Georgie
Hello World
Introducing Luca Charles Brown
Born on the 10/04/2021
What a wonderful thought it is to know that some of the best moments of our lives, haven’t even happened yet.
This gorgeous young couple, Georgie and Mason, are first time parents. They both recognise the importance of birth support and for Georgie to feel emotionally and physically supported to achieve a positive birth whichever way their baby is born. Georgie is very much looking to make her own informed decisions surrounding her labour and birth. This is Georgie’s rite of passage, one that will transform her into a mother. This requires us to recognise that mothers own the power and expertise when it comes to birthing their babies. Georgie feels this will be more achievable if they have me as their guide. I can instantly feel we are going to make an awesome team, and that we did.
Only with trust, faith and support can the women allow the birth experience to enlighten and empower her – Annie Kennedy and Penny Simpkin
Georgie is a primary school teacher and so she soaked up all the information I shared with her. We spent enjoyable afternoons with each other on Georgie’s couch. We always had so much to chat about, and time always got away from us, with her beautiful cat Charlie Brown never far from our side. If she wasn’t curled up next to us, she was perched on my information leaflets and books. Charlie has been very affectionate towards Georgie since she became pregnant. She seems to like me too. Charlie is very well informed on all aspects of labour and birth J.
If I was marking Georgie on her efforts to prepare her mind and body ready for birth Georgie would defiantly score a 10 out of 10.
By the time her baby was ready to make his or her debut, this bubbly, friendly birthing goddess in waiting was well and truly ready.
Georgie and Mason do not know the sex of their baby. Mason is feeling confident baby Brown is a girl and Georgie is leaning more towards a boy. I keep changing my mind on a regular basis.
Baby Brown did keep us on our toes. In the third trimester baby turned breech on us. Thankfully with some swimming, chiropractic appointments, and spinning babies’ techniques Georgie encouraged him to go head down again.
Then from 36 weeks Georgie was in prodromal labour. Nearly every second day we thought ‘this is the day.’ On the 30th of March, 40 weeks and 1 day, this little baby that was snuggled up so low into Georgie’s pelvis decided to move out of her pelvis, thanks to the help of a healthy amount of amniotic fluid. The Ob thought baby may be trying to turn breech again. We were not having any of that. Spinning babies and Georgie’s persistence to do all the right things kept baby head down. By this point, I should have known Luca was a boy. It’s usually the boys that are the tricksters
There is a vulnerability and openness a woman experiences at this time of “Waiting.” These last days of pregnancy are a distinct biologic and psychological event, essential to the birth of a mother. We can’t scientifically understand the complex hormones at play that loosen both her hips and her awareness. We do know, however, that this uncomfortable time of aching is an early sign of labour, in which a woman begins opening her cervix and her soul. A woman must go between this world and the next. To the place where life comes from, to the mystery, in order to reach over, collect both the souls of the newborn mother and her baby and bring them earthside.
“You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you, Peter Pan
That’s where I’ll be waiting.” - Tinkerbell
At 9.45pm, On the 8.4.2021, at 41 weeks and 3 days, Georgie messages to inform me she has lost some of her mucus plug and thinks she may have had a hind leak too.
She decides a warm bath and trying to sleep is her plan for the evening.
The number 9 is a prominent number in Georgie’s and Masons’ life. It seems only natural that this will be the day that all the action starts.
9.4.2021 10.35am Not too much action has happened overnight. I accompany Georgie to the LGH antenatal clinic in the hope they make an exemption for me to go into part of her appointment to support Georgie. “When a woman is pregnant or in labour it is not a time where she should have to fight for anything.” Georgie doesn’t want to feel vulnerable, pressured or scared into any medical procedures that she is not comfortable with. I happily wait a few hours outside the waiting room to be there for support if Georgie needs me. There does seem to be some urgency to get Georgie up to labour ward as the hind leak is confirmed. Georgie had previously been informed that her strep B test had come back positive. The midwife is keen for Georgie to be admitted to labour ward this morning and to have her hooked up to Syntocinon and start IV antibiotics. Fortunately, both Georgie and her baby are fine. She agrees and is happy for the two of us to make our way up to labour ward and be assessed by the care team. Though currently she is keen to avoid Syntocinon and it’s a no to IV antibiotics.
