Categories
Archive
15 Aug 2022
Our incredible birth experience
It was the 15th August, which was my babies due date! My parents live in Portsmouth and my mum had always hoped to be at the birth which we knew may not happen. Luckily they up the weekend before that Monday and we’re due to go home that morning as I’d had no movements. But at 4:45 am I got up for a wee when my waters went.
So I woke my partner who came into the bathroom, I then had a show. At this point I had a little cry, I think just through a moment of panic that it was here and I had to actually do what I’d been preparing for! But I had my affirmation cards on my bathroom mirror which I re read and my partner was amazing and there with supporting words.
My contractions started around 20 minutes later and were about 6-7 minutes apart. I went into my bedroom, listened to my affirmation playlist, put my diffuser on and got ready to ride the waves. My partner at this point let my mum know what was happening who was just pleased she was here!
Around 7:45 I had a warm bath and my contractions were about 4-5 minutes apart. We called triage who asked if I felt I could manage anymore at home, at this point I felt we needed to go in as we are around 30 minutes from the hospital. The hospital journey was tough as I had to come out of my oxytocin fuelled environment but I had my birthing playlist on in the car. I had also been being sick so this was tricky!
Once I got to the hospital at around 08:30 I had an internal and was 6cm dilated! I was pleased at how long I had managed at home. I gave the midwife my birth plan as I had requested the meadow centre. However staffing that day wouldn’t allow it, which made me panic a little as I knew how helpful I found water. However my midwife ensured me he had a pool birth room on delivery suite so I just had to wait for it to be cleaned.
An hour or so later we all walked round to the room and I got into the pool which immediately helped as it was warm and the floating feeling really helped with the pain. It was here my partner set up the room with candles, diffuser, and music etc. I found my playlist so helpful as I could move in the water to it.
At this point I asked for some gas and air which really took the edge off my contractions.
My mum was amazing at this point guiding me through my breathing when I would forget due to the pain to the point where my midwife asked if she was a midwife ha-ha. I also felt that because my partner, my mum and I had it under control the midwife was really hands off until I asked for him.
After about 3 hours in the water and getting the urge to bear down I felt like I’d been doing this for hours with no success, even though I could feel babies head! This was the point of transition I had learnt about on Anna’s course, where I felt I couldn’t do it anymore I had nothing left. But me and my partner had learnt about this and knew I was close! So when he reminded me of this I found some more strength to keep going.
My midwife at this point gave me another internal at my request and I was 10cm! So now he told me to use that surge to push! Again my mum was fab here when I would have had a wobble.
At this point my midwife had to leave and go to triage which I was devastated about! But thankfully his replacement was just as amazing. She came in and I told her my concerns that I’d been pushing for what felt like forever, she then asked me if I’d been for a wee since I went into labour! I realised I hadn’t and knew the importance of this from Anna’s course. I was also cooking a bit in the pool, so she asked me if I wanted to walk to the toilet and try. But I couldn’t and just wanted to push more, so I agreed to an in/out catheter at this point and my bladder was full! I had to get on the bed for her to do this and around 20 minutes later my boy was born!
I had an internal tear as I pushed his head out quite fast. But all in all my experience was incredible! I then had 2 hours of skin to skin and my partner cut our baby’s cord 15 minutes later. I aimed to birth the placenta naturally but after an hour I had the injection and it was helped out. I then just reflected on what me and my body was capable of and achieved, my mum got my actual birth part on camera which I didn’t think I would want but now am so grateful for! Without Anna’s course I was petrified of birth but am so pleased I did it, it was by far best thing I did throughout my pregnancy, oh and yoga! But her support has been amazing since with regular check ins and I also met some incredible other couples and we have all stayed in touch and that has been helpful also. My partner was sceptical at first and even after the first session. But was all for it throughout the rest of my pregnancy and labour and has even said how helpful it was and how much he saw I needed it. So Maximus Callachan was born on his due date (so rare apparently) at 13:02!
Lauren and Anthony - Inkberrow, Worcestershire