Birth of a Babe - 4th March 2012

So good to be back on the blog and to celebrate the arrival of our newest family member, Chloe Shekinah!!

Chloe was born 4 days early which is not really "early" as such, but was an interesting, new experience for me.  My babies always come "late".  Well, except for Wade.  He was spot on his due date!  Lani was a day over, Seraphina was 3 weeks over and Lucy almost 2 weeks over.  So, when I woke with a strong contraction at about 1.45am, I wasn't quite convinced that labour had begun..

You see, another new experience for me was to feel Braxton Hicks quite strongly and literally for 2/3 of my pregnancy.  I had mildly noticed them with the last pregnancy, but this time they were often regular and VERY noticable.  I just figured my lovely uterus was working a little harder this time (being the 5th pregnancy) and needed a bit longer to prepare.  And it was this reason that when that first "real" contraction presented itself, I half thought it may be another Braxton Hicks.  Surely, baby wouldn't come early??

I continued to lie in bed, eyes wide, and breathed calmly through the contraction.  It did seem a little stronger than the BH's, so I opted to wait and see if another one or two generated and if there was any regularity to them.

10 minutes passed, and along came a contraction.  Just as strong, and enough to make me stand and get out of bed.  I had the urge to go sit on the loo.. (as you do!) and while there another two contractions passed, each ten minutes apart and each increasing in intensity.  I started feeling rather excited and believed that labour was in motion.  Should I wake hubby??

My instinct was not to wake Steve just yet, just in case it was a false alarm and all over as quick as it had begun.  And besides, the house was soooo quiet and serene.  I was really enjoying the moment alone.  I potted around the house, putting things away, folding... and transferred slowly to a favoured corner of our dining table for support as I felt a contraction rising.  

Recognising the familiarity of the way my labours generally progress, I decided that I was most likely going to birth my baby this morning and best be setting up my birthing space.

At this stage I wasn't counting contractions, however, intuition invited me to quicken my waddle slightly when foraging the following items.. mattress, towels, waterproof tablecloth, sheets, placenta bowl etc.  I had another contraction as I was dragging the mattress up the hallway, (It was a child's size IKEA mattress, so nothing too strenuous), made my bed then decided to go and wake sleeping Papa Bear - with a midway sojourn at the dining table.. Another contraction!  Yep, well and truly 5 mins apart now.  The time..  about 2.45am.

Papa Bear rose with sleepy eyes (he was due to wake at 4.30am for work).  

Steve:  "What's happening", rubbing eyes.

Me:  "I think baby might come today." - another contraction.. "Yeah, baby's definitely coming!"

Steve:  "What do you need me to do.  What do I need to set up for you?"

Me:  "Nah, I've already done it" - pointing to my little sacred space.

Steve:  "Oh, you've already done it.  That's nice Babe."

Me:  :)

At this point I went and checked in at my birthing alter, read my blessingway blessings, lit my candle and put on my birthing necklace.  I felt the support of all my friends, my own mother and all the mothers before her.  I was ready to travel to the deepest part of myself, where time seems to stand still.  I knew what physical and emotional demands would be offered to me.  I was ready for the experience.  The spiritual exaltation that is childbirth.  -  Beautiful women.. stay with me. xx

Another contraction sees me back to my favourite corner of the dining table.  Head down, focused breathing, body swaying....

Things were really moving quickly.  I could feel my body expanding, dilating.  The pain was advancing incredibly and a moment of fear crept in.

Me:  (having a little cry..) "I don't want it to hurt"

Steve: .........silent pause.........

Me:  "I take it back.. I do want it too"

I knew my body was working hard to birth our baby.  I knew that what I was feeling was perfect and that baby was with me all the way.  I transformed my thoughts.  I knew if I focussed on the pain, resisted the pain, I would hand over my power to it.  I needed strength and courage to birth this baby.  There was no turning back now!!  I welcomed the pain, invited it back in to my experience, and the fear subsided. 

The space between contractions was narrowing and I had that immediate urge to get to the place were baby was to be born.  No more walking around.  I needed to get into position....

We decided to let Lani (14), Wade (11) and Lucy (3) sleep until just prior to baby's arrival.  Seraphina really wanted to be a part of the birthing experience, so Steve woke her and the two of them sat at the dining table while I kneeled on the mattress, leaning on to the couch, cuddling pillows tightly through contractions. 

My body was being consumed.  With each wave I could feel baby moving closer and closer, traveling down the birth canal, preparing to crown.. and yet part of my spirit was watching from above as the mechanics of childbirth took over.

I rested in between contractions and sang like a whale during them.  Baby was being born..

The other children were woken.  At this moment, I felt I needed to change position, so on Steve's return I turned to kneel upright, facing his loving eyes and holding his forearms for support.  

The contractions were working to push baby.  However, in this position I felt some resistance.  Intuitively, I asked Steve to help me stand.

Steve:  "We don't want baby to fall out"

Reflecting on our previous births, I assured him that I will need to birth the head first and baby will not "fall out". :)

Standing certainly released the resistance I was feeling and during the next contraction, an ocean of waters gushed out blessing my birthing space.

With another hard squeeze and a roar of emotion from me, I noticed a few drops of blood on the mattress below.  I took this as a positive sign that baby was crowning.  "Oh Good" I whispered.  We had traveled well.. Baby is almost here!!

Once again through divine guidance and pure direction from my baby and body, I asked Steve to help me back down.  

Baby crowned.  I felt her head presenting. 

Elated, I knew that with the next surge she would be with us, safe in the sanctity of her family and home.

Our last contraction together felt more like two in one.  It was a good thing I had kneeled back down on the mattress as baby's head and body birthed in one last momentous push.  4.18am - She was here!!

As she lay before me, I paused quietly.  A brief moment in time to integrate between two worlds and for me to soak up the euphoria.  She was perfect.  Raising her to my heart, I felt relieved, proud, overwhelmed, grateful... totally immersed in a universal blanket of love and beauty .

Words can not describe those first few moments together.  So much LOVE...  A life is born and a new journey begins. XX