1 00:00:05,646 --> 00:00:12,565 Speaker 1: You're listening to Amma Mea Podcast. Hi, it's Cassne Lukige here, 2 00:00:12,846 --> 00:00:15,686 Speaker 1: host of Diary of a Birth, and this summer we've 3 00:00:15,806 --> 00:00:18,925 Speaker 1: curated your delivery room playlist to bring you even more 4 00:00:19,046 --> 00:00:22,686 Speaker 1: unmissable birth stories. This summer, we're bringing you our favorite 5 00:00:22,726 --> 00:00:25,726 Speaker 1: episodes of Diary of a Birth right here in your feet. 6 00:00:26,206 --> 00:00:29,126 Speaker 1: That's your holiday listening sorded. And if you're looking for 7 00:00:29,286 --> 00:00:32,565 Speaker 1: more to listen to, every Muma Mea Podcast is curating 8 00:00:32,646 --> 00:00:36,286 Speaker 1: your summer listening right across our network. From pop culture 9 00:00:36,366 --> 00:00:40,285 Speaker 1: to beauty to powerful interviews, there's something for everyone. Check 10 00:00:40,326 --> 00:00:47,045 Speaker 1: out the link in the show notes. Hi, I'm Cassenya 11 00:00:47,126 --> 00:00:51,486 Speaker 1: Lukic and this is Diary of a Birth. Sometimes the 12 00:00:51,525 --> 00:00:54,766 Speaker 1: birth you plan and the birth you get a world's apart, 13 00:00:55,326 --> 00:00:59,446 Speaker 1: but that doesn't mean it can't still be empowering. Today's 14 00:00:59,526 --> 00:01:02,806 Speaker 1: guest wanted a calm home birth with her private midwife 15 00:01:02,926 --> 00:01:06,646 Speaker 1: after feeling unsupported in the public system. She had her 16 00:01:06,726 --> 00:01:10,006 Speaker 1: birth ballready, fairy lights set up, and her care team 17 00:01:10,166 --> 00:01:14,166 Speaker 1: on standby, but when labor finally started forty one weeks, 18 00:01:14,726 --> 00:01:17,566 Speaker 1: everything happened faster than anyone expected. 19 00:01:18,326 --> 00:01:20,926 Speaker 2: So I called my husband just after midday. I was 20 00:01:20,966 --> 00:01:24,086 Speaker 2: in the shower at quarter past twelve. I crawled out 21 00:01:24,126 --> 00:01:27,486 Speaker 2: of the shower at twelve thirty five and my water 22 00:01:27,606 --> 00:01:29,926 Speaker 2: broke just as I got out of the shower, all 23 00:01:30,006 --> 00:01:31,326 Speaker 2: over the on sweet floor. 24 00:01:31,486 --> 00:01:34,006 Speaker 3: And then straight after my water brokes, I felt the 25 00:01:34,126 --> 00:01:34,646 Speaker 3: urged push. 26 00:01:35,486 --> 00:01:38,726 Speaker 1: With her midwife stuck in traffic and her husband racing 27 00:01:38,806 --> 00:01:42,366 Speaker 1: home from work, she found herself alone on her bathroom floor, 28 00:01:43,126 --> 00:01:47,566 Speaker 1: hoping help would arrive in time. So let's meet today's mum. 29 00:01:48,406 --> 00:01:51,006 Speaker 3: Hi, my name is Lauren and this is the diary 30 00:01:51,126 --> 00:01:52,486 Speaker 3: of my birth with Finley. 31 00:01:57,606 --> 00:02:00,926 Speaker 1: So, Lauren, Finley is your second child. 32 00:02:01,286 --> 00:02:02,246 Speaker 2: He is, Yes. 33 00:02:02,766 --> 00:02:04,646 Speaker 1: Can you just tell us a little bit about what 34 00:02:04,806 --> 00:02:07,526 Speaker 1: life was like before you fell pregnant with Finley. 35 00:02:07,846 --> 00:02:11,606 Speaker 2: So there's almost four years between Finley and his big 36 00:02:11,726 --> 00:02:16,005 Speaker 2: sister Emerson. So before I fell pregnant with Finley, it 37 00:02:16,206 --> 00:02:19,245 Speaker 2: was my husband, myself and our at the time three 38 00:02:19,365 --> 00:02:22,046 Speaker 2: year old. She was a little bit of a unicorn child. 39 00:02:22,125 --> 00:02:24,206 Speaker 2: I hate to put this into the universe, but she 40 00:02:25,365 --> 00:02:28,365 Speaker 2: ate well, slept well, was fun to be around. So 41 00:02:28,525 --> 00:02:30,805 Speaker 2: we decided it was time that we were ready to 42 00:02:30,965 --> 00:02:33,966 Speaker 2: introduce a second child, a fourth member of the family, 43 00:02:34,365 --> 00:02:36,645 Speaker 2: and of course a month after I fell pregnant with 44 00:02:36,766 --> 00:02:39,165 Speaker 2: Finley is when the three year old attitude kicked in. 45 00:02:39,525 --> 00:02:41,645 Speaker 3: But we wouldn't have had it any other way. 46 00:02:43,166 --> 00:02:46,046 Speaker 1: So can you tell me about what you wanted your 47 00:02:46,085 --> 00:02:49,965 Speaker 1: experience to be like with Finley? What type of birth 48 00:02:50,085 --> 00:02:50,925 Speaker 1: did you want to have? 49 00:02:51,486 --> 00:02:54,285 Speaker 2: I guess that's informed a lot by the birth that 50 00:02:54,405 --> 00:02:57,925 Speaker 2: I did have with Emerson. Going into my first pregnancy. 51 00:02:58,006 --> 00:03:02,486 Speaker 2: In birth, I was very open to, you know, let's 52 00:03:02,525 --> 00:03:05,286 Speaker 2: see how things go. My birth plan was very don't 53 00:03:05,525 --> 00:03:09,326 Speaker 2: offer me pain relief, don't offer me interventions. If I 54 00:03:09,446 --> 00:03:12,285 Speaker 2: want them, I'll ask for them. I went through a 55 00:03:12,365 --> 00:03:15,206 Speaker 2: private hospital and a private obstetrician with my first berth 56 00:03:15,326 --> 00:03:18,085 Speaker 2: because in the circles I run in the area I 57 00:03:18,206 --> 00:03:19,925 Speaker 2: live in, that's just what you did if you had 58 00:03:19,965 --> 00:03:21,085 Speaker 2: private health insurance. 59 00:03:21,766 --> 00:03:23,925 Speaker 3: And I was fairly lucky with my experience. 60 00:03:24,245 --> 00:03:27,166 Speaker 2: I had a good relationship with my obstetricians right up 61 00:03:27,286 --> 00:03:30,486 Speaker 2: until I think it was thirty seven and a half 62 00:03:30,566 --> 00:03:31,926 Speaker 2: weeks of pregnancy, and. 63 00:03:32,525 --> 00:03:34,206 Speaker 3: Then I should just preface this. 64 00:03:34,326 --> 00:03:37,285 Speaker 2: My daughter was due the day after New Year's I 65 00:03:37,406 --> 00:03:39,806 Speaker 2: started getting a lot of pressure from the private obstetrican 66 00:03:39,846 --> 00:03:43,686 Speaker 2: that i'd worked with to induce prior to Christmas and 67 00:03:43,766 --> 00:03:46,486 Speaker 2: prior to the public holidays. I was quite resistant to that, 68 00:03:46,926 --> 00:03:50,046 Speaker 2: but I did feel like I was pushed or coerced 69 00:03:50,086 --> 00:03:51,686 Speaker 2: a little bit into an induction. 70 00:03:52,526 --> 00:03:53,606 Speaker 3: It did work in my favor. 71 00:03:53,726 --> 00:03:56,086 Speaker 2: When I went in to be induced, they found out 72 00:03:56,126 --> 00:03:59,005 Speaker 2: I was already actually in labor, so they manually broke 73 00:03:59,086 --> 00:04:01,605 Speaker 2: my waters no other intervention, and two and a half 74 00:04:01,646 --> 00:04:05,046 Speaker 2: hours later my daughter was born. So when it came 75 00:04:05,126 --> 00:04:08,486 Speaker 2: time to plan for our care with Finley, I knew 76 00:04:08,526 --> 00:04:11,406 Speaker 2: I wanted to do it differently. I knew I wanted 77 00:04:11,486 --> 00:04:13,725 Speaker 2: to be the expert on my body. I wanted to 78 00:04:13,846 --> 00:04:17,406 Speaker 2: trust my body to birth, and I wanted to make 79 00:04:17,446 --> 00:04:20,246 Speaker 2: sure that I had health support, obviously from an expert, 80 00:04:20,686 --> 00:04:22,886 Speaker 2: but one that also trusted me to be an expert 81 00:04:22,966 --> 00:04:25,686 Speaker 2: in what my body was experiencing and on how my 82 00:04:25,806 --> 00:04:28,486 Speaker 2: baby and I were going to work together for him 83 00:04:28,526 --> 00:04:28,926 Speaker 2: to be born. 84 00:04:29,366 --> 00:04:30,406 Speaker 3: In my area as. 85 00:04:30,246 --> 00:04:34,006 Speaker 2: Well, we do have a publicly funded home birth program 86 00:04:34,166 --> 00:04:36,566 Speaker 2: which is very close to my house, and I was 87 00:04:37,366 --> 00:04:39,246 Speaker 2: very very keen. I think even before I knew I 88 00:04:39,325 --> 00:04:41,126 Speaker 2: was pregnant, I was like, right, next time around, this 89 00:04:41,246 --> 00:04:44,606 Speaker 2: is what I'm aiming for. I'd started working with a 90 00:04:44,686 --> 00:04:47,966 Speaker 2: prenatal and pregnancy birth dueler at this point. 