Conner’s birth
When my waters started leaking on Wednesday morning at 37 weeks pregnant I didn't believe I was in labour. I was actually in denial about being in labour until I was that far into it that I could no longer think about what that meant!! So I spent most of the day doing normal activities - went to my appointments and had my mum and a friend over for afternoon tea and a massage.

I noticed contractions starting but could deal with them okay and still thought they might stop once everyone went away and I could lie down for a rest at 5pm-ish. But at 5:30 when I was finally alone and I rang my midwife, I could no longer cope so well with contractions and by 6-6:30pm I couldn't do anything anymore because the contractions were too close and very painful.

I was having a home birth so I spent the next few hours just allowing the sensations of labour to wash over me and all I was thinking was 'open up, stay relaxed, go with the flow'. I had no anxiety. Then I got into the birth pool for a few hours. By about 10pm my body was ready to push.

My midwife and doula arrived shortly afterwards. I thought I would be able to 'breathe my baby out' but the contractions weakened after a few hours and at some stage my midwife told me it would be a good idea to try some more upright positions outside of the pool. Eventually I had to push and push and push with all my might to get my baby out. I remember saying over and over 'it hurts so much' !! and thinking vaguely 'there is no way out of this except to push more!!'

My baby Conner was born on our back deck at 1:46am. He was 3.450 kgs (7.8 pounds) and very peaceful, no crying just a soft grunting noise. He looked perfect. I loved my labour because I had no clocks around me (the times of things happening were told to me after the birth), no internal examinations, no strangers at my birth and no pressures.

©Jemima and Birthtalk 2008

© Birthtalk 2002-2009