The Journal

Herb’s Birth Story

September 8, 2026

Our journey to becoming a beautiful/chaotic family of four

On the morning of Monday April 20th, I was woken at 4am by some mid-level period-pain style cramping. I was 39 + 5 at this stage, however this kind of sensation, along with Braxton Hicks, had been showing up a lot throughout the pregnancy, so I didn’t think too much of it.

I got myself up, had a shower, made a coffee, and thought I would read my book in the quiet of the morning. I go to bed very early and tend to wake very early (although 4am is quite early, even for me!), so I am used to being up in these hours. The cramping was sporadic, perhaps every twenty minutes or so. They certainly made themselves known but were not painful, per se, just obvious.

Les woke around 5am and I said to him that I thought things might be happening. We’d had a few false alarms throughout the third trimester, but this already felt different. I was conscious this could be another fast labour, so I popped my final things in the hospital bag - toothbrush, skincare, snacks, the essentials! - and around 6am I made myself breakfast, sourdough with peanut butter, coconut yoghurt, berry jam, and cinnamon. Pearl then woke up so I made her some breakfast and we ate together at the kitchen table.

Around 7am the cramping became stronger and more frequent, though again not what I would have called painful. I called my Mum to let her know what was happening, as she was on call to come and pick up Pearl, and I rang Janine, our doula, too. I told them both not to make their way to us just yet, but just let them know where I was at. I didn’t want them coming too early just to have me be in labour for a quite few more hours/the rest of the day. Jokes on me, fifteen minutes later things had really ramped up, so I called them both back and asked them to please make their way to us! I then called the hospital, told them where I was at in terms of contraction length and timing, mentioned that I would like a room with a bath if possible, and said I would ring again when things changed or when we were on our way.

Pam and Janine both arrived around 7.45am, Pearl skipping off happily with her Nanna, and Janine came to sit with me on our bed to have a chat whilst she provided pressure to my lower back. By 8am I was having to stop and breathe and sway through the contractions. They were stroooong. I popped the TENS on and we all decided it was time to go. By the time we jumped in the car they were coming every minute and were very intense. I had complete déjà vu of my last labour, which was almost identical in timing and nature! Once again the contractions in the car were very unenjoyable, and I spent the twenty-minute drive holding onto the roof of the car trying to lift my pelvis off the seat. Janine was driving behind us, realised how quickly things were progressing when she saw my hands on said roof, and called the midwives at the hospital to get them to meet us at our car - and I am so grateful she did this.

We got to Northern Beaches around 8.30am, where three lovely midwives met us and moved us along hastily. I was having contractions every few steps at this stage, so the walk down that long hospital corridor felt never-ending. We all got into the lift, and as we came out onto the birthing suite floor, my waters broke.

A few more steps took us into the suite, which was huge, beautiful, and had a filled bath. The dream! Midwife Sue took a look at the broken waters in my pad and saw that they were meconium filled. This isn’t uncommon, but it is not ideal. It means that I wasn’t going to be able to labour and give birth in the water, and that I would need continuous monitoring, as per hospital policy. I was disappointed about not being able to get into the bath, but I was fine to have the monitor on. I actually didn’t notice it being put on or during the rest of my labour.

I sat down on the toilet in the corner of the room in an attempt to release some pressure, realised this was supremely uncomfortable, and moved onto all fours right next to it to contract away. With every contraction, meconium-coloured waters flooded out. It was all very civilised, as you can imagine. Les said later on that the birth space looked like a barn, which is hilarious/true.

Shortly after moving to all fours my body started bearing down, and I subconsciously started pushing. I actually found this stage more painful than my first birth - I really think being in water helps immensely with pain relief. I remember saying to the midwife Sue - how long do I have left?! - and she had a chuckle and said she couldn’t answer that for me. It also hadn’t been very long, so I was obviously feeling quite a lot of pressure to be asking so early. After about ten or so minutes of actively pushing, Sue directed me to vocalise downwards instead of upwards, which I think I had been doing desperately to move things along. The sounds I was making were giving National Geographic documentary. Vocalising downwards, I birthed Herb’s head, which was very effortful and was such a strong sensation. I took a short break and attempted some slow breaths in and out before birthing the rest of his body, which felt much easier in comparison. Our midwife Ruby caught baba and passed him to me.

Herbie Leon (unnamed at the time, and would be for another week or so!) arrived at 9.01am on the 20th of April. He was a big babe, 4.1kg, very long, had light hair, big hands, and a rather fluffy body. He didn’t cry much, and seemed to have a calm disposition. He was happy to be weighed and handed around, and hardly made a peep.

From there we all got up off the barnyard floor and made our way to the bed. It was placenta time. Thankfully this came out easily, with some gentle bearing down and Herb on my breast. I was happy to birth this physiologically, as I was offered the oxytocin shot almost immediately once he was born, which I politely declined. The midwives then said they were going to leave us for a few hours to hang out and get to know each other.

These next few hours were absolutely golden. Myself, Les, Herb and Janine, getting the feel for each other, having the first feed, and enjoying that blissful skin to skin time. It was so calm and quiet in the room. I am so grateful the midwives understand how important this window is, and that they gave us the time and space.

After a few hours we moved into a room upstairs, and Les ducked out to grab us the first feast. He got a big spread from Norma’s Deli - roasted chicken, meatballs, a veggie salad, an apple galette with cream, and a chocolate brownie. We don’t do food in half measures over here! Herb slept for long, long stretches in his first few days (not a sign of things to come, haha), so I did a lot of lying around, eating, reading, and facetiming family. It felt like the whole morning had been a sprint, then suddenly there was this enormous, calm, sleepy boy on my chest, and nowhere else I needed to be.