"My 3rd baby's birth story"

Some like to tell me that because it was my 3rd labour, that must be the reason it was so beautiful & straightforward. I don't think it's that simple ... I found my second labour more difficult than the first. My first, while I managed a natural birth, had compound presentation, episiotomy & 3rd degree tearing requiring surgery after labour. The second, also natural birth, was a double compound presentation and 2nd degree tearing. So by baby number three, I was certainly not really looking forward to labour. I had wonderful experiences with all the midwifery, doctors & surgical teams & great follow-up support with my first 2 who were not born at the Family Birth Centre (FBC). Even with fantastic support, the fact that I had had the 2 previous difficult births, still sat in my system somehow unresolved.

With baby number three I applied for the Family Birth Centre (FBC) at King Edward Memorial Hospital, Subiaco. I was a low risk pregnancy. I enjoyed all the pre-birth appointments, it's was a very warm and caring environment, while also being professional and I felt safe and in good hands.

That feeling never left! And I can't thank the Midwifery Group Practice 1 (MGP1) team at the FBC enough for providing such a healing birthing experience with my third.

On the day of labour: I was 6 days over my due date, my large baby was still sitting very high and there were no imminent signs of arrival, I went off to sleep. Around 2am I woke up with back pain, and 4am I woke again with a strong contraction. Around 5am I messaged my midwives (beautiful midwife Kate, and a beautiful student midwife Jen), I didn't need to wake them at that point, stating contractions had started and I'll let them know when they were consistent and strong. I didn't need to wait long, by 6am we called the team, contractions were less than 5mins apart and strong and the plan was to meet up at FBC 7am. My husband called them straight back to say we were on our way immediately, I was vomiting and wanting to leave for the FBC. How things can change within a matter of minutes!

By 7am I was in a FBC bedroom, focusing on my breathing and grateful for a TENS machine to distract me and give me a sense of control.

Kate and Jen arrived just before us, they got the bath ready and invited me to use it if I wanted to. My birth plan had me staying put "on land". But after they left my bedroom, and I continued with my contractions becoming stronger and more regular, my mind started thinking about my kids and how I wanted to be strong for them and a good role model and I recall saying to my husband "I'm a bit nervous about a water birth, but I want the kids to feel courageous to try things and not let fear rule their lives ... so I'm going to try the bath, I can always get out if I'm not comfortable".

Well, it was a beautiful turning point. Firstly I had to choose to give up the control I felt holding onto my TENS machine. But in doing so, I entered this bath around 8am and it was simply wonderful. I was able to let my baby just move down and my body just do what it knew how to do. I was particularly relieved by the buoyancy in a deep bath.

My husband (support person), recognised when I moved into transition and requested gas be available - which I used! And at 10:57am, after a very peaceful transition, my beautiful 4kg baby girl was born in the waters, wonderfully alert and ready to feed. I had no tearing.

It was a bit of a surreal experience, it was definitely healing (for both me and my husband. Birth can have a huge impact on your significant other - they can't take your place, and can feel so helpless and have little control, and transition & labour is a traumatic time).

I recall thanking all the midwives soon after she was born and coming to the realisation of some of the fears I'd held going in to labour, and Kate said "labour should be an empowering time, not a fearful time". And I'm thrilled to say that is what we experienced.

We were home by 2pm, introducing our beautiful girl to her older brothers who were smitten.

So that's my 3rd kid’s birth story. Kind of wish we were going to have another kid, but alas, three is enough for us and we are happy to end on this one.