On Feb 26 we returned home from our final HypnoBirthing class.  As we were lying in bed just before midnight my "waters" broke. I called the midwife, who told me that it is rare for the waters to break before "contractions" begin, but it can happen.  She said that it could be up to 2 to 3 days before I really went into labour, so I should just get as much sleep as I can and call back when I was in active labour. 

I slept until about 5 am, then got up and had a shower.  I was having very mild surges but they were 10 to 15 minutes apart.  At 7:00 am I got in the shower a second time, as the surges were getting stronger, but they were still well over 5 minutes apart, so I felt no need to call anyone. 

Geoff was getting our 4 year old ready for school two floors below, and he had set up a baby monitor in our bedroom so that he could hear me if I needed anything.  My dad was on his way over to pick up Zach and take him to school, but we weren't expecting him before 8:00am. 

I spent a good half hour in the shower, doing the breathing and visualization exercises from HypnoBirthing.  I couldn't believe how well I was coping; I felt intense discomfort but no pain, and I felt no need to have anyone with me at that point.  Geoff had tried massaging my back earlier and I had preferred to not be touched during surges, so alone in the shower I was quite happy! 

I must have zoned out because I very suddenly realized that the time between my surges was less than the duration of the surges themselves, so I got out of the shower and timed them only to discover they were only 2 minutes apart. 

Geoff called the midwives clinic, who phoned back to say that our backup midwife was already at a birth (and my primary midwife was still out of town) but another one would be coming over.  By the time this midwife phoned us to say she was on her way, I was pushing.  (The term "urge to push" seems very inappropriate to me now, as an urge implies that there is some choice in the matter!  I found it to be completely involuntary, and believe me I was trying not to push until someone arrived!) 

The midwife told us she was at least 20 minutes away so we should call 911.  Geoff called, and by this time the baby was crowning, so he put the handset on speakerphone, and the 911 operator walked him through delivering the baby, although not before sending him on a wild goose chase around the house to find "some string, a safety pin and some clean towels".  (We have no idea what the safety pin was for.) 

The firemen walked into the bedroom as the head was emerging, and for an awkward moment Geoff stood back, assuming they would take over, which they did not, so he resumed his position as babycatcher.  The paramedics arrived a few minutes later and helped ease the shoulders and body out (we had been stuck with only the head out for a few minutes), and finally the two midwives arrived just after the baby was born.  Even more surprising to us than the birth itself was that we had a girl! 

The midwives delivered the placenta and carried out the postnatal care, and we were finally left alone with our family.  Although it had been stressful for Geoff trying to manage Zach and receive a baby, it was so nice to have Zach there immediately after the birth to meet his baby sister and cuddle with us for awhile.  Our daughter was 8 lb 4 oz, and we named her Noella Rose.

The hypnobirthing was incredibly helpful to me, even with 
my very brief labour. I felt in control and completely calm,
even at the height of what could have been a very panicky 
situation! I am so glad I took the course. Geoff was 
astounded watching me during surges. I'm a convert!