I have had 4 children and currently expecting my 5th, so will five you the low down down low on all 4 births.
My first baby was late by 11 days. Given 3 pessaries to get things going. It was a two day affair from when I was given the first pessary to when I delivered. It was the 3rd pessary that finally got the ball rolling and I wanted to get in the bath and pretty much labour there. The bath really helped me and I would have delivered in the bath but was then brought out as the bath was too narrow for me to give birth in. Got out and gave birth in the bed. 40 mins of pushing. I was scared I couldn't do it. It was awful. The pushing was worse than the labour. After 40 mins of pushing , out he came. No tears. Just grazes, which no one tells you about. I went to the toilet after and screamed in pain, and had to quickly rush to get the jug go pour down myself as I went. That was 48 hour from start to finish by 14 and a half hours from first contractions to delivery.
Second baby. Worst labour ever. But lol, look at me now on number 5 so it certainly didnt put me off.
Hubby and I did the business. An hour or so later around about midnight, I got qqqup to go to the toilet. And oh low and behold, my waters started coming. Called him as he had just left for night shift and my best friend who was also going to be my labour partner. She thought I was joking because it just so happened that we had been out all that day getting the last bits in together. Got to the hospital sort of 2am, and they wanted to keep me and monitor me.....
I was having contractions but spaced apart and was literally feeling ok to go home. But because my waters had gone, they wanted to keep me in and also to keep an eye on baby as she is measuring small. Still nothing was happening really. Then ag 6PM the next day after so 18 hours after my waters went, they put me on the drip. Absolutely hate it. It was awful. Was.on it for 6 hours after also been given a pessary. Couldn't take it anymore. Gas and air wasnt helping. She was back to back. The contractions were so strong. Was examined and apparently I was only 2cm, and the midwife left to do something, and then oh low and behold I felt the urge to push. I had literally gone from 2cm to 10cm In the matter of a few minutes. Pushed her out in about a minute. Was so easy as she was so small, didnt hurt one bit. She was just 5lb. Disnt really have grazes either. All in all since first waters broke and the spaced out mild contractions to delivery was a total of 48 hours. But from the pessary and the drip it was a total of 6 hours. It was also a difficult recovery. The after pains from breastfeeding were bloody terrible.
3rd baby born 2016. I was asleep and hubby was on night shift. Waters went around 1am. Called him to get home sharpish, as it's our 3rd baby things could happen quicker. Anyway, the hunk gets home after about an hour with large sanitary pads for me. We drop off our other 2 children at our aunts at like 3am. Rush to the hospital where a midwife examined me. I am only 2cm dilated. She tells me to go home. So hubby and girl home. We pretty much spend the day at home I clean the whole house top to bottom to speed things along and go for walks. Roughly 5PM, they are getting more intense. Hubby takes me to hospital and they examine me. I'm 3cm now. They tell me to go home, again. Back home andbtjen 9PM thing really start picking up. My best friend comes so she can be there and help me. I'm given pethidine at about 9PM and sent to the antenatal ward. Pethidine pretty much zoned me out and made me sleepy. I slept til roughly 5am. Woke up and had a bath, came back to antenatal ward and was examined by midwife. Was 7cm. Got into the birthing pool, which was what I always wanted. it was a dream come true. The water really helps. Got in the pool at about 7am and delivered the baby at 10.30am. Was definitely easier and more relaxing pushing in the water. He was delivered. Again no tears, just slight grazes which were fine with a jug of water as youre going. However, the midwife ditched us as soon as he was born. I was left on the bed. I wouldnt even call it that. It was leather gym mats on a sofa next o the birthing pool. I was left on that. I didnt even know how much he weighed until she appeared an hour or so later. No explanation nothing. I would completely understand if there was an emergency. But she didnt say anything. Anyway, that was definitely my easiest labour and easiest recovery. I was just so at ease. No stress. Definitely highly recommend water births. All in all it was 36 hour labour from when the waters went and the spaced out contractions. But from when things kicked off in the evening before til the morning I delivered was 13 hours.
