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12 Sep 2022
Our incredible, amazing, rewarding, wonderful andpositive birth experience!
On the morning of Monday the 12th September, I woke up to make a coffee and reflected on my sleep, I’d woken so many more times in the night for a wee than on a normal night and had a weird dull ache 'down there’ but I was so tired I just slept through it and didn't think anything of it. However, as I poured my coffee I noticed the ache had spread to my lower back and I had what felt like period pains. I knew not to get too excited or ahead of myself as I had learnt that women can experience these sensations all throughout their 3rd trimester without going into labour anytime soon. A few minutes later some of my mucus plug began to ‘show’, I told my fiancé Brad and said that maybe today could be the day, however, we agreed would carry on the day as normal regardless as it could be days or weeks yet as I was 3 days away from my due date (39 weeks + 4 days).
As the morning continued I noticed the sensations increase slightly, the ache got a little stronger. I showered and had a big bowl of porridge (fuelling up just in case!) and sat down to do some work. I work for myself so my plan was to always work up until my due date (little did I know I was about to work up until just a few hours before I went into labour). It got to about 10/11am and I started to feel what I thought might be contractions & downloaded a timer app just in case. The contractions were around 30secs in length and about 4-5mins apart, I could feel the sensation of them but I could very easily carry on with my day, so I did. I suddenly went into full on nesting mode and whizzed off to Home Bargains for more cleaning supplies (because apparently, a cupboard full of products is never enough when you’re due a baby!). As I walked around the store I could really start to feel the contractions increase in sensation, however I was able to walk around and keep myself occupied. One of the many things Anna discussed on her course with us was to do the things you enjoy on the day you go into labour and enjoy the day, I know it seems a bit strange but doing some work and ‘normal’ things really helped to calm my anxious and excited mind.
When I got home I made some lunch, which was a big Jacket Potato with cheese for more birth fuel (just in case), as once again I thought about what we had learnt on Anna’s course. Anna suggested having a ‘birth picnic’, fuelling up on foods in the day, packing lots of yummy snacks in our hospital bag and making sure we ate when we could prior to labour as many women feel sick and don’t want to eat at all. I get really hangry when I don’t eat so I wanted to make sure I ate whilst I still could. By this time (1pm) the contractions I had were getting even stronger, totally bearable but this time they were closer together, every 3-3:30mins but once again only 30secs in length, I knew I didn’t need to go into hospital just yet but I did think I should probably ring triage so my fiancé Brad and I decided to give them a call and see what they say.
Unfortunately, triage on that particular Monday was incredibly busy, we called 25+ times and there was no answer. I reminded myself not to stress as Anna had reminded us throughout the course, stress can reduce my Oxytocin levels which would then slow labour or cause complications. So instead I messaged my midwife for advice and then decided to message Anna as I knew she would know what to do. Anna phoned me within 10mins and advised that I let Brad take the reins now, which Brad was more than happy to do, she also reassured me that I was doing great and reminded me of which Hypnobirthing tools to use. Throughout the Hypnobirthing course our partners learnt their role in birth, and for Brad this was something he found incredibly helpful as prior to the course he had zero clue on what to expect during the lead up to birth. From that Brad took charge of ringing triage, he timed my contractions and spoke to the triage team on the phone when they finally answered. At this time whilst my contractions had got stronger they weren’t any longer so they said to sit tight and wait a while until they were 45-60secs long. Brad then nipped to the shop to stock up on our snacks whilst I added some final bits to my hospital bag.
After this, I went back to my laptop, put on some of my energetic happy birthing playlist and carried on with a bit more work whilst breathing through the contractions. At around 4pm the dog needed a walk, so I decided to join Brad & our dog to get some fresh air (again another tip from Anna to get out in nature!), we live around the corner from the park and I walked very slowly with them both and stopped to breathe through the contractions hugging Brad on every one. After 15mins of walking I knew my body had had enough so I headed back home. By the time Brad had got back I could only manage my contractions on all 4’s, they were strong and almost took my breath away, they were also now 45secs long and getting much closer 2:30-3mins apart. Brad called triage for advice, he passed the phone over to me as the midwife wanted to hear how I was doing and as she could clearly hear I was unable to talk during contractions, just breathe, she said it was time to slowly make our way in, so we did. Brad took the reins, he packed the car, called family members which allowed me to get myself ready at my own pace, we dropped the dog off at friends and made our way in. As we drove in, I listened to my upbeat birthing playlist in the car and sang along to some of my favourite tunes, which helped me ease my nerves & excitement.
