Birth story - Gemma and baby Lucas

I had enjoyed a fairly straight forward pregnancy up until 25 weeks. I had had very little morning sickness and had been healthy and well - continuing with my regular routine.

I thought the best option for birth was a water birth at the local MLU, but as a teacher I had planned to use the summer holidays to read and research my options fully.

Unfortunately it didn’t turn out this way, during the first week of the summer break I was walking home after going out for lunch and crossed the road at a zebra crossing. I don’t remember much of what happened next, but after a car stopped for me I began crossing the road. Apparently the second car didn’t stop and shunted the first car into me. I was rushed to A&E by ambulance and an obstetric team was waiting there and immediately did a scan and told me that thankfully my baby was completely fine and unharmed. I couldn’t see the scan screen as my head was still held in a brace, but I remember just bursting into tears at this point and a nurse bringing a tissue to dry my face.

I won’t go into too much further detail about the accident, but I had broken my collarbone and pelvis. I was in hospital for a week and then discharged to my parents home (a bungalow, as I couldn’t manage stairs) and used a wheelchair for a few weeks.

It was during this time that I bought the positive birth company’s online pack and started thinking about my options following the accident. I still really wanted the natural birth I’d imagined, but knew I needed to listen to both my obstetric and orthopaedic consultants.

At around 30 weeks I had an appointment with the orthopaedic consultant - as I was pregnant he didn’t do any further x-rays, but looked at the initial x-rays and CT scans from the day of the accident and said that the fractures were stable and that I could have any birth I wanted.

I got the news I had hoped for, but instead of the feeling of relief I had expected, I had a huge sense of anxiety. I didn’t sleep that night and the next day at a routine midwife appointment I burst into tears.

Whilst being told that it was safe to have a vaginal birth - I wasn’t confident as this based on ‘normal’ healing times for fractures. Without further x-rays no one really knew how my pelvis had healed, no one knew what effect the weight of my baby would have on the healing process and no one knew how much pain this would cause during labour. At this point I was still walking with crutches and in pain, unable to walk more than a few steps.

I saw my obstetrician a few days later and before I could even tell her my concerns she suggested that a planned c-section might be the best option, as given the circumstances there was no way of knowing if my pain could even be effectively managed even with an epidural during labour. I felt like a weight had been lifted as she spoke - I hadn’t yet realised for myself that this was what I wanted, but as soon as she said it I knew it was the right decision.

I wasn’t pushed into making a final decision there and then - I was given time to think it through and ask any questions. But using my BRAIN, it was my intuition that mattered the most here. No one could be fully sure of the benefits and risks. I knew the alternatives. My gut was telling me that a c-section was the best option for me and my baby - it seemed the best way of managing the possible risks.

Once the decision was made, it meant I could plan my birth preference around a c-section birth. I packed my hospital bag specifically with the things I would need. I was able to feel prepared and in control - something I hadn’t really felt since my accident.

The day before my son was born, my husband and I went out for lovely final lunch as a family of two, before having a relaxing evening at home. On the morning of the c-section we went to the hospital and shared my birth preferences with the obstetrician - who was happy to accommodate all of my requests (delayed cord-clamping, skin-to-skin immediately in theatre, gentle c-section birth).

As we went into theatre I used visualisations and up-breathing to keep calm, especially as the spinal was administered. We had a fantastic anaesthetist who talked me and my husband through everything as the obstetricians conducted the c-section. She made sure I had the music I wanted and that I could see my son being born. Everything went smoothly and my gorgeous son was passed to me straight after he was born. After the procedure was finished, I was able to start breastfeeding before we even left theatre.

This wasn’t the birth I planned when I got pregnant, but it was definitely the best and safest possible birth for me and my son. I look back happily and haven’t a single regret. I know I made the best decisions for me and my son - I felt informed throughout and was able to question things when I wasn’t. And best of all, it ended with the arrival of my beautiful son! What more could you ask for!