25/04/2019
💙Aodán Martin Culligan, 9lbs 13ozs💙
Born Saturday 13th April 2019
The Big Babeeee
Throughout this pregnancy Emma-Rose would often refer to my ever expanding belly as "big babeeee", and boy was she right. Our little man arrived on Saturday 13th April at 11.45pm weighing in at an impressive 9lbs 13ozs. I was 40weeks and 1 day gestation. A huge milestone for us in this pregnancy as it was a very difficult pregnancy for me as I was high risk for preterm delivery. As early as 6 weeks pregnant I was brought to my knees on holidays with excruciating contractions. These contractions continued throughout my pregnancy, coupled with scans showing my cervix shortening more quickly than it did with Emma-Rose (due to lletz and cone biopsy procedures in 2013). I also felt a huge amount of pressure from early on in the pregnancy, perhaps fuelled by a low lying placenta which does not help the short cervix situation. I felt like my body was failing this poor little baby, on one admittance into hospital he was headbutting the cervix, I silently begged him to stay inside a little while longer. As a yoga practitioner and someone who has a healthy lifestyle, it was very daunting to feel insecure in my body. My long walks and most of my asanas were put on pause as they induced a lot of pressure and contractions. Swimming was recommended to me by my wonderful midwife Colette Donnolly. This was my lifeline, it reduced pressure and I could burn off the excess energy I had been accumulating. No matter how depressed, tired or angry I felt I always made it for my swim and it gave me a sense of purpose, staying strong for my baby.
There has been a lot of talk lately of the maternity services in Ireland so I feel I have an obligation here to highlight the wonderful care I received from the pre-term foetal assessment unit, under the care of Dr. Etaoin Kent. I had several visits to the Emergency Department with regular contractions and cervical pain and was always cared for extremely well. My dream of a home birth was widely well received by any staff I met in The Rotunda and Dr. Kent provided very much patient centred care. She encouraged me that with progesterone and modified bed rest I may get to term. I was very doubtful with my symptomatic pregnancy, Dr. Kent I stand here corrected. We feel so lucky, like we won the baby lottery.
I was a nervous of this labour, I knew in my heart and soul it would be quick, by the end I was nearly fully effaced so a lot of the work had been done already. As I was having painful contractions throughout the pregnancy, I was worried my pain threshold would have been reduced and I was also nervous it wouldn't be obvious when I was in early labour. As we got to week 39, a scan estimated weight as being 9.5 lbs and I already knew it was a long baby. For 3 weeks before he came the contractions were stronger and coming more regularly, I could feel himself squirming and I was hoping despite him having no room in my belly that he would get into an optimum position. So every day I diligently did my yoga, swimming and spinning babies poses, and luckily for me it did the job.
On Friday 12th I was having regular contractions and happened to have an appointment with my SECM Colette, I had about 10 in the hour she was there but they had failed to get into a pattern. She herself went home to have a nap, expecting to have a busy night ahead of her. I wasnt sure but thought I felt a trickle of waters that day, was hoping this was it. I woke up Saturday morning to a text from Colette to call her. She said she would come over to talk to me and Tom to discuss our options should my waters have gone. We went to the Rotunda and tests came back negative for waters broken so I was 'off the clock 'so to speak. Very sympathetic midwives were giving me the low down on all the old wives tales, but I had tried them all. I left comforted that the home birth was still an option and I had done everything to promote a healthy labour.
We took the opportunity to go for lunch just the two of us, I ordered a spicy drink and a spicy dish, spice being the only old wives tale I hadn't tried. I also bought dulcolax on the way home, I was desperate! All afternoon I was having contractions, but that was normal for this pregnancy. Had a regular evening, put herself to bed, had dins and watched a movie with Tom whilst moving between the yoga mat and ball. At about 9.30 pm I started having more intense contractions. I instantly regretted the dulcolax, even the small amount I took, I thought they were bringing on intestinal spasms. However the packet says takes 6-12 hours to work and I had just taken it, I was very confused. Several more contractions came and went, I was dubious to put the call into Colette as I wasn't sure if this was it. However when himself begged me to I called her at 10pm, explained I wasn't sure if I was having contractions or stomach spasms. She assured me it sounded like the real thing. She was there 20mins later helping Tom with the pool. Contractions started to get stronger and she examined me and I was 4-5 cms at 10.45pm. I was grateful to hear this as I clutched onto my tens controls and concentrated on my tracks and breathing. I got in the pool on my knees and swayed my hips and squatted which once again did not disappoint in floating tension and pain away. Contractions started coming very close together and were much stronger. Transition was much harder for me this time, there was barely any time between contractions to recover, I really believed I couldn't do this and cried into Tom's shoulder that I couldn't do it. I started to feel panicky but did my best to focus on Tom's empathetic and soothing words. I could see in his face he was there with me, and looking like he wished he could do this for me. I felt something shoot down really fast and it made me gasp and stand up, it was only a gush of water with some of the sac. Ok I could feel now I needed to calm down. Again I focused on Tom's voice and the second midwife applied pressure to my hips on every contraction and massaged my hands in between while Tom massaged my shoulders. I am forever grateful for both of them for those few minutes. Colette asked me to turn around to check baby, all was good. Moving was difficult, I remember saying "it feels like a bowling ball". There may have been an f word or two. He did actually have a big head, no stitches though, a bonus of a water birth. A home or water birth may not be appealing to you but ladies invest in a perineum stretching device at least!
Things suddenly felt different, "a lot of pressure there Colette", not surprisingly, I mean I was giving birth ;) "Don't be afraid of it Gemma", easy for her to say I thought in annoyance, she's not having to push this thing out. I was starting to feel a bit sorry for myself. There were 2 large contractions incredibly close and I could feel the head descend down with two involuntary pushes. I had my hand down there this whole time and I could feel his head about 1 cm up. "The head is down" I exclaimed, the ladies had a look but couldnt see it yet and said something like it might be on the way down or I might have felt more water. I didn't have time to answer as with a big contraction I pushed and I roared and I felt his head being born. Ladies checked again and were very excited. Waiting patiently for the next contraction I breathe, and breathe. When it came it was not strong enough for the rest of him to come. I could feel his head wriggling though and I thought "this is weird". There may have been an f word there too. Colette instructed me to get out of the water, I looked at her like she was crazy. "Come on, up, out, baby wont fall". So I carefully stood up, lifted one leg over the pool side trying not to hit baby's head on side of pool. I was walking around my sitting room with a head hanging out of me, an image Tom said he will never forget! Dazed, I was led over to the couch and asked to go on my back. As I looked up I saw Tom standing there with such a worried little face with his head in his hands. I felt a contraction and between it, me pushing and Colette guiding him, our little boy came out very calmly, and with a little rub took his breath and a little cry. "What is it?" I asked him, "I can't see" he said, then seconds later "it's a boy". He was placed on my chest and then we could hear herself on the monitor beginning to wake and cry. When Tom went up she was calling for me and asking if Mommy was ok. My little girl worried about me. He brought her down and she just crawled up to us and put her head on my chest and looked at her little brother, gave us a kiss and went back to bed.
After all our worry here he was, strong, relaxed and ready for food.
Aodán Martin Culligan, little fiery one.
