Birth story - Freya and baby Halle

Our daughter Halle was born on 10 September after 51 hours of contractions and an unplanned/ emergency c-section at 40 + 1 weeks.

We had a relatively straightforward and enjoyable pregnancy, although I was diagnosed with gestational hypertension at around 35 weeks, which I was medicated for, seen twice a week by the community midwives and put under consultant led care. It was recommended that I give birth at hospital, and an induction was booked for 40 + 6 weeks to avoid me going too far overdue. I felt happy with all of these recommendations, but was keen for our baby girl to arrive before the induction date.

On 8 September at my one of my twice weekly midwife appointments I requested a stretch and sweep which the midwife successfully performed, and at around 16:30 that day the contractions started. As the evening went on the contractions got more intense, and I recorded them on the Freya app. At about 23:00 the app said that my contractions were coming 3 times, in 10 minutes and lasting 45 seconds. I rang the hospital and they said to call back once they had been like that for at least an hour. The contractions then became more intense through the night but the timing became more irregular. It wasn’t until 20:00 on 9 September that I rang the hospital back and they said it was time to go in.

At the hospital I had a VE and I was only 2cm- the same that I was told at my stretch and sweep! They also monitored our baby girl on the CTG and noticed several dips in her heart rate so they asked me to lay on my left hand side for monitoring as that was how how our little girls heart was most happy. However this made the contractions much more painful- and the bed in the assessment unit was nothing more than the beds you find in a GP surgery padded by a small layer of foam. This is when I had my wobble and started to struggle to keep calm and in control of my contractions. I was admitted to hospital at that point and my husband was asked to go home until there was space for me on the delivery suite.

I was moved from the assessment unit to the observation ward which at least had a comfier bed but I was still asked to remain in the same position for monitoring, laid down on my left hand side. Every part of my body wanted to be upright forward and open, I knew the contractions would be more manageable in this position and I kept asking to get up and go to the toilet just so I didn’t have to remain in that position. For me this was the hardest part of labour, everything I had learnt from hypnobirthing and the practical ways to make your birth better book seemed impossible in this situation and I felt in agony.

Then finally at 6:00 on 10 September I was moved to the delivery suite, my husband could come back, I could have gas & air, wireless monitoring, private room and 1-2-1 care. This in itself gave me instant relief, made me more comfortable and in control! It really is all about position and environment! Although I felt like I could cope with just the gas and air the anaesthetist was already on the way to see me after my pleads for pain relief on the observation ward and I didn’t feel the need to change my mind again and I’m so glad I didn’t. I loved the epidural! It did slow down my contractions so I was also given the oxytocin drip, but my blood pressure was no longer a concern and I quite enjoyed the rest of the day, chatting away to my husband and midwife and having the odd nap.

Our baby girls heart rate was still a bit of a concern so the doctors where often in and out but I felt calm about it all like we were being well looked after, and everything was under control. At 18:30 that evening I had another VE, I was 8cm and started to feel pressure that made me feel like I wanted to push. However, after that examination they couldn’t recover our baby girls heart beat and I was promptly asked if I consented to a c-section and explained the risks and benefits. The emergency button had already been pressed and the team prepping to move me to theatre, without hesitation I consented and felt confident in doing so. This was it, our baby girl was about to arrive.

Despite the emergency situation I felt completely calm as I laid there with the commotion happening around me, I was ready to meet our baby girl. I didn’t have a gentle/natural c-section, I don’t think the situation allowed for it but I didn’t mind. Our baby girl was born at 19:04. The first I saw her was after the baby doctors had reviewed her and given her to my husband for cuddles, and he could bring her over to me. It felt strange knowing she had been born and hearing her cry and not having her in my arms. But I could hear she was being well looked after, and my husband talking to her.

I was on the operating table for another hour after she was born and I lost quite a bit of blood which I knew was a risk due to my blood pressure, the only unsettling moment in theatre was hearing the relentless suction. It felt like a lot, and I wasn’t wrong. But when I finally got out of theatre and our baby girl was handed to me my heart filled with so much love, more love than I could ever imagine and she instantly latched on and fed. Words can’t explain how precious that moment was!

I wouldn’t change a single thing about how our little girl was brought into this world! Apart from my wobble before arriving on the delivery suite, I felt calm, relaxed, in control and was happy with every decision I made. Labour didn’t go according to my preferences but I did come away immensely proud of myself and felt that it was a positive experience.