my pregnancy and labour with wyatt

Just as we settled into being parents to Ezra, our first son, we decided we were ready to grow our family. We had things sorted. We had our routines. Ezra had his activities. Our finances were doing well (despite Covid). My businesses were thriving. I was thriving as an individual. We were ready.

It took exactly one cycle to fall pregnant with Wyatt. In fact, it took us two ‘tries’ to fall pregnant. It seems my body was extremely ready for a baby as well.

I remember waking up one morning and feeling extremely light-headed, I was dizzy walking only a few metres and I thought I was pregnant. I actually did a test and it was negative. I was heartbroken. I hadn’t even told Karl that I thought I was pregnant which made it harder to see that negative test. I went off to work that morning and still believed in my gut. After work, I stopped to get another test (a digital one this time) and I got home and guess what that little screen on the test came up with… 2-3 weeks pregnant. I took the test into Ezra’s room, where Karl and Ezra were playing and happily showed Karl my test.

We were both SO happy and a little shocked how quickly it happened, especially after it took us 9 months to fall pregnant with Ezra.

I was so in-tune with my own body that I knew I was pregnant at only 2-3 weeks and better yet, my body and mind were so ready to be pregnant that it happened so quickly!

♡ My pregnancy

From the day I found out I was pregnant; I thought the baby was a girl because of the symptoms (but he is a he!). Everything was the opposite to when I was pregnant with Ezra.

I felt sick all of the time (but never vomited). I couldn’t drink water and so many foods repulsed me. I was exhausted from day one. I was dizzy and light-headed through my first trimester. I also became extremely sensitive to smells which was a pain!

I had a bit of back pain towards the end of the pregnancy again thanks to my back injury from the car accident in 2016 but that was expected!

When I was pregnant with Ezra, I struggled with my mental health quite severely so this time, I prepared myself and committed to doing things that I knew would help so this pregnancy.

I meditated, journaled, expressed gratitude and practised deep breathing daily. I also exercised, did yoga and kept up with my self-development (with courses and books) multiple times a week.

Thankfully, I didn’t suffer with my mental health this time, my planning paid off!

The last 6 weeks of my pregnancy were tough though. My body and mind were EXHAUSTED. It was quite hard keeping up with my two businesses, Ezra, my usual social events, my relationship with Karl and my own self-care.

While the pregnancy was definitely hard (and I honestly don’t enjoy being pregnant), it was worth it for Wyatt.

♡ My labour

After my labour with Ezra, I honestly thought it couldn’t be worse (and still feel like that) and if I could survive that, anything this labour brings would be a walk in the park.

I was induced with Ezra due to severe back pain and unfortunately that was the case again this time. At my 37-week check-up, the midwife thought it would be better for my family and I that I be induced again so we booked it in for the following week.

I was booked to start the induction on the 3rd but was unfortunately pushed back due to the hospital being busy.

I went into the hospital on the 4th of June to start the induction. At about 7.30am, I had a cervidal inserted to get my cervix ready for the process. It was a long day with a lot of contractions, all of which were considered “normal” and part of the process. At 7pm, the cervidal was removed and my cervix was ready for labour (thankfully I didn’t need the balloon!).

Karl brought me some dinner and the contractions continued to worsen, I had a hot shower, Karl helped me put on some heat cream to help with back pain and Karl headed home ready for Wyatt to be born the following day.

I tossed and turned for hours trying to deal with the pain of the contractions. The nurses regularly gave me Endone as that was all I could have on the hospital ward. It got to 11pm and I was crying from pain, the contractions were horrible and I could barely handle the pain (so I thought anyway).

The midwife continued to say the contractions were normal and to just try to relax. She also suggested to have a hot shower which may help but by this point, I didn’t want to move if I didn’t have too.

Another hour goes past and I agree to a hot shower because I was maxed out on the pain killers she could provide. As I sit in the shower, I am having regular contractions and crying out in pain. The midwife agrees that she should check if I’m dilated because I’m clearly in a lot of pain.

The midwife checks and I am 7cm dilated. She suggests we call Karl to come in.

Karl arrives at 2am and I’m well in the deep end of labour. By this point, all I want is an epidural and the anesthesiologic seems to be taking a LIFE TIME to provide me some pain relief.

Finally at about 3.30am, I am sitting there with my hospital gown open and she is about to finally put the epidural and I have to push…

I’m then told the worst news of the night – it’s too late for an epidural! Cue the heart-break and freak-out.

It gets to about 3.40am and my mum still hasn’t made it there. She had Ezra that night and had to drop him to my sister-in-law before coming to the hospital. I am well and truly freaking out at this point because I definitely needed my mum there.

By this stage, I’ve been in labour for at least 6 hours with no pain relief, possibly longer but we aren’t entirely sure because the midwife didn’t believe I was in labour so she never checked.

It was then time to push, Wyatt is crowning and my mum finally arrives! Two pushes and Wyatt is laying on my chest at 3.50am.

It was a short labour and the midwives called it a ‘text book, perfect labour’.

It hurt a lot but it was over so quickly and as all mums say, it was worth every second.

Here is my short letter to Wyatt when he was born:

Wyatt Page Houston

On the 5th of June 2021, our family grew by one – you.

We were all so excited for you to come. I think you were excited to meet us as well because you entered the world so quickly that I didn’t have time to think and your dad nearly missed it!

You were put on my chest and all of the pain stopped; all I could feel was love. Your skin was so soft. Your eyes so big. Your tiny little fingers wrapped around my finger and I fell in love with you. I had another beautiful boy that I could spend the rest of my days loving.

We knew you would be beautiful and the perfect best friend for Ezra but I never expected you to be so perfect.

You are exactly what our family needed and I am forever thankful that we were given another little boy.

As you grow into a little boy and then a man, I promise to always support you, inspire you, encourage you and love you. I will always be there for you, no matter what happens.

I’m so excited to be by your side for the good days, but also for the bad days.

You and your brother are the meaning to my life and the truest love that I have ever felt and will ever feel. Thank you for choosing me to be your Mum.

I will be grateful for you every single day. I love you more than you will ever know,

Mum xo

I hope you enjoyed reading the pregnancy and labour story of Wyatt!

With love & support,

Shorina | Mindful Soul Collective

Holistic Counsellor, Wellbeing Coach & Business Mentor

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