My Birth Story - 40 weeks + 2 and then I met you

40 + 2 and then I met you!

Only when you are pregnant, or someone close to you is pregnant, is it that you start to understand the whole 'weeks' element. "How far along are you" someone would ask? "32 weeks", I would reply, only to be met by a blank stare. "Oh, seven months!" I would restate. When a mere 33 weeks earlier, I too only spoke in months.

I was 40 weeks and two days (40+2) when my baby Noah arrived; eyes like huge almonds looking up at me, filling me with complete and utter unconditional love. Still, every time I think of it, bubbles of joy disperse all over me. Oblivious to pain, him naked on my chest where he remained for the next 2 hours; the sting as the placenta passed, and the discomfort from a couple of stitches, all non-factors. I was floating on the clouds of love and nitrous oxide. Noah was here! A sweet, healthy boy. My kin, skin to skin on my chest.

At 36 weeks I had started to have contractions, and I lost what they thought was 'the show' My doctor advised me to take it easy, I had been very active, walking and doing pregnancy-safe workouts. The aim was to keep the baby inside 37+ weeks. It turned out Noah wasn't ready yet anyway. He was just getting a little more comfortable in preparation for his grand entrance.

It was a bright sunny Monday morning in London. I was full term, and it was time for my doctor's appointment. I waddled into Chelsea & Westminster Hospital with my mom and my hubby bracing myself for the dreaded sweep! I had heard lots about it and had hoped to avoid it. However, I also needed to give Noah his eviction notice! My Kankles had had enough, the heartburn was akin to a forest fire, and I had undoubtedly surpassed the pregnancy glow. So sweep she did, and home I went.  It wasn't as bad as anticipated, but I felt nauseous and tender. The planned activities for the day (a walk in Battersea Park) canceled in favour of the cosy sofa, snacks, and Netflix.

Tuesday morning, I woke up with mild contractions, very similar to what I experienced at 36 weeks, and had generally been feeling the last few days. We decided to stay local, only moving within a 15-minute radius of home and hospital. We went to the supermarket, ate at Nandos and went to the cinema. In the evening, my mom, dad, aunty P, and cousins Justine & Eden came by. We watched Love Island (my parents talked all the way through) and The Quincy Jones Documentary (parents gave their full attention.) As the evening went on, I became more and more agitated with everything and everyone. I was having contractions, painful, but bearable; however, I was more anxious about how long this would continue. I had been having contractions all week. I did not want to go to the hospital too soon and get turned away, or leave it too late and give birth at home or in the car! This nearly happened to my sister, she arrived at the hospital with moments to spare, and my friend just the previous week had an unplanned home birth! All of these scenarios were spinning around my head.

Noah heard me and responded. At precisely 11 pm, my waters burst movie style, Pop! Splash! I was so excited you would have thought I'd won the lottery. We were all jumping around happy. Now I had clarity 100%. I should go to the hospital. My contractions were still not close enough to warrant a rush. I tried to stay as calm as possible, so I jumped in the shower, got ready, and headed to the hospital. My dad and aunty P went home, so my entourage consisted of hubby, mom, Jus, and Eden. 

On arrival, the midwife suggested I keep walking around as they didn't want to check how dilated I was due to my waters breaking, which leaves you prone to infection. It was midnight, the hospital was empty, so I tried to walk around as much as possible. I went to get a chai latte and an almond croissant, barely touched, so you know it was getting real! I can usually inhale those down in under 5 minutes.

Irritation levels started to rise like a hot air balloon. Justine was timing my contractions with an app, and everyone chatting and having a grand old time. My first polite request was for no one to talk when I was having a contraction. I breathed through that for a few more. Then it turned into NO ONE TALK!!! After 2 hours of this, I went back to the midwife and begged her to check me. It was 2 am, and I was only 2cm dilated. If this is what 2cm felt like, I could not fathom what 8cm would feel!  It was also at that moment I knew I did not want to do the traditional movie style lie down legs up birthing pose. No, no, no!  It was way too painful. Standing and walking felt better, and off we went for another hour. 

