I gave birth naturally

Well, its been two weeks since I last blogged. And it has been a crazy 2 weeks.

Today I will chat about my birthing experience.

My show came at about 7.30am, well a bloody show anyway - a show is a show. I was so happy, relieved! The last thing I wanted was to go into the hospital for inducement, so I was really happy. Called mum and my step mum and Mr H let the in-laws know as they were going to look after our son and dog once things started.

We have heard that it can still be a long wait until anything happens so Mr H went to work while Mr S was on school holidays anyway so he was home with me.

I had a few bits and pieces that I still wanted to get done before baby came. I sat at the table and went through my list while sipping on a cup of tea.

Next thing, Mr H walks in, I was pretty happy he came back home from work. His colleague sent him home as his wife went into labour pretty fast after she had her show.

We had a few errands to do, visit the accountant, call Salvation Army to pick up a lounge suite and we decided to go up the road for Brunch.

My contractions had started, but they were more like stronger Braxton Hicks' with a little bit of pain, bearable for sure. I laugh as I think of how I was sitting at the cafe having a contraction then eating my Eggs Benedict.

Got home and they started getting stronger, strong enough that I needed to breath through them and concentrate, I also downloaded an app and they were about 5min a part. We thought it would be a good idea to get the in-laws to pick up Mr S and Dog, just in case.

I messaged the midwive and she called me, I think to hear how I was going and get a gauge of where I was. She decided to come over and do an internal to see if I had dilated.

I hadnt! "I can't even get a finger up there... you have a long time to go... just ignore them (contractions)... go bake a cake..."

Go bake a cake! wtf. These contractions were strong enough that there was no chance I was going to bake a cake. She left and told us to call her when things really got started.

What to do! Maybe I was just working myself up. I went and hoped into bed to see if I could calm myself down. Maybe I was causing the contractions.

That worked for a little bit, they got less. Its just that when the contractions came, they were pretty bad. And each contraction was stronger. I actually found it totally unbelievable that my midwife was letting me go through this pain with no gas. It was frustrating, because to me the pain was really bad, but to her it was just the beginning.

Getting through the contractions was difficult, one because you have no pain relief and two because your not really sure if there is something you can do to feel better. I was getting Mr H to heat up the wheat sack, but when the contractions were at their peak the last thing I wanted was heat, I would push the sack away then bring it back once the contraction went away. I was also holding onto the bead head board plank and pulling it as the contractions peaked and then the next thing I did was totally squeeze the life out of the pillow. Gosh it was difficult. I wanted to cry so badly but couldn't because I knew I had longer and strong contractions coming.

Mr H was by my side in bed, just lying with me as I was having these crazy contractions. Suddenly at about 5.40pm I had a major contraction, it was the longest one and during that one my waters broke, all over the bed. The contraction kept going and going and it didn't want to stop. After about 5-10min the pain was so much that breathing was a waist of time and instead I had to use my voice (constantly thinking about how I wasn't getting any pain relief!).

The pain was agonising. And there was no way to avoid it.

Mr H called the midwive, the midwive could here me in the background and told Mr H to get me to the hospital asap and she would meet us there.

The car ride to the hospital was crazy! Peaking contractions! Only 30 second breaks between them, half way there my body started pushing. It wanted to and there is nothing you can do to stop it. The yelling, actually the word roaring is more like it. I started deep roaring, groaning and loudly. The noises your body produces are as if your body has created its own pain management system.

I could certainly feel myself opening and started freaking out because I didn't want to have the baby in the car! But gosh that instinct to push just happens and your body takes over.

Got to the hospital. I recall sitting in the passenger seat and there was a girl outside the hospital having a smoke and just watching me. I was having a break through the contractions. One starts coming on and the girl is still watching me, I start roaring and leaning back, totally purposely dramatic, I wonder what she thought.

The next thing I know is that the nurse is trying to get me out of the car and into a wheelchair. Done

She starts wheeling me to the delivery room. I just lifting onto the bed, but don't quite make it and instead I am standing leaning on the bed, gripped to Mr H - I pulled him in right by my face.

All I remember is pushing hard a couple of times and the head was nearly out, I felt a weird moving of babies head, which I later found out it was her head rotating, another push and her head was out, it was the best feeling ever. Pushing the rest of her out was easy compared to the head! I then heard crying, that was surreal, just like that, withing minutes she was out. So fast!

Photo was taken about one hours after birth.

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Got my show!

This photo is what my tummy is doing when I have a braxton hicks, was like a side bump, but twice the height!

YAY, finally some progress, WHOO HOO

Had a hard night last night, lots of visits to the loo and baby was making my tummy wonky all night. At about 7.20am I was having period pain and then I couldnt believe it but I had to go to the toilet again!

Then once I got out of bed and stood up I felt like I wee'd myself..... went to the loo and there was a bloody brown show.

Pretty excited now. Mr H says "Should I go to work", wish he didn't have to but since we live in a small town he can, it only takes a max of 15min to get home.

