Birth story - Demi-Leigh and baby Poppy

*Trigger Warning* - Chronic sickness, ambulance transfer, Retained placenta, PPH, contractions (not a negative for me)

A long one but completely in awe of myself and my Poppy!

PREGNANCY-

I found out I was pregnant after being 2 days late for my period on the 1st March, my partners and my 7 year anniversary. I had a few symptoms that I didn’t click on at such as very sore breasts, hunger pangs etc. Within the week of finding out I ended up in A&E with excruciating abdominal pains. I had a scan a few days later that confirmed I was 5.2 weeks pregnant with an intrauterine pregnancy. The Dr put these pains down to my endometriosis and implantation. 6 weeks hit and my sickness started on the dot, I was violently sick, I tried multiple types of antiemetics with none having any effect until around 12 weeks pregnant my doctor had heard of a drug called XONVEA which is a cocktail of vitamins and antihistamines and my god did they work! I could now function and go about my days. Around week 7/8 I had a very small bleed which I would assume was implantation bleeding. I had a few reassurance scans before 20 weeks as I was so anxious of anything happening to my baby, I was always on edge something was wrong. Around 32 weeks I had chronic abdominal pains again which resulted in an admission to the prenatal ward for an examination and swabs again assumed to be my endometriosis.

LABOUR-

1st November I went to the antenatal clinic with lower abdominal pains, these were in waves but only every 18-30 mins and they had been on going for over 24 hours almost, I was examined and sent home with co-codamol for my labour to establish itself. I came home and took one tablet, just enough to get some sleep, I had no more pains again.

5th November, my DUE date!! I had my 40 week appointment at 9am with my named midwife, we had discussed my feelings on my previous appointment about inductions I expressed I had done my research and at that time (38weeks) rejected a membrane sweep, after my hospital visit with my pelvis being very painful to walk, sleep or do anything and also the fact my sickness was back with a vengeance due to pharmacy’s not being able to get my meds due to Covid, I decided to text my midwife and say I would discuss a sweep on my due date. That we did, I trusted my midwife to also do what she thought was best! (She knew my birth preferences and how strongly I felt about them) She told me I was VERY favourable and to see how I went during the day. We headed into town for some lunch, last min shopping and a nice coffee to boost my oxytocin levels. I had mild cramping after the sweep and I lost part of my mucus plug around 12pm. At around 4pm we decided to visit the in-laws incase I wasn’t feeling up to it over the weekend. Whilst I was there I had my first contraction, I started timing them, I didn’t think I would get through my takeaway but I knew I needed to fuel up so had as much as I could and told my partner we needed to leave. (Didn’t want anyone else knowing).

I drove the car home and got into my safe space, my contractions were approx every 5 mins I decided to call my midwife and question if this could be it. She advised to see how I went over the next hour this was 8pm at this point, come 8:40pm my contractions really ramped up and I let my midwife know. She rang me 10 mins later to say she was on her way. Once she arrived she made my partner aware that it was time to fill the pool.

I had my TENS machine on at this point and was working through the contractions with that really well, I was examined at around 9:30pm and was 3 stretching to 4cm that was the only time I was examined as I wanted a hands off labour. I was happy to know things was heading in the right direction. My midwife called for the 2nd midwife to make her way and she arrived at 10:45pm-ish with the gas and air, I had got into the pool by this point. (Gas and air made me feel very sick at first but I got through that). I laboured in the pool and was asked if I wanted music on and I chose Ibiza classics even though I had a mellow playlist set. My partner had to keep turning it down when I was requesting it to be turned up around 00:00 I must have been transitioning, the mooing sounds were real!! I had a little freak out after I thought I should have a bigger gap between contractions but they were coming back to back. I demanded to be taken to hospital as I couldn’t do it but then soon realised I was transitioning and this was the home stretch now!

My body started to push at around 00:20 and my midwife told me to feel her head and my partner had a look too. I shouted, ‘why is it so squishy?’ May I add at the point my waters was still intact! That’s the reason why! I remember crossing my legs as in came the RING OF FIRE a very real sensation not as bad as I imagined but very much real and just 20-25 mins of down pushing, in one contraction she was born EN CAUL. My waters broke as she came out and she was born with a veil the most surreal amazing thing I’ve experienced in my life I couldn’t even catch her she just shot out (like a torpedo my partner says).

I was given active management in the birthing pool whilst I had skin to skin but they soon realised I was losing a lot of blood so was taken out to birth my placenta. After just 15/20 mins I think it was clear it wasn’t detaching so 999 was called at this point. I think I went into a little bit of shock, I was taken to hospital and was prepped for emergency surgery for a manual evacuation under a spinal. This is something I really didn’t want but needs must, my amazing midwife stayed with me from beginning to end. My partner stayed with me until I self discharged. (I was not staying in hospital I wanted to be at home for a better recovery)

I was home with my baby girl poppy by 2pm people call my labour traumatic and I correct them and say my labour was amazing and I enjoyed every moment, the latter part was not an ideal situation but with the tools I used doing this course I was able to keep a clear head and focus on the good I just birthed my daughter at home in my living room to OLIVE- your not alone!!!! How amazing is that? Not traumatic!!

Thank you PBC I would do this again in a heartbeat.