91 00:04:48,046 --> 00:04:51,246 Speaker 1: So basically the plan was you went into the public system. 92 00:04:51,366 --> 00:04:53,126 Speaker 1: The plan was going to be that you were going 93 00:04:53,166 --> 00:04:58,806 Speaker 1: to try and do a vaginal unmedicated birth in the hospital. 94 00:04:58,966 --> 00:05:00,885 Speaker 3: Yes, originally in the hospital, but with. 95 00:05:01,166 --> 00:05:03,766 Speaker 1: A duela supporting you throughout the process. 96 00:05:04,005 --> 00:05:04,205 Speaker 3: Yes. 97 00:05:04,606 --> 00:05:06,565 Speaker 1: Okay, So you're at six seeing weeks at this point, 98 00:05:06,966 --> 00:05:08,886 Speaker 1: you and your husband say we need to go and 99 00:05:09,005 --> 00:05:13,166 Speaker 1: find a private midwife. What was your next step? Then? 100 00:05:13,686 --> 00:05:16,846 Speaker 3: I was very lucky. I obviously had already linked in 101 00:05:16,926 --> 00:05:17,405 Speaker 3: with the duela. 102 00:05:17,686 --> 00:05:19,926 Speaker 2: I also have a friend I went to high school 103 00:05:19,966 --> 00:05:22,286 Speaker 2: with who works as a postpartum duela in the area 104 00:05:22,366 --> 00:05:24,246 Speaker 2: that I live in. So I reached out to her 105 00:05:24,325 --> 00:05:27,446 Speaker 2: for recommendations, and she gave me a list of a 106 00:05:27,486 --> 00:05:31,046 Speaker 2: few private practicing midwives that service our area, and I 107 00:05:31,126 --> 00:05:32,886 Speaker 2: reached out to I think three or four of them 108 00:05:33,246 --> 00:05:36,605 Speaker 2: and clicked with one and engaged her to move forward. 109 00:05:37,206 --> 00:05:40,526 Speaker 2: It was really comfortable. All of the midwives were lovely. Obviously, 110 00:05:40,646 --> 00:05:44,406 Speaker 2: most private practicing midwives in our area at least tend 111 00:05:44,445 --> 00:05:47,886 Speaker 2: to lean high to homebirths because a lot of the 112 00:05:47,966 --> 00:05:51,686 Speaker 2: reason that people engage private midwives is because they want 113 00:05:51,765 --> 00:05:53,846 Speaker 2: to go outside of the hospital system, or have the 114 00:05:53,926 --> 00:05:57,965 Speaker 2: hospital system as the escalation pathway if and when it's needed. 115 00:05:58,286 --> 00:06:03,566 Speaker 1: What does a private midwife cost? Because obviously, even when 116 00:06:03,565 --> 00:06:05,405 Speaker 1: you need to talk about going through the private system 117 00:06:05,646 --> 00:06:07,926 Speaker 1: and having an obstetrican, there is still out of pocket 118 00:06:07,966 --> 00:06:09,766 Speaker 1: expenses which a lot of people don't realize. I think 119 00:06:09,846 --> 00:06:11,086 Speaker 1: just because you have health insurance. 120 00:06:11,406 --> 00:06:15,246 Speaker 2: Oh, absolutely, health insurance covers the hospital birth. It does 121 00:06:15,325 --> 00:06:16,606 Speaker 2: not cover the obstetrician. 122 00:06:16,926 --> 00:06:20,445 Speaker 1: I remember doing the calculations and with all of the scans, 123 00:06:20,646 --> 00:06:24,726 Speaker 1: you know, NIP tests, all of that, plus the obstetrician 124 00:06:24,806 --> 00:06:28,086 Speaker 1: plus the anethetist. It was about ten thousand dollars out 125 00:06:28,086 --> 00:06:29,206 Speaker 1: of pocket per. 126 00:06:29,166 --> 00:06:31,326 Speaker 2: Birth, plus the private health insurance that you've had to 127 00:06:31,366 --> 00:06:33,606 Speaker 2: pay for for at least work twelve months before and 128 00:06:33,686 --> 00:06:35,005 Speaker 2: then actually being pregnant. 129 00:06:35,166 --> 00:06:37,206 Speaker 3: So absolutely it's phenomenal. 130 00:06:37,325 --> 00:06:41,845 Speaker 2: So in perspective, the private practicing midwife for the whole pregnancy, birth, 131 00:06:41,966 --> 00:06:45,486 Speaker 2: and six weeks postpardon was six thousand dollars. And there 132 00:06:45,606 --> 00:06:49,166 Speaker 2: are Medicare rebates available for pre and postnatal care, so 133 00:06:49,246 --> 00:06:52,126 Speaker 2: I think I got about sixteen hundred dollars back from Medicare. 134 00:06:52,286 --> 00:06:54,405 Speaker 3: Birth is not covered by Medicare, but. 135 00:06:54,486 --> 00:06:56,806 Speaker 2: The pre and post natal care that are privately practicing 136 00:06:56,885 --> 00:06:58,926 Speaker 2: midwife provides is okay, so. 137 00:07:00,126 --> 00:07:01,166 Speaker 3: You get a lot more. 138 00:07:01,486 --> 00:07:04,885 Speaker 2: In my opinion, having gone through the private system birth 139 00:07:04,926 --> 00:07:07,246 Speaker 2: and then the private midwife, I felt like I got 140 00:07:07,406 --> 00:07:09,406 Speaker 2: much better value for money with the care that I 141 00:07:09,526 --> 00:07:11,806 Speaker 2: received with a private practicing midwife. 142 00:07:12,006 --> 00:07:14,926 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's interesting just to see the comparisons of cost, 143 00:07:14,966 --> 00:07:17,046 Speaker 1: because I think a lot of people would say, oh, 144 00:07:17,166 --> 00:07:21,006 Speaker 1: private midwife, that's going to be way outside my budget. 145 00:07:21,486 --> 00:07:23,446 Speaker 1: But I suppose if you are in a lower risk 146 00:07:23,526 --> 00:07:27,326 Speaker 1: category and you do want a low intervention or potentially 147 00:07:27,446 --> 00:07:29,286 Speaker 1: want to go for a home birth, that could be 148 00:07:29,326 --> 00:07:32,166 Speaker 1: a really good option for some women. Let's get to 149 00:07:32,846 --> 00:07:36,326 Speaker 1: the birth itself. How far along were you when you 150 00:07:36,486 --> 00:07:37,926 Speaker 1: started feeling labor. 151 00:07:38,486 --> 00:07:41,726 Speaker 2: I think the first night I had contractions was at 152 00:07:41,926 --> 00:07:46,446 Speaker 2: forty weeks and three days. Again for background, when I 153 00:07:46,526 --> 00:07:48,846 Speaker 2: went to be induced and was in labor with my daughter, 154 00:07:48,886 --> 00:07:52,206 Speaker 2: I was thirty seven and six, so myself, my husband, 155 00:07:52,246 --> 00:07:54,526 Speaker 2: and my midwife were all quite surprised when forty weeks 156 00:07:54,566 --> 00:07:57,086 Speaker 2: came and went with nothing. I had I. 157 00:07:57,126 --> 00:08:01,725 Speaker 3: Guess what they call prodromal or like early or false labor. 158 00:08:02,046 --> 00:08:04,046 Speaker 2: I had it with both pregnancy, so Essentially, I had 159 00:08:04,246 --> 00:08:08,086 Speaker 2: five hours of intense contractions at forty and three and 160 00:08:08,166 --> 00:08:10,006 Speaker 2: they got down to I think about four and a 161 00:08:10,046 --> 00:08:12,926 Speaker 2: half minutes apart and lasting for about forty five seconds. 