Catherine’s Birth Story

After a less than positive first birth I was keen to do what I could to have a more relaxed and smooth birth with our second son. I am happy to say I definitely feel I achieved that.

I had a little wobble when I knew the MLU (midwife led unit) was to be closed as I imagined birthing there and was hopeful I might get to try the pool but with some positive thinking and planning I made my peace with it.

My due date came and induction was brought up. My midwife never pressured me into anything but gave the recommendations for further checks or induction at term+7. I had decided to go ahead with a sweep that day as I was keen to avoid full induction and hoped this may give me a little nudge so when I was examined and my midwife said she couldn’t reach my cervix I was disappointed and started to worry baby was no where near ready to come and I would end up with induction. I went home and bounced all afternoon on my exercise ball.

I planned a walk with my mum and toddler for the next day to see about getting things moving.

My 2 and a half year old son decided he wasn’t keen to walk so I ended up carrying him most of the way, this should perhaps be the recommended first step in induction!

I had a few tightenings on and off the past couple of weeks so didn’t get excited about some more that afternoon.

I decided around dinner time to send my son for a sleepover at my mum’s so me and my husband could go out for an evening walk. I had a slight feeling something may be starting but didn’t tell my husband or Mum.

With a lovely sunny evening walk done we settled down to watch some tv, I had a few tightenings and eventually accepted they were contractions. Given it was nearly bedtime I suggested we go to bed and try to get some rest before things kicked off. I had a long labour first time round so was expecting something similar this time round.

It wasn’t long before I was being woken by my contractions and my breath being taken away, I decided to start timing them and quickly became too uncomfy for bed so went downstairs and sat on the ball. I tried to put my breathing into practice and listen to some hypnobirthing mp3s but things had quickly ramped up and I found it very difficult to stay relaxed.

I wrongly assumed I was still in the early stages of labour and had a while to go so did my best to breathe through and woke my husband to help put on the tens machine. When we realised my contractions were coming every 2/3 minutes my husband phoned labour ward and we made our way in.

My waters popped in the car as we parked, my husband was happy I’d reminded him about the mat for the seat! I immediately felt the urge to push and we were both concerned about baby appearing in the car park, the journey from the car into the hospital felt like miles. Midwives came to reception with a wheelchair and wheeled me through thank goodness as I wouldn’t have been able to keep walking. With gas and air, an upright position on the bed and just about 20 minutes after arriving at hospital baby Calum was born, I felt such relief and joy that I had done it! He was 8lbs 13oz, 54cm and born 2 days after his due date.

It was not quite the relaxed and calm hypnobirth I visualised as I felt quite overwhelmed and not sure if I was coping but I really think without having those hypnobirthing techniques I would have had no chance of being in control of my breathing, knowing my body was doing what it should do and following my body’s urges to breathe my baby out.

Sadly I missed out on all my planned activities for early labour, no time for massage or using lavender oil to help me relax and definitely no time to even think about the birth pool

The midwives followed my birth plan as much as they could in the short time before Calum arrived and my requests for after birth were respected which was lovely. We had a nice long time for skin to skin before weighing etc. We did have cord tie which the midwife was happy to use but my sons cord was really quite thick and it kept bleeding for a while after so felt it was best to replace with the standard clamp.

I don’t feel there would have been any difference if I had been in the Midwife unit. They had items such as tea lights, a floor mat and adjustable bed right there in the room (although no time to set up for me) so I hope this can reassure others who may be worried about being on the labour ward and not having the same options as MLU.

All the midwives and staff at maternity were great and thankfully as things had gone smoothly I was home later the same day.

I would also recommend the relaxation class offered by the midwives, whether you are planning full hypnobirthing or just want some information and techniques to help in labour.

A long birth story for a quick birth!