TOTAL opposite ends of the spectrum...

... yet both join in the middle be the most miraculous and precious gift of my life!
What am I talking about?
Childbirth!
The amazing, joyful and intense experience we, as women, experience.
I really believe that we are the luckier gender to be able to experience giving birth, whether easy or "not so easy"... its brilliant and I wish I could have another 7 !!

Mikaela and Josh's birthing experiences were like chalk and cheese. One of the midwifes said to me that I have had the best and the worst of experiences. Stop reading right now if you do NOT want to know about the frank description of two very different labour expereinces!!!

Mikaela...
Arrived 3 weeks early.
Contractions came on naturally and strong, very quickly.
I felt an overwhelming sense that I was not really doing anything, my body was doing it all itself and it was almost as though I was having an outter body experience.
I would say that this was definitely an "estactic birthing experience"
I felt estactic, amazing.. in tremendous pain, but not fearful.
She was born in 3 hours, 43 minutes after I arrived at the birthing centre.
I had no intervention.
No assistance (no gas, drugs, anything).
I did not tear.
I DID stand up and try and walk out of the room when her head crowned... LOL!
I left the hospital 16 hours later... enjoying a coffee at a local cafe with my sister and mother before going to get some clothes for her that would actually fit her.
She was 45cm long and 6 pound 13 (3120grms)... she was size 00000 - 5 zeros.

Therefore I thought my experience with Josh would be just as easy... or even easier. I was WAY wrong!

Joshua...
Was induced one week earlier than his due date because we knew he was big.
I had my waters broken, but no drugs required.
Contractions came on, my body was doing it all... but Josh was snug as a bug and not assisting.
I felt fearful and that I must have been doing something wrong, I could tell he was not budging.
He was born in 3 hours (THANK GOD)
I had A LOT of gas until the midwife took it from me !!!!
Josh did not decend at second stage... he was too big for me.
I required assistance via forceps delivery.
I tore, nothing TOO bad, but bad still and a very rude shock!
I hemorraged quite badly.
I then had to take drugs to contract my uterus and stop the bleeding.
I lost close to half of my blood supply.
Two blood transfusions were required... a total of 4 units, scary to say the least!
I had a catheter (small blessings :-))
I got an infection requiring antibiotics.
We stayed in hospital for 5 days... I had the VERY BEST care possible.
Josh was 50cm long and 8 pound 9 (3900grms), size 000 - 3 zeros (2 pounds heavier than his big sister - basically Josh was the same size at birth, as Mikaela was at 5 weeks).
He got slight swelling over one eye, which is gone now.
EIGHT DAYS LATER... I almost feel 100% again, still walking slowly and trying to rest as much I can.

I am SO grateful for the care I was given - it was amazing, my Doctor was totally on top of every complication... the midwifes were caring, supportive and attentive. Even tho the experience was nothing like Mikaela's I am sure it could have been much worse! Imagine how much bigger he could have been *eik* ... and it is likely that an emergency caesarean would have been required.

Thankfully the blood transfusions, intervention, shock, trauma... did not prevent my milk coming in! That would have been the worst for me as I breastfed Mikaela to 14 months and for me its one of the most special gifts as a mother. Its the most wonderful intimate experience... and at 3am when its just me and my boy in the rocking chair... I feel I am in heaven (well not every night, sometimes I fall asleep too and wake as my head bangs on the edge of the chair... LOL).

Josh is doing brilliantly, he is a great feeder and sleeper. Feeds pretty much by the clock every 3 hours, and we get a good nights run most the time. He is wonderful and I would do it all again to have the most precious gift in our lives, without a doubt, in a heartbeat.

I had some healing done the other day by a beautiful friend of mine, Vanessa. Yesterday I had a gorgeous massage... at the exact same time I was in labour with Josh a week prior!

At the end of the day, when all is said and done... I am feeling SO BLESSED!
Nath is the best father and partner.
When I had my "3 day post blues break down" he just held me so tightly as I sobbed and sobbed, I had nightmares the first couple of nights, and I am one of those totally daggy people who can not sleep without my guy... so I got about 2 hours sleep those first two nights. Thankfully he was able to stay in the hospital with Joshua and I on the third night as his sister Cass and her hubs, Matt, had arrived from Adelaide to visit. Nath has been the most brilliant support to me and he is so amazing with Josh. Our love has been strengthed by an inmeasureable amount. It is the best! He is the best.
Mikaela is the perfect doting (tho sometimes a little too enthusiastic, big sister) She is gentle and unselfish. She gives great cuddles to her brother. Mind you she is JUST SO BIG NOW - I feel like I am snuggling up with Nath when we have bed time cuddles and chats *grin*...
Kim has been THE BEST God Mother (allomother and sister) in the world... I am sure we lived together in Italy in a previous life... LOL!
Nath's family have been wonderful, my Dad and Sisters too....

I have some darling friends who have been checking in with me...

And *you*, thanks for all your prayers, I am sure they helped me a great deal in my recovery, and will do so in my continued recovery.
Life sure is perfectly beautiful... including the "not so good bits"
Oh... I have heard some incredible birthing stories over the past week... I want to write a book *grin*
WOWSERS women are amazing!!!
Say it with me sisters : "WE TOTALLY ROCK!"
Love and Peace out...
Bx