Birth story - Amy and baby Freyja

This was my second birth and I can’t even begin to explain how different this experience was to my first. Back in 2012 I felt completely let down by my experience, an induction with an epidural. It felt like all the decisions were made for me. As soon as I started the hypnobirthing online course - I knew this time was going to be so different.

My surges started lightly on a Sunday morning. It was like a little buzz across my lower back. Very gentle and almost exciting. I managed to do a food shop with my husband and daughter, took our dogs for a walk and had a relatively normal day. Towards dinner time, as we ate our roast, the feeling had gotten a lot stronger but nothing that wasn’t manageable. I still enjoyed my dinner and we watched tv as usual. By the time we went to bed, my surges were a lot stronger and coming in a lot more regularly. From midnight I was having 2-3 every ten minutes and barely slept a wink. I used the up breathing technique every time I felt one coming. It was still very much around my lower back area and in the early hours I woke my husband to make me a hot water bottle. By 4am I was asking him to ring the midwife lead birthing centre. I wasn’t sure if the pain I was experiencing was enough to be going in or not. With Covid, I didn’t want to risk going there unnecessarily or too early. When describing my pain to the midwife I soon got emotional and started to cry so we took that as them being strong enough! We set off around 5:30am.

As soon as we reached the birthing unit, just before 6am, I felt completely at ease. The room was spacious and comfortable with low lighting and the midwives were lovely. Luckily a room with a bath was free and I said I would like to try a water birth. My husband was allowed in with me straight away which instantly felt like a load off. I was examined (something that thanks to the course I felt was completely my own decision) and was told I was 3cm dilated. I was asked if I’d like to go home but I declined (the walk from the car park to the hospital had been hard enough so I didn't want to have to do it again). We were brought some toast and coffee. That toast and jam felt like the best thing I’d ever eaten. Only an hour or so later, the surges got more intense and I struggled to keep a slow and sustained in breath. I was offered gas and air and as soon as it came, I was able to control my breathing more easily. If anyone feels like their breathing is out of their control - get that gas and air! With the gas and air I was able to nail my breathing technique with the help of my husband who counted away for me each time.

Luckily we had decided against going home because it was only a short while before the bath was being run for me to get in. The warm water and sitting up right over the edge instantly reduced some of the pain and discomfort. Using the gas and air through the surges felt almost easy. And then suddenly, it was time to start pushing. First to pop out was some of the sac so we knew we were close! I stayed upright in the bath, leaning on the side facing my husband for the most of this. I kept reminding myself how my body was built for this moment and I really breathed into every push with everything I had. It was so encouraging knowing what was happening within my body at the point - something I wouldn’t have been aware of if it hadn’t been for the course! After a while, the midwife suggested that I changed position and to be honest, this really helped. As soon as I changed position I managed to pass my babies head and all I could think about was I’m nearly there! It felt like a lifetime waiting for the next contraction but as soon as it came, her body flew out into the water and before I could blink she was in my arms. Instant calm and happiness. I was only slightly grazed with no tears and no stitching required. So even the healing and aftercare was different this time. Thank you so much for providing the material you do, I found it invaluable!