It all started at 7am on the morning of the 8th October when my waters broke. It began with a few light contractions every three minutes or so…I wondered “Is this it?!”

I felt a little strange.

read Vibodha's account of
H ow Labour began HERE.

Phone calls went out to Sally (our midwife), Deb, Danielle, Nirav, Vistara and Gosia.

Vibodha (E.j.) was excited too knowing that it would not be long before we held our little boy in our arms. My mum sat with me while we timed those first contractions and Vibodha [EJ] made the calls.

Everyone was on their way.

I can’t remember how long I stayed in bed before deciding to move into the “birthing room”. (Jump to the Birthing Room Photos)

As my contractions got stronger I made my way to the birthing room.

Moving from the mattress to the birthing tub and back a few times over the next 13 hours sure was exciting.

It took 13 hours to reach full dilation (which means that my cervix was completely open) and I began getting the urge to push…

Deb, and Sally were there for me during EVERY contraction and Vibodha (E.j.) was the most loving man on the planet.

He got into the birthing pool (see Building a Birthing Pool) with me and he was there by my side every step of the way. I am so thankful for the support and kindness everyone showed. Nirav took the photographs of the day and Vistara was there massaging my aching muscles too.

After 9 hours, our dear friend Sono came and worked on my using acupuncture and acupressure.

It helped IMMENSELY. Highly recommended for childbirth!

Everyone said how inspiring I was, I was so meditative and calm.

I just concentrated on each contraction [or 'expansion' as we named them] as they came and then went! ((Note from Vibodha.: She hardly squeaked and didn't get irritable the whole time!!!)

At around 13 hours, stage 2 was due to kick in (which means the contractions were to get closer and closer together and I was going to want to PUSH) …

I began being more “active” and pushing baby Mai down the birth canal. He was moving very very slowly and my contractions were coming only every 5 minutes rather than the 2/3 minutes I had been told was normal.

Sally and Theresa, our midwifes, were telling me to keep pushing to get him “round the corner”.

By this time I was saying “What corner?”.

He came down and then went all the way back up again…a full hour of pushing and I was back to the same pont!!

It was tiring. In the 16th hour Sally checked his position and he had turned and was now not in the right position to come out. The odds were against us.

I got back out of the pool and we gave it our best shot on dry land for another hour.

We then decided it would be better to go to Woodside, the local maternity hospital, and get some assistance to bring our little boy into the world.

This was not the plan. We had hoped for a water birth in the birthing room, but it was just not to be.

Dr. Hobday arrived at the hospital shortly after us (about 12.30am on the 9th) and did some monitoring and after a couple of contractions Dr. Hobday helped guide him out while I pushed.

In 1 contraction baby Devon was born.

It was amazing. I heard them all shout…”his head is out”.

I thought “Thank God!"

((I was fed up with “nearly’s” and “almost’s” by that point!!!))

He was, and is, so beautiful. He was put on my tummy and I got to feel his little body against my skin. He IS SO CUTE!!!

I know all parents say that…but he is!!!

He was checked over by the resident Pediatrician while Vibodha stayed with him the whole time.

Mum and Dad came back into the room, Dad just in time to see his head and Mum in time to hear the first little cry.

The feeling of love is overwhelming.

During his first 12 days we have had the most amazing time with him.

After 6 days we officially named him Devon Anthony Clark.

Devon is from the root word “Deva” which means “divine” and Anthony is the name of Vibodha’s Great Grandfather.

He is such a contented little boy, so peaceful and reflective. We adore being parents and we keep bursting into tears with the opening of our hearts when we gaze into his eyes and realise how much we love our son.

Thank you existence for bringing this little being safely into our lives.

Thanks to everyone who supported at the birth and the “meal angels” who brought us food in the last twelve days - it makes such a profound difference not having to cook!

Official birth time 1.21am on 9th October 2003.

Baby Pool Winner: Marge & Bob Gries [12hours 21minutes]
Second Place: Jens Winkler [12 hours 39minutes])