Birth story - Charley and baby Reg

*Trigger warning* - Suspected big baby, declined induction, postpartum hemorrhaging, Hyperemesis, use of contraction not negative.

I used hypnobirthing with my first but not PBC I bought the digital pack online and downloaded the Freya App and it was the best thing I could have done.

I suffered from hyperemesis with both pregnancy’s (the reason for a 4 year gap between babies) however, second time round I had a consultant and medication that made my pregnancy a lot more positive. It also meant I could eat a lot more - my first born was 7lb5 so I was expecting the same - I was wrong!

I used Freya from around 20 weeks to practice relaxation in the bath with lavender and my neom diffuser! I had growth scans due to baby measuring above the lines. I could tell he was big because I’m only 5ft3 and I could hardly walk from 34 weeks I was huge.

I saw a consultant at 37 weeks who said he wasn’t worried by his size but he would induce me anyway at 39 weeks. This went completely against what I wanted and what I took from PBC. Surely my body wouldn’t grow a baby too big for my body to birth? It’s what we were made to do? and with no concerns for the baby I chose to decline and take sweeps. At 39 weeks the baby was estimated at 8lb13 but we stuck with our decision to wait.

At 41 weeks there was no signs and I started to get anxious if I had made the right decision for me and baby - it is very hard to go against reccomendations of consultants but I used the tools from PBC and my gut told me this was the right choice for me. I have alot of friends who have had negative inductions that (in my opinion!) could have been avoided.

I had a consultant appointment on 31st August and I asked to have a section over induction and it was agreed I would go in on 2nd September.

Funnily enough once this decision was made and I had got my head around it I felt alot calmer and happier… and my waters started to leak.

I went in to be examined but I was sent home. They continued to leak until I went into labour on the 1st. We had a walk around town and picked up some pick&mix - followed by a bath and some relaxation using Freya with my pick&mix. I never got to them as I started with contractions which I thought was just upset tummy. However when I got out the bath my waters went. We went to hospital at 4.15pm and by the time I was there the contractions were coming fast. I was examined and I was 4cm. 2 consultants and 3 nurses came to see me to discuss the risks associated with big baby’s - shoulder distortion. They stopped talking while I used Freya and breathed through the contractions, 7 people watched me in silence, they all said how amazed they were at how I was breathing through them!!

They only had one birthing pool and it was available I was SO happy so we moved to that room and it felt like it took hours to fill. I continued to use breathing and my partner rubbing my back while I swayed from side to side lent over the bed. He put my neom diffuser on the ‘sleep’ scent. And I continued to use Freya’s counting. (Warning she drains your phone battery and I nearly had a meltdown when I realised I was only on 5%!) luckily we got her plugged in in time We laughed between the contractions it was completely manageable and the most amazing experience. It was completely different to my first birth as I took pethadine with put me completely out of control. This time I felt 100% in control. My partner was so calm and kept making jokes - it’s hard to laugh when you have a contraction but I managed. The midwife offered me gas and air once But I declined and said I would ask when I needed it.

She still laid it out on the bed and said it’s there if you need it. At about 7pm and 7cm it was getting intense so I took the gas and air and got in the pool and it was such a relief felt like I was back at 3cm again - for a short while. I was sad the midwife was finishing at 8 and I joked I would probably see her on her shift the next morning she laughed and said I don’t think so. (She had been a midwife for 38 years and obviously knew my labour better than me ) Because soon after, I started to ‘moo’ my midwife asked if I needed to push and I said no but with the next contraction I thought he was coming! There was no warning.

She explained earlier I would need to birth out the water incase I needed help delivering. So there was a buzz of a few midwives called in to help me get out the pool and onto the bed quickly.

Within a few pushes and in 10 minutes Reg was born! All 9lb6 of him! My body had done it, all by itself I was also shocked to get away with ‘a small graze’ and needing no stitches! I felt amazing and empowered I didn’t even feel tired and I was told I would be home in 3 hours!!

Unfortunately due to his size my uterus didn’t contract back quick enough which led to internal clotting so the next 2 hours was a very traumatic experience for me. Which then meant a 2 day stay in hospital.

However my birth and labour I am SO greatful for. I am glad I believed in my gut and trusted my body to do it’s own thing. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! Less than 4 hours start to finish and a healthy 9lb6 baby.

I cannot believe how much counting with Freya helped keep me focused and by the time my breathing was in time with her the peak of the contractions were over - you can do anything for 60 seconds!