Katelyn2
Welcome To the World
Aliana Nova
Born October 16th, 2024
Born at 12.01 am
Weight – 4.92kg/10lb 13oz
Height 56cm
There is power that comes to women when they give birth. They don’t ask for it, it simply invades them. Accumulates like clouds on the horizon and passes through, carrying the child with it.” – Sheryl Feldman
EDD 5-7th October 2024
Katelyn and I have walked this path together before. Supporting her through the birth of her second baby felt like coming full circle—a continuation of a bond built during her first journey into motherhood. The familiarity between us, the shared trust, and the unspoken understanding made this experience feel deeply connected and reassuring.
Katelyn's first pregnancy and birth with Lacey was uncomplicated—a six-hour physiological labour and birth. This time, the road to meeting her baby daughter was a little more eventful.
Early in the pregnancy, Katelyn was diagnosed with fibroids, though thankfully, they caused no issues for her through her pregnancy or birth. Midway through, she was on the borderline for gestational diabetes under the new guidelines, which was later confirmed. True to her capable and proactive nature, Katelyn managed it with ease, keeping her blood sugar levels perfectly in check. There was also a brief misdiagnosis of hydramnios, which raised concerns about high amniotic fluid levels, but a follow-up scan showed everything was normal. Then, in the third trimester, a scan estimated her baby to weigh 4.2 kilograms at 36 weeks, despite her stomach measurements being spot on.
Faced with suggestions of inductions and even a planned caesarean for her "suspected big baby," Katelyn didn’t simply accept what was policy and procedures of our hospital system. Instead, she took the time to educate herself, diving deep into research and evidence to make informed decisions. She moved through each twist and turn with calm confidence, equipped with knowledge and the assurance that she was making the best choices for herself and her baby. Her strength and trust in her own instincts always made me smile.
“You are already a mother, nurturing and protecting your baby with every breath. Trust in your strength.”
At 40 weeks, Katelyn was waiting patiently for spontaneous labour, though life certainly wasn’t making it easy for her. Just last week, their beloved dog, Ranger, had surgery to remove a benign lump, and her partner, Sam, injured his back badly. To make things even more difficult, Sam was diagnosed with shingles and advised to avoid the hospital. This meant he would not be present at the birth of his daughter.
Thankfully, Katelyn’s mum flew down from Queensland to stay with Katelyn, stepping in to provide much-needed support and comfort during these challenging moments. Despite everything, Katelyn was in remarkably good spirits, though it was clear she was eager to meet her baby soon.
On the 8th of October, I spent a few hours with Katelyn and her family. Together, we worked through some Spinning Babies techniques and used moxa sticks and press needles on specific acupressure points to help prepare her body for labour. Katelyn was her usual happy, calm self, and I loved hearing her talk about how much she liked the idea of giving birth on the 10th of October—10.10 felt like such a special day to be born. In hindsight, we know that miss Aliana had her own special birth date in mind.
She just wasn’t giving anything away at the moment.
As if the week hadn’t been eventful enough, her MGP appointment brought a few heart-stopping moments. Her midwife thought the baby might have turned breech, sparking an understandable wave of concern. But an ultrasound quickly put those fears to rest—this was not a bottom after all, but a perfectly engaged head, ready and waiting.
As I write this part of Katelyn story, labour has not yet begun. But after all the navigating Katelyn has done throughout her pregnancy, I can only see her birth as a positive and empowering experience. Whether the road ahead is smooth or filled with unexpected twists that require us to reassess and adapt, I know Katelyn will face it with the same unwavering strength, wisdom, and grace she has carried throughout this journey.
Her determination to educate herself, her calm presence, and her trust in her body and baby have been heartwarming to witness. With that foundation, I have no doubt that Katelyn’s birth will be a powerful moment of transformation—one that reflects the incredible mother she already is.
Monday, 14th October 2024
At her MGP appointment today, Katelyn decided to have a stretch and sweep and made plans with her midwife to have her waters broken on Thursday if labour hasn’t started by then. Her midwife shared some positive news—Katelyn’s baby is sitting very low in her pelvis, her cervix is soft, stretchy, and already dilating, with a stretch reaching 4cm.
Confident in Katelyn’s progress, the midwife remarked, “I think we’ll see you before Thursday”. And if not, once we break your waters, you’ll likely have your baby within an hour.” Katelyn shared with me that this made her laugh, and she asked, “Can I have that in writing?”
Tuesday, 15th October 2024
Last night, Katelyn experienced some gentle sensations after her mum performed acupressure points to encourage labour.
Tomorrow morning, Katelyn plans to attend her partner Sam’s acupressure appointment, stepping in for him to see if it might nudge things along further.
