My Birth Stories

The Birth of Clara

 

I became pregnant with my first baby at age 29. We had been married 3 years at this point and looked forward to our first little one. However I was apprehensive as I was already classed as ‘high risk’ due to heart issues, so I was worried about what this might mean. It felt quite scary to think what may need to happen and I felt like the birth I had wanted might be denied. I was under a cardiology consultant at St. Marys Hospital in Manchester and had to have all my antenatal care there. I really struggled the whole way through pregnancy with hyperemesis, where I was constantly being sick. I just wanted to be able to look forward to the birth as much as possible because I felt that the odds were already stacked against me.

 

I discovered hypnobirthing by reading a magazine in the hairdressers, and it mentioned that Kate Middleton had used this for the birth of Prince George. I was intrigued as I definitely was up for anything that may help with birth, because I perceived that it was going to be tough. I also wasn’t having a great pregnancy, as I was suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum. I really wanted to find something that would make the whole experience better, and hypnobirthing seemed to be the answer!

 

 I found a local teacher and discussed it with my husband. He agreed as anything that would help me was worth a shot! So we started classes from 20 weeks for 5 weeks. I use to love the sessions as it gave me something to look forward to, and we could just have that time to focus on our forthcoming baby. I did lots of practicing of the scripts and relaxation, and asked lots of questions at my antenatal appointments. I was offered induction at 37 weeks due to being ‘high risk’ but I declined as I was fixed on having a natural waterbirth. I was amazed that this was actually an option on a consultant led unit, but it was pot luck if I got a pool as there were only 2 available.

 

The day came when the contractions very gradually started at 2.15pm at 40 weeks plus 5 days. I felt so excited but knew I had to remain calm and rest as much as possible as I needed to be in for the long haul. Initially, because my husband worked just down the road, he went to work that morning. For the initial part of the labour process, I was quite happy to be on my own and focus deep within myself. So I spent the day just listening to my different relaxation scripts, getting in and out the bath, using aromatherapy and homeopathy to just keep me relaxed. The contractions did build up towards the later half of the afternoon and I asked him to come back from work. It was then that I needed him to be involved and start using some of the techniques that we had learnt such as the light touch massage. This all helped release oxytocin which I needed to keep the contractions building.

 

As I was under consultant lead care at St.Marys Hospital in Manchester due to congenital heart issues, we phoned them and they agreed for me to come down and be assessed. All my bags were packed anyway, so we just quickly got things together. Im definitely one for being prepared and having lists everywhere! We went through Manchester about 6pm, so it was rush hour, but I got through with headphones on listening to music and scripts that I had practised over many weeks.

When we got there, the first midwife I saw initially said to me, ‘Its going to get a lot worse than this kid’. When I look back on that statement now, I just think that it was unnessesary  and doesn’t help create any happy hormones. I never responded, but just concentrated on what I knew I could do to help myself. At about 8pm, I was classed as being in established labour, and as I requested a waterbirth, I was lucky to be granted one, and a pool was available. I was extatic. When we got there, my husband discussed my birth preferences with staff, and put the sign up at the door that I was using hypnobirthing. The midwives did seem respectful of this and kept their voices lowered. They spoke to my husband who was my advocate throughout so I could then just concentrate on being ‘in the zone’. 

 

I continued to use the pool with gas and air throughout. I set up battery candles, had dim lights, aromatherapy oils on a tissue and the music on that I had practised relaxation to in the background. As early morning came round about 2.30am, I did request extra pain relief. In this case I knew my options and was confident to ask for what I wanted. I asked for half a dose of diamorphine instead of a full dose, and that was definitely enough for me to take the edge off the contractions. I knew from research that drugs such as these are powerful, and can also affect the baby. It did make me sleepy, so I was able to rest in between contractions for a while. I then was able to get back in the pool after a few hours and just breath my way through using visualisation as I knew the end was in sight. At 8.35am in the morning, our little water baby was born. I wasn’t even aware that she was out. I had done a lot of perineal massage 6 weeks prior, so that was the easy bit! After just 15 minutes of her being born, she successfully latched on and had her first breastfeed. I did have a tiny tear, which the midwives sorted with little dissolvable stitches. Nothing was painful and I hardly noticed them doing anything at all.

 

Even though the labour process was a long one, I got the birth I wanted! I knew exactly what my options were when it came to pain relief, but also understood what my body was doing and why. So even though I was classed as ‘High Risk’, I had a voice in what I wanted, my husband was able to communicate my wishes and we worked together as a team. The whole experience was incredible, and set me up for the months to come as a new mum.

