Warning: This is a happy birth story. I know that sounds strange. I also know what it's like to read "happy" birth stories when you've personally had a traumatic or undesirable fertility, pregnancy and/or birth experience/s, and how upsetting this can be for some people. Sometimes, reading positive outcomes for others can trigger feelings like sadness and disappointment, and thoughts of failure and inadequacy, before you've had a real chance to work through and resolve those feelings and thoughts. I get it; I've been there. So please gently check in with yourself now. Will this story help or hinder your personal process? Give yourself all the time, space and support you require to meet your own needs first above all else. That may or may not include reading this story.
Resting in bed with Kairi about an hour after giving birth. That was one wild ride!
It’s been less than 48 hours since I gave birth and already the memories are fading like raindrops on a desert highway. So here I am on my phone trying to capture my rapidly shrinking recollections while baby Kairi sleeps milk drunk across my chest.
At around 38 and a half weeks I’d noticed I was becoming impatient with being pregnant. People around me seemed to be having their babies left, right and centre... yet here I was still unable to stir a pot on the stove, get in and out of a car, or use a sink without having to position my body at an awkward angle to keep my belly out of the way. And if I wasn’t mindful I’d just bump my belly into things, which was both annoying and painful!
My due date was Jan 13 but I predicted baby would come Thursday Jan 4. My first child Archie arrived five days early and I’d predicted his birth date with laser accuracy.
So when this baby didn’t arrive on the date I’d predicted, I realised I’d just have to be patient and stop thinking about it. “Assume you’ll go to 43 weeks” was the wise advice from my dietitian friend and mama of two, Susanna.
At around 38 and a half weeks I’d noticed I was becoming impatient with being pregnant. People around me seemed to be having their babies left, right and centre... yet here I was still unable to stir a pot on the stove, get in and out of a car, or use a sink without having to position my body at an awkward angle to keep my belly out of the way. And if I wasn’t mindful I’d just bump my belly into things, which was both annoying and painful!
My due date was Jan 13 but I predicted baby would come Thursday Jan 4. My first child Archie arrived five days early and I’d predicted his birth date with laser accuracy.
So when this baby didn’t arrive on the date I’d predicted, I realised I’d just have to be patient and stop thinking about it. “Assume you’ll go to 43 weeks” was the wise advice from my dietitian friend and mama of two, Susanna.
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