It is just incrediable how much can change in a week, now we are a family of three nesting happily and singing lullabyes in our home. We reflect back to last week Saturday & Sunday, the 26 hour period it took to birth our baby and just marvel at how brilliant the experience was for us. As a tribute to my doula and midwife, Hulda Thorey, I have decided to tell my story.

It all started with making that very personal choice that is so different for every pregnant woman: how do I want to bring this baby into the world? With this thought in mind I set off to do the research to discover exactly what would be possible in Hong Kong and more so which birth option would best match what I really wanted to experience.

I had a very clear idea as to what I wanted and drew up a birth plan that best described my desire to have a natural active birth.

I will start off by giving you some insight into my background. I really wanted the opportunity to put my training as a prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher into practice since I believe that there is a sensitive approach to pregnancy, birth and babies.

Furthermore I believe in the philosophy fostered by my yoga teacher’s Association. The approach we use is called Birth 'light' it refers to giving birth lightly, without undue strain on the body and making full use of the breathe, as well as to the light that can shine around birth.

Having these ideas in mind I set off to prepare for the marathon(birthing day) physically, mentally and emotionally. After gathering all the information that was meaningful, such as appropriate breathing techniques, relaxation positions, labour positions that can be used during contractions and massage strokes that offer relaxation.

I also gathered a birthing basket of aromatherapy oils, candles and favourite music cd’s. In retrospect the most important tools or allies where my support partners, my husband and doula. Together we worked through the labour step by step.

I woke up at 2h30am in the morning and my labour contractions started at 2h45am. My husband ran me a bath and lit candles and aroma oils in celebration, the day of our baby’s birth has arrived. Feeling both excited and anxious about what lies ahead we started timing contractions and made contact with our doula.

Starting off with a 60 sec contraction every ten minutes I knew that I had a minute to work through the contraction and a ten minute reward of relaxation at the end. I carried on working through the contractions, while my husband Richard catched a few more hours of sleep. We decided that he needed to reserve his energy since we would be in for a long day. I wanted him to be in peak condition, ready to massage and support me all the way.

I had a second bath around 10am and my Doula arrived at the same time. We discovered that the contractions had slowed down and Hulda explained that this was perfectly normal since a warm bath can be natural pain relief. Amazingly the contractions were very mild in the water.

We continued with the day, bringing movement; rocking, swaying and walking into each contraction. We continued as normally as possible by having lunch and during contractions I would move freely with my body to ease the pain. As the contractions became more intense I explored the different positions that made me feel most comfortable. We continued through to the evening and the contractions became more intense, I felt them deeply in my pelvis area.

Richard and Hulda alternated as my support partner where they assisted me during each contraction by breathing with me and then assisting me into a relaxation. During relaxation either of them would massage or talk me through a yoga relaxation or visualization. The idea was to completely relax my body, mind and spirit between contractions and start afresh. I had a clear view that each contraction was there to help me in birthing my baby. I knew that each contraction was one less to delivery and meeting our baby.

Early evening Hulda examined me and babies heart rate. I had dilated 3-4cm and babies heart rate was doing well. The goal was to be 8-9cm dilated and then go to the Queen Mary Hospital. I wanted the opportunity to move around our home and use positions that were the best to help baby on her way through the birth canal. Under Hulda’s expert midwifery guidance we felt that we had the best environment, our cosy home and medical supervision of our Doula to ensure a safe labour.

We continued to work through the contractions until the next examination at later part of the evening. Only to find that I had only dilated 1- 2 cm more. By this stage the contractions were really intense and we were using acupressure points to ease the pain. Finding out that I had only progressed a little inspired me to work harder because I felt that I needed to get more movement into the routine. I felt really tired since I had not slept for two nights running and then not holding my food in(Hulda explained that this is normal, the body is flushing itself in preparation for the delivery)added to the exhaustion.

