Mackenzie Joy Bertelson

Yup you DID read that right!! Having a 2 hour labour with my first child, 30 minutes for my second and 20 minutes for my third - I was praying that I would get the "feeling" that labour was impending so as to get to the Hospital on time for my Fourth child. The Dr said this time that at 14 days prior to my due date he would bring me in "look at me with the Go ahead" and wait with a catcher's mitt!!

Well God was with me again!!

Thurs 6/26 I had a Dr's Apt at 10.45am ..... I was still at 2-3cm and 60% effaced, but she agreed that I was ripe and ready and that the 35 minutes distance from our house to Hospital concerned her too, and due to the fact that the other 3 were all born at 38 wks, that I should just come in to the Hospital at 8am and she would induce me by breaking my water......

This was good for Nils and I cos it took the guess work out, we knew we had time to make a plan..called Mary from church and she agreed to come and spend the night (with her 11 yr old son) and watch the kids the next day.,... Then I decided to go to the movies with Mary and 5 other girls from church...

We went to see "My Best Friends Wedding" which was great!! It was a 8pm show... and throughout the movie I had painless but regular contractions every 15 minutes - I thought maybe it was cos I was squished in the seat!!

Got back to our house at 10.30pm and I told Nils I didn't feel comfortable waiting until 8am the next day, cos although I wasn't in any pain, they had been quite regular...called the Dr on call (Sherman - YUK!) and when I told him 15 mins apart and yes I can talk through them, he said rather snottily well you're a ways away, just go to bed and get some sleep - Then I told him to call Dr Gordon cos HE knew my history and I wasn't prepared to accept Sherman's diagnosis!!! and that I was going to the hospital...

Got to the Hospital at about 11.30pm, was admitted, checked - still 2-3cm but 80% effaced... Gordon told them to call him in about 3 hrs with progress, he was going to get some sleep!! Then gave me the first IV does of penicillin at midnight for the Strep B, told me I'd get the next dose at 4am - Oh the baby will be out by then I said!! Nils then pulled out the cot bed and went to sleep !! (Men!!) and I watched TV, quite happily ...then at about 2.15am I felt the intensity of the contractions kick up a notch or too (I could still talk through them and wasn't in that much discomfort) but I went out to the nurses station to tell them to call Gordon to tell them it was getting REALLY close.... They came and checked me first (still 2-3cm!! but I insisted they call him back and tell him to get his little tush over here!!)

Woke Nils up (slob!!) and Dr Gordon got to my room at about 3.10am check me - I was 5-6cm, he broke my water, turned around and started to put the "gear" on... then I said, "Wow I need to push already - it's time" and he said "Let me check you again" reached to put his hand in and the baby's head crowned immediately!! "WOW he said you're right" ..Nils pipes in "Yup there's no messing around with my wifes' body, when she says its' time it is!!"

"Well do your stuff then" Gordon told Nils... Nils stepped up to the plate!! I pushed and Gordon said, "she's gonna rip it's too fast," and so cut me, out shot the head, he told me to stop pushing and puff, which I did for precisely 2 puffs before my body said "STUFF this" and propelled the rest of Mackenzie out at warp speed into Nils hands (he really did have to catch her!!) .... Gordon turned around and looked at the clock and said in amazed wonder "My Word 12 minutes from water rupture to birth, I do believe you broke your own record - now this is the kind of birth I don't mind coming in for in the middle of the night when I'm not on call for!! "

I then got a major case of leg shakes!!! He stitched me up and made a comment/compliment that one only hears from an OB... "You're bottom heals really well doesn't it"

I stayed in the hosp till Sunday lunchtime despite the fact that ALL the Dr's and nurses kept saying you're doing so well you can go home if you want....but I dont' WANT to!! I wanna stay here and be pampered and my insurance pays for 2 nights and I'm staying for *2* nights !!!!!

All in all 12 minutes from REAL start of labour to delivery!!

Piece of Cake!! :-) 
 

and my first daughter
Melanie Kate Bertelson (7/1/91) Birth Story.