162 00:08:13,486 --> 00:08:16,166 Speaker 2: So we told my daughter we were having a practice 163 00:08:16,206 --> 00:08:18,766 Speaker 2: from and maybe the baby would be here, and did 164 00:08:18,806 --> 00:08:20,126 Speaker 2: she want to go to Nana and Pops or did 165 00:08:20,166 --> 00:08:21,886 Speaker 2: she want to stay here in case the baby came. 166 00:08:22,446 --> 00:08:24,006 Speaker 3: She wanted to sleep over at Ad and Pops. 167 00:08:24,046 --> 00:08:25,926 Speaker 2: So my parents came and picked her up and took 168 00:08:25,966 --> 00:08:28,486 Speaker 2: her for the ninth The midwife was like, watch a movie, 169 00:08:28,606 --> 00:08:31,726 Speaker 2: something happy, you know, helped the oxytocin flow, So we 170 00:08:31,806 --> 00:08:35,285 Speaker 2: did that and the contraction stopped. So I was like, 171 00:08:35,406 --> 00:08:37,886 Speaker 2: that's fine, We've been here before. It's not labor, but 172 00:08:37,926 --> 00:08:42,006 Speaker 2: it's helping get me ready. Those contractions continued on and 173 00:08:42,126 --> 00:08:44,526 Speaker 2: off for the next five days and then sort of 174 00:08:44,566 --> 00:08:46,766 Speaker 2: peed it out completely, and it wasn't all the time. 175 00:08:46,926 --> 00:08:48,925 Speaker 2: I'd sort of have patches of like an hour or 176 00:08:48,966 --> 00:08:51,206 Speaker 2: two a day, or a couple of times a day where. 177 00:08:51,006 --> 00:08:52,405 Speaker 3: I'd be like, oh, here we go again. 178 00:08:53,246 --> 00:08:55,526 Speaker 2: We hit I think it was forty one weeks and 179 00:08:55,766 --> 00:08:59,685 Speaker 2: one day and one thing about privately practicing midwives or 180 00:08:59,686 --> 00:09:02,085 Speaker 2: at least the one that I had who was phenomenal. 181 00:09:02,766 --> 00:09:05,886 Speaker 3: They are so across the evidence in terms of post 182 00:09:06,006 --> 00:09:06,486 Speaker 3: dates care. 183 00:09:06,566 --> 00:09:08,726 Speaker 2: So basically, as soon as you hit that magic you 184 00:09:08,766 --> 00:09:12,446 Speaker 2: know forty week estimated due date and the recommended care 185 00:09:12,606 --> 00:09:15,766 Speaker 2: for after that. My mid wife is very communicative, I 186 00:09:15,806 --> 00:09:19,526 Speaker 2: guess about the risks, and while she reiterated that forty 187 00:09:19,566 --> 00:09:22,846 Speaker 2: one weeks is still perfectly normal gestation, at that point, 188 00:09:22,926 --> 00:09:25,405 Speaker 2: the evidence is to get a scan at the very 189 00:09:25,486 --> 00:09:27,806 Speaker 2: least to check fluid levels so that if I'd had 190 00:09:27,846 --> 00:09:30,206 Speaker 2: a leak or anything, and make sure that the baby 191 00:09:30,285 --> 00:09:31,006 Speaker 2: was still happy. 192 00:09:30,806 --> 00:09:33,285 Speaker 3: And healthy in there. I had no concerns. Baby was 193 00:09:33,326 --> 00:09:33,846 Speaker 3: still moving. 194 00:09:34,206 --> 00:09:36,285 Speaker 2: I could, you know, feel an elbow or a knee 195 00:09:36,366 --> 00:09:38,285 Speaker 2: or a shoulder or whatever. It was popping out at 196 00:09:38,366 --> 00:09:40,966 Speaker 2: random hours. So we went for a scan on the 197 00:09:41,045 --> 00:09:43,646 Speaker 2: Monday morning, forty one and one and home. Remember we 198 00:09:43,726 --> 00:09:46,966 Speaker 2: were sitting there and the ultrasound technician was checking the 199 00:09:47,006 --> 00:09:50,165 Speaker 2: fluid levels and checking the placental blood flow and all 200 00:09:50,206 --> 00:09:52,766 Speaker 2: those essential things, and he actually made a comment, he said, 201 00:09:52,766 --> 00:09:54,326 Speaker 2: how far along are you? And I said forty one 202 00:09:54,366 --> 00:09:58,285 Speaker 2: and one today. He said, right, everything looks great, Baby's 203 00:09:58,326 --> 00:10:00,325 Speaker 2: really comfortable in there. But hopefully I don't have to 204 00:10:00,366 --> 00:10:02,246 Speaker 2: see you next week for a forty two week scan. 205 00:10:02,326 --> 00:10:04,966 Speaker 2: I said, oh God, let's hope not. So after that 206 00:10:05,086 --> 00:10:08,966 Speaker 2: scan we went home and because as luck would have it, 207 00:10:09,446 --> 00:10:11,445 Speaker 2: my midwife had two clients that were due in the 208 00:10:11,486 --> 00:10:14,246 Speaker 2: month of October, I'd been due at the very start. 209 00:10:14,326 --> 00:10:16,486 Speaker 2: My due date was the first of October, and her 210 00:10:16,526 --> 00:10:19,766 Speaker 2: other October client was due right at the end. However, 211 00:10:19,846 --> 00:10:22,486 Speaker 2: as luck would have it, her client needed to give 212 00:10:22,566 --> 00:10:25,126 Speaker 2: birth at a hospital in Sydney on this day that 213 00:10:25,246 --> 00:10:28,006 Speaker 2: my scan was booked for, and the midwife had called 214 00:10:28,045 --> 00:10:30,926 Speaker 2: me the day before and said, look, if you're feeling anything, 215 00:10:30,966 --> 00:10:33,846 Speaker 2: if there's any signed baby's coming, I won't go. I'll 216 00:10:33,886 --> 00:10:36,086 Speaker 2: explain to the other client that I just can't travel 217 00:10:36,165 --> 00:10:39,526 Speaker 2: to Sydney when you're a week over. And I sort 218 00:10:39,566 --> 00:10:41,766 Speaker 2: of said, I feel okay, We've been here a few 219 00:10:41,846 --> 00:10:44,925 Speaker 2: days and nothing's changed. So I texted her after the 220 00:10:45,405 --> 00:10:48,205 Speaker 2: scan and said, hey, ultra sound texted everything looks good, 221 00:10:48,486 --> 00:10:50,886 Speaker 2: no signs of moving. Hope throughout the client goes well, 222 00:10:51,686 --> 00:10:53,846 Speaker 2: and she texted back and she was like, thanks, talk soon. 223 00:10:54,966 --> 00:10:58,886 Speaker 2: So my husband decided, because we'd been told essentially that 224 00:10:59,165 --> 00:11:02,325 Speaker 2: everything looked like the same that he would go into 225 00:11:02,366 --> 00:11:04,565 Speaker 2: the office for the day on the twenty minutes from 226 00:11:04,606 --> 00:11:06,406 Speaker 2: home and just sort of wrap a few things up 227 00:11:06,566 --> 00:11:08,006 Speaker 2: and tell everybody at work that he was going to 228 00:11:08,086 --> 00:11:10,445 Speaker 2: work from home for the remainder of the week because 229 00:11:10,446 --> 00:11:11,846 Speaker 2: it had to be coming sooner or later. 230 00:11:12,366 --> 00:11:14,206 Speaker 1: So you'll buy yourself at home by. 231 00:11:14,126 --> 00:11:16,366 Speaker 2: Myself at home, which is fine, you know. I had 232 00:11:16,405 --> 00:11:17,925 Speaker 2: a snack, I laid on the couch. I put on 233 00:11:18,006 --> 00:11:21,405 Speaker 2: a movie I sort of got. I think I was 234 00:11:21,486 --> 00:11:23,246 Speaker 2: like two thirds of the way through the movie, and 235 00:11:23,366 --> 00:11:24,886 Speaker 2: I was like, oh, I have to go to the toilet. 236 00:11:25,646 --> 00:11:27,806 Speaker 2: And so I did that and went back and started 237 00:11:27,846 --> 00:11:29,285 Speaker 2: the movie, and ten minutes later I felt like I 238 00:11:29,326 --> 00:11:30,966 Speaker 2: had to go to the toilet again, and I was like, oh, 239 00:11:31,086 --> 00:11:31,685 Speaker 2: this is weird. 240 00:11:32,366 --> 00:11:33,886 Speaker 3: And I texted my husband. I said, I'm going to 241 00:11:34,006 --> 00:11:34,766 Speaker 3: the toilet a bit. 242 00:11:34,846 --> 00:11:37,606 Speaker 2: Like did we eat something weird? And he's like, oh, yeah, 243 00:11:37,646 --> 00:11:39,045 Speaker 2: I've been a few times as well. It must have 244 00:11:39,126 --> 00:11:41,406 Speaker 2: been whatever we had for dinner last time. I'm like, oh, okay, 245 00:11:41,526 --> 00:11:44,726 Speaker 2: no worries. I didn't think any more of it. And 246 00:11:44,806 --> 00:11:46,846 Speaker 2: then after I'd gone to the toilet like twice more 247 00:11:46,886 --> 00:11:51,046 Speaker 2: in like fifteen minutes, the first contraction hit okay, So. 248 00:11:51,126 --> 00:11:54,205 Speaker 1: Were you feeling cramping when you needed to go to 249 00:11:54,246 --> 00:11:55,966 Speaker 1: the toilet or was he like just weeing? 