IT'S A GIRL!!! Erika's Birth Story

On Monday, February 16, I had my usual hydrotherapy class. I didn't want to go, as I had barely slept the night before (insomnia, and up with Kira a few times). But last week's hydro class had been cancelled due to a chemical imbalance, so I was really feeling the need for some weightlessness in my hips! So I got my act together, and went off to the class. In the middle of class (at 10.45), I had my first contraction! It was more painful than my "normal" Braxton Hicks contractions that I'd been getting all throughout the pregnancy - more like the "painful" ones I'd been getting off and on since Friday. I actually thought that Friday (the 13th!) was going to be the day - I'd woken up with frequent, painful tightenings, but when I got up they slowly died off, coming only intermittently over the weekend. So when I had one in the pool on Monday, I just thought it was more of the same. I mentioned it to the physio, who suggested I get out of the pool! I thought I'd be fine, if I just took it easy. But I had another...I wanted to just go sit in the shallow end and enjoy the weightlessness, rather than push on with the exercises. But the physio said "How 'bout you just get out?!" She was worried I'd rupture my membranes in the pool, ruining the day for everyone! So, I got out, and reluctantly got dressed.

I thought I might go off and get a coffee and sit quietly for a few minutes before picking Kira up from the playroom, but by the time I was ready I thought I'd better just get her and go home. I'd had a few more tightenings in the change-room, and again on the way to get Kira - I even had a lady stop and ask me if I needed help, as I had stopped walking and was clutching at the wall! I was ok, though! I got Kira, and slowly made my way to the car. I decided that I needed to stop at the shops to get milk, despite having even more painful tightenings whilst driving!

We finally got home, and had lunch. I found it difficult to do anything whilst having a pain...Kira knew that I wasn't "right", and kept wanting to give me cuddles. I found I was needing to give her lots of reassurance! "Mummy's ok. Mummy has a tummy ache"! I'd sent Neal (who was at work) a text message to tell him what was going on, but that I thought it was more of the false labour - I'd let him know if/when that changes. By the time we were done with lunch, I was texting him to come home. I still wasn't convinced it was labour - the tightenings didn't seem to be regular - but I was too uncomfortable to manage them and Kira on my own.

By the time Neal got home (about 1pm) I knew it was the real deal! I phoned Virginia (our sister-in-law, who was to babysit Kira for us), and she said she was on her way - but would be about an hour! I prayed I could wait that long! I was hurting, but felt I could manage it if only Kira was taken care of. Poor Neal was being torn between the two of us, as we both needed someone to focus on us alone. When I realised that I needed someone here NOW for Kira, we started ringing other people - Neal's parents, our friends...but no-one answered their phone, or were available at such short notice. Finally, I said to Neal "We have to go now - Kira has to come with us!". She wasn't meant to come - wasn't meant to see me in such distress. But I needed my midwife! She could focus on me, and Neal could then focus on Kira until someone could take over from him.

We were at the hospital by 1.40pm. Kira was VERY distressed at all the noise her poor Mummy was making! We got rushed up to the Birth Centre (where my midwife was already on duty - YAY!!), but it wasn't long before I was telling Neal to take Kira out of the room - she was upsetting me as much as I was upsetting her. Apparently, Kira was cared for by no less than 4 midwives and Dr's, all trying to appease her with snacks and nursery rhymes! Neal would stay with me during the contractions, but then would duck out to check on his daughter until he heard me starting to holler again...poor man!

I had an internal check at 2pm - fully dilated!! Soon after that, my water's broke, and at 2.13pm Erika Skye Barber was born! I birthed her whilst kneeling on the bed, holding onto Neal for dear life! I didn't have any drugs - not that there was time, really. My midwife, Helen, had filled the bath for me, but I couldn't quite get there. Kira was outside the room when her sister was born - Neal brought her in straight after the birth, so she got to see Erika whilst she was still attached to me! Virginia had apparently arrived just moments before the birth, too, and our back-up (friend Scott with his mother-in-law) arrived just moments after. Kira went out to be with them whilst I got cleaned up; Neal took Erika out to meet everyone and have cuddles.

Virginia took Kira home for some dinner whilst Neal, Erika and myself rested, and prepared to head home. Erika and I both got a clean bill of health, and were discharged at 6.30pm.

Our first night at home started off fine - Erika ate and slept. But at 2am, Erika decided it was time to party!! Now, at just 4 days old, she has her days and nights a bit mixed, and loves to "snack feed" (giving her tummy pains!), but we're getting there. Kira loves her little sister! She loves to watch her "drinking boobies", and gives her lots of kisses!

Neal and I feel very blessed to have two beautiful girls! And don't they look alike?! But is it asking too much to wish for some sleep, too?!

Erika's stats: wt=3.425kg (300g more than Kira) or 7lb 9oz (Kira was 6lb 14oz); length=50cm (same as Kira); head circumference=34cm (same as Kira)