Mother and baby are checked and monitored – they are both doing splendidly. Our young OB seems very un-aware of the damage that high levels of antibiotics have on the mother and the infant’s microbiome. Georgie and I enlighten her. Unless Georgie is showing signs of being unwell, she is making an educated and informed decision to decline the antibiotics. Georgie also advises Labour ward staff that she won’t be staying in at the moment as she has not had any lunch or touched base with husband to inform him of the mornings progress. I just love my savvy informed birthing goddesses. They are educated on birth and medical procedures, know their options, and feel comfortable knowing that they hold the power. Makes my heart sing.
1.30pm Labour ward are happy with all of this -they are busy and in no rush to admit a woman that is not yet in labour.
Funny moment – that’s on me. Today is both my daughter and granddaughters’ birthdays.
I make a facetime call in labour ward next to Georgie as my patient little granddaughter Chloe has been waiting all morning to talk to me and show me her birthday presents. My youngest daughter Briana has been wanting updates all morning to see if we are still going to lunch to celebrate her Birthday. Thank fully I was able to grant both their wishes.
Georgie leaves to get organised to meet me back at the hospital at 4pm with Mason. I made it out to Lunch with my daughter and my two girlfriends before getting back to the LGH by 4pm
4pm It is extremely busy in labour ward today. We are not on anybody’s priority list. That’s suits us just fine for now. Our midwife agrees that waiting to see if Georgie does go into labour by herself, is a good idea. Sitting on the birth ball doing her hip circles, we also set up our temporary room to make it comfortable with our aromatherapy in the diffuser and soft music.
4.50pm I braid Georgie’s glorious auburn hair and we engage in some acupressure and spinning babies. Georgie is just glowing. We are all in good spirits. But the sensations are just not building.
8pm The three of us have had ample time to run through the BRAIN theory to see what pathway is going to be the best one for Georgie moving forward. Our original birth map will need some tweaking. Georgie was leaning towards a water birth as she loves baths and water. But we need surges, and they are not coming. We are also aware that Georgie’s waters have now been partially broken and exposed for nearly 24hours without labour progressing.
8.30pm and we are finally taken into a birthing suite. Set up dimming the lights, turn on our music, set up the diffuser and create our special space with the circle of love fairy lights surrounding the birth cub and over the bed. This is a magical time, we want the room to reflect happiness, peace, and joy. After discussing all the pros and cons, Georgie has decided that she will agree to the Syntocinon as she would like some surges and to get her labour moving. This means she will not be able to use the bath for pain relief and comfort. Mason thinks that maybe he could have a bath instead. Susan, our wonderful midwife, goes in search of some wireless monitors so that Georgie can move around freely and access the shower for comfort if she chooses too. We are all excited and ready to meet this little baby sometime in the coming hours. We continue to focus on what we can control and not what we can’t. Rarely does birth go perfectly to plan. A positive birth does not evolve from the perfect plan. A positive birth comes with feeling cared for listened to, respected, and having the ability to trust in yourself, to make your own informed decisions and then feel supported by your support team and care providers. That’s what’s makes the difference. Georgie is feeling positive and eager to get this show on the road.
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears- Nelson Mandela
9pm Syntocinon is administered, and Georgie is resting on her side making sure she keeps her fluid intake up. The surges are staring to roll in.
11.21pm Georgie has been breathing through her surges beautifully, up off the bed and working with gravity she leans over the birth cub which is on the bed. Mason and I are massaging Georgie and using soft touch with aromatherapy oils. We have heat packs for her tummy and her back. Mason is a wonderful support and his back rubs with the massage tools are in Georgie’s words “amazing.”
11.58pm Georgie’s sensations are getting stronger and she is still very much in control. Other than Mason, I think the gas is proving to be Georgie’s best friend, giving her something to concentrate on through the surges and take the edge off the sensations that are now taking all her attention.