4th baby. Born 2018.
Boy, this is a story. So the usual. Contractions started happening around 2am. Woke up and was like it could happen quicker withit being our 4th child. Called husband as he was on the night shift. Told him and he said he will be home soon. Was having contractions every 5 to 10 minutes roughly. At roughly 7am, hubby and I dropped off all the kids at our aunts and we went to the hospital. Was examined and was only 2cm dilated. Must add I had the sweep, 2 days before. They sent me home so off we went back home. Played games, slept, had a shower, watched movies. I was also dancing and going up and down the stairs and trying everything to get the ball rolling. Hubby took us back to the hospital around 10pm, things.qwre getting very intense. Guess what, I was only 3cm. They were ready to send me home. I then hung around for a bit. Examined again by the worst midwife in history. A lady who clearly didnt like me from whe I met her in antenatal. She gave me an internal to check how far along I was. While she gave me the internal she dug her nails in and scratches me. Can you believe it. I was saying ow ow, and she didnt stop. Afterwards I put my hands up so she could help me up. She put her hands behind her back and told me to get up myself. She was horrible. She then gave me the pethidine and am pretty sure it wasnt administered properly as it wore off within an hour or so. And I was struggling to cope. Rang the bell and a midwife examined me. I was 4cm. She said you can come to the labour ward now. I was at that time in the antenatal ward. Asked for a water birth. They said we will start filling it up now for you. Awesome. They then said that they are getting a midwife for me. I told them straight away, I dont want that horrible midwife. They said they won't arrange her but another lovely midwife, who was really nice and caring. She helped me into the birthing pool. I was just having gas and air. But because my contractions slowed down, she wanted me out to help me break my waters. I asked if I can get back into the birthing pool afterwards. She said absolutely no problem. Then her shift came to an end and another midwife swapped over with her.
I told midwife now, I wanted to get back into the birthing pool. She said no she cant put me back into the birthing pool, as she has a bad back. I was thinking to myself, seriously. So, I cant have my water birth because you have a bad back. Shouslnt it be about me. My husband wasnt even aware if this until I told him a few weeks ago. And I asked him, would it be rude of me to ask for s different midwife. My husband said no, because it's your labour. Again the pains were getting more intense. I was literally close to giving birth. I was begging to get back into the birthing pool. She said no. In a matter of fact voice. I was upset. Then baby was literally in the birthing canal ,ready to come out but she was stuck. They were getting ready to give me the drip as well. I was like errr, no , not the drip again. They said we are going to have to call the doctor. The baby is stuck. But this point I was in bloody agony. And was desperate for a wee. Turned out, the walk to the toilet helped move her back into the birthing canal and I pushed her out in about 3 or 4 pushes. Husband couldn't believe how quickly I delivered. I was very upset that i couldn't have my water birth but glad it was all over with. I was extremely weak after 32 hour labour and was sick after all the gas and air. But she was worth it. The worst part was the after pains they were so bad I was doubled over in pain, whenever I breastfed. No tears, only grazes. Was 32 hours labour total and probably 12 hours from when I went back to the hospital when things started getting more intense if that makes sense.
I seem to have really long labours. And really hoping it wont be the case with baby number 5 due January. But knowing my history, it will probably be the same thing again haha.
Out of all my labours my easiest was definitely number 3, it was very easy labouring at home and the water birth. I really hope to have a water birth with this one. Easiest delivery was my 2nd baby, I think that was because she was so small.
Does anyone else think that it was weird or rude of the midwife who said no, I cant have a water birth , because she has a bad back. Would I have been rude to ask for another midwife, that can assist me in the pool. I always wondered, maybe I would have been very cheeky if I had said that. I wouldn't have asked rudely. I would have just said, please can I have another midwife as the birthing pool is really helping me and I want to give birth in the water. I just found her very rude and abrupt. Anyone else think she was in the wrong?