Indi's Birth Story

Dear Indi,
You were 'due' on the 8th January 2005. Nana and Poppa G had driven over from Perth to our home near Lismore in NSW to be at your birth and to help out afterwards. They arrived on 29th December and were staying for three weeks until 22nd January. So when the 17th came I decided to get some acupuncture from a man very experienced in pregnancies called Arnan, who said you'd be another 4-5 days yet! Nana and Poppa G weren't too happy to hear that, so when I started getting some mild cramps at the shops the next day Nana was so excited that she started timing them (the first at 3.55pm exactly!).

The cramps disappeared, but more signs of on-coming labour appeared that afternoon with a suspicious constant dripping of water down my leg. Your Dad was very happy that he had been sent home from the 6 week Army Reserve training course early with an injury - now he would be here for your birth

I tried to sleep that night but was too excited. At 1am I got up to go to the toilet and labour immediately began. I didn't leave that toilet for an hour! In the meantime Dad woke Nana and Poppa G, rang my best friend Natasha, our angelic midwife Lynne Austin and her assistant Santo. Everyone helped set up the bedroom for you and me, and your sleeping 2 yr old brother Jarrah got moved to Nana and Poppa G's bed.

After an hour on the toilet I slowly moved to our bedroom full of comfort and love, and continued breathing deeply down and relaxing as Lynne had just shown me. I was enjoying the labour, which was very different to Jarrah's birth. This I believe had a lot to do spending the pregnancy educating myself well and preparing psychologically for birthing. I felt my breath calming and steadying me, taking me within, and I felt great trust in my body opening up for you and moving you down without causing me any pain. Focusing on the breath stopped me from getting carried away by any feelings of fear and I felt a soft smile on my face! Natasha said that when she arrived (20 minutes before you were born) I was still smiling. Everyone in our house was very loving and considerate in their calm and peacefulness, offering us the perfect space for you to birth easily and naturally.

After an hour on all fours on the bed just breathing down to you, Lynne let me know you were ready to come out. I was amazed that it had happened so quickly! I let you emerge at your own pace with my body's natural urges, and soon I reached down to feel your little head crowning. It was so soft and velvety! Your head pushed its way out but you made no sound. Lynne apparently said to me that there was some cord around your neck (wrapped twice) but I didn't hear her – lost in the beauty of birthing you. Then your body suddenly came rushing out and after listening to a few moments of silence (they were unwrapping your cord) I turned around to meet you! Wow. There you were, safe and sound and gleaming. You were quickly into my arms, and fed from me for the next two hours! Meanwhile, Dad cut your cord, and the placenta eventually made its way out.

Indi, you were born without pain at 3am on Wednesday 19th Jan 2005 and weighed 3kg (6lb 10ou). Your Dad watched you arrive and said he was just stunned because it had happened so fast. When you gave your first modest cries Jarrah apparently stood straight up out of bed and said "What's that noise?!", and made his way in to meet you, his new baby sister. He caressed your silky mass of thick black hair very lovingly and seemed lost in wonder and love for you. Nana and Poppa G, who had been waiting nervously in the dining room, rushed in when they heard your voice, smiling proudly. We are incredibly grateful to Lynne for her loving, gentle approach, and to Santo for her eternal support, humour and encouragement. Thankyou Indi for blessing our lives!