We were very lucky to have a great doula - or birth companion - present during my delivery. Her name is Jennie, and here's her version of baby Abigail's birth story. If you're of a squeamish disposition, I promise Jennie's story is really lovely and there are no gory details (wait until my version of the birth story for that, LOL!)
Dear Abigail
I met with your Mummy and Daddy when they decided they wanted to have a gentle, calm and loving birth experience for you. I am a doula and was quite honoured they would allow me to be present at your birth, such an awe inspiring event! After 41 weeks of pregnancy you and your Mummy decided the time was right for you to enter the world.
At 1.15am I received a text message to say that your Mummy’s waters had released but that there were no surges yet. Mummy wanted to go back to bed and get some more rest before you started your journey. However, before long, her surges started and at 3.17am I got a call asking me to attend. At this point, the surges which were going to bring you into the world were already every 4-5 minutes apart and very powerful. Mummy felt a bit sick and shaky.
At 3.50am I call your Mummy from the taxi. She told me that she has some pressure in her bottom, she has been sick and she has been bleeding a bit. That makes me think that already the labour has progressed quite far, and I think your Mum is quite open but she is talking very well between surges and is very calm.
When I arrive at their place, I find a beautifully calm and tranquil environment. Mummy is laying on her side on the bed, in a dimly lit room. Daddy is looking after her, organising her things for the hospital and keeping the atmosphere relaxing and comfortable. I ask her if she wants to go to hospital now, or stay at home some more, but Mummy tells me that if we don’t go now, she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to make it in later!
So at 5.07am we are admitted to the hospital. Daddy immediately ensures that Mummy is feeling comfortable and safe while he gives the birth plan to the nurses and ‘guards’ the room while she settles back down. He puts the hypno-birthing CD on and Mummy lays down on her side and waits for a while before being examined.
Mummy has a long and uncomfortable examination at around 5.30am and we are informed that she is at least 8cm open. The resident Dr who did the exam wants to do another but your Mum breaks her restful silence to clearly say ‘no more exams until Biswas gets here!’. Inwardly I cheer that Mummy is so focused on having a peaceful birth and is not letting the Dr’s and nurses do anything that would alter her state of calm relaxation.
Your Mum does still feel nauseous and is hiccuping after every surge. If she wasn’t in labour, I think she would laugh at this! She lays on her side and listens to the affirmations and relaxation script on the cd. Mummy also keeps a cool flannel over her face for most of the time. This is her way of blocking out all the distractions going on around her and allows her to focus inwardly on you, her baby, and the journey the two of are undertaking.
Daddy is an excellent guardian. He makes sure the nurses know what Mummy and his wishes are and he ‘manages’ the room, ensuring everything is how it should be for a calm and peaceful entrance for you. I am really proud of him- he is so involved and active during your birth.
By 6am, Mummy is showing signs of wanting to bear down- her breathing changes and the quiet noises she makes while she has a surge indicate that you have descended. I encourage Mummy to spend a little time on the toilet, which she does, and then on the birth stool. By about 7.30, Mummy just wants to be on the bed again, so she gets back on it and lays on her side. Mummy starts moaning, just a little now.
Prof Biswas arrives at around 8.30am. I suspect that you have been waiting for him to get here before you make your grand entrance because just 25 minutes later, you are born! What a beautiful birth! Mummy breathes you down, never pushing hard, just gently easing you into the world. Biswas suggests Mummy lay on her back, and even at this late stage in labour, Mummy doesn’t lose her focus. She clearly says ‘I’ll stay on my side’ and inwardly I cheer again.
Baby Abi, you had such a great start, such a wonderful, peaceful entrance. You were put straight onto Mummy’s chest, and by 9.30am were already breastfeeding. On my way home in the taxi, the song ‘I’m walking on sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves played on the radio and I thought that it was such a sunny, happy song that it summed up my feelings about your birth perfectly. Welcome to the world little Abigail, have a wonderful life.
With love,
Jennie Blake
We found Jennie at Parentlink:
http://www.parentlink.com.sg/
At 1.15am I received a text message to say that your Mummy’s waters had released but that there were no surges yet. Mummy wanted to go back to bed and get some more rest before you started your journey. However, before long, her surges started and at 3.17am I got a call asking me to attend. At this point, the surges which were going to bring you into the world were already every 4-5 minutes apart and very powerful. Mummy felt a bit sick and shaky.
At 3.50am I call your Mummy from the taxi. She told me that she has some pressure in her bottom, she has been sick and she has been bleeding a bit. That makes me think that already the labour has progressed quite far, and I think your Mum is quite open but she is talking very well between surges and is very calm.
When I arrive at their place, I find a beautifully calm and tranquil environment. Mummy is laying on her side on the bed, in a dimly lit room. Daddy is looking after her, organising her things for the hospital and keeping the atmosphere relaxing and comfortable. I ask her if she wants to go to hospital now, or stay at home some more, but Mummy tells me that if we don’t go now, she doesn’t know if she’ll be able to make it in later!
So at 5.07am we are admitted to the hospital. Daddy immediately ensures that Mummy is feeling comfortable and safe while he gives the birth plan to the nurses and ‘guards’ the room while she settles back down. He puts the hypno-birthing CD on and Mummy lays down on her side and waits for a while before being examined.
Mummy has a long and uncomfortable examination at around 5.30am and we are informed that she is at least 8cm open. The resident Dr who did the exam wants to do another but your Mum breaks her restful silence to clearly say ‘no more exams until Biswas gets here!’. Inwardly I cheer that Mummy is so focused on having a peaceful birth and is not letting the Dr’s and nurses do anything that would alter her state of calm relaxation.
Your Mum does still feel nauseous and is hiccuping after every surge. If she wasn’t in labour, I think she would laugh at this! She lays on her side and listens to the affirmations and relaxation script on the cd. Mummy also keeps a cool flannel over her face for most of the time. This is her way of blocking out all the distractions going on around her and allows her to focus inwardly on you, her baby, and the journey the two of are undertaking.
Daddy is an excellent guardian. He makes sure the nurses know what Mummy and his wishes are and he ‘manages’ the room, ensuring everything is how it should be for a calm and peaceful entrance for you. I am really proud of him- he is so involved and active during your birth.
By 6am, Mummy is showing signs of wanting to bear down- her breathing changes and the quiet noises she makes while she has a surge indicate that you have descended. I encourage Mummy to spend a little time on the toilet, which she does, and then on the birth stool. By about 7.30, Mummy just wants to be on the bed again, so she gets back on it and lays on her side. Mummy starts moaning, just a little now.
Prof Biswas arrives at around 8.30am. I suspect that you have been waiting for him to get here before you make your grand entrance because just 25 minutes later, you are born! What a beautiful birth! Mummy breathes you down, never pushing hard, just gently easing you into the world. Biswas suggests Mummy lay on her back, and even at this late stage in labour, Mummy doesn’t lose her focus. She clearly says ‘I’ll stay on my side’ and inwardly I cheer again.
Baby Abi, you had such a great start, such a wonderful, peaceful entrance. You were put straight onto Mummy’s chest, and by 9.30am were already breastfeeding. On my way home in the taxi, the song ‘I’m walking on sunshine’ by Katrina and the Waves played on the radio and I thought that it was such a sunny, happy song that it summed up my feelings about your birth perfectly. Welcome to the world little Abigail, have a wonderful life.
With love,
Jennie Blake
We found Jennie at Parentlink:
http://www.parentlink.com.sg/
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