I was awoken by contractions at 6am on Sunday 22nd January – they were 15 minutes apart and only lasting roughly 30 seconds. I tried to go back to sleep but it was just too uncomfy – Paul woke about 7.30am and when I told him “I think I’m in labour” his reaction was “Really, quick call Sandra.” Me being me put it off and said “I’ll be fine!” I just mucked about and about 8am went and had breakfast. Paul announced to his parents that I was in labour and their reaction was “Call Sandra!” – If you haven’t figured it out – Sandra is my midwife! About 8.30 am it all stopped – GREAT I thought, just my luck! But at roughly 9am it all started again. I was so relaxed about not calling the midwife but paranoid Paul made me ……. So I called Sandra and just as I had guessed she told me to enjoy my day and call her when they were four minutes apart – “WHAT???” was my reaction of course she laughed and said “I’m kidding call me when they are seven minutes apart.”
So off Paul and I went to Levin then to the Waikanae Sports Day with me gritting my teeth and stopping every time a contraction came, we walked around the grounds to see what was there – yup same as last year!!! I had a sudden urge to go home – I just felt safer at home all of a sudden – so off home we went, had lunch and got ready to head to my mums. Good old latent stages of labour!!!!!!
I arrived at my mums about 4.30pmish.
The plan was to labour at mums til I felt I needed to go to hospital.
While I laboured Paul played PS2 and watched DVD’s – DAMN Sandra for saying he could play PS2 while I laboured!!!!
I felt the contractions getting more intense so Sandra visited at about 6.30pm – 3cms dilated and 90% ‘thinned’ – I don’t know technical terms so I hope you are following!!!
“Call me at 10pm as nothing much will be happening, you’re doing well” were the comments from Sandra. I remember thinking 10pm – OH MY GAWD!! - Paul’s comment to that was “Oh you get to watch CSI” – If looks could kill!
As nothing was happening my sister Tania decided to go to her partners place and get some sleep – Thanks for the loan of your room Tan!!!
Gail (Paul’s mum) arrived about 7pmish – It was nice to have her there as extra support. So I laboured away on the bed, squeezing Paul’s hand whenever I had a contraction and my mum rubbing my back. All of a sudden my contractions went to four minutes apart and lasting for about one minute. They were coming quick, hard and fast sometimes closer together than four minutes. With the contractions getting more intense Paul heard a ‘click’ about 8.45pm then there was water for Africa.
Time to call Sandra I thought. We arranged to meet at the Hospital at 9.30pmish.
I remember Sandra saying that if I felt an urge to push or pressure not to go anywhere and she would come to mums.
In the meantime here I was in my mums bathroom leaning over her bathroom sink head down, swinging and swaying on the phone to my sister Helen in Australia – I just wished she could have been here – But in saying that she calmed me right down and made me B R E A T H E ….. that is so important I tell ya!!!!
Upon arrival at the hospital Tania got me a wheelchair and off we went – Thanks Gail for parking the car!! I wonder what the orderly thought when he saw a lady in labour in a wheelchair, with a lady pushing – her partner in tow along with another guy and her mum and mother in law … HMMMMMM poor guy! – I must say tho I liked having a special elevator!!
I had arrived at delivery suite!!!
I couldn’t wait any longer and I wanted that pool – so I just jumped in – until Sandra got there and I ha
d to get out so she could monitor Lachlan’s heartbeat and the contractions – oh yeah and see what progress I was making – you know what I mean!
So Sandra shooed everyone out to the waiting room so she could do what she had to do. By this time it was about 10pm. So I jumped back in the pool and the contractions got worse! Sandra went and spoke to all those who were waiting – by then my dad had joined the group. She advised that I was ONLY seven centimetres dilated and it could be hours yet – HA did I prove her wrong!!!
At 10.30pm I had a sudden urge to push – something you CAN NOT stop! So Sandra said “well push then” so that’s exactly what I did!!
At 10.54pm our handsome wee boy Lachlan David Thomas was born – weighing in at 7lb 8oz (3380grams) WOW what an experience!!
Paul and I had some mum, dad and Lachie time before Sandra let anyone in on the secret that Lachlan had decided to enter this world.
So in came the proud new Gran T who fell in love and was smitten from the first time she seen Lachlan, in came Nana and Grandad H who are old hands at this grandparent thing – but still get the same ‘new’ grandparent rush every time one of their daughters has a child – Lachlan is number one for Paul’s side and number eight for mine.
In came Aunty Tania and Spiro – yes babies are very little Spiro!!
In came the on duty nurse with the phone – A call from Australia from my big sister Helen telling me what a wonderful and QUICK job I had done – There were tears for Africa in the room!!
After everyone had gone and it was just Paul, Lachie and I we had some ‘family’ time. Paul’s face couldn’t have beamed more than it already was – he was one proud daddy! It was love at first sight.
With Lachlan and I settled in our room Sandra and Paul left for the night.
I was so tired I slept – then all of a sudden I had an adrenalin rush and I was wide awake looking at this little baby laying in the crib next to me. I kept thinking WOW he is FINALLY here and he is all mine – well til his dad got back anyway!
Although I had a fantastic birth – All natural I may add!! It didn’t go according to plan – but what birth does??? I was planning on having Gail, my mum and my sister in the delivery room with me. In a lot of ways I regret not having them in there – that is guilt more than anything as I know that Gail was looking forward to seeing her first grandchild being born and also Tania had never seen any of her nephews or niece being born – my mum is an old had at this birth thing!!!
BIG thankyou to Paul, my fiancée – I couldn’t have done it without you. You are my rock and one fantastic guy – I am so glad that I was lucky enough to fall in love with you and have your child. You are one great dad!!
Thankyou to the mums, the dads, the aunties and the uncles.
Also a HUGE thankyou to Sandra for helping to bring our perfect son into this world.
