When the registrar arrives and performs her examination, she brings the best news—the baby’s hand has moved out of the way, and there’s no need for a caesarean. What a relief! I’d been feeling so nervous, and the heaviness in my stomach lifted instantly.
The positivity continues as the registrar shares that Catherine’s cervix is now 6cm dilated, soft, and stretchy—all without any assistance from the Syntocinon yet. With a smile, she tells Catherine, “You have a spectacular cervix,” and reassures her that only a minimal dose will likely be needed to help move things along.
By 10:47 am, the Syntocinon is running, the TENS machine is on, and Catherine is off the bed, leaning forward over the bed resting her head on the birth cub.
Catherine remains cool, calm, and focused as I hand her the birth comb for acupressure and begin rubbing her hips and legs with essential labour oils. Isaac gently massages her shoulders and head, his support creating a grounding presence. Catherine begins breathing deeply through the sensations, which are now gaining intensity. It feels like everything is coming together beautifully.
Catherine’s biggest worry so far has been the constant flow of amniotic fluid—it just keeps coming! One of those messy parts of birthing babies, but it’s all part of it. 😊 Soon, though, she won’t even be thinking about the leaking amniotic fluid. As the sensations pick up, they’ll take all her focus.
11.35 am Catherine’s body has well and truly responded to the Syntocinon—it’s in full swing now. Her contractions are strong, lasting a full minute, and coming every one to two minutes. The midwife can’t lower the dose as she needs those surges to meet her baby. To be fair, the dose is so low that it’s her incredible body doing most of the work, bringing on all these powerful sensations.
As her hormones ramp up, poor Catherine starts to vomit—a sure sign that her body is making big moves. She’s so brave, powering through every moment. She’s got this, and we’re all there quietly and calmly cheering her on.
11.55 am Catherine feels a lot of pain at the front of her pelvis, she’d expected her hips to be the trouble spot, as they were during her first birth. We’ve set up a mat on the floor for her, and she moves to kneeling, resting her head against the corner of the bed for support.
Isaac is right there with her, gently rubbing her neck, while I keep massaging her hips and legs, offering relief wherever I can. Catherine is doing so incredibly well. This is hard, intense work, but she’s meeting every contraction with quiet determination, calmly riding each one with everything she has.
At 12:10 pm, Catherine says that she feels something there. The midwife reassures her, saying there’s nothing to see yet and that her baby is probably just really, low. Isaac gently tells her, “This is a good thing.” Catherine, calm but determined, continues to voice that she just wants it to come out, asking, “Are you sure there’s no baby?” Isaac, with a soft smile, responds, “It’s there, but it’s not there yet.”
"Every birth is an opportunity for women to discover their strength and to become empowered in ways they never thought possible." – Unknown
Catherine is so close to meeting her baby now. She’s feeling unwell and, in her usual calm way, shares with us again that she just wants him out. I can sense she’s in transition, especially as she asks, “How will I know when to push?” I reassure her that she will absolutely know that she won’t need us to tell her. She’s got this—she will birth her baby perfectly, without any coaching.
We keep cold cloths on her neck, offering whatever comfort we can, while we all continue to hold space for this incredible birthing goddess. She’s reaching deep within herself now, ready to bring her baby into the world.
"Every woman knows how to give birth. She may not remember consciously, but deep inside, she knows what to do. It’s the oldest and most powerful wisdom we carry." – Unknown
It isn’t long before Catherine tells us her baby is coming. She’s giving small breaths, and then, in what feels like an instant, we see a little head of dark hair. With one strong push, he just keeps coming, calmly making his grand debut into the hands of our beautiful midwife. He’s perfect—little cries, all pink and beautiful.
“He’s out!” Catherine says, and our midwife smiles, gently greeting him with, “Hello, sweetie pie, and Happy Birthday.” Westley was born at 12:36 pm, and the room fills with smiles—there’s a sparkle of happiness in the air. He’s placed into his loving mummy’s arms, the perfect reward for all her hard work.
Witnessing a new life being born is nothing short of incredible. It’s one of those moments that feels timeless, where all creation's strength, love, and beauty come together. The power and rawness of birth leave a mark on your heart, reminding you of the depth of what it means to be human. Being there for such a sacred moment is an honour, filling you with nothing but awe and appreciation for the miracle of life.
What a beautiful way to start the day—welcoming a baby, and just in time for lunch. Catherine birthed her placenta like a superstar, with no postpartum bleeding. A few stitches were done before she could truly settle into the joy of holding her baby. Isaac and Catherine are both over the moon, and I couldn’t be prouder. Catherine, you are a birthing goddess.
Thank you, Catherine and Isaac, for inviting me to be part of your birth and postpartum journey. Witnessing you, Catherine, bring Westley into the world was an honour, and seeing your beautiful family grow fills my heart with so much joy. There are many adventures ahead for you as a family of four, and I know they’ll be filled with love and laughter. Enjoy every single moment—the best part of making memories is in the moments themselves. I’m beyond grateful to have been a part of yours.
Love, Krista xxxx