Early hours of our due date, I woke with period-like cramps that kept me up from 2-4am. I was sure this was the beginning of early labour and managed to get back to sleep about 4am waking again at 6am. I told my partner (Tom) that “today is the day” and queried cancelling our scheduled midwife appointment that morning at 8am. We decided to go along anyway and check things out. On the drive there I had a few more very mild period-like cramps however during my appointment, absolutely nothing. My midwife said she’d likely see me back this afternoon or tonight as with all my symptoms it was likely baby wasn’t far away.
Tom the decided to work from home, however after a quick food shop as our house was empty, it was evident things had died down completely so Tom went to work. My older daughter (Ellody) had her nap and I napped too. Tom came home early from work and we headed to the beach for a walk and a swim. Whilst walking along the beach I begun to loose some more of my mucous plug and the period-like cramps had returned. We had set up the Cabana and were at the beach from 3.30-4.30 before I began to feel too uncomfortable and decided it was best to pack up and head home. On the drive home we phoned Tom’s mum to pick up Ellody. I was apprehensive because I was worried it wasn’t going to be tonight as the pain was so mild and had already died down once. She arrived at 5.30pm and I had showered and put the TENS machine on.
We were packing bags and food and I was bouncing on the fit ball as this felt comfortable. The contractions were lasting 30-45s every 1-2 minutes. I text our midwife at 5.47pm: “Hi Court. Having some regular-ish contractions at home, waters still haven’t broken though and I’m coping okay with the TENS and bouncing on the ball. Ellody is with grandma”. She responded “perfect, let me know when they increase in intensity”.
15 minutes later things had really ramped up, or perhaps it was Tom telling me I should have been more specific in my text to Court. We rang her at 6pm and planned to meet her at the birth centre at 7pm. I experienced lots of intense contractions on the 30 minute car ride in to the centre, but funnily enough could still speak between contractions and was laughing with Tom about potentially calling it too early. We arrived at the centre at 7pm and Courtney greeted us.
The IV drip was put in as I was strep B positive. I bounced on the fit ball and breathed through the contractions. They were very regular and intense, but I was still able to talk between. As the intensity ramped up I was no longer able to talk and things progressed very quickly, I began vocalising and screaming not long after. The IV was pushed through very quickly! I was transitioning, so we headed to the birthing bath. As we removed the TENS machine and IV drip I had a contraction outside the bath which was so intense. Thankfully Courtney applied pressure to my back and helped me through it.
10 minutes in the bath of pushing and baby was here. My waters broke 3 minutes before he came out. He was born at 7.46pm, only 45mins after we arrived!! We had a very long umbilical cord, which was wrapped a few times around his body, but he came out screaming! We didn’t know the gender at the time of the birth, but when picking him up out of the water, it was very clear we had a baby boy when I placed my hands under his bum and felt his very swollen testicles!! A very quick and natural, water birth with the support of my partner and the same midwife who helped deliver our baby girl, Ellody. Thankfully no tears or stitches, and we were discharged before midnight and home in bed with our precious baby boy, Xander before 1am. How lucky were we?!
Xander Thomas Whitfield | 3.3kg and 48cm | Born on March 8 2021 Early labour from 3pm. Total active labour from 4.30pm-7.35pm. Pushing for 10 minutes!
* Please remember these birth stories are shared in their own voice; from the point of view of the writer. Please remember that every birth, woman and baby are different so different choices have been made in individual circumstances. They are not intended to be used as medical advice, but to share the amazing stories of these mums
Kirsty’s Second Water Birth