Categories
Archive
23 Jan 2023
Our empowering induction
I had a great pregnancy with Jake. I had no morning sickness, generally felt really well and stayed active throughout. I even managed to work up until three days before he was born.
I was diagnosed with Gestational Diabetes at 30 weeks and this is when induction was first mentioned to me. I ended up on a very low dose of Insulin at 33 weeks for the remainder of my pregnancy.
We were having regular growth scans, and at our Consultant Appointment at 36 weeks, induction was advised at 38 weeks due to accelerated growth of the baby. We used the BRAIN tool which we learnt on Anna's course, and reluctantly decided to accept, having assessed our options.
On the morning of my induction we went for a nice walk in our local area and when back home, I had a nice hot shower, painted my nails and watched an England Netball match, everything to get my Oxytocin flowing! We were anxiously waiting for a call from the Midwife to let us know a bed was available.
I had the call from the Midwife at half one advising me that a bed would be available in the afternoon. On our way to the hospital, we listened to my "Oxytocin playlist" ensuring I remained as calm and relaxed as possible and was armed with my visualisation board, headphones and aromatherapy spray.
Upon arrival at the ward, the lady next to me was in established labour, the different sounds on the ward made it feel a bit overwhelming, so I popped on my headphones and got in the zone with some spa music.
Once on the ward, I had the first pessary at 5pm and was advised that I was already 2cm dilated and that my cervix was irritated, likely to be from the Sweep I had requested from my midwife 2 days before. I didn't sleep much that night and I could feel the aches were getting more intense.
I had prepared myself that I could be in hospital for a number of days and so therefore downloaded various series onto my tablet so I could keep myself preoccupied whilst in there.
Throughout the day, I felt the surges getting more intense, however kept busy by watching TV. I changed between bouncing on the ball, and being stood up to swaying my hips from side to side.
One vivid memory I have is being hooked up to the monitor at midday, I had spa music playing through my headphones and the sun was shining through the window (it was -6 degrees outside) and I managed to drift off into a sleep - I imagined being at Malvern Spa...if only!
Later on the Monday afternoon I was stood up swaying my hips when my waters broke. I remained calm and rang my husband who was still working and asked him to make his way to the hospital.
I was examined again at 5pm where they removed the pessary and advised me I was 2cm dilated. At this point there was concern that my waters were discoloured and the midwife went off to check these with another colleague. Fortunately she said it all looked OK and after this I just remember getting in the zone with my headphones on and breathing through the surges. Mark made sure I was fuelled with water and food, even if it was a bite of a banana between surges. I felt them getting stronger and at around 8pm Mark went to tell the midwives.
They advised us to start timing them. Around half an hour later I had the urge to push. As soon as I said this he reminded me to move from a lying down position to on all fours. I had been lay down until this point as I had had Pethidine and was advised that to fully relax between contractions, it would be best to be lay down.
At this point I was still on the ward so Mark again went to get a midwife. The midwife arrived and examined me, I was fully dilated and they could see the baby’s head. I was quickly wheeled down to the Delivery Suite and between contractions had to change beds. A couple of pushes later and Baby Jake was born. It all happened very quickly and the midwives even said they were expecting him to be a midnight baby - He was born at 8.47pm!
I really feel that my breathing techniques played a huge role in my birthing experience, ensuring I stayed calm and in control whilst understanding what was happening to my body.
Despite the induction not being part of our initial birth plan, our experience of birth was such a positive one and one that I would love to relive again. I couldn't be more proud of my body and what it has achieved!"
Faye and Mark - Bromsgrove, Worcestershire