My Birthing Story
First moment as a family 24hrs after birth
I had always imagined I would become a mother one day.
But I could have never imagined the challenges I would face embarking upon the matrescence (mother-becoming) journey.
After taking my health into my own hands during the 18 months to conceive my first child (read about this in my yoga story), I was excited to experience pregnancy.
I was living on a remote island, but we were very lucky to have a wonderful health clinic. Everything was progressing well until I was 32 weeks pregnant, when I accidentally slipped in some water and landed in the splits position. My heavily pregnant body wasn’t too happy about that, and I ended up with an inguinal hernia and much pain for the remainder of my pregnancy.
At 36 weeks, I left my island home to prepare for birth and was seen by an obstetrician who informed me my baby was breech. Having imagined nothing but a natural birth, my world was turned upside down.
I went straight to a local acupuncturist, began trying Spinning Babies® manoeuvres and did everthing I could think of to encourage bub to change position. Alas, despite even trying an ECV, my little man would not budge.
I think I was still in denial about the looming possibility of a c-section when my waters broke unexpectedly 11 days before my due date, with my husband still 2 plane flights away on the island. Surges progressed rapidly and before I knew it, I was in theatre and receiving a healthy baby boy into my arms.
With motherhood upon me, and the long trip back home to navigate with a newborn, there was little time to process what had happened.
It took me years to work through my feelings around my birth experience and my chronic pain and get to a place where I felt it was in my reality to try for another child.
This time the conception experience was totally different. Bub must have been very eager to get here, as we conceived first try! I believe all the physical and emotional work I had undertaken, especially my dedication to my yoga practice, also prepared me for this.
I knew I still had much work to do if I was to have a VBAC (Vaginal Birth After Caesarean), so I immediately began preparing my support crew. Number one of course, being my husband Ben. We were so grateful to meet Jaimee at the Launceston Birth Centre and knew this was the place we wanted to bring our baby into the world.
With her guidance and my amazing perinatal healthcare team of Sarah from Sarah George Acupuncture and Jaclyn from Natural Fertility Co, my baby was growing healthily.
“I am without a doubt that your initiation into matrescence through the portals of conception, gestation and birthing has a deep impact upon your experience as a parent.”
As I entered third trimester, bub was again sitting breech and all my old fears resurfaced. I put aside many things and went deep into my yoga practice. I also engaged the support of Louise from Awaken Hynposis and Belinda from TasWellness Councelling to aid my mental health and keep me focussed and fear-free.
I began the Spinning Babies® protocol for breech presentation (I had already been following their optimal positioning recommendations during pregnancy) and after about a month, bub had moved to a head down position, bringing a flood of relief.
I felt good (but very large) towards the end of the pregnancy, but was shocked to go into labour at the local pool 2 weeks early. My midwives checked her position when I arrived at the birth centre and I was still not engaged, so they warned me to settle in, as it was probably going to be slow progress.
At this point, I really started to doubt myself, as I felt the surges were becoming very intense. I wondered how I was going to make it through the rest of the day and likely the whole night with this intensity. However, I needn’t have worried as, within 2 hours, with a rush of blood and a little scare, I was fully dilated and ready to get in the birth tub.
Only 30 minutes later, I caught my baby girl and brought her tearily out of the water for her first hug.
Best support person for a VBAC waterbirth at the Launceston Birth Centre
As you can see, although natural birth is as nature intended, that does not mean it just happens. It takes work and it requires support.
I acknowledge my privilege in being able to access all the services I was able to during my pregnancies. I am aware that not everyone has these opportunities and this fuels my passion to always work towards inclusivity in the way I support those seeking to journey into matrescence.
“I hope that my experiences, what I have learnt first hand and the skills I have developed regarding fertility, pregnancy and birthing can inspire and support others towards the possibility of smooth conception, comfortable pregnancy and calm birth.”