Miranda's first days

My birth story - Miranda Rain was born Friday 30th December 2005 at 11.14am weighing 3.195kg and 48cm long.
My labour was about 7 hours and pretty text book. My contractions started at about midnight on the 30th - waking me and they were already 5 minutes apart! Of course I got a bit nervous. All I could remember from the midwives was to call when the contractions are 5 minutes apart. I woke Gray after 30 minutes and we called the midwife (Debbie from the Tuggeranong team at the Canberra Midwifery Program , Canberra Birth Centre) at 1am. The contraction were 20-30 seconds and Debbie advised us to call back when they were 50 seconds in intensity and that it would take hours! great! I told Gray to go back to bed because I needed him to be rested. I ran myself a bath and just tried to relax. At about 3am the intensity increased and I was in 'established' labour. I handled the contractions by myself until about 5am and then I needed Gray's support. We then called the midwife at about 5.15am and we agreed to meet at the Birth Centre at 6am. The trip to the hospital was fun with a couple of contractions (thank goodness it was only a 10min ride). Debbie 'checked' my progress and I was already 4cm dilated. We moved into one of the birthing suites at 6.45am (kicking someone out!). Almost straight away Debbie asked me if I wanted to get in the bath. So, modesty went out the window and clothes on the floor. The bath was amazingly good and the contraction starting coming thick. Gray was absolutly amazing, getting me to breath deeply, giving me plenty of water and encouragement, mopping my brow and spraying my face. He was a tower of strength for me. At about 9.30am Debbie advise us that the labour was not progressing as expected. I then moved out of the bath and onto the bed. Debbie then 'checked' me again and decided to break the membrane - what a relief! I then tried the birthing stool and could see (with the help of a mirror) Miranda's head crowning. To be honest it freaked me out a bit. I then moved to the bed on my knees. It was only a short time after breaking the membrane that Miranda's head appeared. I was told to stop pushing beacuse there was some meconium and the midwife sucked it away. Then, with the next push she was here. Gray was at the business end and was the first to touch her (he caught her!). After meeting Miranda our family was left alone to get to know each other. Not long after I delivered the placenta naturally and Gray cut the cord. I was fortunate to have a natural birth with no interventions.

Most notable quote from the midwife - during the birth when Miranda's head was crowning "This will sting a bit" !!!!!!!!!

Miranda weighed 3.195kg and was 48cm long. Her apgar score was 9. Within the hour she had her first feed and lots of skin to skin cuddles. I am most greatful for the guidence the midwives gave me throughout my pregnancy, birth and the continum of care I recieved for the next 10 days at home. I highly recommend the Birth Centre and midwifery program.

Over the first weeks at home I got lots of help from the midwives, Breast Feeding Association and the Maternal and Child Health nurses (both at the clinics and over the phone)with breast feeding, settling techniques, sleeping and generally support about what is 'normal'. I really didn't have much an idea!!

Miranda is an awesome gift to us and we are so proud to have her as part of our family. The following images were taken over the first four weeks. I am sure that Miranda smiled at 2 weeks of age. It is so cute when she tries to focus on you and goes a bit cross eyed!