250 00:11:56,646 --> 00:11:58,966 Speaker 2: No, it was like I needed to poop, okay. So 251 00:11:59,326 --> 00:12:01,126 Speaker 2: that's where I was like, did we eat something funny 252 00:12:01,446 --> 00:12:04,206 Speaker 2: and against? My husband was like yeah, maybe. I was like, okay, cool, 253 00:12:04,326 --> 00:12:06,846 Speaker 2: Probably not pregnancy because he's feeling it too, must have 254 00:12:06,886 --> 00:12:10,686 Speaker 2: been whatever. So the first contraction hit and I started 255 00:12:10,766 --> 00:12:13,886 Speaker 2: my up with the timing, and then the next one 256 00:12:13,966 --> 00:12:16,566 Speaker 2: hit two and a half minutes later. So I called 257 00:12:16,606 --> 00:12:20,126 Speaker 2: my husband and I said, Hey, something's happening. Can you 258 00:12:20,246 --> 00:12:21,925 Speaker 2: pack up and work from home for the rest of 259 00:12:21,966 --> 00:12:22,845 Speaker 2: the afternoon. 260 00:12:22,606 --> 00:12:24,766 Speaker 3: Just in case? And he was like, yep, sure, I'll 261 00:12:24,766 --> 00:12:26,606 Speaker 3: say goodbye to everyone and pack up and head home. 262 00:12:27,045 --> 00:12:27,606 Speaker 3: I said, cool. 263 00:12:28,165 --> 00:12:30,166 Speaker 2: I texted my midwife, who I knew was in Sydney, 264 00:12:30,246 --> 00:12:33,086 Speaker 2: so minimum two hours drive from Newcastle. I said, hey, 265 00:12:33,326 --> 00:12:35,846 Speaker 2: things are kicking off. Just had a couple of contractions 266 00:12:35,846 --> 00:12:36,685 Speaker 2: a few minutes apart. 267 00:12:37,566 --> 00:12:38,606 Speaker 3: Do you want to start driving? 268 00:12:38,726 --> 00:12:41,445 Speaker 2: Basically, because we knew that my first birth was two 269 00:12:41,446 --> 00:12:43,686 Speaker 2: and a half hours, we knew those are possibility things. 270 00:12:43,726 --> 00:12:46,886 Speaker 3: We'd moved quickly and my midwife texted back. She said yep. 271 00:12:47,045 --> 00:12:50,045 Speaker 3: Jumping in the car now. I texted my dueler and 272 00:12:50,126 --> 00:12:52,246 Speaker 3: I said, Hey, this is happening. 273 00:12:52,366 --> 00:12:54,286 Speaker 2: She's like, cool, I'm just going to get my kids 274 00:12:54,366 --> 00:12:56,366 Speaker 2: off to care and then I'll start heading your way. 275 00:12:57,165 --> 00:12:59,206 Speaker 2: And by the time I'd made those calls, I was like, oh, okay, 276 00:12:59,285 --> 00:13:01,886 Speaker 2: these contractions are getting fast. I think maybe ten minutes 277 00:13:01,926 --> 00:13:04,366 Speaker 2: had passed, and they were two minutes. 278 00:13:04,086 --> 00:13:08,165 Speaker 3: Apart and lasting fifty to fifty five seconds. And then 279 00:13:08,246 --> 00:13:09,126 Speaker 3: they started. 280 00:13:08,766 --> 00:13:11,366 Speaker 2: Getting really intense, to the point where I was like, 281 00:13:11,446 --> 00:13:13,446 Speaker 2: oh my gosh, I can't even stand through these. 282 00:13:14,566 --> 00:13:16,726 Speaker 3: And I remembered either the doll or the. 283 00:13:16,726 --> 00:13:19,766 Speaker 2: Midwife, one of them saying it a like birth planning appointment, 284 00:13:20,206 --> 00:13:22,446 Speaker 2: because you've had a fast labor before. If you feel 285 00:13:22,486 --> 00:13:25,366 Speaker 2: like things are getting out of control, quickly get your 286 00:13:25,646 --> 00:13:29,165 Speaker 2: tummy horizontal, like so that you know your uterus is 287 00:13:29,206 --> 00:13:32,766 Speaker 2: working against gravity. So I was down on my on 288 00:13:32,966 --> 00:13:35,646 Speaker 2: sweet floor in the bathroom, the tiniest room of my house, 289 00:13:35,766 --> 00:13:38,566 Speaker 2: on all fours, kind of just hoping that gravity had 290 00:13:39,006 --> 00:13:41,805 Speaker 2: slow the berth down. Disappointed to say that did not 291 00:13:41,886 --> 00:13:44,726 Speaker 2: make a difference at all. So I jumped into the shower, 292 00:13:44,926 --> 00:13:47,566 Speaker 2: still on all fours, hoping that the water would ease 293 00:13:47,686 --> 00:13:51,366 Speaker 2: some of the pain, I guess of the contractions. That 294 00:13:51,526 --> 00:13:53,606 Speaker 2: was also a very poor choice because then it was 295 00:13:53,686 --> 00:13:57,126 Speaker 2: extremely difficult to get out of the shower. I did 296 00:13:57,246 --> 00:13:59,006 Speaker 2: at one point manage. I got out of the shower, 297 00:13:59,086 --> 00:14:02,766 Speaker 2: literally crawled across the floor to get my phone so 298 00:14:02,886 --> 00:14:04,445 Speaker 2: that I could call my husband and be like, you know, 299 00:14:04,806 --> 00:14:06,325 Speaker 2: excuse me, where the hell are you? 300 00:14:07,126 --> 00:14:09,886 Speaker 1: Yeah, So, just to clarify some of the timings, you 301 00:14:10,006 --> 00:14:13,165 Speaker 1: called your husband, you called your doola, your midwife, and 302 00:14:13,326 --> 00:14:16,726 Speaker 1: then you go into the shower. How much time has 303 00:14:16,846 --> 00:14:18,766 Speaker 1: passed between that first phone call and the time you 304 00:14:18,846 --> 00:14:20,486 Speaker 1: call your husband again to be like where are you? 305 00:14:21,046 --> 00:14:22,766 Speaker 2: So I had to pull this all together from like 306 00:14:23,086 --> 00:14:26,166 Speaker 2: call logs basically. So I called my husband just after midday. 307 00:14:26,766 --> 00:14:29,446 Speaker 2: I was in the shower at quarter past twelve. I 308 00:14:29,566 --> 00:14:32,766 Speaker 2: crawled out of the shower at twelve thirty five, and 309 00:14:33,246 --> 00:14:35,846 Speaker 2: my water broke just as I got out of the shower, 310 00:14:36,126 --> 00:14:38,806 Speaker 2: all over the on sweet floors, thankfully not on the carpet. 311 00:14:39,286 --> 00:14:41,686 Speaker 2: And then straight after my water broke at twelve forty 312 00:14:41,926 --> 00:14:46,046 Speaker 2: that was I felt the urged push. So we're forty minutes, 313 00:14:46,086 --> 00:14:51,166 Speaker 2: forty minutes from first contraction coming up so my midwife 314 00:14:51,366 --> 00:14:54,726 Speaker 2: very calmly says to me on loud speaker, Lauren, can 315 00:14:54,806 --> 00:14:57,366 Speaker 2: you ask Matt to come back in please? So I've 316 00:14:57,446 --> 00:15:00,166 Speaker 2: yelled for him to come back in, and the midwife 317 00:15:00,206 --> 00:15:04,166 Speaker 2: says to Matt again, so calm just Matt, don't worry 318 00:15:04,206 --> 00:15:05,126 Speaker 2: about the birth pool. 319 00:15:05,566 --> 00:15:06,766 Speaker 3: You need to do a triple zero. 320 00:15:10,046 --> 00:15:12,006 Speaker 1: I just want to also to say, you are by 321 00:15:12,086 --> 00:15:13,726 Speaker 1: yourself in your house right now. 322 00:15:14,086 --> 00:15:15,086 Speaker 3: I am by myself. 323 00:15:15,486 --> 00:15:16,686 Speaker 1: Yeah, Are you scared? 324 00:15:18,366 --> 00:15:19,205 Speaker 3: I mean yes and no. 325 00:15:19,846 --> 00:15:23,286 Speaker 2: It was yes because I was like, this isn't how 326 00:15:23,366 --> 00:15:25,646 Speaker 2: we planned it the birth. And we'd had the birth 327 00:15:25,686 --> 00:15:28,366 Speaker 2: space set up for weeks expecting that i'd go early. 328 00:15:28,486 --> 00:15:31,126 Speaker 2: So we had, you know, a pool inflated and the 329 00:15:31,206 --> 00:15:34,566 Speaker 2: beautiful fairy lights and like photos of my daughter and 330 00:15:35,246 --> 00:15:38,006 Speaker 2: my husband and I altogether to help, you know, promote 331 00:15:38,046 --> 00:15:41,206 Speaker 2: a positive and loving environment. And I couldn't even crawl 332 00:15:41,326 --> 00:15:42,766 Speaker 2: from one end of the house to the other where 333 00:15:42,766 --> 00:15:46,166 Speaker 2: all of that was. So I was scared in that 334 00:15:46,286 --> 00:15:48,646 Speaker 2: it didn't look like it was how it was planned. 