Sunday 18th November 2012 (My due labour date)
8:00 AM -- I was lying in bed while my husband was mowing the lawn outside before the arrival of our baby when I started to feel minor cramps. I msged him (because I was so lazy to go downstairs) that I think I'm having minor contractions. I have to say I was at my due labour date so days before approaching today I was anticipating any possible signs of labour. Mr Pham then came running in, we weren't sure what the first signs of labour would feel like because prior to this I hadn't even experienced braxton hicks contractions.
9:30 AM -- I had been recording my "cramps" and they were coming at around every 8-15 minutes. We decided to call the hospital just to know what these "cramps" were. I also have to mention I was due to be induced at 4PM that day but I kept hoping and praying that labour would come naturally on its own.
The hospital told me that it seems that these "cramps" are minor contractions and it seems like I'm having the signs of early labour but because my contractions arn't regular yet and I can still talk through them to still come in for my 4PM appointment and they will check my cervix and see if I've dilated.
2:00 PM -- Got ready to go to the hospital for our appointment, at this point my contractions weren't strong at all and still were going at the same rate of 8-15 minutes. I was still able to move talk and dance if I wanted to.
4:00 PM -- They checked us in for our appointment, around this time they checked the movement in my belly and checked my cervix. They said i was about 3cms and said there was no reason to induce because it looks like I'll be giving birth either today or tomorrow. They asked if I wanted to go home or just wait at the hospital. I decided I wanted to go home. I had a birthing plan that I was determined to follow through with.
7:30 PM -- My contractions then started to become more distinct that I could tell you when they are about to start, coming every 5 minutes and lasting about 40 seconds, but at this point I was still able to talk, move and walk around through my contractions.
9:00 PM -- I talked to my sister on the phone and at this point I wasn't able to talk through my contractions. It was funny cause I was on the phone with her and has to pause every few minutes to let the contraction pass.
10:00 PM -- Mr Pham and I layed in bed for awhile and tried recording my contractions. It then became clear that they were coming every 3-4 minutes lasting about 40 seconds. At this point there was no time to rest because there is no way you are able to sleep through these contractions that I was feeling yet the pain was still bearable.
10:30 PM -- I then proceeded with my birthing plan and did a relaxing labour video to take my mind off the pain. I then took a nice relaxing bubble bath and had a facial. (I wanted a relaxing birth as much as possible).
Monday 19th November 2012
12:00 AM -- The contractions became painful and were consistent on the 3-4 minute apart. The only position I found comfortable was to rotate my hips standing up as the contractions came. Mr Pham decided to call the hospital where they asked me a bunch of questions. Such as where I live? how far apart are the contractions? and how long do they last for.
I still remember the nurse saying to me "Well I guess you two better start loading the car with your bags and making your way here." Through contractions Mr Pham and I kept jumping up and down with excitement saying to our video camera that we brought for memories "Baby girl we are going to meet you very soon."
2:00 AM -- We arrived at the hospital where they recorded my contractions and put me into a birthing room. At this point contractions were so unbearable but I had a mindset where I was determined to go completely natural as much as possible.
3:00 AM -- Mr Pham then set a warm bath for me where I relaxed and let the warm water take control of my contractions.
4:30 AM -- I came out of the bath and could not handle the pain and requested to have the "Happy gas", which let me tell you now I wish I could take home. I could still feel the contractions 100% but the gas made me so happy, I couldn't stop laughing and cracking jokes.
5:00 AM -- Mr Pham had gone to the car to get a few snacks. I was alone in the room when I suddenly sneezed and my water broke. I remember in the middle of a contraction I went searching for my phone and called Mr Pham telling him to hurry and help me clean the room because I think I wet myself and didn't want the nurses to see the mess I made. Tony called my mid wife Leanne in and she checked my cervix and said I was 7 cms dilated and reassured me that it was not me wetting myself but my water breaking. That's when Mr Pham called my mum to tell her to make her way to the hospital.
6:00 AM -- I was sucking on the gas like my life depended on it and I felt like I had to do the biggest poo in the world. My mum had arrived and at this point I was ready to push. I had fully dilated and felt an insane pressure down there. I remember I kept telling Leanne that Im scared I might poo on her because that's what it really felt like.
6:30 AM -- I began pushing and this is where my laughing and joking mood completely changed. I remember I was swearing in all sorts of languages (then apologising to everyone afterwards), yelling that "I can't do it" and that I wanted a five minute break because I was so exhausted. Leanne and Mr Pham then looked me in the eye and told me to hold my breath and use the screaming energy to push.
7:07 AM -- I remember after one huge push Leanne was holding this beautiful baby laying her on my chest. It felt like the whole room became silent until I heard that little cry from her. After that Mr Pham (who was holding a video camera the entire time), my mother and I couldn't believe what just happened. All the pain just suddenly disappeared and all I could see was my beautiful daughter laying on my chest.
The nurses were all around me, stitching me up, sticking needles in here and there and all I could see was Madeleine laying on my chest falling asleep.
There is nothing like the experience of giving birth to your own child, to hear her first cry and witness her first breath of air, until this day all I do is just stare at her, amazed at every little thing she does.
Love Always Vanessa
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| Holding Madeleine for the first time minutes after her birth |
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| Proud father doing skin-to-skin with Maddy |
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| Our first family shot together. |
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