Birth story - Amy and baby Pearl

Pearl is my third daughter, third labour and delivery but first happy experience and I can honestly say that the digital pack helped me achieve my dream birth. As a third time mum!

I was always going to be induced at 37 weeks due to issues I won’t go into here. So I bought the digital pack when I was around 30 weeks pregnant after seeing it on Instagram a few times. I really wanted to give hypnobirthing a go but the pessimist in me insisted it was a load of nonsense, that nothing could make labour easier and especially taking some deep breaths. But for the price I thought I would give it a go.

I completed the course and absolutely loved my nightly routine of watching and listening to Siobhan. I practised my breathing and in the run up to my induction date I dotted positive affirmations around my home, bought a tonne of tea lights, some lavender spray, some clary sage oil and packed everything in my hospital bag.

My induction date came and I surprised myself at how relaxed and excited I was. I couldn’t wait to get things going and meet my baby.

I had my first pessary at 4.30pm and off we went for a walk around the hospital. I bounced on my birthing ball, sniffed my clary sage, listened to the mp3s and just relaxed as I thought I was in for a long night. My surges started at 9.50pm and managed to breath through them using the breathing technique I had learnt. At 11pm my midwife came and said the delivery suite was very quiet and would I like to go down and have my waters broken. I agreed. Still thinking I had a long road ahead of me.

Once we got to delivery suite I helped my boyfriend set the room up, we turned the main lights off, put on every single tea light we had taken with us, sprayed lavender on my pillow and around the room and linked my phone up to the Bluetooth speaker provided so that I could listen to affirmations through my surges. I bounced on the ball and was still able to breath through my surges which were at this point becoming quite strong. My midwife then asked if I would like to be examined which I agreed to, she told me I was at 5cm and could easily break my waters if I wanted. I agreed. I was over the moon that I was half way there already on zero pain relief and just breathing. I couldn’t believe that I was doing it! I felt amazing. And calm! So calm and happy. My midwife was surprised I was as far as I was because she said I was so relaxed she wouldn’t of guessed! A little while later being sat on the ball just wasn’t doing it for me any more, my back was starting to ache. At this point my midwife asked me if I would like a bath to ease the soreness and I jumped at the chance. She ran the bath for me and even transferred some of my tea lights into the bathroom for me so it was as relaxed as the delivery room. I sank into the warm water and could of cried tears of joy at how nice it felt and the relief it brought me immediately. I carried on my up-breathing and in between surges was chatting to my midwife who asked if I had considered having a water birth. This had always been a dream of mine since I was pregnant with my first daughter but because I was high risk I was always told that under no circumstances would I ever be allowed to labour or birth in a pool. This was always said to me by senior consultants & I never questioned it. Until now. I replied well I’m high risk, I’m not allowed to?

She laughed and said “not allowed!? This is your birth you can do as you please!”

This was music to my ears. I was so happy. So I said I would love a water birth. My boyfriend and I exchanged excited glances and off she went to start filling the pool. “It takes ages to fill so just relax you’ve got ages yet...”

As soon as she left the room my surges changed. I was struggling to breathe through them and involuntarily I started to push. I remained calm but I no longer wanted to chat and I was definitely “in the zone”. The midwife returned, noticed that I was making the famous “mooing” sound, and acting quite shocked exclaimed “Amy... are you pushing!?” To which I simply nodded and then carried on my down-breathing. My eyes were closed but I could hear her rustling around and getting things ready to deliver in the bath. Even though logically I knew things were happening and my daughter was coming I was still so surprised and in a bit of denial because only 25 minutes earlier I was only 5cm dilated. At this point I requested some gas and air because I couldn’t keep on top of my surges with down-breathing. I had a couple of puffs of gas and air and felt my entire body push down, and in seconds, my third daughter flew into the bath. I scooped her up into my arms. Crying with joy and disbelief that I had done it.

My midwife was thrilled for me, she kept repeating “THAT was an amazing birth, you smashed it Amy!”

I honestly don’t think I would of had the birth I did if it wasn’t for the PBC. I think the length of my labour was down to me being relaxed and the amount of oxytocin that was coursing through my body for the entire thing. At no point was I scared. I trusted my body entirely. And this is all thanks to you guys.

Thank you so much. From the bottom of my heart. Thank you so much for helping me find the confidence to birth my baby. For taking away the worries I had. For making my third birth the most amazing experience I could ever of hoped for. Pearl is nearly 5 weeks old and I am still absolutely thrilled about her birth. It was amazing. I tell all of my pregnant friends about this company and anybody who will listen.

I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you x