335 00:15:48,806 --> 00:15:54,046 Speaker 2: But I was also confident because I remember being told 336 00:15:54,166 --> 00:15:57,326 Speaker 2: or reading that if birth happens quickly, it's generally because 337 00:15:57,366 --> 00:16:01,166 Speaker 2: things are going well. So if things are wrong. Birth 338 00:16:01,246 --> 00:16:05,006 Speaker 2: tends to slow down, not the opposite. And I was like, okay, 339 00:16:05,166 --> 00:16:07,326 Speaker 2: so that I must have popped into my head, which 340 00:16:07,366 --> 00:16:10,126 Speaker 2: was great. It was the reassurance I needed. After my 341 00:16:10,246 --> 00:16:14,566 Speaker 2: water broke there. I definitely panicked because I remembered the 342 00:16:14,646 --> 00:16:17,766 Speaker 2: first time, like, if my water hadn't been broken manually, 343 00:16:18,206 --> 00:16:21,166 Speaker 2: it probably would have broken just before you're ready to push. 344 00:16:21,246 --> 00:16:23,806 Speaker 3: That's what generally happens if your water breaks in labor. 345 00:16:24,686 --> 00:16:27,966 Speaker 2: And because I felt that intense pressure to push almost instantly, 346 00:16:28,126 --> 00:16:30,846 Speaker 2: I was like, oh God, where is everybody? And it 347 00:16:30,966 --> 00:16:33,486 Speaker 2: wasn't a I can't birth this child, it was a 348 00:16:34,086 --> 00:16:35,446 Speaker 2: who's going to catch the child? 349 00:16:35,606 --> 00:16:36,806 Speaker 3: I am on a tiled floor? 350 00:16:37,886 --> 00:16:40,326 Speaker 2: If I was like, physically, I can't do it. So 351 00:16:40,406 --> 00:16:43,286 Speaker 2: I called my midwife at that point and said, this 352 00:16:43,446 --> 00:16:47,126 Speaker 2: has happened. Obviously, knowing she's coming from Sydney, she's at 353 00:16:47,246 --> 00:16:49,806 Speaker 2: best still an hour and a half away. I have 354 00:16:49,926 --> 00:16:53,086 Speaker 2: to give her credit. She was the calmest person I'd 355 00:16:53,246 --> 00:16:57,646 Speaker 2: ever spoken to ever with She's driving down the freeway 356 00:16:58,166 --> 00:17:01,246 Speaker 2: talking to a woman who is, you know, giving birth imminently. 357 00:17:01,686 --> 00:17:02,686 Speaker 3: She just sounded so calm. 358 00:17:02,726 --> 00:17:06,725 Speaker 2: It was very reassuring, and I remember her very calmly saying, Lauren, 359 00:17:07,286 --> 00:17:08,725 Speaker 2: where is Matt my husband? 360 00:17:09,926 --> 00:17:10,926 Speaker 3: And I said, I don't know. 361 00:17:11,206 --> 00:17:15,366 Speaker 2: I called him forty minutes ago, he's not here, and 362 00:17:15,486 --> 00:17:17,486 Speaker 2: she said, right, can you hang up on me and 363 00:17:17,646 --> 00:17:21,646 Speaker 2: called him. Luckily, he walked through the door literally at 364 00:17:21,726 --> 00:17:24,326 Speaker 2: that moment and calls out where are you? And I'm like, 365 00:17:24,406 --> 00:17:27,126 Speaker 2: I'm in the en suite and he comes running in 366 00:17:27,246 --> 00:17:30,086 Speaker 2: and sees me on all fours obviously my water broken 367 00:17:30,166 --> 00:17:33,926 Speaker 2: all over the floor. The midwife on loudspeaker on my phone. 368 00:17:33,966 --> 00:17:36,286 Speaker 2: He goes, what do you want me to do? And 369 00:17:36,366 --> 00:17:38,406 Speaker 2: I said, can you start filling the birth pool? Like 370 00:17:38,726 --> 00:17:41,886 Speaker 2: baby's coming? So he ran out to the kitchen and 371 00:17:42,046 --> 00:17:44,126 Speaker 2: was fiddling with the hose connections. 372 00:17:44,326 --> 00:17:46,406 Speaker 3: I've had I don't know, two. 373 00:17:46,486 --> 00:17:48,646 Speaker 2: Or three contractions in the next couple of minutes, and 374 00:17:48,726 --> 00:17:52,205 Speaker 2: my midwife, very calmly says to me on loud speaker, Lauren, 375 00:17:52,726 --> 00:17:55,286 Speaker 2: can you ask Matt to come back in please? So 376 00:17:55,366 --> 00:17:57,806 Speaker 2: I've yelled for him to come back in, and the 377 00:17:57,886 --> 00:18:02,606 Speaker 2: midwife says to Matt again, so calm, she's Matt, don't worry. 378 00:18:02,366 --> 00:18:04,886 Speaker 3: About the birthpool. You need to die a triple zero. 379 00:18:05,086 --> 00:18:06,366 Speaker 3: This baby is coming soon. 380 00:18:06,926 --> 00:18:09,926 Speaker 1: I would love to know, because there's quite a primal 381 00:18:10,006 --> 00:18:12,326 Speaker 1: thing that takes over when you're in those last stages 382 00:18:12,366 --> 00:18:14,966 Speaker 1: of birth, particularly where when you're in that pushing phase, 383 00:18:15,206 --> 00:18:18,286 Speaker 1: it's quite primal, becomes quite guttural. Yes, the midwife is 384 00:18:18,326 --> 00:18:22,326 Speaker 1: being very calm, Matt, your husband. Men are not usually 385 00:18:22,446 --> 00:18:26,406 Speaker 1: known for being very calm during these really stressful situations. 386 00:18:26,566 --> 00:18:28,886 Speaker 3: What was his response with the midwife? 387 00:18:29,446 --> 00:18:31,806 Speaker 2: He did what she said, He died triple zero and 388 00:18:31,886 --> 00:18:34,766 Speaker 2: his phone straight away. It was a very interesting situation. 389 00:18:34,846 --> 00:18:36,846 Speaker 2: And it's funny that you talk about the primal brain 390 00:18:36,966 --> 00:18:39,965 Speaker 2: because the situation that I found myself in, I very 391 00:18:40,046 --> 00:18:42,446 Speaker 2: much felt like I was in that, but it was 392 00:18:42,526 --> 00:18:44,646 Speaker 2: also like a part of my brain had split off 393 00:18:44,766 --> 00:18:48,686 Speaker 2: and was still present and almost like watching the primal 394 00:18:48,726 --> 00:18:50,965 Speaker 2: part happening, because I was still aware that my husband 395 00:18:51,086 --> 00:18:54,406 Speaker 2: was talking to the ambulance dispatches. So it's his phone 396 00:18:54,446 --> 00:18:57,286 Speaker 2: on speaker talking to the ambulance team, and then my 397 00:18:57,406 --> 00:19:01,006 Speaker 2: midwife on speaker trying to coach me through contractions. And 398 00:19:01,126 --> 00:19:04,246 Speaker 2: I remember one thing vividly of you know, the multiple 399 00:19:04,246 --> 00:19:07,006 Speaker 2: phone calls and everything with control actions going on, as 400 00:19:07,046 --> 00:19:10,246 Speaker 2: the dispatcher saying does she need a transfer to hospital 401 00:19:10,766 --> 00:19:13,766 Speaker 2: or do you need somebody to deliver the baby, and 402 00:19:13,886 --> 00:19:17,446 Speaker 2: Matt's basically yelling at her, no, the baby is coming now, 403 00:19:17,886 --> 00:19:20,766 Speaker 2: how soon can someone be here? And she was like, 404 00:19:21,126 --> 00:19:24,406 Speaker 2: let the dispatcher heard me having a contraction. She's like, oh, oh, 405 00:19:24,606 --> 00:19:27,326 Speaker 2: I can set the closest one is ten minutes away. 406 00:19:27,366 --> 00:19:29,086 Speaker 2: Can you unlock the front door and stay on the 407 00:19:29,126 --> 00:19:33,366 Speaker 2: phone until they get there? So yeah, I think the 408 00:19:33,446 --> 00:19:38,086 Speaker 2: time the paramedics arrived was pretty much one o'clock. So yeah, 409 00:19:38,126 --> 00:19:42,246 Speaker 2: twenty ish minutes, fifteen ish minutes of midwife, paramedic, dispatcher 410 00:19:42,446 --> 00:19:47,046 Speaker 2: both on speaker phone. My husband, we'd spoken about what 411 00:19:47,206 --> 00:19:50,326 Speaker 2: I wanted his role in birth to be. He was 412 00:19:50,446 --> 00:19:52,846 Speaker 2: very adamant. He was like, I don't want to catch 413 00:19:52,926 --> 00:19:54,806 Speaker 2: the baby. I think it's going to be really slippery. 414 00:19:55,126 --> 00:19:57,406 Speaker 2: I am worried about it. And I was like, look, 415 00:19:58,006 --> 00:19:58,846 Speaker 2: totally understand. 416 00:19:59,006 --> 00:19:59,526 Speaker 3: That's fine. 417 00:20:00,326 --> 00:20:01,966 Speaker 2: If we had a been in the water, I would 418 00:20:02,006 --> 00:20:04,246 Speaker 2: have loved to catch the baby myself, but that was 419 00:20:04,326 --> 00:20:07,846 Speaker 2: not where we found our and when the paramedics arrived 420 00:20:07,886 --> 00:20:10,086 Speaker 2: at one o'clock, Matt obviously brought them straight in. 421 00:20:10,846 --> 00:20:12,406 Speaker 3: We were very fortunate. 