The due date for our little girl had already passed, so our phones were full of calls and messages from everyone eagerly awaiting her. We were ready and happy because in the last month she had finally turned and was no longer in a breech position. On Thursday, we had our last acupuncture session with Dr. Gostenčnik, and on Friday evening, our last dinner with the baby bump. 🙂
The hospital bag had been ready for a long time 🙂 I had also already completed all the necessary documentation at the maternity hospital with Nastja’s help, and Nastja also helped me prepare my birth plan. With her knowledge, she advised me based on what I had written, explained the practices at the Maribor maternity hospital, and told me to listen to my body, as it knows best.
On the night from Sunday to Monday, I was woken up around 1 AM by cramping in my abdomen, and some time later, frequent trips to the toilet. Towards morning, I fell asleep for a little while longer, but around 9 AM, I felt the first contractions. At first, I lay on the couch for a while, then I went to shower, and after showering, the contractions continued. As the pain intensified, I was on my knees on the couch with my hands resting on the backrest during contractions. I remained relaxed and completely calm the whole time. I went to shower again and had a few contractions in the shower. Then back to the couch. When I started to realize that this was really happening, I began timing the contractions, and my husband took our dog to be looked after. When he returned, he asked if it was time to go to the maternity hospital, and my answer was that I would only go when the pain became unbearable and the contractions were regular. I went to shower again; this time, I placed a towel on the floor and endured the contractions on all fours, grunting. My husband measured the length of the contractions; while he previously had to ask me when a contraction started and when it ended, it was now completely clear to him 🙂 When the contractions were 3 minutes apart and one minute long, we decided to go to the maternity hospital.
All the while, I kept thinking that it’s easier to endure contractions at home, that it’s good to arrive at the maternity hospital as dilated as possible, and on the way to the hospital, I was still wondering if I had left home too early. We arrived at the hospital at 1 PM. After the examination, the midwife said it was already 8 cm, and I was so happy at that moment and very motivated that it would be over quickly and we would soon see our little girl.
I didn’t care at all which room I would go to, although my husband asked for room 1 or 6, I ended up in 4, as all other rooms were occupied. Upon entering the room, I saw Nastja on the opposite door. What a relief 🙂 I told my husband that he could forget about the birth plan because Nastja knew it 🙂 We both relaxed, knowing that we were in safe hands, that we could entrust the continuation of our little one’s arrival to the midwife. We had no doubt about her professionalism or her decisions.
In the room, I settled on the bed, then wanted to try a hands-and-knees position, but soon realized I was too tired for any position other than lying on my side. I received nitrous oxide, which ensured I was calm and relaxed between contractions. My husband massaged my lower back the entire time, and I didn’t let him take his hands off me for a moment, as I felt it greatly relieved the pain. His hands, encouraging words, and his mere presence meant a lot to me.
We first tried pushing on my side, but it turned out that on my back would be better. The contractions I had endured until this point seemed like child’s play now; pushing was a much greater effort and pain. When her head finally peeked out, I stroked it and gained the strength for the end, and soon our baby girl was lying on my skin. (The time was 3:14:09 PM.) We adored and cuddled her, and soon after birth, we started breastfeeding. These moments will certainly stay with us forever.
My birth story was exactly as I had imagined it. Despite all the delivery rooms being full, the midwife was available to me the entire time. I was confident the whole time that both I and the baby were in safe hands, and that meant a lot to me. I completely trusted the midwife, and she contributed greatly to this wonderful birth story. Not only with the aforementioned, but also with her personality, her gentleness, understanding, and warmth. With her ability to create such an atmosphere in the delivery room, calm and warm, thus ensuring such an arrival into this new world for our little princess. I am truly grateful to her, and if I ever give birth again, I would most like to copy-paste the story written above 🙂
Kasia: 3970 g and 51 cm