At the moment I am just having cramps every now and then. There are a few things I want to get done today, so hopefully Mr S can help me with my to do list.

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Fed up already

Over it, over feeling fat, over not being able to fit my clothes, over having sore and swollen legs.

I am starting to get grumpy, teary, annoyed!

Sigh

Baby doesn't seem to want to come out at all. I haven't had any "niggles".

I just feel heavy.

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Hospital Visit

Went to the Hospital yesterday. Had two appointments, another growth scan and an OB doctors appointment.

Did the usual pee test and height measurement once we first got it. And sat down to wait for the nurse to check blood pressure and put us into a consultation room.

The OB and assistant came in and mentioned that they had read the notes from my sons birth (epidural and vacuum), I received a third degree tear, which made me think that this time round that tear could get bigger.

The main points were:

• Baby is bigger, bigger then average
• We can no longer have the birth at the Birthing Center River Ridge, Hamilton and need to move it to Waikato Hospital
• Midwive will still be support person
• Keep an eye on babies moving and monitor if paranoid, go in if there is no movement
• There will be no issue with the tear
• If baby is one day overdue, go in for inducement
• Baby should be here next weekend!!

I am very glad to have a plan, I feel like we haven't really had one at all.

So yeah nervous for the pain but awesome to know all will be good next weekend!!

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Lightening or Lightening?

I didn't know!! Had no idea that was what it meant.

See all the articles and forums that I have been reading talk about lightening once baby has dropped and I thought this whole time that it meant a weight lightening, because everyone talked about how they could breathe better etc.

So here I am thinking "oh yea, i think she has dropped because I feel lighter and can breathe better".

ALL UNTIL YESTERDAY

I was walking to my office which is a cabin out the back of the house and this sharp pain overwhelmed my vg, like sharp pain right there! I was bad. I start thinking about who I can contact, my son is inside since its school holidays, but he wont hear me.

"Mr S" I try to call out but the pain is such that I can't yell it. I take a step and ahhhhhhh sharp pain. Okay, so if I move it hurts more! Anyway eventually the pain went away.

Now today we were had a hospital appointment and on our way out back to the car it happened again, in pulses, as if baby was slowly bouncing on my cervix.

PAINNNNN, BREAK, PAINNNNN, BREAK, PAINNNNN, BREAK for about 10min.

Like crazy pain, sharp pressure! right there! I thought I was going to go into labour

Mr  H went to get to the car as I couldn't walk because it made the pain come on more. I leaned on my son, who is the same height as me and held him harder when the pain would come.

Once I got into the car it seemed to go away! Thankfully it hasn't come back. I think if it happens again while I am at home, I will try get on my hands and knees, I think that would be the best position to take the pain in.

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Sharp Pains - there!

Oh wow, just had really sharp pains right in where my v.g is and inner thigh, Im sure I read about this just last night on the Bump App!

Haha, just found it here:

Yow! If you feel a lightning bolt-like sensation running up and down your legs (and in your vagina!), don’t freak out. At 38 weeks pregnant, baby’s probably sitting pretty low in your pelvis, which means he or she is bumping into all kinds of nerves down there—including some super-sensitive ones you might not know you had. While you’re dealing with that new discomfort, be on the lookout for signs of labor at week 38 of pregnancy, including contractions that come on stronger, at more regular intervals, and of course, the “bloody show.” The big event could happen any day now—or it might not be for a few weeks. Until then, try to chill.

See the website by clicking here

I feel like baby has dropped a bit more and when I am doing housework or reaching for something I feel like my stomach is sitting on my thighs! Its such a weird feeling.

Everyday something new happens, or I feel something different which makes me feel positive that everything is headed in the right direction!

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About Us

We are a family of three. Mr H (Husband), myself; Louise, and Mr S (Son). Today this little family of three have been together for five years and six months. Mr H is in IT (Systems Engineer), I am a sole trader at www.bbqsauce.co.nz and Mr S is 11 years old in year 8.

We introduced Mr Teal'c (name is from Stargate) to our family a year ago, just before we got married.

We were very lucky in our pregnancy. I stopped taking the pill in November, we were married in January and pregnant pretty much at the wedding but didn't know until February.

Its quite surreal. I am 32 years old, going to be having my second child, a girl! Mr H's first child. We are very lucky. I really do feel lucky. I feel like there is more responsibility having a girl and if she is like both her mum and dad, she is going to be a strong stubborn women, haha.

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Maternity Leave in NZ

I have been delaying applying for my Maternity Leave because I have had my first year of business as a self employed person. My Accountant has finally done my numbers and confirmed that they are correct on my forms.

It has been a bit confusing on how it all works.

I found Citizens Advice Bureau really helpful and they have an online chat option as well which is great since I am more a tech person then a calling/talking person.

Also note that you have to POST the forms, that's right POST them, so add like 2-3 for form processing, omg!!!

SEE FORM HERE TO FILL IN

Qualifying for paid parental leave:

Casual and seasonal employees employees with more than one employer, and people who have recently changed jobs.