422 00:20:12,486 --> 00:20:15,286 Speaker 2: We didn't realize how fortunate at the time, but when 423 00:20:15,286 --> 00:20:18,246 Speaker 2: there's an imminent birth, they send two ambulances, so they 424 00:20:18,286 --> 00:20:20,006 Speaker 2: send one in case mom needs care and one in 425 00:20:20,086 --> 00:20:22,846 Speaker 2: case bub needs care. And as luck would have it, 426 00:20:23,126 --> 00:20:26,086 Speaker 2: the first ambulance on the scene was two female paramedics, 427 00:20:26,646 --> 00:20:29,766 Speaker 2: one of whom was a very senior experience paramedic. But 428 00:20:29,886 --> 00:20:32,566 Speaker 2: more than that, she was a single mother by choice 429 00:20:32,846 --> 00:20:36,326 Speaker 2: who had gone through a publicly funded midwife program, so 430 00:20:36,446 --> 00:20:38,926 Speaker 2: she had some idea when you know, she came in 431 00:20:39,046 --> 00:20:40,926 Speaker 2: and had heard that we were planning a home birth 432 00:20:41,006 --> 00:20:43,326 Speaker 2: with a private midwife. She came in and she had 433 00:20:43,446 --> 00:20:46,406 Speaker 2: some idea I guess of the way we'd planned for 434 00:20:46,486 --> 00:20:48,686 Speaker 2: birth to go, and immediately picked up that things were 435 00:20:48,726 --> 00:20:51,526 Speaker 2: not going away we'd hoped. And I just remember her 436 00:20:51,566 --> 00:20:53,566 Speaker 2: coming into this tiny little space with me in the 437 00:20:53,686 --> 00:20:56,246 Speaker 2: en suite, and she squeezed down and all fours next 438 00:20:56,286 --> 00:20:58,806 Speaker 2: to me, and she said, I'm here, You're safe. 439 00:20:59,206 --> 00:21:00,046 Speaker 3: What do you want me to do? 440 00:21:01,286 --> 00:21:05,206 Speaker 2: And I said, stand back, don't touch me, catch the 441 00:21:05,206 --> 00:21:07,926 Speaker 2: baby when it comes, and she goes, I've got you, 442 00:21:08,966 --> 00:21:09,966 Speaker 2: And it was just this like. 443 00:21:10,406 --> 00:21:13,806 Speaker 1: Oh, that's amazing. First of all, what wonderful luck. So 444 00:21:13,926 --> 00:21:16,526 Speaker 1: she goes down, she's looking You're still on all fours. 445 00:21:16,846 --> 00:21:19,926 Speaker 1: Can she see the head? Can she see? Where were 446 00:21:19,966 --> 00:21:22,246 Speaker 1: you at when the paramedics arrived, So. 447 00:21:22,486 --> 00:21:24,846 Speaker 2: Pretty much she came in. She assessed me and she said, 448 00:21:24,966 --> 00:21:27,206 Speaker 2: I can't see the baby, like she was measuring my 449 00:21:27,246 --> 00:21:28,886 Speaker 2: blood pressure. I think at some point it was a 450 00:21:28,926 --> 00:21:32,926 Speaker 2: puff that Mum seems healthy, mum's aware, mum's talking, there's 451 00:21:32,966 --> 00:21:35,246 Speaker 2: no blood, everything is looking good. 452 00:21:36,006 --> 00:21:39,286 Speaker 3: I think they were there for five ish minutes. 453 00:21:39,726 --> 00:21:42,246 Speaker 2: Her partner was getting all the stuff they might need 454 00:21:42,286 --> 00:21:43,646 Speaker 2: out of the truck and laying it on the bed. 455 00:21:44,646 --> 00:21:47,206 Speaker 2: My husband was sort of trying to keep me focused, 456 00:21:47,486 --> 00:21:49,686 Speaker 2: and I'm in some other part of my brain. 457 00:21:49,766 --> 00:21:51,766 Speaker 1: You were having a baby exactly. 458 00:21:52,286 --> 00:21:55,086 Speaker 2: And I remember my midwife saying to the paramedic, because 459 00:21:55,086 --> 00:21:57,686 Speaker 2: she's still on speaker this whole time, can you see 460 00:21:57,726 --> 00:21:58,046 Speaker 2: the head? 461 00:21:58,086 --> 00:21:59,966 Speaker 3: Like is the head coming? And she said no, I 462 00:22:00,006 --> 00:22:00,806 Speaker 3: can't see anything. 463 00:22:01,166 --> 00:22:03,326 Speaker 2: And then I had a really big contraction and I 464 00:22:03,446 --> 00:22:06,406 Speaker 2: reached down and I remember reaching down to feel and 465 00:22:06,526 --> 00:22:09,046 Speaker 2: I was like, I can feel the head, and she goes, okay, 466 00:22:09,366 --> 00:22:11,965 Speaker 2: like you're almost there, and so I think I had 467 00:22:12,006 --> 00:22:14,926 Speaker 2: one more contraction, and you know they talk about the 468 00:22:15,006 --> 00:22:15,486 Speaker 2: ring of fire. 469 00:22:15,806 --> 00:22:17,166 Speaker 1: Yeah, I was about to ask you about the ring 470 00:22:17,206 --> 00:22:17,486 Speaker 1: of fire. 471 00:22:17,846 --> 00:22:21,046 Speaker 2: Yeah, so my son got stuck at the ring of fire. 472 00:22:21,606 --> 00:22:26,206 Speaker 2: So basically his head was partially born. The way the 473 00:22:26,286 --> 00:22:29,366 Speaker 2: paramedic was explaining it to my midwife was his head 474 00:22:29,526 --> 00:22:32,646 Speaker 2: was out, but only to just below his nose, so 475 00:22:32,766 --> 00:22:34,886 Speaker 2: his nose was clear, but his mouth and chin mustn't 476 00:22:34,886 --> 00:22:38,566 Speaker 2: have been up promptly, so he was still stuck. So 477 00:22:38,726 --> 00:22:40,406 Speaker 2: the midwife sort of took a deep breath and I 478 00:22:40,446 --> 00:22:42,166 Speaker 2: could hear on speaking. She goes, Okay, Lauren, like this 479 00:22:42,286 --> 00:22:44,446 Speaker 2: next contraction, you really have to push hard. You have 480 00:22:44,526 --> 00:22:45,926 Speaker 2: to deliver the rest of the head. We need to 481 00:22:45,966 --> 00:22:48,486 Speaker 2: make sure his airways sorry it was their airways clear. 482 00:22:48,526 --> 00:22:48,926 Speaker 3: At that point. 483 00:22:48,966 --> 00:22:51,766 Speaker 2: We didn't know the sex and I sort of like 484 00:22:52,326 --> 00:22:55,366 Speaker 2: nodded and gritted my teeth. And then the next contraction 485 00:22:55,486 --> 00:22:58,166 Speaker 2: came very quickly, and I, you know, pushed for all 486 00:22:58,206 --> 00:23:01,446 Speaker 2: hours were and the whole body came flying out, which 487 00:23:01,526 --> 00:23:05,046 Speaker 2: was great because the paramedic caught the baby and I 488 00:23:05,206 --> 00:23:07,126 Speaker 2: was like, that's right, you know, baby hasn't hit the 489 00:23:07,166 --> 00:23:07,686 Speaker 2: child floor. 490 00:23:08,086 --> 00:23:10,846 Speaker 1: Well done, mum, you did it all in one. That's 491 00:23:10,926 --> 00:23:11,486 Speaker 1: so good. 492 00:23:11,766 --> 00:23:11,966 Speaker 3: Eh. 493 00:23:12,686 --> 00:23:15,486 Speaker 2: It was, And I'm in that relief when you're like, Okay, 494 00:23:15,806 --> 00:23:18,766 Speaker 2: the head is stuck to nothing is coming out of 495 00:23:18,846 --> 00:23:22,606 Speaker 2: me anymore. It was just, honestly, there's no better, feeling 496 00:23:22,726 --> 00:23:25,206 Speaker 2: like I can't, there's nothing better. And I remember that 497 00:23:25,326 --> 00:23:27,966 Speaker 2: the paramedic had caught the baby awkwardly while I was 498 00:23:28,006 --> 00:23:29,446 Speaker 2: on all fours, and then she sort of looked at 499 00:23:29,486 --> 00:23:30,166 Speaker 2: me holding the baby. 500 00:23:30,206 --> 00:23:32,486 Speaker 3: She's like, what do I do? I said, pass it 501 00:23:32,566 --> 00:23:34,846 Speaker 3: through my legs so that I can puddle it, and 502 00:23:35,046 --> 00:23:36,206 Speaker 3: she did, Yeah. 503 00:23:36,086 --> 00:23:39,566 Speaker 1: That's great, so bub comes out. You're still on the floor. 504 00:23:39,766 --> 00:23:42,766 Speaker 1: You've got buba on your chest. I'm assuming the cord 505 00:23:42,846 --> 00:23:44,486 Speaker 1: is still a touched. You haven't delive at the placenta 506 00:23:44,526 --> 00:23:45,086 Speaker 1: at this point. 