By 3 am, I was begging for a bed. "I'm so tired. I just need to lie down" Walking plus contractions had me feeling like I just finished an intense Soul Cycle class. Exhausted,  it was time, and we went into the lovely birthing suite. My birth plan was for natural birth in the birthing pool. At my hospital, this meant you and your midwife, no doctor unless needed, in which case you would transfer to the labour ward. It also predestined no epidural. 

Pethidine and Gas and Air (a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas) were what I did want! My midwife administered the Pethidine at around 3.15 am, and I started to relax. I loved Pethidine and would use it again for childbirth. Disclaimer, Pethidine does not take away the pain of the contraction as it is happening. What is does do is make you relax and feel floaty in between contractions. The 45 seconds or so, you can chill instead of anticipating the pain of the next hit. I wriggled and turned on the bed like this for the next hour and a half. I was going through the waves of pain and relief. Then boom! It wore off. MORE! I need more! My midwife sweetly reminded me of my birth plan, and how I wanted a natural water birth and that I could not have any more if we are going to go ahead with that. (you cannot have Pethidine and be in the water due to the drowsy effect) My cousin Justine, who had been my primary birthing partner at most of the classes, reminded me to breathe and relax as in my hypnobirthing technique. I looked at my midwife dead in the eye and told her, "I understand women have done this before, but I don't know-how! You need to tell me exactly what to do as I don't think I can make it!" It was at this point it became unbearable to be on the bed, standing felt better. They checked me, and I was now 6cm dilated. It was go-time! 5 am on Wednesday, and I was in active labour.  I had to lose 2 of my entourage, so my Mom and Eden headed home, and we filled up the birthing pool.

I was kneeling on the floor mat facing the wall one hand holding the ballet barre the other holding my hubby, who was sitting on the floor opposite, enjoying a puff of the gas and air. "Give me that!" I demanded (rather loudly). Finally, I feel like I had been looking forward to this my whole pregnancy! It didn't disappoint. My cousin was gently rubbing my back, deep breath in, deep breath out. All of a sudden, I felt like I was going to do a number two! I screamed for my hubby to get out. We had discussed him being there and not looking down, but it had all been very movie Esq. In reality, I suddenly didn't feel so comfortable, and in that split second, I knew I did not have time to be worrying about that or feeling self-conscious. He shot up and like Usain Bolt off the blocks. 

It turned out I didn't poop; it was baby Noah. I could hear the surprise on my midwives' voice, "he's coming! Keep breathing relax. Don't push." "Tell me when to push!?!" I replied. "I can see an eyebrow, now push slightly, chin! There he is, one more push." And there he was, my little Sprinks. I called for my hubby, who luckily didn't listen to me by leaving; he just stood behind the curtain. I was still in the kneeling position Noah attached through the umbilical cord my midwives helped me slowly turn around to a sitting position Noah close to my chest looking up at me. The midwife let out the water in the empty pool.

We stayed like this while the placenta passed and stopped pulsing before my partner cut the umbilical cord. Noah was born at 5.26 am. They say my active labour was 18 minutes, but I feel I was in slow labour for a week prior, which made smooth labour. My partner recorded from behind the curtain from the moment I had asked him to leave, so we now know Noah's decent was 1 minute 37 seconds. I am so pleased we have that memory. 

I cuddled and held Noah close, basking in the bliss of his presence. My mom and cousin were back within 30 minutes like they had never left, and my hubby fell fast asleep as if he had done all the hard work, sleeping through all the doctors' checks. On waking a few hours later, his explanation was, "It's been a long night" You don't say Einstein! By midday, we were all cleared to go home if we felt comfortable. I, Miss organised, had forgotten to pack bottoms in my hospital bag, so I had to turn my maxi dress, which somehow I had kept on during birth rouched around my waist, inside out into a skirt. I couldn't care less. I was tired and content. By 6 pm, my whole family and my best friends were in our apartment happy and lively. It was all a daze, Noah stayed in my arms, and I was full of love.