Inflatable Birth Pools & accessories
 |
On thursday morning (08.05.08) I woke up sometime around 4 am, and felt something go 'click'?! I then had five contractions roughly 10 - 15 min apart, poked Paul awake at 5 am and we gradually got out of bed to get the la bassine pool ready and I packed the last few things for Alexis...
I rang Janine (who was going to look after Alexis) and woke her up but didn't actually get hold of her. After that the contractions were 4 -5 min start to start, and I didn't get round to ringing back! Meanwhile Paul was filling the pool in our lounge, but we ran out of hot water when it was only maybe 20 - 30 cm deep. So Paul started putting pots on the stove, then managed to ring Janine back around 6.30 - 7 am. He took Alexis round for the day, while I hopped in the pool...
Even though it was so shallow the pool still felt very nice and at that point I could still breathe and forcibly relax through the contractions.. When Paul got back just after 7 am we timed them at 4 min apart / 1 min duration, so Paul rang my midwife who had breakfast and got herself ready. We were to ring her back in 30 min with a progress report.
Well 30 min later the contractions were 2.5 min apart / 1.5 min long, so she decided to rush around asap! (Travelling from the far side of our mini-city, in peak traffic, heading central city bound.. doh! ) She arrived at 9 am, along with her student midwife, and they started unpacking. I was still in the pool (which was considerably fuller by now, thanks to many saucepan trips!) just kneeling and leaning on the side, while Paul rubbed my lower back through the contractions...
At 9.20 am I finally had a show, followed by a spectacular pop as my waters broke! The next contraction I felt like pushing and my midwife said that if that's what felt right, then to trust myself and go for it! And after just seven minutes of pushing Eli was out! It was 9.29 am :-D
The little rotter took a breath while he was still underwater, so my midwife scooped him out, he spat up the water and let out a massive cry! After a couple of minutes we hopped out of the pool so we could get him wrapped up a bit. Eli had a little feed, then the midwives checked him out and got him dressed.
I spent the next few hours feeling very faint due to my very low blood pressure, but Eli was happy, healthy and content. I really couldn't have asked for a better birth! :-D