507 00:23:45,406 --> 00:23:46,086 Speaker 3: No, I hadn't. 508 00:23:46,366 --> 00:23:48,846 Speaker 2: When the paramedic had arrived, at some point, I'd said 509 00:23:48,886 --> 00:23:51,486 Speaker 2: to her, we don't know the sex. When baby's born, 510 00:23:51,646 --> 00:23:54,126 Speaker 2: nobody say the sex. I want to find out for myself. 511 00:23:54,566 --> 00:23:56,286 Speaker 2: So I'd probably just been holding. 512 00:23:56,006 --> 00:23:57,966 Speaker 3: Him to my chest, shell shocked for a couple of seconds, 513 00:23:58,046 --> 00:23:58,446 Speaker 3: and she was. 514 00:23:58,526 --> 00:24:00,926 Speaker 2: Like, do you want to check if it's a boy 515 00:24:01,006 --> 00:24:03,366 Speaker 2: or a girl? And I checked and it was a 516 00:24:03,366 --> 00:24:05,966 Speaker 2: little boy. And I remember saying to me, like making 517 00:24:06,046 --> 00:24:08,166 Speaker 2: eye contact with him and saying, it's a little boy. 518 00:24:08,246 --> 00:24:10,366 Speaker 2: And he was like, you're right, because the whole pregnancy, 519 00:24:10,406 --> 00:24:13,606 Speaker 2: I just had this sense. And then very quickly after that, 520 00:24:13,806 --> 00:24:16,286 Speaker 2: the paramedic said to my midwife, still on speak of phan, 521 00:24:16,286 --> 00:24:17,366 Speaker 2: and she's like, there's blood. 522 00:24:17,846 --> 00:24:19,806 Speaker 3: There's a lot of blood. What do I do? 523 00:24:20,126 --> 00:24:22,366 Speaker 2: The midwife said, how much blood do you think it is? 524 00:24:22,446 --> 00:24:24,446 Speaker 2: And she goes, well, it's really hard to tell because 525 00:24:24,966 --> 00:24:27,086 Speaker 2: her waters had already broken in the same space and 526 00:24:27,166 --> 00:24:29,166 Speaker 2: there's cows down and I don't know how much is 527 00:24:29,526 --> 00:24:32,846 Speaker 2: blood and how much is other liquid. A few seconds 528 00:24:32,886 --> 00:24:37,286 Speaker 2: after that exchange, I remember just feeling really dizzy and lightheaded, 529 00:24:37,766 --> 00:24:41,486 Speaker 2: which I lost basically no blood with my first berth. 530 00:24:41,566 --> 00:24:44,006 Speaker 2: So I was like, this isn't this doesn't feel normal. 531 00:24:44,566 --> 00:24:47,926 Speaker 2: And I remember the midwife on speak of phone saying 532 00:24:47,966 --> 00:24:49,966 Speaker 2: to the paramedic, you need to cut the cord. You 533 00:24:50,006 --> 00:24:52,486 Speaker 2: need to cut the cord now. And I said, no, 534 00:24:52,646 --> 00:24:54,326 Speaker 2: I don't want to cut the cord. We want to 535 00:24:54,846 --> 00:24:56,766 Speaker 2: you know, we want a delayed cord clamping and all 536 00:24:56,806 --> 00:24:58,846 Speaker 2: of that, and she's like, Lauren, you have to cut 537 00:24:58,886 --> 00:25:01,286 Speaker 2: the cord. So the paramedic did, and she said, Lauren, 538 00:25:01,326 --> 00:25:04,646 Speaker 2: give the baby to Matt and I did that, and 539 00:25:04,766 --> 00:25:08,406 Speaker 2: then the paramedics helped me lay down and I remember 540 00:25:08,926 --> 00:25:10,766 Speaker 2: just you know, being a little bit out of it, 541 00:25:10,966 --> 00:25:12,086 Speaker 2: but still aware. 542 00:25:12,646 --> 00:25:15,046 Speaker 3: And once they'd ascertained. 543 00:25:14,606 --> 00:25:16,966 Speaker 2: That baby was perfectly healthy and perfect scores and Dad 544 00:25:17,046 --> 00:25:19,046 Speaker 2: had him, they sort of pushed out and baby to 545 00:25:19,086 --> 00:25:20,886 Speaker 2: the back of the bedroom so that they could handle 546 00:25:21,646 --> 00:25:23,726 Speaker 2: what was going on with me. So I remember they 547 00:25:23,806 --> 00:25:26,966 Speaker 2: put a canula in my arm and gave me, I think, 548 00:25:27,006 --> 00:25:29,246 Speaker 2: a bag of fluids, and he's like, we need to 549 00:25:29,286 --> 00:25:31,486 Speaker 2: give you this in Tosin. I'm like, the placenta is coming, 550 00:25:31,526 --> 00:25:33,606 Speaker 2: I can feel it. Can you give me two minutes? 551 00:25:34,086 --> 00:25:35,606 Speaker 2: And he looked at me and he went, do you 552 00:25:35,766 --> 00:25:36,366 Speaker 2: want to die? 553 00:25:37,046 --> 00:25:40,886 Speaker 3: And I looked at him back and I just went no, no, 554 00:25:41,086 --> 00:25:42,726 Speaker 3: And he's like, you're still bleeding. 555 00:25:42,766 --> 00:25:44,966 Speaker 2: There's blood coming out, and I remember looking him dead 556 00:25:44,966 --> 00:25:47,606 Speaker 2: in the face and I said, that's not blood, that's 557 00:25:47,646 --> 00:25:51,806 Speaker 2: the plus center. So anyways, I delivered the placenta. They 558 00:25:51,846 --> 00:25:54,286 Speaker 2: gave me a second bag of fluids. My dueler arrived 559 00:25:54,646 --> 00:25:57,726 Speaker 2: sometime in this like plaos and just sort of started 560 00:25:57,766 --> 00:26:00,886 Speaker 2: snapping photos, which some of the photos are just like 561 00:26:00,966 --> 00:26:03,486 Speaker 2: they're just funny now to look back on, But two 562 00:26:03,526 --> 00:26:06,566 Speaker 2: bags are fluid, and I was right, like I was fine, 563 00:26:06,606 --> 00:26:10,006 Speaker 2: I could sit back up again. The dizziness and lightheadedness 564 00:26:10,046 --> 00:26:13,326 Speaker 2: went away, and so that after I'd sort of stabilized, 565 00:26:13,686 --> 00:26:16,406 Speaker 2: the second pair of paramedics that were there in catsbub 566 00:26:16,486 --> 00:26:19,406 Speaker 2: needed help were like, Okay, well we can go because 567 00:26:19,526 --> 00:26:20,246 Speaker 2: the baby's. 568 00:26:19,926 --> 00:26:22,326 Speaker 3: Absolutely fine and mum has now stabilized, so we can 569 00:26:22,446 --> 00:26:24,566 Speaker 3: leave it in the care of one ambulance team. 570 00:26:25,246 --> 00:26:27,766 Speaker 2: So then we kind of got the like the golden 571 00:26:27,806 --> 00:26:30,806 Speaker 2: hour bubble that we'd wanted after the chaos of the 572 00:26:30,886 --> 00:26:34,486 Speaker 2: birth and immediate aftermath. But the doueler sort of like 573 00:26:34,886 --> 00:26:37,726 Speaker 2: closed the curtains and the blinds and you know, closed 574 00:26:37,766 --> 00:26:39,766 Speaker 2: the door where I'm sure my neighbors were listening out 575 00:26:39,886 --> 00:26:43,566 Speaker 2: for my blood curdling screams and the ambulance sirens and 576 00:26:43,606 --> 00:26:45,846 Speaker 2: shut the door and shoot the paramedics out and helped 577 00:26:45,846 --> 00:26:47,806 Speaker 2: me into bed and you know, put on some calm 578 00:26:47,926 --> 00:26:51,046 Speaker 2: music and brought me some drinks and like some snacks, 579 00:26:51,126 --> 00:26:54,126 Speaker 2: and obviously I had baby back on my chest at 580 00:26:54,166 --> 00:26:56,725 Speaker 2: this point just snun got up in bed. We had 581 00:26:56,846 --> 00:26:58,526 Speaker 2: like almost an hour and a half I think of 582 00:26:59,206 --> 00:27:01,646 Speaker 2: uninterrupted time with just the doueler going in and out 583 00:27:01,966 --> 00:27:04,206 Speaker 2: to bring us things, and the lead paramedic going in 584 00:27:04,246 --> 00:27:07,206 Speaker 2: and out to check I was still okay. The second 585 00:27:07,246 --> 00:27:10,766 Speaker 2: midwife so when primary practicing midwife's attended birth, they have 586 00:27:10,846 --> 00:27:14,286 Speaker 2: to have a second midwife there, again in case both 587 00:27:14,726 --> 00:27:17,046 Speaker 2: patients mum and baby need care, but also just in 588 00:27:17,166 --> 00:27:19,606 Speaker 2: case they need an extra set of hands. So my 589 00:27:19,806 --> 00:27:23,566 Speaker 2: midwife's backup midwife had arrived I think shortly after the 590 00:27:24,006 --> 00:27:27,726 Speaker 2: second paramedic group left, so she did a handover with 591 00:27:28,046 --> 00:27:31,486 Speaker 2: the lead paramedic and you know, checked checked my wound, 592 00:27:31,646 --> 00:27:34,806 Speaker 2: checked I was okay, did all the immediate checks on 593 00:27:34,886 --> 00:27:38,326 Speaker 2: the baby again and everything looked okay. And then just 594 00:27:38,406 --> 00:27:41,486 Speaker 2: as the paramedics were getting ready to leave, my amazing 595 00:27:41,606 --> 00:27:45,046 Speaker 2: primary midwife finally arrived. She made it safely from Sydney, 596 00:27:45,526 --> 00:27:48,086 Speaker 2: and then like again, we just got a couple more 597 00:27:48,166 --> 00:27:51,966 Speaker 2: hours of bubbling in between checks, but I was in 598 00:27:52,046 --> 00:27:55,366 Speaker 2: my own home and a bit delayed, but eventually my 599 00:27:55,486 --> 00:27:58,406 Speaker 2: care team were all there, and yeah, like my son 600 00:27:58,526 --> 00:28:00,806 Speaker 2: was a dream. He fed really easily. I think he 601 00:28:00,886 --> 00:28:03,126 Speaker 2: did poop on me before we'd left home, so that 602 00:28:03,246 --> 00:28:05,206 Speaker 2: was something I could have done without. But if that's 603 00:28:05,246 --> 00:28:07,406 Speaker 2: not new motherhood, I don't know what it is. We 604 00:28:07,486 --> 00:28:10,806 Speaker 2: did actually eventually have to transfer to the hospital that evening, 605 00:28:10,886 --> 00:28:14,566 Speaker 2: a few hours after the paramedics had left, because unfortunately, 606 00:28:15,446 --> 00:28:17,486 Speaker 2: with the blood that I had lost, even though it 607 00:28:17,606 --> 00:28:20,726 Speaker 2: was a relatively minor amount, I was still unable to 608 00:28:21,566 --> 00:28:23,886 Speaker 2: stand or walk without my blood pressure and heart rate 609 00:28:23,926 --> 00:28:25,806 Speaker 2: shooting right up. So they had to transfer me to 610 00:28:25,926 --> 00:28:28,526 Speaker 2: hospital for that and a tear repair because of course, 611 00:28:28,646 --> 00:28:31,046 Speaker 2: my son was chunky and got stuck on the way 612 00:28:31,086 --> 00:28:33,286 Speaker 2: out and came really fast, and apparently all of those 613 00:28:33,446 --> 00:28:36,726 Speaker 2: things are not great for the women's body. But the 614 00:28:36,846 --> 00:28:39,006 Speaker 2: birth itself, even though it didn't look like the way 615 00:28:39,006 --> 00:28:41,486 Speaker 2: I hoped, and it certainly wasn't one of those you know, 616 00:28:42,166 --> 00:28:46,046 Speaker 2: gold tinted beautifully set to music little reels that you 617 00:28:46,086 --> 00:28:48,966 Speaker 2: see on Instagram or TikTok, but it was real and 618 00:28:49,206 --> 00:28:53,286 Speaker 2: it was raw, and I still felt like I really 619 00:28:54,326 --> 00:28:57,086 Speaker 2: was in control the whole time. As I said, like, 620 00:28:57,166 --> 00:29:00,886 Speaker 2: I could not thank the paramedic that attended and took 621 00:29:00,966 --> 00:29:02,846 Speaker 2: charge enough. She actually came to check on us in 622 00:29:02,966 --> 00:29:06,246 Speaker 2: hospital the day after because she'd seen we transferred in 623 00:29:06,606 --> 00:29:08,446 Speaker 2: later that day, so she came in to pop in 624 00:29:08,526 --> 00:29:11,206 Speaker 2: and just check how we were both doing. And she 625 00:29:11,286 --> 00:29:13,206 Speaker 2: said it was the first time she'd ever actually delivered 626 00:29:13,206 --> 00:29:16,086 Speaker 2: a baby other than her own, but the first time 627 00:29:16,126 --> 00:29:18,446 Speaker 2: she'd never caught a baby, and she said, she was like, 628 00:29:18,526 --> 00:29:20,526 Speaker 2: it's made my whole year. It's the best year I've 629 00:29:20,566 --> 00:29:23,766 Speaker 2: had of being a paramedic in my entire career, which 630 00:29:23,846 --> 00:29:24,726 Speaker 2: was just so special. 631 00:29:25,206 --> 00:29:26,486 Speaker 3: And then yeah, we came back home. 632 00:29:26,926 --> 00:29:28,286 Speaker 2: I think we were only in the hospital for two 633 00:29:28,406 --> 00:29:32,366 Speaker 2: days and then came home to my daughter meeting her 634 00:29:32,406 --> 00:29:34,166 Speaker 2: baby brother, which was just so perfect. 635 00:29:34,966 --> 00:29:39,566 Speaker 1: Wow, what a wild story. I'm fascinated by the way 636 00:29:39,806 --> 00:29:44,366 Speaker 1: that you're instinct and I think there's so much about birth, 637 00:29:44,446 --> 00:29:48,566 Speaker 1: particularly that transition and birthing phase itself, there's so much 638 00:29:48,566 --> 00:29:53,726 Speaker 1: about that that becomes very instinctual. Like I find that 639 00:29:54,246 --> 00:29:58,406 Speaker 1: level of strength really admirable. So well done for like 640 00:29:58,726 --> 00:30:00,806 Speaker 1: still being able to trust yourself in something that was 641 00:30:00,886 --> 00:30:06,686 Speaker 1: actually quite a scary moment. But wow, what a story. Congratulations. 642 00:30:06,726 --> 00:30:08,606 Speaker 1: I'm so glad that you and Barb are both healthy. 643 00:30:09,126 --> 00:30:09,446 Speaker 3: Thank you. 644 00:30:10,126 --> 00:30:12,286 Speaker 2: Yes, And look, he came in like a train wreck 645 00:30:12,406 --> 00:30:15,726 Speaker 2: and he has not stopped since he was born, exactly 646 00:30:15,766 --> 00:30:16,726 Speaker 2: the way he lives so far. 647 00:30:17,806 --> 00:30:21,326 Speaker 1: So Finley is now eighteen months old and Emerson's five 648 00:30:21,326 --> 00:30:24,326 Speaker 1: and a half now, so things are still busy in 649 00:30:24,406 --> 00:30:24,966 Speaker 1: your house. 650 00:30:25,486 --> 00:30:26,926 Speaker 3: Things don't stop around here. 651 00:30:27,446 --> 00:30:31,326 Speaker 2: Yeah, Emerson's in kindergarten now and Finley is almost two, 652 00:30:32,686 --> 00:30:36,846 Speaker 2: so far, like he's my daughter, was just an easy child. 653 00:30:37,366 --> 00:30:40,166 Speaker 2: So we needed we needed the challenge. Apparently the universe 654 00:30:40,206 --> 00:30:42,566 Speaker 2: thought with Finley starting from the day he was born. 655 00:30:42,846 --> 00:30:45,486 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, thank you Lauren so much for telling your story. 656 00:30:45,886 --> 00:30:48,606 Speaker 1: It is amazing and you should be very proud of yourself. 657 00:30:48,886 --> 00:30:51,006 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, and thank you for letting me 658 00:30:51,086 --> 00:30:53,606 Speaker 2: share this. It's yeah, certainly in the immediate aftermath of 659 00:30:53,646 --> 00:30:55,486 Speaker 2: it happening, it took me a little while to process, 660 00:30:55,526 --> 00:30:58,246 Speaker 2: but I'm so proud of how it went. And yeah, 661 00:30:58,366 --> 00:31:00,446 Speaker 2: happy to share my story. Even if it's fast and 662 00:31:00,566 --> 00:31:02,486 Speaker 2: feels terrifying at the time, it can still be a 663 00:31:02,526 --> 00:31:03,686 Speaker 2: really positive experience. 664 00:31:13,446 --> 00:31:16,606 Speaker 1: Diary for Birth was hosted by me Kaseny Lukitch. If 665 00:31:16,646 --> 00:31:19,646 Speaker 1: you like our show, don't forget to subscribe and rate. 666 00:31:20,126 --> 00:31:22,726 Speaker 1: It goes a long way to allowing us to continue 667 00:31:22,846 --> 00:31:26,606 Speaker 1: sharing your stories. This episode was produced by Ella Maitland 668 00:31:26,886 --> 00:31:29,006 Speaker 1: with audio production by Tina Mattalov. 669 00:31:34,526 --> 00:31:37,806 Speaker 2: Mmma Miya acknowledges the traditional owners of the land. We 670 00:31:37,926 --> 00:31:41,246 Speaker 2: have recorded this podcast on the Gadigul people of the 671 00:31:41,366 --> 00:31:45,046 Speaker 2: Eor nation. We pay our respects to their elders past 672 00:31:45,126 --> 00:31:48,686 Speaker 2: and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and 673 00:31:48,806 --> 00:31:50,286 Speaker 2: torres Rate islander cultures.