Sam’s Birth Story – A Home Water Birth VBAC in Aberdeen

I should start with the pregnancy and birth planning really.

From the moment I had my first baby, I knew the second would have to be a homebirth. My eldest was born at 43+2 via emergency c-section, due to a long induction. Baby was fine, my body just got tired after 27hrs of labour and I went into kidney and liver failure, so baby needed out. The first few hours of Isabella’s life are a blur and while it wasn’t traumatic for me, it was actually a gentle birth from my point of view, once we got home both my husband and I decided the next baby will have to be a Home birth.

We moved to Aberdeen when she was 8 days. And I got pregnant with Adeline when she was 19 month. That gave me some time to 1/make friends 2/ know my options.

As soon as I got pregnant I told my midwife I wanted a homebirth. I told her as long my pregnancy was healthy it wasn’t negotiable. Induction was a big fat no. I expected to be pregnant for 10 month once again and I wouldn’t rush baby out this time. She agreed and was very supportive.

My first appointment with the consultant was a disaster. It wasn’t my consultant but a registrar and he kept on talking about babies being big and small and that I was going to die (I am only joking a little here). I went to see the secretary and made a fuss about only seeing my named consultant from now on so that I would have continuity of care. And I asked to see my consultant ASAP. I was booked in for the following week. I explained her that I wanted a homebirth. I talked about all the risk but also all the advantages and that in my case advantages outrun risks. She told me she couldn’t recommend it but that since I was clearly educated on the matter and made an informed decision she wouldn’t try to dissuade me and that she and her team would be there to support me.

Pregnancy went well. My husband wasn’t sure he wanted to be there for the birth so we got a Doula and I asked my dear friend Hazel to be my birth partner.

Due date (28/08) came and went. Though I thought I wouldn’t fixate on my due date I did. And by the 31st I was an emotional mess. Thanks the stars I have a wonderful group of friend who took me out, chatted to me on my phone, distracted me and put up with my daily moods. They were wonderful.

I started to have contractions the 2nd of September. And for 9 days I would have on and off contractions at night. From 00:30 to 3pm. Every other night. Apparently it’s called prodromal labour and quite common in VBAC mothers. It’s your body getting ready, your nerves around your scar reconnecting, or so I was told.

On the 11th I woke up at 6am with strong tightenings. But Peter and the wolf syndrome I thought I’ll better get going with my day. I had a play date planned with my friends so off I went. Kids played and I kept contracting. That day I had an appointment with my consultant to book my c-section. I said if I was going 43+4 I would have an elective section.

After our play date I dropped Isabella at nursery and off I went to the hospital. They did an ECG and I was clearly in early labour. We booked the section but as I was walking out the hospital and Rob was timing my contractions I laughed and told my consultant she would probably have to cancel that tomorrow.

We went home around 3pm, I texted my friend Hazel to jump in a train and told the Doula to come. The pool had been ready for sometimes now, our birth space was all pretty and full of positive affirmations. Everyone arrived and I called the hospital to let them know I was in labour and to call the midwife. The midwife on call, Tanya, called me back and told me I didn’t sound like I was in established labour but would I liked her to stop by to greet and meet. That made me feel so safe.

She came by, we had a long chat and every time I had a contraction she put her hand on my belly. She read my birth plan, which she clearly had read before. She was kind and straightforward. I liked her A LOT. She told me to call her when I was ready to go in the pool. It was 5pm when she left. We ordered pizzas and watched a bit of TV, then I put some music on to get moving. Contractions started to intensify and I told Rob to start filling the pool. Around 9pm I called Tanya to tell her I was ready to get it. I put my swimsuit and got into the pool. I asked Rob to put the hypnobirthing tape on and as the contractions intensified I concentrated on the tape. Contractions were very strong, and by 11pm every contractions felt like an urge to push. Tanya called the second midwife, Sinead. She was so calm and so sweet. Those two were the perfect team. I was very nervous and kept on feeling something was going wrong. I asked the Doula to leave the room. We didn’t get on and she stressed me more than anything.

Each contractions I felt I needed to push yet I couldn’t feel baby coming down. I was so nervous my body wasn’t doing what it was supposed to do. I sobbed and said maybe I should be transferred and I should have a c-section. I asked in my birth plan “no vaginal examinations”, but Tanya read me well and asked if I would like to be examined to be reassured in the progress of my labour. I enthusiastically said yes. I got out of the pool and she had a check. I was 7cm. All was well. I think it was 2am.. I was getting tired and I regretted not taking a nap in the afternoon, but I looked at Hazel and she was wearing her t-shirt: “nevertheless, she persisted” along with her kind smiley face.

I could feel those 3 women supporting me through this, and even though I didn’t believe I could do it they did. By 4am I reach breaking point and was crying I needed a c-section and I couldn’t do it. I had another VE and I was fully dilated. Hurray! I stayed out of the pool and leaned on Robert to help baby go down. I stayed there a while. It was comforting to just lean on him. After a while I went back in the pool and Tanya told me that if things were not progressing maybe we should discuss getting transferred. Hell no. I didn’t go that far to now be transferred. I went to work – that baby out needed out. I moved positions as much as possible, from sitting to squatting to leaning to everything. I kept on visualising a peach. A peach being skinned. It was a gif my friend Ivey sent me again and again when I passed my due date. So I kept on thinking of it to help baby descent.

Then, at one point, I put my hand down and felt a head of hair!! I was so overjoyed! She was coming!! Tanya and Sinead guided me through the pushing phase. It took a little while. Eventually I leaned back in rob’s arm, and started to feel that ring of fire I heard about. I looked up and in the reflection from the velux I could see her head. She was coming. Tanya told me not to push at the next contraction. I held it together. Then gave a big push. Head was out. Then chin. Then she told me to get my hands put so I could catch her. I didn’t get right away what she was saying so she took my hands. And I caught her. My squishy beautiful perfect little girl. I took her out of the water into my arms. She was crying to the world. It had been a long one for her too.

They helped me out of the pool to my bed after a few minutes.

I could barely hold her as I had no strength left. I was a bit shell shock and so was Robert. I was so happy yet so tired and somehow a little sad. Sad that I thought I couldn’t do it. That was the feeling all through that labour, the left over of my c-section that I never wanted to face. But I could do it. And I did. I forking did it!

After a little while I birthed my placenta. Then Tanya asked if she could check me. I had a tear and it was a bit too big to be fixed at home so I had to be transferred. It turned out to be a 3rd degree tear so I went to theatre. And my consultant being the doctor on the ward she did the surgery! She was so chuffed to see us and so were we. What a wonderful consultant she had been.

So there it is. The story of the birth of my baby Adeline, born 43+1, 12th September at 6:40, 9lbs5 and 58cm

P.S.: there was a bit of gas and air at some point, I think before the first VE. It helped me a lot with my breathing actually..

P.P.S.: I was upset and thought something was wrong because for some reason, I had in my head that before baby is born, she would be ALL in my hips. Like the whole baby. In my hips. Clearly confused the anatomy of the giraffe with the human female. That, ladies, is labour mind for you. A tiny bit bonkers.