"Arrival of my baby boy"

I completed the positive birth program and 4th trimester course via online delivery. They were very informative and prepared me and my husband for the arrival of our baby. There was some things in the course that weren’t as valuable as others but I am glad they were shared with us, just so we knew our options. I felt informed and ready for the birth of my baby, even though my plan was to go in with no plan. That way I couldn’t be disappointed with anything that maybe didn’t happen. I am grateful that these resources are offered and encouraged by all practitioners who I saw. I think it is valuable for everyone to do. 

Below is my birth story that I will share with Kasey and Tiffany along with some images. 

My Baby Boy's Birth Story

After a very easy pregnancy journey with no complications we finally made it to the end mark where we get to find out if we are having a baby boy or girl!!

Our labour journey began. After waiting for my induction to begin, my body surprised me by going into spontaneous labour early Friday morning—amazing timing! We started the medication drip at 10 a.m., and I was managing well through the day. However, when I was checked at 3:30 p.m., there had unfortunately been no progress, at this point I opted for the epidural to try and help everything relax and to manage the pain. I had the gas while we waited for the epidural procedure to happen. The anaesthetist Ruby was wonderful at explaining everything and completing the epidural procedure. My doctor, Ben, checked me again at 8 p.m., and unfortunately still, there was no change. We were explained our options from here of what we could do and were given time to discuss what we wanted to do and were able to ask any questions of our doctor and care team.

At that point, we made the decision to move forward with a Caesarean. I was exhausted, and baby seemed quite content to stay where he was—having a little party in there! We headed into theatre at 9:00 p.m. to begin the prep. My baby made it into the world at 9:37pm and we found out we had a baby boy! Ben and the whole theatre team were incredible at what they do, they were so calming, reassuring and made the experience so much better than I could have imagined. We also learnt that we made the right decision with opting for a C-section as my baby wasn’t going to be able to come naturally due to his positioning not being quite right.

The entire experience was made so much better by the incredible staff we saw across the maternity A ward, theatre, recovery, and maternity B. Everyone was so professional, kind, and attentive—I truly felt looked after every step of the way. I was so impressed with the level of care I received during my labour, surgery, and recovery.

Physically, my recovery went really well. My scar and internal healing have been smooth, and the pain was surprisingly manageable. What caught me off guard, though, were the hormonal changes after birth. Navigating the emotional highs and lows of new motherhood was much more intense than I expected.

We went home on Tuesday and had two lovely home visits from the visiting midwives, which really helped ease the transition. But by Thursday night, things took a turn. I’d been having two days of hot and cold shivers, dizziness, and swollen breasts and a high temperature, this all was no longer normal. We called the maternity ward, and they asked us to come back in. After some tests and results of very high infection markers, my baby and I were readmitted (since my baby was under 10 days old). I completed many tests and ultrasounds to get a clear diagnosis of where the infection was in my body. I was diagnosed with mastitis and spent four days on IV antibiotics. Thankfully, I was eventually on the mend and we were able to head home again the following Tuesday, with my baby now 11 days old.

Again, the care I received was outstanding. I was supported by both the obstetrics and surgical teams, who kept me informed throughout the whole process. I’m so grateful for the compassion and expertise of everyone involved.

During that stay, I had the opportunity to meet Harriet, the lactation consultant, and I learned so much from her. Every midwife who cared for me during that time added to my confidence and knowledge as a new mum. While being readmitted isn’t what you expect once going home after having a baby. I felt safe, supported, and incredibly lucky to be receiving such excellent care here in Bunbury.

And finally, I cannot thank my husband enough—he’s been my absolute rock through it all. We’re so lucky to have him and such a strong, loving support system of extended family. We truly feel blessed.