Felicity
Welcome to the world
Catherine Mary Viney
born on the 26.8.2017
Time 12.23pm
26.8.2017 0400-6.50am
Felicity is woken with cramps in her abdomen and experiencing some diarrhea.
Contractions are around 10min apart. Trying to rest but can’t seem to get comfortable.
07.00-08.00am
Felicity calls [me] Krista on Adams wishes to advise me that she thinks she may be in the early stages of labour. I agree that the symptoms described would indeed suggest early stages of labour. My advice was to concentrates on breathing, keep hydrated and snacking to keep up the energy levels. For comfort maybe try sitting on the birth ball with a heat pack.
Adam makes the call to the Launceston General Hospital to advise the midwives Felicity is in Labour.
1st Funny moment
Adam can’t quiet remember Felicity’s date of birth when asked by the midwife.
Felicity follows up with a second phone call to me at 8am to let me know that the contractions are ramping up in intensity.
2nd Funny moment
I have a small dilemma to attend at home before I can leave. Run away pet sheep. They are on the loose and have escaped into three separate neighbor’s paddocks. For the first time, ever they have no interest in coming back through the fence when I call them. Eventually we manage to bring them back through the fence with a promise of some sweeties. Did my sheep not know this was not a good day for misbehaving?
08.50am-09.30am
I arrive at Felicity and Adams home. I’m now feeling calm and excited for the birth of baby Viney.
Felicity is feeling very uncomfortable at this time and is breathing through her contractions while sitting on the birth ball, with a heat pack on her stomach.
Nausea is also making an appearance as labour progresses.
08.50-09.30am
Felicity is feeling hot so we apply a cold cloth to her forehead.
Continuing to stay hydrated by sipping water.
Timing the contractions and they are about 2-3min apart and lasting 60 seconds. This mummy is a birthing Goddess.
Plenty of visits to the bathroom at this time also.
Barney the fur baby is a bit unsure what is going on at this stage of the game.
09.30-09.50pm
It’s time to head to the hospital. Mum and baby are working well together as a team and labour is really progressing at a steady to fast pace.
I must add that Dad Adam is also doing an awesome job with supporting his wife.
09.30am continued
It takes two attempts to get Felicity in the car.
3rd Funny moment
Poor Adam bumps his hip in the rush to get to the car and loses the car keys. Lucky, he knows where the spare set are kept.
The ride is a very unpleasant and uncomfortable experience for Felicity and I’m sure she is relieved when the ride is over.
I take my own car to the hospital.
Both Adam and I only have enough parking money to cover us until 12.30pm. This little baby is on a tight time limit.
09.55am
4th funny moment
We look like we are going on a long vacation with the amount of luggage we are struggling to drag and carry with us.
Felicity feels she cannot walk one step more and sits herself into a wheelchair she spots in the foyer. I’m sure we are supposed to call labour ward for a special wheelchair …. But there is no way this labouring mumma is moving from her new thrown.
Adam comments on how well I can carry bags and push a wheelchair. Jinxed. With that I start bumping the wheelchair into the walls. I also manage to jig poor Felicity around while bumping our way In and out of the lift. We all arrive in one piece. The midwife comments on the wheel chair (I knew it was the wrong one) but it served its purpose.
In labour ward we are assigned room number 3. We all like the number 3. That’s a good sign.
09.55am continued
Our really lovely midwife for the day is Susan. Susan has a cute rabbit tattooed on her forearm.
09.55am continued
The weekend Registrar for Saturday is Dr Helen Esdale.
Another good sign! As this is the OB Felicity was hoping for.
There is a relaxed environment at the General today due to no other mothers in labour ward when we arrive.
Felicity’s contractions are now 2min apart and lasting 60 seconds.
Baby’s heart rate is strong and healthy.
Feeling a lot of pressure in her bottom.
10.15am
the intensity of the contractions at this time are extremely high and Felicity is really having to go deep inside herself to cope with the pain she is experiencing.
Felicity is trying to get comfortable on the birth ball but finding no relief.
Contractions are now coming fast at 1min apart.
Felicity’s sensations to keep wanting to use the bathroom has made the toilet the most effective seat in the room for her to sit and stay on for the moment.
Susan is putting off Felicity’s request for an internal and some pain relief in the gentlest way. I’m pretty sure she knows that this baby is not too far away.
