Like many people my first attempt at a natural delivery didnt go to plan. I had read so much and been to different classes. After 37 hours of contractions 3-5 minutes apart my son was a failed forceps attempt that ended in a caesarean. I told the midwives i wanted a natural labour, no pain relief. It was important to me. They didnt offer me natural pain relief methods (as i was so tired and overwhelmed i forgot what i read in books!) they encouraged me to take the gas. It made me feel out of control but i kept taking it as i could see no other option. The gas then lead the way for the epidural which had me lying on the bed attatched to machines. So far from my thoughts on how labour should be. My labour was so badly managed at the hospital. There are some great midwives and Doctors but they have to spread themselves amongst the other labouring women and cant give you the support Anna can as your doula.
After i had my son two midwives said to me dont try and have a normal delivery again, you wont be able to do it, your babies are too big and your pelvis the wrong shape.
Anna was impressive from the first time i met her. She was excactly what i wanted. Educated, passionate, positive, reliable and friendly. I knew she would be the one to help me acheive the birth i wanted.
I had read alot about labour but Anna still made sure i understood interventions that may be used and sometimes it was like she read my mind. She would email me with information and it would be something i was thinking about amd meaning to ask someone. She was that in tune with what i needed and wanted.
Labour day came and Anna was at the hospital before we were! She made me feel confident and i felt like i was running the show not the hospital.
Anna helped with heat packs and i was so at ease with her i felt comfortable telling her what helped and what didnt. Anna would let me do what i felt was working but she was always ready with suggestions when she could see i was struggling. I was doing well until just before pushing the midwives made me lie on my side because babys heart rate was dropping. The pain was then unbearable, i was tired, in transition and screaming. Anna suggested i use gas, i said yes but the midwife said "no,why do you want that?" if anna wasnt there i would have said ok and kept screaming, losing focus and control. Anna told her it would bring me back and calm me and i got my gas. Anna stuck to her guns and i was so grateful. I had gas for 5 contractions before pushing and it did excatly what Anna said. I got my focus back, relaxed a little and then pushed my baby out when the midwives thought i wouldnt be able to because it was too high and too big. (my baby was 7lb7oz 3.495kg so not the huge baby they were expecting)
Apart from holding my hand, she also managed to take photos and do some video. I didnt even notice her doing it and if it was just my husband and i, i know we would have forgotton and not captured those precious first moments.
I was happy Anna was there to support my husband, to assure him it was normal when i was in distress and explain what the monitors were doing. (and the lollies to keep his energy up!) and my husband was happy Anna was there to support me.
I could write a book about how great Anna was and still is to us but in short she will support you in no matter what your choices are for labour, she will not dissappoint you and book her in before someone else does!.
When my little girl comes to me in the FAR FAR distant future and tells me she is pregnant i will be calling Anna.
Lauren
