Birth story - Katie and baby boy

After having a ‘false alarm’ on Sunday 6th July which turned out to be my mucus plug, I woke early (around 6:30am) on Wednesday 10th July feeling a sudden urge to go to the toilet. By the time I reached the bathroom door my waters broke. It wasn’t a lot but enough so I knew this was it! By 10:30am I was at the hospital and because I wasn’t yet contracting there wasn’t a great deal anyone could do except wait! So at 11:30am my husband and I went to Starbucks for food and then walked down Oxford road in Manchester. We hadn’t realised it was graduation day - there I was waters leaking every few metres and contractions really starting to kick in as I walked amongst the young graduates, trying not to photo bomb their special day!  

By 1pm I couldn’t stand up straight and my contractions were coming about every 5 minutes, so we made our way back to the hospital. It took much longer this time, stopping every 100 yards to breath! We were back at the hospital for 2:30pm where I remained in the waiting area for the next two hours. By 4:30pm I was having contractions every 1-2 minutes and they were lasting 60seconds - I could barely hold a conversation down. My back was hurting, much like period pains but I used my hypnobirthing breathing and this helped a lot! When I was called through to see the midwife at 4:30pm I was praying I was doing well but after an examination I was just 3cm dilated; my contractions were now very close together and becoming less bearable  - I wouldn’t say unbearable because I could bare them for a short while if I concentrated on my breathing. 

We arrived on the Midwife led delivery ward at around 5pm to be told, ‘you’re in it for the long haul,’ and that I would be checked every four hours! So, I sent my husband to Marks and Spencer’s for some food and snacks. Whilst he was gone I bounced and my birthing ball and used my breathing as pain relief. My contractions soon become more intense and within half an hour he had returned and I was ready for some pain relief in the form of gas and air. Until this moment I hadn’t had anything to help with the pain, I had simply used my breathing from my hypnobirthing classes and that seemed to be enough. The gas and air didn’t seem to ease the pain if I’m completely honest, but what it did do was distract me from the pain and helped me to remember to breath!! 

After a short while I had an overwhelming urge to push. The only position I felt comfortable in was a squat, however, whenever I squatted I had an overwhelming feeling of wanting to poo! The midwife assured me this wouldn’t happened and I didn’t need to push it was simply just a sensation that would pass. I knew it was more than that and with one last squat down the remainder of my waters broke and the midwife used a funny looking mirror to see what was happening down there. She then very quickly reached for the tap and began to fill the birthing pool. At this point I knew something was happening otherwise she wouldn’t let me in the pool as she’d already told me if I get in too soon it could slow the labour down.

It was at this point I became aware of a fourth person in the room - A student midwife who had apparently been there the whole time! I was clearly in my birthing bubble when she entered the room because to this day I cannot remember her joining us! Once in the pool I assumed the all fours position and the pain of my contractions eased but the urge to push did not and within a few minutes I was pushing! Again, using the hypnobirthing breathing to help. Three pushes and a hint of grunting later, my beautiful baby boy was born. I lifted him out of the water (after seeking permission from my midwife which she found humorous!) and placed him on my chest as my husband cut the cord. It was so magical - a moment I will never forget.

I couldn’t believe how quickly it had all progressed. I arrived on the delivery ward 3cm dilated and two hours later my baby was born. I believe my labour was 3 hours and 57 minutes in total. Trust your body - if you feel like you need to push, you probably need to push. If you need pain relief, have the pain relief. And if, for whatever reason things don’t go to plan remember to ask for help and go with the new flow! I enjoyed my birth - that’s something you don’t hear very often and I am sometimes made to feel a  bit smug when I share my story, but with so many negative experiences I think it’s necessary to share positive ones.