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With the birthing, it was just a very long labour, so it was just like over 12 hours, and I’d asked for an epidural, but they made me wait a really long time, and then they couldn’t find an anaesthetist, and it was just a bit traumatic, like everything just took a really long time, and then, her heart rate was dropping, so then they needed to get her out urgently, and then she was out, and then it was all okay.
I had my first baby at St George Hospital and they were really good and they were quite supportive. I can actually say that they looked after me because I have my daughter at a public hospital and there’s little things that they did, like they gave me a room to myself. The nurse was really lovely and said, “Look, I’ll take your baby away for a few hours just so you can sleep and I’ll bring her back.” They did little things to go above and beyond once I birthed, which was really nice. They were really patient with me. They did a follow-up visit at the house, so they did a lot of great things. I can’t fault them on that.
And with the second pregnancy, I must admit, that was just great from start to finish because I birthed at Auburn Hospital. They were phenomenal. Midwives were really lovely. I had the same midwife throughout the whole process. She delivered my baby. I was comfortable with her and then afterwards, it was during COVID as well. So I couldn’t have any visitors with my second child and I was quite isolated. So they were quite accommodating considering the circumstances because I couldn’t really have family.
My husband had a cold when I had my second child. So he didn’t come into the hospital at all. So I basically spent like three days on my own with my son in the hospital, but I liked it anyway. It was very peaceful. I didn’t have a hundred guests. I kind of didn’t mind it. I used it to my advantage to have peace and quiet before the chaos of coming home because the nurses were quite nice, like they would help and come in and, so I didn’t mind just the hospital. Part of it either, even though I had them both in public hospitals. It was quite a good experience.