This waiting is its own kind of magic—a reminder that the greatest things in life take time and that every moment is part of this transformative journey.
Wednesday the 15th of October
Birth Day
At 8:00 pm, the message we had all been waiting for finally arrived Katelyn was in labour.
By 9:02 pm, we were chatting again, and her sensations had grown stronger, now about five minutes apart. When I asked if she’d like me to come to her home in Hadspen, Katelyn, ever so casual, replied, “Oh, it’s up to you.” I gently reminded her, “Katelyn, this is your birth. What would you like me to do?” After a brief pause, she said, “I think you could come,” and I didn’t hesitate. I knew her previous birth had been anything but a marathon—it was a sprint—and I wanted to be by her side as soon as possible.
I arrived at 9:48 pm to find Katelyn in high spirits, standing in the kitchen with her mum. She was calm, breathing steadily through each wave of sensation, her strength and focus shining through. Since our last chat, her sensations had grown closer together. They weren’t lasting a full minute yet, but progress was unmistakable.
After catching up on what had been happening, I helped Katelyn with her TENS machine and supported her through the next round of surges. It quickly became clear that it was time to head to the hospital. I made the call to labour ward, and the midwife on the other end could hear Katelyn labouring in the background. She agreed it was time to come in.
Katelyn’s first labour was only six hours from the first contraction; this labour looks like it is going in the same direction.
Knowing Katelyn’s hope for a water birth, I requested a room with a bath if one was available. We said goodbye to Katelyn’s mum, carrying all her love and well-wishes with us. She would stay back with Sam and Lacey while I escorted our birthing goddess to the hospital. I would make sure Katelyn felt supported and cared for as she prepared to welcome her precious daughter into the world. That was my promise to Katelyn’s mum.
I put a towel down in the back seat and off we went. The next time Katelyn walked through her front door, she’d be a mum for the second time, bringing her beautiful new baby daughter home. I’m on the road, singing softly to myself, trying to keep my heart rate steady—my high beams are out, and the dark road is making me a little nervous. Singing is supposed to help calm me down.
Driving in the dark, with just the dim light and making sure I don’t collide with any wallabies or rabbits, Katelyn’s on all fours in the back, breathing deeply and doing her best not to have her baby right there in the back seat. The closer we get to Launceston, the closer her sensations are coming, building in intensity. Katelyn is softly singing her birth song, and I’m ready to pull over if needed, but as the city lights start to appear, I know we’re going to make it to the birth suite.
10:40 am – We’ve arrived at the LGH, and to our surprise, we bump into the MGP midwife who will be supporting Katelyn tonight. Katelyn, being part of the MGP program, already knows that her original midwives won’t be on duty—one has left the program, and the other is on holiday.
Once we’re in the birth suite, I quickly set up the room while continuing to support Katelyn through the sensations that are now coming every two minutes. The room is softly lit, with fairy lights glowing, the diffuser releasing calming scents, and our music playing. On the wall, Katelyn’s affirmation card reads, "My baby is healthy and strong," a reminder of the strength she carries within herself.
I hand Katelyn’s birth map to the midwife, and she confirms with Katelyn that it’s her wish to decline the CTG monitoring. The midwife respects this and is just double-checking, ensuring that Katelyn is happy with the Doppler instead. Meanwhile, we’re getting the bath ready.
I pass Katelyn her birth comb, and she lies on the bed so the midwife can feel her baby and listen in. After that, Katelyn is back on her feet, blowing the sensations away, her body continues its way to birth her baby.
11:15 am. Katelyn is doing an amazing job, standing upright, using gravity to sway her body through each sensation. She’s so in tune with her body, relaxing her face and jaw, breathing through the waves rather than against them. Our midwife continues to monitor Katelyn with the Doppler, listening intently. As Katelyn’s sensations grow strong and short, I press the acupressure points to support optimal positioning and labour progress, while she breathes deeply and sings her labour song. There’s a sense that our midwife tonight isn’t entirely keen on water births. She asks Katelyn to promise that, if she’s asked to get out of the bath at any point, she’ll comply. We now wait for the bath to reach the right temperature, as I have run the bath and it’s a bit on the warm side.
11:30 am. Katelyn is standing against the wall, with the midwife listening in. The midwife shares that the baby’s heart rate is high, and she expresses concern, asking Katelyn not to get into the bath just yet and to agree to CTG monitoring. Katelyn, however, trusts her intuition, feeling that her baby’s heart rate is elevated because of the baby moving down, and she senses she’s getting close to birthing. It becomes clear that the intention is to keep the monitors on.
