Birth story - Emma and baby boy

It was a Monday at 6pm, I was 38+2 when, as I was getting ready for my antenatal class (the irony!) I pulled down my leggings, and saw a large wet patch. I called my husband upstairs and after some googling we decided to call the maternity unit. They advised me to come in to be examined and, sure enough, it was my waters. We were so excited and so relieved that the baby was on its way! The moment we had been waiting for so long was here!

The midwives monitored baby’s movements, and they explained that if I wasn’t in labour by midday the following day I would need to be induced. I knew it important to stay calm, whatever the outcome. As soon as they strapped me up to the monitors, the reality of what was going to happen hit me, so I put on the Freya app, listened to her calming and soothing voice, closed my eyes, and breathed in and out, like I had done many times before. 

All was fine with baby’s movements, and we got home that night at around 9pm. I knew in an ideal world I would go into labour naturally, so I used everything I had learnt about Hypnobirthing, and decided to relax, take my mind off things, but kept my body moving and active. I was having very mild surges, but found it difficult to fall asleep, so ran a bath for the warmth on my tummy. After some time I went to bed, managed to get some sleep, and woke up at 5am to strong surges. 

My husband and I used the Freya app to breathe through and time each surge. With each surge he rushed over, pressed the timer, breathed with me, and lightly stroked my back. At 7:30am, the surges suddenly stepped up, I decided it was time to go to the hospital, so we called my mum to come pick us up. That car journey was like a scene from a movie! My husband continued to time each surge and breathe with me. We arrived at the maternity triage at around 8.30am, and I was already 8cm dilated! I couldn’t believe how far I was already. I had always liked the idea of a water birth, so I was wheeled (in a rush!) to the birth centre. 

I started on gas and air and of course I was in pain, but I had my game face on and had a quiet determination to push through, keep calm and get the job done. I got into the birthing pool at 8:40am and after 10 minutes the midwives told me they could see the head. It was all so surreal. I knew I was nearly there and I let my body do what it needed to do. I did not need to physically push, my body did it all for me, and after 10 more minutes, our magical baby boy was born at 9.11am weighted 7lb 14oz. We had been at the hospital for less than an hour! 

I am so convinced that it was my mindset that truly helped me to have a quick labour, and all the preparation I had done during my pregnancy with the meditations, watching the PBC’s YouTube videos, and of course listening to the Freya app every night. I ended up having a super quick labour, but was calm and focused throughout. 

Thank you guys for everything!