When we arrived at Triage I was immediately told there were no rooms for us, the Birthing Centre was closed and I would have to wait in the waiting area, it was laughable really as I could barely stand up but we politely sat and Brad held my hand whilst I breathed through the contractions. After 15mins, Brad then moved me into the corridor, he could sense I was getting restless and I also felt a bit embarrassed having to breathe so heavily in a waiting room full of people. Again the only comfortable position I could find was on all 4’s, so there I was on all 4’s hugging the plastic waiting room chair in the corridor waiting to be seen. After 10 more minutes the midwives could see I was in a lot of discomfort and finally found me a room in triage. The midwife on shift popped in and asked if she could check how dilated I was and I was happy for her to check as I could barely stand and the not knowing was hard! To our surprise I was 5cms dilated, and she congratulated me on managing up to this point on my own, she said most people get sent home as they aren’t anywhere close but I was staying put, she could feel my waters and this baby was on its way TONIGHT! This midwife also commented on the way I was managing my breathing, she asked whether I had done a hypnobirthing course as she could tell I was able to breathe through my contractions confidently which was a nice surprise.
I had planned for a Spontaneous Vaginal Water Birth without Pain Relief if possible, I had back up options just in case things didn’t go to plan and I knew from the Hypnobirthing Course and Anna’s amazing support what I could say yes/no to throughout the hours of labour. At this point we were in a room in Triage and I said to Brad that a water birth probably wasn’t going to happen so we better make ourselves comfy. After 10mins the midwife came back in and said her goodbyes, they were on their shift changeover so I was going to be supported by another midwife. This is when I had a stroke of luck because the midwife that switched over was a midwife that had been a client of mine in the past, Lucy. Lucy pushed open the door and announced she was taking care of me and I completely relaxed, I knew I was in good hands. She was also able to get me into the Birthing Centre with a Pool Room, “thank heavens!!” I thought.
We slowly made our way to the birthing pool room, I slipped off my clothes and Brad helped me step into the pool which was the most amazing feeling ever. It was around 8pm now and my contractions were coming on even stronger, as my hold body tensed I focused deeply on my breath, I counted the breaths in for 4 and out for 8 and reminded myself they were just waves, they would rise and fall. Brad put on my birthing playlist, the lighting was dimmed and I also remembered to focus on my visualisation of “happy place”, which for me was a beach I am really fond of.
At around 8:30pm I felt so exhausted and the contractions were so hard, I said to Lucy “I really don’t think I can do this any longer” and she reminded me that this was just the transition phase, I needed to trust my body now and trust that “I CAN DO THIS” which was one of my affirmations. And just like that after my next contraction, my waters broke into the pool. After this moment it was all systems go, my body went into birth mode, it felt like the hardest workout of my life but every contraction I knew brought me closer to meeting my baby. We hadn’t found out the gender of our child before this stage so the thought of finding out helped me focus. Lucy respected my wishes of no pain relief, she did offer me gas and air but the thought of it made me feel sick. At this point I felt scared, excited, wild, and courageous, and with every contraction I made a loud deep low "birthing breath" groan which felt incredibly human, so I went with it. My midwife encouraged me to really trust my body and push when I felt the contractions (I liked being told when to push), all of a sudden I felt the head and was able to hold it there using my breath whilst I waited for the next contraction. After 2 hours of being in the pool at 10:28pm I birthed our beautiful surprise son Erik Leo into the pool. We delayed cord clamping, Brad cut the cord and we had immediate skin on skin, it was breathtaking and a memory I will cherish forever.
Once the cord was cut I wanted to get out of the pool and as I was guided onto the bed by Brad I felt incredibly uncomfortable with the Placenta still inside of me so I asked Lucy to remove it as quick as she could, I was happy to be injected for her to do so, and she followed my wishes. To my surprise I had absolutely no tears and I didn’t need stitches which I was over the moon about and I believe that having a natural birth without pain relief and focusing on my breath work must of helped this.
I can honestly say birthing our baby was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life, BUT and that’s a big but, it was the most incredible, amazing, rewarding, wonderful and positive experience and if I could do it again tomorrow I absolutely would. I cannot thank Anna enough for her course, without her course I know I wouldn’t have been able to have such a positive birth and great recovery. I was petrified of giving birth before I started her course and now I can’t wait to have another baby and do it all again!!
Thank you Anna, for everything!
Angi and Brad - Worcester, Worcestershire