Pressure in Felicities bottom is intensifying greatly. Susan’s thoughts are that it could be the waters bulging. We don’t know at this time that it is actually the baby’s head descending.
The waters had already sneakily broken without anybody’s knowledge.
10.15am continued
Adam is holding Felicity’s hand and making sure she keeps sipping on her water. I am massaging her lower back and bottom with clary sage and almond oil through the contractions. The side rail next to the toilet is making a good bearing down bar for Felicity through her contractions. We are all encouraging Felicity with positive words.
5th funny moment
Adam mentions he hasn’t had a coffee today yet. I suggest that I could pop down to the coffee shop and grab him one. Felicity in the middle of a contraction stops and says very firmly “Krista you’re not going anywhere”
10.20am
Dr Helen Esdale comes into the room to introduce herself and see how the progress is going. She is really happy with Felicity’s progress and baby is tracking along perfectly.
10.30am
A mucus plug show.
Felicity feeling really hot and clammy.
Keeping up the cold cloths to her forehead and face.
Contractions are hard and fast.
Sipping water.
11.10am
We assist Felicity to make her way to the bed in preparation for an examination.
We turn on the Hypnobirthing CD.
Midwife Anna comes in to perform an internal examination on Felicity to access how many centimeters she has dilated.
11.10am continued
Pain relief can only be given if Felicity is under 7cm dilation.
Dilation is 10cm.
This little baby is on her way.
Gas is the only option now to help ease the discomfort.
11.30am
Felicity doesn’t go much on the gas, so gives it up after a short while.
Dr Esdale goes to break Felicity’s waters and discovers that they have already broken by themselves at some stage.
Dr Esdale pops a clip-on baby’s head to monitor the heart rate.
The belt around Felicity’s waist which has been monitoring the baby and the contractions can now be removed.
Felicity finds an elevated position on all fours on the bed for the pushing phase.
Felicity now has to find all her inner courage and strength to breath this little baby out.
Adam holds Felicity’s hand. I massage her lower back and bottom through each contraction.
Dr Esdale guides Felicity through the pushing stage.
We all gently encourage and praise Felicity as she is truly doing the most amazing work in guiding this baby through the final stage of labour.
Stage 2 of Labour is hard work. You know your nearly there but the exhaustion is overwhelming.
This is when adrenalin mixed with oxytocin becomes your best friend.
The nine months of waiting to fall in love for a life time is finally here.
11.30am continued
It’s in that moment, this new mummy embraces the final hurdle with all her heart and soul.
Giving birth and being born brings us into the essence of creation, where the human spirit is courageous and bold and the body, a miracle of wisdom.
12.23pm
Felicity safely delivers their beautiful and perfect baby girl into the world. Catherine Mary Viney is born at 12.23pm weighing 3496g ,47cm long with a lovely tuft of dark hair.
Baby Cate…. Your first breath took all ours away.
The placenta also makes an appearance, and although all eyes are now on Cate, the placenta is healthy and intact. Her job is now complete.
Felicity has a second-degree tear that is swiftly stitched up by Dr Esdale.
Cate is very alert and relishing in snuggling up to mummy and enjoying her very first breastfeed.
Around 13.30pm
Daddy has the top job of helping to weigh, measure and dress Cate.
And most importantly has the chance to have his first cuddle with his new daughter.
This is such a joyful and happy time and now to celebrate and share the exciting news with both Felicity and Adams families. They start making a few very important phone calls.
6th Funny moment
Felicity has bounced back from birth like she has just completed a gym class and is looking for chocolate. Adam comes to the rescue with a big block of chocolate ready and waiting.
Auntie Tegan gets a surprise phone call.
Funny moments continued
Adams mum …. doesn’t believe that cate has arrived.
Felicity’s mum…… has just pulled up at the Sapphire Resort for a weekend away and can’t stop crying with happiness, as Cate has arrived at 39 weeks and she gets to meet her before going on holidays overseas.
When ready we are transferred to a private room. This will be home for Felicity and her new family for the next few days.
This is the end of my story, but for your new little family this is a new chapter. A new baby is like the beginning of all things, hope, wonder and the dream of possibilities.It has been and honor and a privilege to have had the opportunity to share in this most wonderful journey with you all. To be present and witness not only the birth of your gorgeous baby Cate, but also the birth of a mother and a Father. I look forward in sharing many more happy memories with you all.
With love, Krista xxx