At this point, the registrar on duty comes in. Katelyn recognises her and feels reassured by her familiar face, though now we’re all gathered around Katelyn, watching the monitor. We ask several times for the monitors to be removed so Katelyn can move into the bath and birth her baby, as the registrar doesn’t seem concerned by the heart rate. Katelyn is visibly holding back, wanting to get into the bath but feeling restricted by the monitors.
I ask her if she wants to change position, as she’s in the corner of the room, surrounded by the three of us. It almost looks as though she’s holding her legs together to keep her baby from coming. The registrar suggests moving to the bed instead, but Katelyn insists, “No, I want to get into the bath.”
The registrar calmly explains that while they can’t recommend removing the CTG, it’s ultimately Katelyn’s decision, as this is her birth, and they will support her choice. With that, the monitor is taken off, and Katelyn finally moves without hesitation into the bath. Later, she shares that when she got in, she felt a pop, which would have been her waters breaking; this baby is on her way.
You are already a mother, nurturing and protecting your baby with every breath. Trust in your strength.
Finally, all feels as it should be. The warmth of the water envelops Katelyn, washing away the outside interventions, and for the first time in a while, no hands are upon her—only my comforting touch, offering support as Katelyn is now working hard.
"Just as a women's heart knows how and when to pump, her lungs to inhale, and her hand to pull back from fire, so she knows when and how to give birth."
-Virginia Di Orio
Katelyn is free to move as her body asks, and within just 15 minutes of entering the bath, she can feel her baby’s head. A few “Oh, baby” sounds escape her—expressions of focus and intensity, not shouting, but powerful, nonetheless. In that moment, the power of an undisturbed birth is evident—mother and baby working in harmony, showing everyone present the true strength of this sacred process.
"Your baby knows exactly when they’re ready to meet you," I think to myself. Katelyn has always trusted the wisdom of her body and her little one, right from the very beginning.
In the middle of the magic, I momentarily get caught up in the excitement and say, “Katelyn, you’ve done it!” She responds quickly, “No, I haven’t, she isn’t out yet.” And she’s right—her baby’s head is out, but there’s still more to come. I can already see her sweet little face, though, and the moment feels so close.
The next moment, Katelyn exclaims, “Oh my hips, my hips, my hips,” followed by some intense pressure and pushing sounds. Katelyn holds on with everything she has, working through the overwhelming power of birth.
At exactly 12:01 am on Thursday, the 16th of October—one minute past her sister’s birthday—Katelyn’s sweet, healthy baby girl made her debut with just a couple more very intense pushes from her amazing mummy. Katelyn’s wide-eyed, pink little girl looked up into her mummy’s eyes, and the bond between them was undeniable.
Witnessing the incredible strength and determination a woman taps into to physically bring her baby into the world is nothing short of breathtaking. Katelyn, you worked through the intense pressure and pain with such resilience and power.
For anyone who doubts that women can birth bigger babies, this is proof that you absolutely can—and you can do it beautifully. In just four hours, if we're counting.
After hearing the time of birth, Katelyn and I both wondered if it was correct. I quickly checked the photos I had taken with Katelyn in the labour ward to confirm it was really one minute past midnight. We both felt it was a bit surreal, especially knowing it was just one minute after Lacey’s birthday. It was almost as if Aliana had picked her moment all along. And yes, it was definitely 1:01 am.
As Katelyn stayed in the water, getting to know her sweet little girl, who let out some big, beautiful cries before settling into a quiet gaze at her mummy, the water began to change from blue to a deep red. This was a signal that it was time for Katelyn to get out of the water, as she was losing a fair amount of blood.
Our midwife was concerned and wanted to clamp the cord, which Katelyn agreed to. But as we helped her out of the bath, it became clear that the clamp wasn’t secure, and blood from the cord started spurting everywhere. This was the first time this had ever happened for our midwife, and there was a lot of blood trailing to the bed.
Once Katelyn was settled on the bed and the bleeding was under control, her placenta was delivered. Katelyn was then checked for any grazing or tearing. Katelyn had a second-degree tear, which required a few stitches. Given that her baby was a healthy size, I think that was an impressive effort!
I just wanted to touch back on to the continuous fetal monitoring, there was absolutely nothing wrong with Katelyn’s baby—she was as healthy as can be.
I am incredibly proud of Katelyn and all the obstacles she had to navigate throughout her pregnancy, and then again, the way she had to advocate for herself in labour. Katelyn had unwavering trust in her own ability, along with the knowledge to make evidence-based decisions that were right for her. She did exactly what she set out to do.
I want to thank Katelyn for inviting me to be part of her second birth; it was truly an honour and a privilege to support her as she welcomed Aliana into the world. I also want to congratulate Sam and Lacey—Lacey is now a big sister! I wish them all the best as they enjoy their new little family of four, filled with all the joy children bring and the many adventures that lie ahead.
Love Krista xxx