I don't have any family in Australia and my husband and I knew that we would need someone else at the birth of our baby Joe. Hiring Anna was the best decision we made.
It was a difficult labour which began at 8am and continued in the birth centre and didn't end till 2.30am the next day in the operating theatre.
Anna was with us throughout the many hours at the Birth Centre. The labour had begun at home and intensified dramatically and I sensed what a relief it was for Paul when she breezed into the Birth Centre with a big smile and a bag full of lollies, massage oil and other essentials.
She was confident and positive and knowledgable about each stage I was experiencing. She anticipated my every need, from nutrition through to how I was feeling and what I needed in terms of the bath, shower, and birthing positions.
I had high blood pressure which was causing concern, Joe turned out to be a posterior baby, and he had swallowed meconium in the womb.
Anna was a voice for me when I couldn't speak and she was a rock for Paul and I in the face of increasing dismay that the birth was not going to plan.
It was even more important for me to have Anna's care and support as the Birth Centre was fully subscribed and in the rooms next door to me, other women were going through labour. This meant the duty midwife had to go from room to room and wasn't there for a lot of the time I was in labour.
I remember feeling so confident in Anna's care and support. Every time I looked up at her as she was holding my hand or massaging my back she had a big smile and a 'you can do it' look on her face that was so welcome.
Despite my best efforts and encouragement and support from Anna, Joe did not want to come out and I was eventually transferred to the delivery ward for an epidural. Once there, Anna comforted Paul and explained to both of us what was going on, brushed the hair out of my face, and shared in the dire jokes I was making as the epidural kicked in.
Unfortunately hospital rules meant she could not accompany us to the Operating Theatre where it was expected I would need a caeserean. But she sat waiting in a hospital chair for two hours and after I eventually pushed Joe out with the help of ventouse she came to see me at 4am to give me a hug and make sure Paul and I and Joe were all OK before she drove home.
If I had not had the encouragement and support of Anna during the labour, it is likely I would have had to have a casearean as I would not have been mentally able to push Joe down so far on my own before seeking an epidural, so that the surgeon was able to get him out with the ventouse. Joe might have had to spend longer than the three days that he did in the HDU as his lungs would not have been as stimulated.
Paul and I will never forget the wonderful experience of having Anna with us for Joe's birth and even if I am lucky enough to have my mother or sister at my next baby's birth, I still want Anna there too.
Tess
