Daryl - Ann

The Pregnancy and Labour

My pregnancy was unremarkable. Sure, I had the weird symptoms, Carpal Tunnel, a strange taste in my mouth, but “Thumper” was very active and seemed to be doing what she should. The lady doing the scans got frustrated with her not staying still for the measurements. We had to have two and still didn’t quite see everything, but nothing remarkable, so when my midwife asked if I thought I needed a third, I declined…
I had a ‘comprehensive’ birth plan organised. Water birth, peaceful music, Rob was going to catch the baby…You know, ‘First Pregnancy Ignorance!!’
On our due date around lunchtime I went into labour. I went home, and was meandering about, trying to ease this yucky crampy feeling, when a knock came at the door – it was the piano tuner I’d booked! I showed him where the piano was, and told him I thought I was in labour, so if he needed anything, to come upstairs, as I wouldn’t make it down there! …He asked if I could give him his cheque now! (LOL) It was very intense, contractions being one minute on, one minute off for most of it, and then they just got longer and quicker from there! (With a continual TINK TINK TINK of the piano keys from underneath me – when will he be finished? I asked Rob desperately at one stage)
We headed into the hospital (AFTER Shortland Street of course!) and I got into the bath while the pool was erected. All continued to plan until we had a warning sign of thick meconium in my waters when they broke about 90 minutes before she was born, and so I did not get into the pool and we were monitored for the rest of the labour as much as possible. I hadn’t factored meconium into my birthplan! And with only 40 second breaks between contractions by now, it all went in one ear and out the other! I knew we were setting up for an emergency ‘just in case’, but my sister’s second child had had meconium too, and he was fine…