More time had passed (1-2hrs) and I got to a stage where I felt I needed to be in a position were gravity would assist. Richard and I went to the bathroom and I sat on the toilet. This felt most comfortable during contractions, and assisted in opening my pelvis even more. Not long after sitting like this did my waters break and under Hulda’s recommendation we had one more examination, now 8-9cm dilated we prepared to go to the hospital.

The contractions were really intense and I felt a great urge to push. At the same time I felt very protected and safe with my husband, mother, Doula and of course baby by my side. We arrived at the hospital and proceeded through to the labour ward. All the admin and examinations happened so quickly, before I knew it we were in a labour room and all systems were in check; the foetal heart rate monitor was attached, my bloodpressure etc was checked.

Doctors, midwives were all working very effeciently to get the paperwork done then came the moment where Richard and I were left alone with one midwife. Waiting for the contractions to come so that I could push and birth our baby. Surprisingly to us the contractions slowed down and initially they were two minutes apart on arrival, now they were 4 minutes apart. This meant that I needed to wait and really work hard at birthing baby since the contraction would have weaned off by the third push. The hours continued to pass and the doctor told us that we had one more hour until she suggests a vontouse delivery because the contractions were still to far apart.

I made several attempts and fortunately the midwife was gentle and patient enough to bear with us. She was open to try a position that I felt would really assist in birthing baby. I wanted to sit in a support squat position. During my pregnancy we were told that it would not be possible to change positions that the midwives only allowed two positions all fours or spreading your legs and placing them in stirrups with your back upright.

In the labour room this midwife was willing to try my suggestion, and she understood that gravity would assist and that my pelvis would open up a great deal more.
It is customary for the midwives to follow one way- the way the were taught yet it all felt perfectly natural to suggest another way and to my surprise when another midwife walked in she too was told that gravity would help and accepted it too.

My husband was on top form at this stage and really spurred me on. I explained to the midwife that I really wanted to birth baby naturally and wanted her to work with me. As a team we pulled together all energy resources, and I gave three consecutive almighty pushes and baby’s head emerged and her body followed soon after. I did not sign the consenting documents allowing an episiotomy, I said that we wanted to first have the opportunity to see what happened. This was the best decision for me since I had a 1cm tear that is well into healing.

Our daughter was born at 5h11am, a healthy 3.01kg baby girl. We arrived at the hospital at 2am expecting to have baby immediately because my urge to push was so strong at the time. It took all the courage and effort to continue and deliver our baby.

Delivering the placenta took another 1hour and in this time baby was handed to me for breast feeding. She suckled for a while then the paediatrician came to fetch her for examination. She was then brought back to me for a further 20-30min feed. She latched on and we had skin to skin contact.

We were pleasantly surprised since the medical team agreed to Richard cutting the umbilical cord. We were also pleasantly surprised since we came prepared with a camera and were allowed to take a few pictures. It was done very unobtrusively and we understood that it was not hospital policy yet we were given the opportunity. It is my feeling that the team felt that both mother and baby were safe and healthy and could share in our joy by allowing a picture.

Against all odds and all the cannots(throughout the nine mnths we were told that certain things would not be allowed) we found out that it was possible to have my dream birth experience. One that left me feeling completely supported and loved. Since then I have had the energy/fuel to become familiar with breastfeeding. Our daughter, Savanna has been a wonderful team mate and it gets better and better each day.
I found the hospital staff to be very kind and helpful in the first few days with my and baby’s first lessons in feeding. Savanna had jaundice by day two and the neonatal care unit was just incrediable in looking after our baby and helping us through this time.

We had a few testing times in having to make decisions about how to best feed Savanna while she stayed overnight for phototherapy while I was discharged to go home. Since we have found out a great deal about jaundice and how common it is for babies to have in the beginning. Having worked through this we really felt relieved to bring Savanna home.

Now that she is a week old we can sit back and reminisce since we have all these beautiful memories that took place in our very own home and we have a deep appreciation for the fantastic medical support from both our doula and maternity hospital.