One minute I was having a meeting with Georgie’s teacher and the next I was having contractions and walking up a hill.
That evening, on Valentine’s Day, we welcomed our beautiful baby boy, Danny.
Here’s everything that happened in between. My birth story and second VBAC told through my phone photos and pictures taken by my wonderful doula on the day.
I began the day by dropping Georgie off at school. Papa normally does this but seeing as I had an appointment with my OBGYN bright and early and a scheduled meeting with Georgie’s teacher shortly before I thought I should be the one to handle the morning school run. I managed to fit in a one-hour decaf coffee break, make a few phone calls, reply to e-mails and organise a small birthday party for Georgie who turns 7 next week. Thinking back I’m thankful for the tiny Type-A part of my personality.
Around 9.30 that morning, with some faint abdominal pains, I made my way to the clinic for my weekly appointment. While I waited to see the doctor I posted this photo on Instagram with a caption about how parent-teacher meetings make me feel grown-up. I’ve had two so far this year and I’ve found them to be so surreal. Anyone else feel that way? Anyway back to my birth story…so during my examination the doctor discovered that there was some leakage. Waters broken? Could be. It was the first inkling I got that something might be happening. Either way due to the fact that I wasn’t in any real pain but I was becoming anxious and this was another VBAC we both thought it best if I was monitored. Before that however I wanted to pop round to my doula’s office for a quick coffee and a chat. I arrived, she looked at me and said: ‘You’ll be breastfeeding by 6 o’clock.’
It looked like I was experiencing contractions, regular and proper ones. They weren’t long in duration or particularly painful but I hopped into my car and drove back to the clinic for some monitoring anyway. My doula came shortly after that. I was listening to music on my phone and pretending to meditate when she walked in. Contractions were coming every two minutes but I knew they weren’t ‘the real deal’ so I decided to head home, relax and see my other babies.
But seeing as it was lunchtime, we decided to grab some food before heading to my house. It’s crazy how hungry contractions can make you and how much I crave fast food at times. And at the strangest times. ‘Two chicken burgers and fries please.’ Contraction. ‘And two cokes’. Still contracting. At this point I’m thinking how fun it would be if my water broke right there in a Burger King.
Contractions are fuuuun!!!!
I should probably mention that in the meantime papa is on the phone to me every half an hour wondering what the f*** he’s supposed to do. ‘Do you want me to come to you?’ ‘Are you ok driving?’ ‘Should I grab your bag and put it in the car?’ No. Yes. No. You see, I had been in denial all day. I did not believe, not even for a second, that the baby was coming. After all it’s ten days before my due date! And I didn’t wake up that day thinking this would be the day. I was planning on ordering sushi that night and cuddling up with papa in bed and a good movie.
Once we were home, I left my doula with a cup of tea and headed to my bedroom to change into something comfortable and take a shower. ‘Maybe I should grab my makeup and toiletry bag,’ I thought to myself. ‘And maybe my hospital bag too? Yeah, better safe than sorry.’ After a lovely hot shower I made myself a cup of tea, opened my laptop to check FB and bounced around on my exercise ball.
Then we decided to go for a walk…
…and pose in front of a tractor. At this point the contractions I was having did not want to be ignored anymore. So we made our way back to my house, grabbed my bags and got in the car to go and pick up papa from his workplace and head to the clinic for a bit more monitoring.
5.54 pm. The last selfie I took before active labour kicked in.
Danny was born just over an hour later. No more denying, no more thinking and analysing. Pure and raw emotions, immense love and gratitude. Even having done it twice, I am still in absolute and gob-smacking awe of women and our bodies and the ability we have to carry and birth our babies. And people say they don’t believe in miracles and magic…
And then this happened. My first baby boy walked in with two red roses and the biggest and sweetest smile and my heart grew more than I ever imagined it could.
Welcome to our family, Danny my darling xxx
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This was my second VBAC. If you want to read about my first one click here. And if you’re thinking of having a VBAC you can read my post on how to prepare for a VBAC here.
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A massive thank you to:
My beautiful doula and friend, Claire Anne Mavris. You da best girl!
My doctor, the incomparable, Dr Andreas Mavrides and his excellent staff at the ISIS clinic.
Our pediatrician, Dr Emily Joseph who has taught me everything I know about babies and gave me the strength and guidance to weather the storm of breastfeeding.
My husband, the most wonderful life partner and father to our children, the man who held me and whispered words of encouragement in my ear, who I kissed and hugged while I felt my body was being ripped apart …because there are times, raw and emotional times, when for me it is only him.