Applying for paid parental leave:

You can apply for PPL: before your baby's birth after your baby has been born (up until the first birthday) when the child has come into your care or at any time up until the child has been in your care for 12 months.

You must apply before you return to work for any employer or self-employment (whichever is earlier). Your start date can't be later than your baby's date of birth or expected due date, or the date the child arrives in your care.

If you apply after this date, or after the 18 weeks have finished, we'll back-pay your entitlement as a lump sum.


You'll need to complete a Paid parental leave (PPL) application (IR880) form and include: a declaration from your employer, chartered accountant or tax advisor, or a statutory declaration witnessed by a Justice of the Peace (or other person authorised to witness statutory declarations).

You'll also need to provide evidence from your lead maternity carer of your expected due date, or evidence that you are the primary carer of a child under six. Back to top Paid parental leave payments

We'll pay PPL payments directly into your bank account each fortnight. The payments will be treated as income, just like your normal salary and wages or self-employed income. PPL payments have tax and student loan deductions taken out (at the rate that applies to you).

Once we've received and processed your application we'll send your payment advice letter with: your weekly entitlement amount (note that while this entitlement is weekly it's paid fortnightly) the amount of your regular fortnightly payment (the first and last payments may be different to your regular fortnightly amounts depending on your PPL start date) the dates when all your payments will be received.

If you receive PPL payments and another source of income at the same time

If you're also receiving another source of income (such as annual leave payments or an employer top-up) you'll need to use a secondary tax code for the lower payment amount. This will help you avoid a tax bill at the end of the year. Find out more about secondary tax codes - you can also use the tax code decision tree on this page to choose the right tax code for your situation.

 If you're an employee PPL payments equal your normal pay up to a current maximum of

$538.55 a week before tax.

You'll receive the average of your highest 26 of the last 52 weeks of earnings up to the date the child arrives in your care.

If you're self-employed PPL payments equal your average weekly earnings up to a current maximum of

$538.55 a week before tax.

The minimum payment is $157.50 each week before tax.

If you earn less than this, or make a loss, this is what you'll receive.

It's equivalent to 10 hours each week at the current minimum wage rate.

How long you can receive payments for?

You can receive PPL payments for a maximum of 18 weeks if your baby is expected, born or a child under the age of 6 comes into your care on or after 1 April 2016.

If your baby is due or is born on or after 1 June 2017

You may use paid leave entitlements (eg annual leave) before starting your paid parental leave. In this situation you can start your paid parental leave from the day after your paid leave ends, even if it is later than the child’s expected delivery date or date of birth, or the date they come into your care.

If you won’t be using paid leave entitlements, your start date cannot be later than your expected delivery date or child’s date of birth, or the day you become the primary carer of the child.

If your baby is due on or after 1 April 2016 and is born prematurely

If your baby is due on or after 1 April 2016 and is born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy) you'll qualify for additional baby payments. These payments cover the time between your baby's date of birth up to the end of the 36th week. Your regular PPL payments will start after this.

You can also claim these payments if you're not the birth mother but you have primary care of the baby during the preterm period.

 From 1 June 2017, if your baby is born prematurely and you return to work after you start getting a preterm baby payment or parental leave payment, you can still get your parental leave payments when you go back on parental leave, as long as it’s no later than the original expected date of birth, had the baby not been born prematurely.

Transferring your paid parental leave to your spouse or partner

You can transfer your PPL to your spouse or partner, as long as they also qualify for PPL from their employer (s) or self-employment. You can elect which one of you will receive PPL if you and your spouse or partner: are becoming joint primary carers of a child under six, and you both qualify for PPL from your employer(s) or self-employment. You can still transfer part of your entitlement once you've elected which one of you will claim PPL. You'll need to complete a Paid parental leave (PPL) transfer (IR881) form.

LINK TO IRD PAGE

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39 weeks PHOTO

Finally we have reached 39 weeks!!

Only twos weeks to go until babies due date which is the 12th October 2017. I had such a strong feeling that she was going to come early and I am just not sure anymore.

I have experience so many braxton hicks contractions that you do think you are going into early labour even though in the back of your mind you know that you aren't.

Lately I have had a few pains in my lower pelvic area, stingy as well as pains pf pressure. All are positive signs that baby is getting ready.

I have had two gestational diabetes tests, the first one was a high result and the second one was clear! Great! The reason for the tests is because baby is quite big, so we also had a couple of growth scans.

30th August 2017:
Baby was weighing at an estimated 6lb 7oz, the equivalent of 36 weeks and 5 days

18th September 2017:
Baby was weighing at an estimated 7lb 14oz, the equivalent of 38 weeks and 5 days

That is a pound every two weeks. Today baby should be weighting approx 8 pounds.

Our midwife sent a referral to the hospital as baby is measuring in the 98% percentile and it doesn't seem to be coming down, which just means that baby is very big.

Our appointments are on Tuesday next week, another five days away.

I am a little bit worried, I suppose that is normal. I am worried about the pain, worried about worst case etc etc, just have to force the thoughts out of my mind and do something else!

Other scan photos:

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