12am Georgie decides to have a shower. A change of scenery and the warmth of the water is always a welcome distraction. Sadly, our room is not very well heated. Poor Georgie is freezing cold as she makes her way back to the bed. Susan grabs some warm towels, and we heat up the heat packs and rub Georgie to try and warm her up. Her hips are aching, and the cold is causing her to shake. She is hitting a bit of a wall, temporarily.
Eventually, we warm Georgie back up and by 5am she is already back over the birth cub, breathing through each wave as her loving husband and I continue to support her.
These waves, surges, sensations are relentless, and Georgie wants to discuss some other pain management options to help her through this marathon. Georgie agrees to her 1st vaginal examination to see if she is a candidate for some morphine. We do not want to know how dilated Georgie is at this time. Our midwives agree in our reasons for this. Our cervix is not a crystal ball, and you can become fixated on a number. If it doesn’t align with how you are feeling it has the potential to disempower you. Susan informs us Georgie is doing famously and she is not about to birth her baby in the next few hours and can have some morphine.
5.45am Together, we read the birth prayer I had brought - a prayer to keep Georgie and her baby safe as they work together to bring him or her earthside.
6.10am Georgie is just so calm, so in control and so positive. Syntocinon is known to have a negative influence on the hormones of labour. Georgie has left her body and has entered that sacred space called labour land. Her hormones are overriding the Syntocinon, and she is the driver of her own labour. Georgie is feeling the intensity as it continues to build, positive guided meditation is helping Georgie through each surge. She says out loud “each surge is bringing me closer to meeting my baby.”
I’m in awe of the strength and resilience my beautiful birthing goddess is displaying. With love in her heart, she soldiers on labouring in all the optimal positions, working with gravity to continue to help bring her baby down through her pelvis. In all, Georgie likes being in labour and the gas as I mentioned earlier is her new best friend.
Part of birthing without fear is trusting your instincts – Brandi Holm
6.45 am Georgie is continuing to labour in all the optimal birthing positions that feel right for her. Standing, swaying, and rocking in a rhythm, her body leading the way.
The major role that the body’s natural oxytocin plays in birth is to encourage the idea that birth is an experience of love… Birth is a spiritual experience simply because it is largely an act of love on the part of the body’s physiology and the indwelling spirit. Georgie’s sparkling spirit is shining brightly.
710am by this time Georgie is starting to feel pressure in her bottom
7.50 am I am about to witness a first for me. Georgie is informing us she is “loving her labour.” She has successfully been able to fully immerse herself to the hormonal dance of birth. Her birthing hormones are on fire. The pain and pleasure loop are now engulfing her every surge. Georgie’s face tells a story: Her labour has developed into an empowering and pleasurable experience. What Georgie is feeling is an orgasmic labour. I almost feel like I am intruding on a very personal and private time. Though I am aware Mason, and my presence is playing an important role. Georgie is feeling loved, listened to, and supported, allowing her the freedom to glide into a trance, as a sense of euphoria takes over. What an honour to witness.
It is also noted that at this time, the Syntocinon drip had come away from the port in Georgie’s hand. No one knows when it may have happened. It is obvious that Georgie’s body had taken over and it was no longer needed. That was the end of the Syntocinon.
8.30am Georgie is again leaning over the bed. Her tummy is feeling very tight, and the surges are coming back to a level where she would like some more morphine to take the edge off.
9am This means Georgie will need to agree to a second vaginal exam. After the exam, our midwife Susan thinks that Georgie may like to know her result as it should make her feel pleased with all her hard work. 7cm dilated and we are more than halfway there.
9.45am Georgie has her last dose of morphine. Labour has been long, and Georgie decides to try laying on her left side on the bed to rest. This isn’t comfortable so we lift the bed head so Georgie can rest over the top with her knees on the bed. This seems to be the right position for now.
