Arjuna's Birth
By Natasha Gall
The due time of Tuesday the 11th to Saturday the 15th of July had come and gone. I felt so sure that the baby would come during this time, that by the Saturday I was a little anxious.
Then, during the wee hours of Monday morning, I awoke to a gush–I thought I had wet the bed! It was the show and I thought wow it’s all on! I was so excited. I felt ready! I told Richard and we just chilled in bed. About an hour later Richard intuitively felt to fill the pool. I got up. There was no more action, but I had definitely moved to another energy space.
Monday came and went with no more show. Richard didn't go to work and we went for a walk, then I relaxed while he made a fire drying rack.
That night we went out with a group of friends. The atmosphere was blissful and I was really enjoying the energy space of complete love I was in. I felt ripe, calm, soft and ready! On the way home we went to see Kelly, our midwife, for a check-up. She felt confident all was on track.
Tuesday brought a few very minor contractions in the night and more show. Richard and I slept in and then went to Orton Bradley Park for a walk and lunch. The park was beautiful, the air felt crisp and nourishing to breathe-I felt blessed to be living, and labouring, in such a beautiful place. On the walk the contractions were coming every 20 minutes and were strong enough that I had to stop, hold on to Richard and breathe. The baby was obviously coming soon. The contractions felt good–deep, meditative, inner awakenings.
We drove home and went to bed for a nap to reserve energy while we could. I was still having contractions every 20 minutes and after a while I got hot, so decided to take off my stockings. I was doing this when a contraction came and I needed to go to the toilet. I was all in a twist of tights and I panicked. This was one of the most difficult contractions, as I was in my head. It was a good lesson in staying present.
Richard kept working on the drying rack, but he told me to tell him to stop whenever I needed him. At about 5 pm I said “you can stop now!” We rang Kelly (midwife) and Bex (my friend) and Becky (my sister) to tell them to come over.
At about 7pm everyone arrived, within about 5 minutes of each other. I was able to talk to them as they ate dinner although the contractions stopped me mid sentence. We played spiritual music, lit the room with candles and stoked the fire. Richard had filled the pool and all was go. I felt so blessed to be birthing with such conscious, beautiful people in my own beautiful home-yummy!!
I moved around a lot, favouring sitting backwards on a chair. Richard was a constant support–always in front of me, looking into my eyes to keep me present, reminding me of our mantra and telling me how well I was doing. I leant into him, hugged him, slapped his back and even pulled his ponytail once as I reached out to grab something, anything!
At 8pm I got into the birthing pool. The softness of the water was soothing, however it was too cold and made me tense up. I had to get out and Bex, Becky and Richard put more warm water in for later use.
The contractions intensified. I kept breathing and focusing inwards, intending to flow with the intensity, not fight it. This worked! I managed to stay present and not freak out. The strength I have amazed me. The contractions really were an opening into the divine. I experienced this fully and it has permanently changed my consciousness.
Bex and Becky were wonderful applying lots of really hot towels and flannels to my perineum, back and wherever I needed them. Bex, having birthed before, knew exactly where to put them and Becky copied. This and the breathing got me through so much of the pain–amazing! I felt blessed to have these wonderful women with me.
I got back into the pool again, this time it was blissfully warm. I enjoyed it, however I was restless and didn't stay there long. I moved to lots of different positions in the hope of relief. But I was so close to birthing that things could only intensify. I sat, squatted and even went to the loo. I thought I needed to go but it was the head! I had been told it would feel like a poo but I was still fooled!
Finally I knew it was time and I said “move everything to the lounge by the fire, the baby is coming out there, now!” I got onto my hands and knees in front of the couch, my attendants still applying hot towels and soothing me. I was doing some yelling, there hadn't really been any till that point but now it was all on! The cat was on the couch by my head, calm, as if everything was normal. Having him there soothed me–it was like this happens every day, it's the cycle of life, get on with it! We all stopped and laughed at him as Amber (the back up midwife) arrived.
As the head came out there was a strong burning on my perineum as it tore. This was the most painful part. I had a panic as I thought the shoulders would be sore-being the widest part. But the head came out and whoosh, the rest slid out immediately, and fast thankfully! I breathed with the contractions, allowing them. I never pushed at any time or felt the urge to. Bex and Becky had first glimpses of the head and Kelly caught the baby as Richard was up by my head, I wouldn't let him go!
Amber (a local Maori) sang a welcoming waiata which was beautiful.
I was excited to see the babe. I saw his penis and said "It’s Arjuna!" He was perfect! No slimy stuff, he looked like he had just gotten out of a bath. I was overwhelmed with exhaustion and could hardly hold him, he was slippery and my arms were tired. The others helped me hold him so he could suckle and he cried a lot. My legs ached but I couldn't sit due to my torn perineum. I just wanted to rest and somehow this part was harder than the rest of the birth. Richard took Arjuna so I could birth the placenta. I thought this would be tricky so I mustered up all my courage, which wasn't needed because the placenta slid out easily! My thoughts of sitting quietly with the baby at this time were replaced in reality by exhaustion!
We made some placenta prints and then the placenta (still attached to Arjuna) was salted and wrapped with rosemary. (We cut the cord at midday the next day as it felt right and was in the way of breast feeding.)
The energy was like a blissful golden bath over everything. Arjuna was given his check up by candlelight, and weighed in at eight pound one.
Then my first priority was sleep. Arjuna had the same idea. We both slept till about 9am, Arjuna waking for about two minutes only once! Richard didn't sleep a wink keeping an eye on us both.
Published in Birthplace Magazine - Autumn edition 2009
Last updated 30 April 2009.