Here is Lilah Rose's birth story ... On the 25th of September I gave birth to my precious second daughter, "LILAH ROSE". My labour and birth was amazing, but also the most challenging experience of my life
Well at 41 weeks, I finally woke at 210am to a "pop" and a huge gush of my membranes rupturing and I immediately started have regular tightenings. Being a multi, I called my parents over to babysit Tehya and started to pack for the hospital. Once organised I started to use the fit ball in the lounge and awaited progress. After two hours, my waves hadn't intensified so we all went to bed. Two minutes after lying down, my baby started moving+++ and I felt too nervous staying at home in case things happened rapidly. We soon arrived at the hospital and I continued to gush clear fluid, but my tightenings were irregular.
I knew that something wasn't right. Once my waters ruptured last time, my waves came thick and fast. After an examination by the doctor I was told that my forewaters were still intact and that I had only had a hindwater leak. Once again this made sense and I gave permission to have an ARM. He did so and it felt good to have a big gush of fluid- however, I didn't like the color of it...it was meconium. Thankfully, it wasn't fresh mec. I had to have 20min CTG's every hour, but could still have an active labour. The doctor gave me a time-frame of 4 hours to be in active labour, otherwise he was ordering syntocinon. I trusted and believed in my wonderful body and uterus that I would be fully dilated by then. Immediately after the ARM, my uterus started having waves and just like last time, they came thick and fast. I spent a long time in the shower, on my hands and knees, standing and on the fit ball. I was using my wonderful inner resources and breathed each and every wave away.3 hours later I knew I was fully dilated. I became emotional, started to cry, had a show and was desperately ready to meet my little girl. By 3pm, it was confirmed on VE that I was fully and the head was low. My labour was again intense, but painless.
I was encouraged to "start pushing", but I listened to my body which wanted to just breathe the baby down. After a while, I began to feel the urge to push and had insane pressure and discomfort in my bottom. This only intensified and became overwhelming. I was completely in my own world and kept internally talking to my baby girl to come down and out. After the hardest and most challenging moments of my life (52 mins), I pushed out my baby girl's head and was then instructed by my doctor to reach down and deliver my baby. That was the most rewarding and awesome moment of my life! Lilah's birthing journey had ended and the beginning of her life began...in my hands! Once safely on my chest, my doctor announced to me that she was directly OP (posterior position)! I was totally stunned that I had just laboured and birthed my baby in the OP position- with no back pain, no medical assistance and no drugs! The pieces of the puzzle all came together and made sense why second stage took me so long. Hearing this news, made me feel even more empowered and amazed at my birthing body. Despite all of the challenges and 'unexpected twists and turns' during my labour and birth, I was able to remain calm, centered and surrender to the birthing process. This experience has only made me a stronger person and will definitely be an inspiring story to tell my future clients! Trust and believe...
I am totally in love with my darling daughter Lilah. She is a beautiful little soul. She is very calm and content and smiles a lot already!
Thank you Peter...I could not have achieved this birth without my calmbirth techniques!
Cass Stephens x
