🍃 How do we all approach our EDD, I am sure most of us coming on and past this time find the upwelling of anxiety, talk of inductions, cesarian sections and missed out opportunities for home birth. Also the feeling of being ‘over it’ is common, first time mothers may find this unbearable and then all of a sudden you can slip into to major worry. Step in Jessica! This episode is so so inspiring! Have a look at what the 40 to 44 weeks look like, see how Jessica truly went within and used the guidance from her midwife and hospital staff to make sure she and baby were on common agreement that the time will come.
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First we talk about Jessica’s first birth experience, talks about a very intense induction experience that was 10 days after her due date. Jessica after this birth went through postnatal depression and also took her at least 6 months to bond with her first born. This experience guided Jessica into more birth options heading towards her next pregnancy. Jessica decided that home birth would be the best option for her and the family so with her next baby she birthed at home at 41 weeks. Her next birth saw a 1.5 hour labour at home at 42 weeks. Can you see something forming here?
Jessica in the first trimester went through some horrific morning sickness and was diagnosed with Hyperemesis Gravardium not much worked, she had to basically ride it out, Jessica described loosing 9 kg in the first trimester. Jessica at 32 weeks had a lovely blessing way which was all about the mother and nurturing her into her pregnancy journey and into her birth. She had some really cool things done for her including beads, affirmations and massage and collective wisdom of wise women!
40 weeks arrived and so did the school holidays, Jessica somewhat knew that she was not going into birth anytime soon, and the school holidays was a very inward time, especially for the randoms that love to ask when the baby is coming. So 42 weeks come also and Jessica was still very much in the ready when you are time, walks on the beach and constant chat with her ‘belly dweller’.
43 weeks and Jessica suddenly woke with a few ‘why’s’ – Why am I still pregnant, Im still trusting but this is no good! Jessica was feeling massive, bladder was aching and she was ready to have a few ‘tanty’s’! . Jessica describes it the more you remove the attachment of my fault, my body does not work etc etc the gentler the experience can be on your body. Jessica had a biophysical profile done during this time, this was suggested by her midwife, the results were great. No signs of distress, no loss of fluid. Jessica decided to get a photo printed and put this on the side of the birth pool. She consented to a stretch and sweep coming onto the 44 week mark. This increased the Braxton hick type contractions for a brief amount of time, however was not really bringing anything on. She was visiting the chiropractor every second day and she found that there was this point at 44 weeks that she was really over it all and decided that she needed to ‘Just be with it’.
Jessica woke in the morning at 44 weeks, she had a rock hard belly and was really now over being pregnant! She had this day where her partner went grocery shopping with the kids, she met a friend and had a good little cry about everything that was coming up. After this she felt very calm and ready to birth her baby, sounds like a big release happened. On the way home her midwife phoned and told her the hospital would not give her a elective cesarian and they wanted her to come in and have an induction with her waters being broken, now if you can remember this is birth trauma about to be triggered. Jessica decided this was not safe for her. So enter the midwife with what could be one last draw card Clary Sage oil. The midwife arrived that afternoon and rubbed a considerable amount of the clary sage.
Seven minutes later Jessica got her first surge! And not long after a few surges Jessica did her first vomit, this Jessica describes at cathartic, she knows when this happens that her babies are not long off! Her husband shot up and was quick to prepare for the impending birth. She laboured well in the bedroom with the her 2 year old daughter, in which Jessica enjoyed having around. Jessica was so happy that she was in labour that she really did not care about many minor details, like taking her pants off! Things were looking productive and even though it was very intense from the moment that the midwife placed the clary sage oil over Jessica, this was looking and feeling good. After hopping in the pool, Jessica knew that soon it was time to start pushing. After her comments ‘I need to poo’ she could feel her baby moving down and she could feel a bubble where her baby was still in the sac, this was such an amazing feeling for Jessica. The head was born and the waters broke simultaneously. And this is the best part of listening to this story as you really cant describe this in words!
Baby had vernix and no meconium, Jessica was in euphoria, high as a kite and in complete awe. She hopped out of the pool to birth the placenta, and baby was becoming pink and beautiful. And then they looked and found they just had another girl! Placenta was born and it was in great condition, no calcification. So the labour in total was 2.5 hours. Not that quick according to Jess! So they all snuggled into bed.
Whats Jessica’s theory? I was so curious to ask her… Have a listen, yet basically we are all unique right? Yes, we are all different and so our are pregnancies and birth.
From Jessica
“When it come to my first birth I felt like a piece of meat” .
“Don’t sweat the small stuff”.
“I just had to be with it”.
“This is my body and my choice AND I am ok with that”.
“She was born at 1 day shy of 44 weeks, against so many odds covered in vernix, with clear waters. She was born at home surrounded by all the people that loved her the most”.
“My baby clearly knew all along the exact perfect moment to be born”.
“It just goes to show that we as humans never stop learning, ever, and so often the best lessons are hidden in places that we are often too fearful, busy or hesitant to explore”.
“Our instinct is to shove away discomfort, however if you be with it, thats when we can learn the real lessons and experiences”.
“In our pregnancies there is not one size fits all. Its all different and its all unique “.
Resources:
Jessica’s blog on the 44 week pregnancy’ – http://girltribe.net/index.php/2016/02/05/nells-emergence-a-birth-story-after-a-44-week-long-pregnancy/
Home Birth Qld – http://www.homebirth.org.au
Jessica’s article on Kid Spot – Shout out to all women who loved their births – http://www.kidspot.com.au/birth/labour/real-life/a-shout-out-to-all-the-women-who-loved-their-births
Sarah Wickham and Midwife Thinking on inducing labour and risks – http://www.sarawickham.com/research-updates/more-evidence-that-inducing-labour-in-low-risk-women-increases-the-chance-of-caesarean/
Connect with Jessica:
Website: http://girltribe.net
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thegirltribe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girl.tribe/
Hello! I’m Jessica.
I’m the passionate, honest Writer and Owner of GirlTribe. I live on the beautiful Sunshine Coast with my wonderful husband and our four spirited daughters. Two of our daughters have autism (ASD) along with my husband and two of our daughters don’t. They’re all wonderful. Together we are raising strong daughters who we encourage to question the status quo and challenge gender stereotypes. We want our girls to be bold in their rhythm and embrace difference and neuro-diversity. I really enjoy eating cornchips, fitting in yoga where I can, cooking delicious curries and getting beach therapy whenever I can. I hate coriander and general ignorance.
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