Birth Story of Karli Chere Chapman

Karli Chere Chapman
September 23, 1986

I was five days overdue with Karli. I don't remember the day so much, but I do remember the night.

I went to bed at 9pm that night, feeling a little different, but not thinking too much of it. I decided to do crossword puzzles, as I just couldn't sleep. Got up to go to the toilet at 4am, only to notice I had lost my mucus plug. I started to get excited! I didn't tell my husband John at the time, as I didn't want to jinx anything, so I put myself back to bed.

Well, as soon as I did that, my contractions started. I had thought contractions were supposed to be mild, and get stronger as time went on. No, not for me! They were so intense, I didn't know where to put myself, I was jumping all over the bed, screaming in pain.

My husband came running in, I said to get me to the hospital now! So he rang them, telling them we were on our way. But before we could do that, we had to pick up my mum and dad. I wasn't impressed when we got to their place, only to be told by my father 'You have to sit in the back, as I get car sick'. Great! I thought, here I am in loads of pain, having to sit in the back of this tiny hatch back Torana, just so dad doesn't get car sick... I can laugh about it now.

We finally got to the hospital at about 5:15am. I remember Bonanza was on the TV. We went to fill in my forms, but I couldn't talk, so my mum had to do it for me. Got to the labor room, got on the bed, labored some more and asked for epidural. But by the time they got the thing in, it was too late! After having to be cut, Karli came into the world at 8:20am.

At the time, I was never going to do it again, but she was, and still is a beautiful angel, the most beautiful gift I could ever receive. She is 18yo now, and yes, I did do it again, Karli has a younger sister.