Birth story - Bethany and baby Eleanor

I found out I had obstetric cholestasis during week 35 of my pregnancy. I had the same condition with my first baby, Henry. I was induced at 37 weeks with him and the condition is likely to reoccur in subsequent pregnancies, so even before I became pregnant I was prepared for another induced labour. Despite my first baby being induced, my birth was 'fine' and unproblematic. I thought that was all I could hope for at the time.

My sister purchased the digital pack as a present for me during my pregnancy. I watched the videos and realised I had done a few of the techniques during my first birth without actually realising so I was confident I'd be able to implement them fully this time and have another good birth. I'm quite a relaxed person when it comes to 'medical' things such as labour as I am a nurse, therefore I wasn't a huge 'planner' and was very happy to 'go with the flow' to an extent during labour.

My induction date came. At 5:30pm I was admitted to the pre-natal ward and was given my first pessary, I was already 2cm but my cervix was still high. I was left to relax and try get contractions started. Because of ward restrictions my partner wasn't allowed to come onto the ward until I was in established labour (4cm, or waters broken). I sat in bed with my headphones on listening to some of the PBC videos and trying to focus. I took breaks to read but kept revisiting the videos.

My surges started, I didn't time them but they were getting more regular, and by 9pm I popped my tens machine on and got into bed to try and get some sleep. I managed to drift off and slept until 23:45 when I was awoken with an intense feeling. I asked the midwife for some paracetamol, thinking I'd be able to get back to sleep after that, however as she left to get the medication, I felt an intense burning type sensation in my stomach and felt my waters 'pop' and only a trickle came out. When I explained this to the midwife on her return she didn't think it was my waters, but she asked me to put a pad on and let her know if it kept happening.

I suddenly felt very intense feelings of pressure and I knew the baby was on his/her way. I crouched down by the side of the bed and the midwife asked me if I felt like I needed to push, I couldn't even reply but asked someone to quickly call my partner. The midwife asked if I'd be able to get into a chair and go up to labour ward but I knew I'd never make it. I suddenly got onto the bed and a feeling of empowerment came over me, I knew I was going to have to do it alone and that my baby was coming now, in my side room on the pre-natal ward.

I silently focused on my breathing and within minutes my baby’s head was out, with one further push she was placed on my chest. A baby girl, we didn't know her gender until that moment, the midwife placed a pink hat on her head. my body was shaking from the adrenaline, I cut her cord myself, twanged with a small feeling of sadness my partner didn't get to share this amazing moment. Despite that I'd never felt so empowered and proud of myself that I'd done it alone, with no pain relief, just positive thoughts and breathing techniques.

My partner arrived shortly after and I broke the news that we had a baby girl. He stayed with us both for about 4 hours then had to go home.

We are so smitten with our family and our baby girl is just perfect.

Thanks so much for your resources. I could never have imagined actually enjoying labour, let alone a labour alone in the middle of a global pandemic.