Birth story - Julia and baby Edith

I was very anxious about my birth so I decided to take some holiday ahead of my maternity leave, which meant I had about a month before our due date. In this time I did the hypobirthing course, as well as lots of reflexology and acupuncture to help relax. All things I was completely clueless about before being pregnant. The positive birthing course was great as I could revisit it when I needed or had fearful moments.

who introduced me to reflexology and acupuncture. I passed my due date and was increasingly getting nervous to the possibility of intervention. Like us all I wanted a quick birth and everything I had learned about intervention only created delays, I had to relax and focus that my baby would come when he/she was ready. The induction was booked 40+12 and I’d had no signs at this point. The night before the induction, we went to bed at about 1030pm and I started to get cramps. I wasn’t 100% sure if it was related so we went to sleep. I of course didn’t sleep as it became clear it was happening! I was so exited.  Using my hot water bottle I relaxed until 130am, timing the surges with the Freya app. I phoned the hospital to inform them of my surges and that I was GBS positive and would need antibiotics before the birth. They said to wait a bit longer at home until the surges were stronger. At 4am I put on the tens machine, I’m not sure if it did much but was a distraction for sure. I used the Freya app throughout, which was key for keeping relaxed and breathing. The breathing technique I learned during hypnobirthing really helped me focus and manage the pain. At 530am I woke up my partner and we made our way to the hospital. 

We were 4/5 cm dilated and the head was extremely low. We were midwife led and our plan was to have a water birth so we headed to the delivery room. We had to wait a while for my antibiotics, I had to have a drip for two hours but this could be administered in the pool. Once in the pool the pain eased but with that so did my surges. The midwife suggested I get out of the pool and change position. After a while, my waters still hadn’t broken so we decided the midwife would break them. I was beginning to worry so I put on my headphones. I must have listened to the simple head and relax on the Freya app on repeat the whole of the birth! I went into the toilet to be on my own and got back in the zone. The midwife had also given me some cotton wool with lavender and clary sage oil to smell. Once the surges were stronger I got back in the pool with some very much needed gas and air. It was time to push, and I wish I’d spent more time learning about this! Feels bit more than doing just a poo! 🤣 I wanted to give up at this point but the support I got from Stu and the midwifes was amazing.

We did it! Edith Raine was was born! 7hrs 37mins duration of labour, 28 minutes duration of 3rd stage and perineum in tact ✅ ✅I couldn’t have done it without hypobirthing so a big thank you. I’m now starting the postpartum pack!