The Birth of Gabriel

 

So round two and I had an awful pregnancy due to hyperemesis (AKA severe morning sickness), hence why I was looking forward to the birth. I needed something to focus on and so I did a refresher course in hypnobirthing, and read everything I could about birth and about how I could be in control. I felt super prepared more than I did the first time round, as I knew more of what was coming. I spoke with a head midwife, as previously I was under consultant lead care at Manchester due to heart issues, and wondered if I could have the option of the birth centre instead due to no complications last time. She agreed and even discussed using Diamorphine that could be prescribed if I needed it.  I had done a visual and a written birth preference list, and focused on being able to cover most eventualities. I had gone over all my hypnobirthing techniques and aligned my pelvis with an osteopath to help get my body prepared. I also did perineal massage which I think helped me brilliantly, and its something that is a great way to prepare your body as it can help prevent tearing.

 

I had got to just over 38 weeks and my waters broke at 2.30am whilst I was in bed. It wasn’t just a trickle, it was a definite gush. I went to the bathroom, and noticed that there was meconium in the waters. My first instant thought was ‘ohh no they will want to induce me, and ideally that’s not what I want, unless there was good reason to do so. I knew that intervention can lead to further intervention. I phoned the birth centre and they asked me to come in due to the meconium. I tried to stay calm on the way to the hospital with earphones in, but found it quite hard as I knew what the medical staffs take on it would be. I did some calm breathing and that helped me to remain focused.

 

When I got to the birth centre, the pressure was on. The midwife there asked if she could examine me in which I agreed, even though I knew I could decline. I was already getting some contractions at that point, all be it 15 minutes apart. I was told I was about 3cm dilated which again I knew could be hit and miss as to whether it was actually that anyway. I was then told that I would need to go on a drip to speed up labour due to the meconium in waters. It was then that I declined this as I knew I would need close monitoring and speeding labour up can make it a lot more painful and prolonged. Therefore I suggested that I would accept wireless monitoring as it meant I could be mobile and not restricted. I emphasised that these were my choices and made sure these were communicated well in conjunction with my visual and written birth plan.

 

It was at this point that I was allocated a private side room and allowed to see how I got on myself with labour. I had read and researched a lot on how to get labour going by myself with hypnobirthing tools and techniques. I knew I had to get the neocortex part of my brain switched off in order to reduce adrenaline and increase oxytocin and endorphins. So I watched a funny film in the dark (by the way, this was the film Norbit), did some rebozo techniques, had aromatherapy specific for birth, had homeopathy and really tried to zone out concentrating on my mind/ body connection. I also listened to the hypnobirthing MP3 tracks that I had practised using in pregnancy, and had a nice cooling gel eye mask on.Before I knew it, my contractions were 2 minutes apart and coming on strong. My husband went to get the midwives after a few hours in this room to let them know that things were progressing quite quickly now.

 

I was then moved on to the consultant led ward due to the meconium incase anything went wrong which I understood the reasoning. I also was high risk due to heart issues and the medical staff that were there could administer Diamorphine if I really needed it. I had previously during pregnancy specifically discussed this as a form of pharmaceutical pain relief should I need it, as I knew I didn’t react too adversely to this and still felt in control. I continued with wireless monitoring and the midwife was happy with how the babys fetal heart rate sounded. My husband went through my birth plan, and the midwife was excellent with me. She spoke softly and quietly. She also asked if a medical male doctor in his second year could observe. I wouldn’t have normally agreed to this (it definitely wasn’t on my birth plan), however I really wanted him to see how physiological birth looked. I know that very few doctors would ever see it, and I knew I could do it.

 

Just a few hours more of continuous strong contractions, some gas and air and breathing through each surge and letting my body do what it needed to, I was at the birthing stage. I went on my knees on the bed and beared down. I wasn’t even aware that he had come out and the midwife said ‘hes here, just let him come up between your legs’ and it was suddenly all over with.

 

I knew the importance of the undisturbed 1st hour after birth, and had also made a plan for that. Gabriel immediately attached well to the breast with skin to skin contact, which then helped the contractions for the placenta to be strong. I was able to birth the placenta without intervention or injection. We also requested that the cord was left white until cut, which now I think they do more routinely. I was checked if needing any stitches and luckily I didn’t. I was the able to have a shower and have some amazing jam and toast- it always is the best toast you will ever taste.