Birth story - Alaa and baby Mya

I feel like my birth experience has been a positive experience despite being a few days late. When I was still pregnant at 41 weeks and 5 days I wanted it to be over. Although I wanted a natural birth, at that stage anything would have done. I was told I made it so comfortable for her she didn’t want to leave. My pregnancy was very peaceful with no complications whatsoever (we thank God).

When putting together my birth plan I asked for a water birth at the birth centre with no access to Epidural or strong form of pain killers. My husband advised me to consider other forms of painkillers just incase, so in other words not to mention “No” to anything on my birth plan. I did as he said.

So the day of my second sweep came, I had my sweep at 9am on a Saturday (41 weeks 3days) by 12pm my contractions started. They were definitely early labour but by the evening they got very intense. I downloaded the contraction counting app “Freya” which was amazing as it instructs you to breath during a surge and relax in-between. I went from a contraction lasting 30seconds with 5/7mins in between to them lasting 40/50seconds with 3mins in between. That same night I lost my mucus plug. I also remember not sleeping that night and keeping my husband up, he helped me with breathing during my contractions. I took out my TENS machine which I purchased from Amazon and kept some paracetamol on my bedside table.

The next day I ended up with what I thought was severe contractions but when I went to triage I was told I was only 2cms dilated and was sent home. However, I was told I would have the baby on that same day which happened to be the Sunday. Sunday night I was back in the hospital with a very uncomfortable pressure thinking I needed to use the toilet but it was definitely not that. For a first time mum the not knowing was consistent, although I read a lot and had so much help with understanding pregnancy and birth. When I got looked at I was told I was 4.5cms dilated and they were keeping me in.

The midwife said to wait for her to find me a bed in the maternity ward and I had to remind her that’s not my birth plan and that I am meant to have a water birth. It took 20 mins to find me a room which I LOVED. It really added a lot of comfort to have a whole room for me and my husband, and obviously the midwife helping me give birth. I was then asked to get into the bath, it was large, I was given the gas and air tube and then carried on with my contractions which got more and more intense.

By now it was 1am on the Monday and after a few hours my water broke and the midwife asked me to come out of the water because the baby has passed meconium (pooped in the womb). I was then told I would be wheeled to the maternity ward which I said no to as I felt like I would give birth on the way there! I felt ready to push. I was asked to get on the bed on my knees and hold on the the headboard, my husband came to hold my hand and at 4:57am that same Monday my beautiful daughter was born weighing 3.8kgs.

I laid back and the nurse handed her over to me. She laid on my stomach and instantly latched and started to breastfeed. That moment I was complete, we were complete. I couldn’t have asked for a better hospital, midwives, husband or support network.