Whetumarama

Twins / Ngā Māhanga

1am, 41 weeks, carrying our twins. Kahurangi Pounamu (tama) raaua ko Ihirangi ki te Ao Maarama (tamaahine) I tae mai te waa ka heke iho mai i ngaa mahanga ki te ao maarama. And so labour began.... we called Ange to let her know, kei te tiimata te whaanau mai oo ngaa peepi, to which she replied, try and get some sleep and rest where you can. Well, everything seemed to start with a hiss and a roar. I remember asking Tarns how the .... am I meant to sleep or rest through this, the pain felt hard, sore, constant and I was questioning my ability to be able to sink in and flow/breath through these waves coming and going.

8am, Hinenuiteraa was well and truly up, what a stunning day! By now all of our support people had arrived. Sheryl, Ange, Tanya, my Mum and the babies paapaa (Hone). Our plan was to home birth, I know, with twins (first pregnancy), unheard of, right? Well, right through our hapuutanga, we asked questions, received answers from both our midwives and the OB, then we would make our informed decision. Not based on fear but based on feeling and the information given to us. By 8.30am, the birthing pool was being filled and I was in active labour and now able to be in the wai. I wasn't sure if it was going to be something I enjoyed but wow, did I what. What a game changer for me and the way I was able to flow through as my body and our peepi prepared to birth. The best combo for me was kneeling against the pool edge, head to head with my darling Tarns, Hone supporting her, Mum pouring warm water on my back and Sheryl applying as much pressure into the acupressure points, miiharo rawa atu!

Fast forward to when we had to pivot. Approx 11am, all other positions tried to increase labour, we decided to break the waters that held Ihirangi. He meconium kei roo taana wai, dang, meconium was present in her waters. At this point Ange let us know this is the time we pivot and head into Wellington Hospital. With having a robust plan in place, the ambulance was called and both St John and Wellington Free arrived. Of course taking the free option, after everything seamlessly was packed up, we slowly made our way into Pooneke. Still not had any pain relief, although offered, I had found my flow with breath and rest. 

Now being approx 2.30pm, making our way to our birthing room, Sheryl let Tarns and I know that they were going to have a chat with Hospital staff before coming in, to ensure they knew how to conduct themselves in a mana enhancing way and to just give us the facts, not opinions... they did well.... giving us the facts. Tama in the last week had flipped back to breech (only ngaa Atua know how), and he was basically lying on his sister. This meant she couldn't line up properly to come down the birth canal and was off to the side. Many options given, oxytocin to intensify labour, which would hopefully help me fully dilate (currently back to 6cm), and hopefully move both babies, especially Ihirangi, into the birth canal to birth naturally. Although, she wasn't convinced how successful this option was going to be. I have already been in labour for 14ish hours by now. Option 2, epidural and internal to manually move babies into better position, NO THANK YOU haha, option 3 c-section.

At this point it was a no brainer, the meconium was getting thicker and darker, no it wasn't my first choice, but healthy peepi and maamaa was, c-section was decided. No second thoughts, no questioning, just a knowing and feeling. Tania also felt the same way, let's bring these babies through!

3 hours later, after sucking on the gas to get me through the pain, 7pm, I am walking into theater. Tarns holding the back end of my towel that is between my legs (I've got the front end), Mum holding my hand and Hone holding our bag, with sidebyside following close behind. Walking into a very busy and bright room I felt calm, supported and knowing the right decision has been made. Excited to meet our babies, that have been growing wonderfully for 41 weeks. 38mins later and the cry of our baby girl rang in our ears, what a surreal moment, 1 minute later and the cry of our boy. Overwhelmed with joy and emotion, I remember Tarns and I just sharing a moment with tears in our eyes, anticipating the time they would arrive for skin on skin.

Then there they were, son on my chest and our kootiro with Tarns, time slowed down for a moment. What an achievement, an accomplishment sent from the highest heavens. Our taonga, noo ngaa whetuu, noo ngaa maatou tuupuna hoki. A time and space that will be etched in my memory for this lifetime.