Having Charlie in NZ

Lately, I have been in conversation with fellow Moms and Momma-to-Be in NYC about my NZ birthing experience. Charlize is now 16 months...actually she will be 17 months on Wednesday...and I have lots of time to process my maternity experience in NZ. In previous post, I've talked about NZ medical care and my perspective on it. In the next few posts about NZ maternity, I will share specific examples with as much detail as I can spare and allow you the reader to make your own conclusions, or do what you'd like with it (except publish without my consent :-).

Decision to Induce I met with my midwife, Noreen, on Wednesday November 17th, an hour after picking up my mother from Auckland Airport. My official due date was November 12 and there was still no sign of Charlize coming (i.e. I wasn't having an contractions, dilatation, show, or water break. I was officially five days late.

When we went to visit Noreen (in her Manuaku Road office), I asked her to finally check for dilation. I have to emphasize the "finally" because up until this point (I was nearly 41 weeks pregnant), Noreen (who became my Lead Maternity Carer (LMC) in March 2010) had never conducted a vaginal check on me.

Our meeting usually consisted of: * Me peeing on a stick to test for proteins and I think sugar * checking the baby's heart beat with a audio machine * lots of conversations about my well-being, my husband's job (she loved my hubby and often joked with him)and concerns * run down of what NOT to eat (unpasteurized dairy, hummus, cut meats (like deli meats), raw fish and some high mercury fish even if cooked and non-fresh rice) * and a run down of appointments to make (for sonograms) and paperwork to fill out (such as registering with Auckland hospital and BirthCare).

Our meeting should of lasted 15 to 30 minutes but most times they went over because she was so warm and chatty.

So on November 17th, when I was officially 5 days "late" and with my mom )who had traveled over 25 hours to meet her new granddaughter who had not yet arrived, I asked Noreen to check what was going on under there.

During our previous checks, we had discussed the "what ifs" I don't go into natural labor and we briefly talked about the induction process. But, I was really really hoping to not have to go that route.

Noreen agreed saying she could check if I wanted. She apologized if I felt exposed and promised that I would regain my sense of decency shortly after the birth. I assured her that I was fine and confident of her care and professionalism.

She apologetically asked me to undress behind the curtains and lay down on the observation table. After the check she confirmed that my cervix was still not soft or ripe and that I had not dilated.

Charlize still had no intention of coming out...at least not that day.

She set up the date for the induction after calling Auckland Hospital to see what was available (she allowed me to pick between the datesavailable). She explained that my body could get itself ready for labor at an instant...BUT that it seemed unlikely since there were NO signs of it yet.

I was "gutted" (kiwi slang for disappointed) when I left her office, but optimistic that in the few days before my appointment I would be in labor.

Unfortunately that was not the case... but I will leave that for another post.

Noreen Matthews is also a midwife at Remuera Village Medical Center www.rvmc.co.nz .

The midwifery pictures featured in this blog are cover photo's from Birthspirit Journal a midwifery journal in NZ: http://www.birthspirit.co.nz/index.php