Delice’s Birth Story: A Journey of Strength and Love

“I was 9cm dilated, my waters burst (literally) and my cervix closed back up again, to 4cm – I had to start my labour all over. I was devastated but, I was determined to get the birth I wanted!”

Becoming a mother was something I had dreamed of for so long, but the road to get there wasn’t easy. I was diagnosed with PCOS at 14, and after experiencing multiple miscarriages, I wondered if I would ever hold a child of my own. But in 2022, my dream finally came true—after all the heartbreak, I was going to meet my son.

As a first-time mum, the thought of labour terrified me. I had no idea what to expect and found myself constantly wondering how I would cope. At 39 weeks and 5 days, labour started four days after a membrane sweep. When we arrived at the hospital, the midwife checked me—and to my surprise, I was already 6cm dilated. It felt surreal. I was in active labour, and it was really happening.

They rushed me to the labour ward in Canberra, and I prepared myself for the unknown. I pushed for what felt like hours—two, to be exact—and even though I was 9cm dilated, my waters stubbornly refused to break. The pressure was immense, and time blurred together. Just when I thought I couldn’t take it anymore, my waters exploded with an intensity I wasn’t prepared for. I was relieved—until things took an unexpected turn.

In a twist I never imagined, my cervix closed again, dropping back to 4cm. I was devastated. All the progress I had made felt like it vanished in an instant, and I had to labour all over again. Exhaustion hit me hard. By this point, I had been in labour for nearly 23 hours, surviving on gas and air, but I knew I needed more help. I finally asked for the epidural, and it felt like a lifeline. For the first time in hours, I could breathe. I slept for four hours straight, letting my body recover as much as it could.

When I woke, it was time to begin again. The contractions returned, relentless and unforgiving. But there was a new complication—my son was in a difficult position, turned upside down, and I still wasn’t progressing the way they hoped. The medical team warned me: if things didn’t change soon, I’d need an emergency C-section. My heart sank. I had laboured for nearly 30 hours, and the thought of ending it all with surgery felt crushing.

So up I got on all fours trying my best to move him around and boy was it a close call - the surgery team came in and my midwife yelled "Wait! He's coming!"

But I wasn’t ready to give up. Determined to bring him into the world naturally, I got on all fours, moving and swaying, desperate to shift him into place. It was a race against time. The surgical team stood by, ready to intervene, but then, in the middle of the chaos, my midwife’s voice rang out: “Wait! He’s coming!”

It was happening. The epidural had come loose, and I could feel everything —the burn, the pressure, the infamous “ring of fire” they talk about. It was overwhelming, unlike anything I had ever experienced. With every push, every scream, I gave it my all. Then, finally, he was here.

When I saw my son for the first time, I burst into tears. It was the most profound, indescribable rush of emotion. Relief, joy, love—it all hit me at once. In that moment, every struggle, every sleepless hour, every heartbreak faded into the background. He was worth it all.

I have never cried so much, felt such a race of emotions and feelings! It was something I'll never be able to describe.

Delice & Baby Arthur

I lost a significant amount of blood during delivery and had to have a transfusion, but none of it mattered. My body was exhausted, but my heart was full. I had done it.

Two years later, here we are, navigating the wild and wonderful world of parenting a toddler. It’s chaotic, unpredictable, and challenging—but there’s nothing like it. We’re already dreaming of adding another little one to our family, and I know, no matter what, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Motherhood is a journey that can’t be compared to anything else. It’s raw, messy, and beautiful all at once—and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.