Birth story - Jordan and baby Jessica

⚠️ triggers- previous traumatic birth and Haemorrhage. Use of word “contractions,” gestational diabetes.

Sorry it’s a long one! 😬

I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes in my previous pregnancy so was tested early (16 weeks) and tested positive again 🙄 So I had to test my sugars regularly and have regular growth scans along with having consultant led care. (I knew I would need a hospital birth and after my previous birth I was more than happy to go into hospital to have baby number 2). I had a pretty traumatic birth with my first daughter and a big bleed due to retained placenta afterwards, then I got sepsis along with a weeks stay in hospital and did not want to go through this again. So I was directed to the positive birth company and am so glad I used it!

My husband and I watched the videos from around 32 weeks of pregnancy. He was extremely supportive in what I wanted and the induction course was so helpful! I knew I would need to be induced as I had to be on metformin and knew they wouldn’t want me to go to full term. All my sugars were great as were my growth scans (Jessica measuring under 50th centile) so when it came to talk of them inducing me at 38/39 weeks I used my BRAIN and asked for a couple of extra days and to hold off on induction until at least 39 weeks. This would take me closer to my due date and I had 2 sweeps booked in and used aromatherapy to see if I could get the ball rolling without induction!

At 37 weeks I woke with swelling to my hands and feet along with seeing stars (so weird) so called my birthing unit for advice my diabetic midwife (who was an absolute angel) got me seen straight away as she was concerned about ore eclampsia. My urine had signs of pre eclampsia and my blood pressure was sky high 😣 Cutting a long story short, it wasn’t pre eclampsia but they did keep an eye on me every 3 days and I had 3 sweeps. One at 37 weeks and 2 at 38 weeks.

Well the sweeps and all the clary sage baths and sex 🤪 seemed to have done something as on the Saturday at my sweep before induction on the Wednesday I was almost 3cm, cervix was soft and favourable and they could feel my waters! I was over the moon as I knew I could avoid the pessary and maybe the hormone drip if I didn’t go into labour myself. (Which I didn’t 🤨)

I had been having period type pains for around a 2 weeks, since my first sweep at 37 weeks and was told at my last sweep I was in early labour. I had been loosing bits of my mucus plug for around a week from 38 weeks. I spent the last 2 weeks of pregnancy bouncing on my ball and doing everything I could to evict her before my induction date! Along with chasing around after my 22 month old daughter in lockdown!!

So induction day came! I did have to go in to the labour ward alone due to Covid however I was very happy, sat with my laptop watching films (pretty woman and the notebook)and eating snacks. Once I was examined I was told no pessary would be needed as they could break my waters and see how I could progress (YAYYY). I was monitored on the bed to begin with to check baby was happy and I was having irregular tightenings the whole time which the monitor was picking up on as was the midwife. Husband was allowed in just before my waters were broken. I was cannulated incase of requiring the hormone drip and any other complications! My waters were broken by a Dr at 3pm which wasn’t painful just the strangest feeling, it was a total tsunami 😂 I then needed to stay on the bed and be monitored for an hour just to ensure baby was happy after waters breaking. After half an hour my contractions were more uncomfortable but bearable I just wanted to get up! My midwife allowed me to get up and move around after an hour.

I changed into my comfy nighty and flip flops my husband turned the lights off closed the blinds and scattered my battery powered tea lights around the room and spritzed lavender everywhere and I popped a bit on my chest and in a tissue to smell. I stood and swayed through my contractions which were around 2-4 minutes apart already, chatting with my husband and midwife and watching the notebook. At 430pm the midwife asked to monitor me to check on baby. I didn’t decline but I refused to get on the bed, so my midwife tried to see if we could get the monitoring whilst stood thankfully this worked perfectly and I was able to carry on as I was but just not move far! I noticed my contractions were now closer together and more intense so decided to get the Freya app out and my headphones to help with my UP breathing. By 5pm it said I was in established labour and my contractions were 2 minutes apart. I was happy using my up breathing techniques and swaying whilst stood for pain relief, I was really comfortable and I remember feeling so empowered and happy. My husband rubbed my back between contractions and spoke some very personal and amazing positive affirmations to me which made me believe how amazing I was really doing. He was also so calm and collected! (He isn’t usually! 😂) By 630pm my contractions were now more painful and my husband got the nod to see about maybe some codeine and paracetamol just to take the edge off. I was given this at 1830 and by 1835 my contractions ramped up again so decided to use gas and air along with the swaying and up breathing which worked really well for me. I was still enjoying my experience! We decided to FaceTime our 22 month old daughter to say goodnight at 7pm I used the gas and air and breathed through my contractions but was comfortable and able to speak between contractions. I remember my in laws saying to my husband that it seems it could be a while as I looked so fresh, too smiley and wasn’t making a sound! At 715pm it was shift change for the midwives and by this point my legs were beginning to ache and tingle from standing, I didn’t want to lie down so my lovely midwife set the bed up into an arm chair which I could easily squat on! By 7.20pm whilst the nurses were handing over I told my husband I couldn’t do it anymore, I wanted an epidural and for it to be over with, the usual negative things! My husband reminded me that this was the transition we had heard of and that we would be meeting our baby very soon! I asked to be examined to see how dilated I was (I declined this at 7pm) as I was contemplating having more pain relief at this point and I was very surprised to hear I was 7cm! This then put so much positivity in my head. I said to my husband I can do this on my own! By 8pm my body on its own accord began to push. I definitely began to “moo” I felt a lot of pressure in my bum and immediately realised this was my down stage. I used my down breathing and felt her shift lower down (what an amazing feeling) my midwife then began setting up all her delivery bits very quietly whilst telling me positive affirmations which was brilliant (she was fabulous!) I now knew this was it she was on her way and I would soon be holding my baby girl! When I forgot myself and started shouting both my husband and midwife were fantastic at re focussing me on my breathing and engaging me back into my breathing! My midwife then said she could see my daughter crowning and that I was so close to meeting her for the first time. I then asked her to coach me to get her out as I felt like I couldn’t push past that “sting.” She was amazing at coaching me. Once her head was out my midwife told me one last push and she would be here. One big push from an emotional mum and my second beautiful daughter was born at 2028 on her great grandmas birthday.

We had direct skin to skin and delayed cord clamping. She latched onto breast after around half an hour of being born. I got very anxious at the point of awaiting the placenta after the awful experience last time! I was advised to have the injection due to previous bleed which I did have. After around 40 minutes I felt a small tightening did a little push and out the placenta came! I was absolutely thrilled. We had around 3 hours of skin to skin and breast feeding time alone. We only stopped for her to have her checks and for me to have a shower, then daddy could eventually have his cuddle! I had no tears just the odd graze.

Never in a million years did I think I could have a positive empowering birth like I did. I’m so immensely proud of myself and can’t thank my two midwives and diabetic midwife enough, and also my husband who watched the videos and took his own notes in with him in a binder! For those women who have had a previous traumatic birth and after birth I’m living proof that with a bit of knowledge and guidance you can have the perfect birth, id do it again in a heart beat 💓 good luck mummy’s! ❤️