Carlo Hank
Carlo Hank: Birth Story
I woke up Friday morning, 40 weeks and 6 days gestation and felt a little different but very much at peace. I spent some time praying and took a little video of my pregnant belly. As the morning progressed I noticed some mild discomfort and called my husband Simon to let him know. I got busy cleaning the house like a “crazy lady” and started feeling glimpses of excitement at the thought of possibly meeting our baby soon.
The discomfort intensified a little as the day went on and Simon came home in the afternoon. We then walked to his parents to ask about a middle name if we were having a boy (quite literally left this to the last minute). We ended up staying for dinner and this is when the contractions started ramping up. I used Calmbirth breathing and put on my best poker face. I later moved to cleaning up the dishes so eyes weren’t on me and I had something productive to do.
I then sat by the fire while Simon massaged my shoulders and did some pressure points. I thought his parents had cottoned on by this stage but they later said they had no idea I was in labor. We then walked home and things intensified more on the walk with me needing to stop a couple of times. When we arrived home I put on the tens machine and told Simon to get some sleep while he had the chance.
I laid in bed wide awake just focusing on the tens machine and soon started timing the contractions. I knew when it was time when I needed some support so I woke Simon and he started helping me through the contractions. We called the hospital just before midnight to update them and they said I could come in if I wanted. I decided I wasn’t ready to go in yet so we continued labouring at home.
I moved between the shower, walking around the house and on all fours in our bedroom while Simon encouraged me and did pressure points on me. I vomited a couple of times and emptied my bowels to which I then said to Simon I have nothing left in me apart from our baby, I think I’m ready to go to the hospital.
Simon then called the hospital to let them know we were coming in (it was about 3:30am at this stage). They said they had a bath free and would start filling it up for us (I was very thankful when I heard this over the phone as I was really hoping to be in the water).
When we arrived at the hospital I had a contraction on all fours in the carpark. At this point in the carpark on the ground I was thinking about the year prior going in to birth our twin girls who were stillborns. I was pretty well in the same spot in the carpark and wanted to completely break down and get far away from the hospital.
Simon helped me walk in as I reminded myself things were going to be different this time. I had two more contractions on the way in and we were met by a midwife at reception while I was on the floor. I had a cannula put in as my heart rate was a little high. We were then met by an MGP midwife who was going to be with us for the birth.
Simon set up the room (fairy lights, music and my comfort items). I straight away felt comfortable with our MGP midwife and she helped me settle into the space (our two allocated MGP midwives were unable to be there so I was so glad I felt comfortable with an unfamiliar face).
I asked about some pain relief options at which she said how about you hop in the bath for pain relief. Simon and I then both got into the bath and it was amazing pain relief. We both shed a tear at this point as it brought back being in the bath labouring with our girls.
It was about 4:30am at this stage and Simon had the gas ready at each contraction and I was holding the birth comb tight. I was very quiet during most of this labor until baby started moving down my pelvis at which point I started screaming and emerged out of the water. I could not believe the pain.
I panicked for a moment until I realised my only option was to surrender to God in this moment. There was nothing else I could do. This thought process helped me and after some time the intense pain settled and I sat back down in the water. I then felt very calm and went very quiet and our baby started merging their way out.
Our midwife asked if I wanted to feel baby’s head at which I said no but then soon decided I wanted to. This really helped me to connect to our baby and I couldn’t believe I was touching their hair. This made it all so real and I breathed through the rest of the contractions with some pushing and then brought baby up to my chest - 9.34am.
This was such a profound moment. Simon and I were so in love and spent some quality time together in the bath. We soon looked to see the sex and realised we were holding our precious baby boy.
My placenta came out as I got out of the bath and then we all cuddled up together in bed.
I’m so grateful for the skills and knowledge from Calmbirth. Cherie helped us to understand just how incredible the birthing process is and how to induce all the natural hormones and oxytocin. Cherie also helped us come to know the kind of birth we would love to have and how to advocate for what we would like.
We also had the privilege of having Cherie at the birth of our twins, Lexie and Polly. So we had experienced firsthand things that were helpful in the birthing space. We couldn’t be more thankful for how Carlo’s birth went and how wonderful the staff were at the hospital.
We were thankful we asked Simon’s parents about the middle name as we did in fact have a boy. His middle name is in loving memory of a family member named Hank. ?
Laura