Birth story - Gemma and baby Dawson

💥use of the word contractions💥

So excited to finally be able to post my positive birth story.

Finding out we were going to have a baby on Boxing Day 2019 was the best Christmas present we ever could have wished for.

I was very blessed to have a symptom free pregnancy and no complications throughout.
The COVID pandemic didn’t make it easy but we found ways to stay positive and take it day by day.

At around 30 weeks I discovered the positive birth company through a podcast I was listening to when I was walking and decided to give the YouTube videos a watch. Immediately I realised it was for me and purchased the pack. It was wonderful and my partner gained a lot of knowledge from it to and was very excited to be called “the keeper of the cave” 👩‍❤️‍👨

I spent the next 9 weeks reading stories, listening to positive affirmations and practicing the relaxation and breathing exercises.

I completed the birth template available and found this so helpful and downloaded the Freya app. Due to remaining low risk I planned a birthing suite birth at Birmingham City Hospital, Serenity Suite.

At my 38 week appointment, the midwife asked if I would like a sweep if I went over my due date. I used my B.R.A.I.N and declined and said, “My baby will come when my baby is ready. There is still plenty of time in the due period”.

We tried natural remedies including; walking, baths to relax, clary sage in the diffuser and bath, pineapple, curry, birthing ball bouncing and sex ☺️.....

Then in the night of Tuesday 25th August labour started at 11pm.

I was so excited! I couldn’t believe it was finally time! I woke my partner, Jim, to tell him but told him to stay in bed as it could be a while before things really got going. He got up with me at 1am and supported me constantly throughout 🥰

We started the Freya app and used it to time contractions and listen to the relaxation and affirmations. I can’t explain how much the breathing techniques really helped.

At 6am the app said I was in established labour so we headed in to the hospital. Unfortunately I was only 1cm at this time and got sent home 🏡

I took paracetamol and got in the bath with dark lighting and continued with the App. At 2pm the contractions were very powerful and strong and I needed more help with them than I could manage with paracetamol. We headed back to the hospital and I was examined and had reached 5cm 🥳

We were taken to the birthing suite and given our room with the birthing pool. I used the TENS machine and gas and air and that really helped me stay in control of the contractions. Massage from Jim, low lighting, lavender scent and Freya app all contributed to the environment we envisioned for our birth.

I got into the birthing pool at 7pm and I was transitioning by 9pm. I started “mooing” and my waters broke. I was in the down stage for 1.5 hours after that. Even though baby was stable the midwife advised me to get out and change position and I agreed to get onto a birthing stool. After 3 contractions she was ready to be born. Jim was offered the opportunity to deliver her to me and accepted. When she was ready he caught her and gave her to me and he was the one to tell me what we had -a little girl.

We had delayed cord clamping and Jim cut the cord. He had skin to skin whilst I got examined. I had 2 grazes and no stitches 😅

I used my B.R.A.I.N. And I I had decided to have an injection to deliver the placenta after the cord was cut and Dawson was given Vitamin K.

We got everything we wanted in our birth plan and more. It was the most empowering experience of my life and I will never forget it!

We are enjoying every second of being new parents to Dawson, she has completed us, she’s our whole world 🌍

Thank you to my amazing Boyfriend James (Jim) you were my rock and you are the love of my life🥰😘

Thank you PBC 😘

Thanks to everyone that made our journey perfect at Birmingham City Hospital, Serenity Suite 😘