Georgie is feeling calm and in control. She decides she would like a special treat. She has earned it! I set off to the cafeteria to buy her some chocolate at her request. Just what she was desiring. “Nothing like chocolate to boost your oxytocin if you can keep it down” one of the Obstetricians that knows Georgie warmly remarks as I make my way back to her room! She does keep it down xx
11.15am Georgie is on all fours on the bed, we Chugg her legs to help relax her pelvic floor. Mason and I continue to support Georgie emotionally and physically. Reminding her to drink to keep hydrated, empty her bladder to reduce pain, and offering her snacks to keep her energised.
I should mention that throughout labour, baby has been very content and not showing any signs that he or she is anything but happy with labour so far.
12.41 pm Georgie is feeling a lot more pressure and feeling strong urges to push. Susan advises her to resist as much as possible as there is still a fair amount of cervical lip in the way, and she doesn’t want it to swell. Georgie is laying on her side and I am holding up her leg.
1.11pm Georgie is now having a practice at pushing with her surges.
1.30pm Serious pushing on all fours on the bed. Moving her body and hips as she feels she needs to.
3.25pm Georgie has worked so hard to bring this little baby down, but he just doesn’t seem to want to make an appearance.
It is at this time that it is deemed necessary to see what baby is up too. Baby is not showing any signs of distress but for some reason isn’t making his debut.
3.58pm The Obstetrician makes an assessment. Baby Brown has turned into a posterior presentation and his head is just not fitting through Georgie’s pelvis. Options are discussed with Georgie and Mason. The Ob may be able to safely help baby out with the ventose or the forceps. If these options don’t look safe in theatre, then a cesarean may be the safest option.
Georgie in her bubbly and always glass half full way is so happy with her labour experience and knows she has done everything possible to help her baby to be born vaginally.
I am so proud of Georgie. She has nailed her labour.
Funny moment: Georgie would like me to re-braid her hair, so she looks good when she meets her baby, and for the photos. I braid her hair. She moves into the bathroom, looks in the mirror and asks us all if there is time for her to put some make on for her birth J We all smile. Georgie wants to look her best when meeting her baby. Everyone is standing there ready to move her up to theatre. They don’t want to wait for Georgie to put on make-up. They also share that in their professional experience that her baby won’t mind what she looks likeJ In her baby’s eyes Georgie will be just perfect as she is.
“Birth does not ask you to be fearless. it asks you to be brave” -Brita Bushnel
Georgie …Let choice whisper in your ear and love murmur in your heart. I know you are more than ready, here comes life.
Georgie can now leave her body, travel to the stars to collect the soul of her baby and bring him or her earthside with the help of a cesarean section, this is deemed the safest option. 9 months of waiting to fall in love for a lifetime.
On the 10th of April at 5pm, adorable little LUCA CHARLES BROWN made his perfect entry into the world to meet his wonderful mummy and daddy.
Welcome to the world little man, we have been patiently waiting for you xxx
Luca means “Bringer of Light”
“Our lives are so much brighter with you in it. In a second you stole our hearts and showed us a love we didn’t know” – Georgie Brown
The wisdom and compassion a woman can intuitively experience in childbirth can make her a source of healing and understanding for another women - Stephen Gaskin
I believe it is every woman’s human right to have a pleasurable birth. It all comes down to how you define it. Georgie truly is an inspiration to other women that are about to embark on their own unique and special birth journeys. Labour and birth are hard work. It can be so empowering to feel yourself rise above what you are accustomed to. Reaching deeper inside yourself than what you are familiar with, and to see not only what you are truly made of, but the strength you can access in and through birth.
“So, the question still remains. Is childbirth painful? Yes, it can be, along with a thousand amazing sensations for which we have yet to find adequate language. Every birth is different, and every woman’s experience and telling of her story will be unique.” - Marci Macari
Thank you, Georgie and Mason, for inviting me into your lives to be a part of your special birth journey. It was a privilege and an honour. I thoroughly loved being a part of your birth day xx
You are now moving through the next set of doors into parenthood. Parenthood is whole new game, in many ways adjusting to life with a new baby is more challenging than birth itself. I know that you will both thrive in your new roles and continue to trust in your own instincts, listening to your baby and knowing that you are both the best parents that baby Luca could ever wish for. Always remember that at the end of each day, “Love will always conquer all.”
Much love
Krista xxx