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17 Nov 2021
My positive birth story.
Our baby was due on Friday, November 5th, but by Friday 12th November there was no sign of our little one. Using the BRAIN tool that Anna taught us, I decided to have a sweep that morning, followed by a full day of happy things to boost the oxytocin. Whilst watching Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday evening, my surges began, progressing through the night, coming every 7 minutes or so. I was able to manage using the breathing techniques, visualisations and hot water bottles. I was excited that finally by Sunday 14th it looked as though our baby was on the way.
Unfortunately, at 9am we received a phone call to inform us that my husband’s grandmother had passed away and suddenly all surges ceased. That afternoon I was booked in for another sweep and again using the BRAIN tool I consented to this. My surges began again that evening, continuing to progress through the night, coming every 5-7 minutes, but again the morning came and all surges stopped.
I decided to keep all the curtains and blinds closed, with low level lighting, to create an environment to encourage the release of oxytocin. I watched a few Christmas films and went for a walk with family. The surges began again whilst out walking, this time in the afternoon, which I saw as a positive sign. They progressed erratically through the evening but by night came frequently and increasing in intensity. I had a bath by candlelight with the affirmations playing, followed by our playlist of chilled music.
Tuesday 16th arrived and the surges continued throughout the day. I continued to manage the intensity through breathing and visualisation techniques, affirmations and different positions of ease learned on the hypnobirthing course. I had more hot baths, listened to music and looked at photo albums to remind me of happy places. By this time I was feeling tired and emotional as I had been awake for 3 nights. By Wednesday 17th at 1:30am the surges were coming 3 in 10 minutes and lasting for more than 90 seconds; I was beginning to feel I could no longer manage the intensity. We rang the birth centre but the midwife told me I was still in the latent phase and shouldn’t go to the hospital. I explained I was using hypnobirthing and that was why I was so calm but again she advised me not to go to the hospital and that I should attend for my induction at 9am as planned “to get things going”.
The surges grew in intensity through the night and I began to doubt my ability following the news I was still in the latent phase and felt I could not cope with more intense surges. At 8am we left to go to the hospital for my induction. I wore an eye mask, the car had been heated and I wrapped a blanket around me, listening to our music all the way. We arrived at the hospital at 9am on a beautiful crisp, sunny day, but the car park was full, so we had to park in the over flow car park. It then took an hour to walk to the hospital as we had to keep on stopping due to the surges. As we neared the entrance a Porter saw us and brought a wheelchair, asking where I needed to go? I replied, the induction suite, to which he exclaimed “I think it’s a bit late for that”. He sang Christmas carols whilst pushing me to the induction suite. He really cheered me up, lifting my mood and energy levels but I still felt I could not go on.
When the midwife arrived to assess me I told her that I needed an epidural or a caesarean if I needed an induction. She calmed me down and asked if she could examine me. I was 5cm dilated and she said I did not need an induction. I was so relieved. She reassured me further and encouraged me to try my birth plan first before considering an epidural. She rang the birth centre for the birth pool to be prepared. After walking to the birth centre, the student midwife sat down and discussed my birth plan with my husband and me, checking that we understood everything. She drained my bladder as I had not been able to pass urine for the last day or so. I was given tea and toast and helped into the birthing pool at just gone 11am. The student midwife and midwife really respected my birth plan, with dimmed lights, fairy lights, placing my affirmation cards at the side of the pool and encouraging us to prepare the room in any way we wished. Our music played and the midwives gave us privacy to continue to use our hypnobirthing tools but were also present to answer any questions, reassure and encourage as needed. They regularly monitored the baby, which gave me piece of mind and I trusted that my body knew what it was doing.
Soon after entering the pool my body began to push and I used the gas and air. I focused on my affirmations and breathing with the support of my husband and relaxed with the music and in the knowledge that I felt totally safe with my midwives. At 14:07 my husband scooped our baby from the pool, excitedly saying “it’s a girl, we’ve got a baby girl” and gently placed her on my chest. I sat in the pool for a while holding our beautiful baby girl and then my husband cut the cord. I had the injection to deliver the placenta and finally the midwives stitched up my small 2nd degree tear whilst I used the gas and air and had a local anaesthetic.
Without using the hypnobirthing tools my husband and I learnt on Anna’s course, the reassurance and encouragement of my husband and midwives to use the techniques, I would not have remained as calm and relaxed as I was for the 4 days I was in labour. I look back with fond and happy memories at a special time for my husband and I when we welcomed our gorgeous Martha Jayne into the world.
Keely & Borj - Caerphilly, Wales.