Birth story - Leah and baby Robyn

*Trigger warning* use of the word contractions as I don’t find the word negative. 

Pregnancy: 

I was very lucky throughout my pregnancy and would say that I had a very ‘textbook’ pregnancy experience: lots of nausea and fatigue in my first trimester but from around 16 weeks, I felt so much better and was full of energy. I kept active through walking and practising yoga everyday. 

My partner and I found out we were pregnant during the first lockdown. Although very happy, the pregnancy was definitely not planned. However, we had been together for 6 years and were in the process of buying our first house so we felt that the pregnancy was a very pleasant and wanted surprise, albeit a shock. 

During my third trimester at 34 weeks, my midwife suspected that baby was transverse (lying across me) and I had to go for a scan at 36 weeks. There was lots of talk about a possible planned caesarean which threw me a lot. However, because of the PBC, I felt confident and calm enough to deal with any changes to my birth plan. I had always thought I would have a natural water birth so I really had to think about changing my perspective. Luckily at the scan, baby was head down and I could continue with my natural birth plan. But, regardless - I would have been happy with a caesarean as my partner and I had decided to do whatever was best for baby and all births are valid. 

Birth: 

I had always had a feeling that my baby would come earlier than my due date. My mum had me and my brothers all early so my midwife had informed me that it might be the case for me. I had Robyn the exact number of weeks and days that my mum had me. Weird 🤣. 

On Monday 4th January, my partner had gone back to work that morning in our home office after having time off for Christmas and New Year. I told him not to worry too much about work as I was certain baby was coming. I’d felt ‘off’ all of the Sunday before and just generally didn’t feel like myself. I just felt labour was close.

At around 8am on the Monday, I started to get period like cramps and mild back pain. I told my partner but told him not to get too excited as it might be nothing (even though I knew it was!). I spent the morning in the bath and bouncing on my birthing ball watching telly. 

Around 2pm, my contractions were beginning to get closer together and more intense and I started timing them on the Freya app and using up breathing. I cannot stress enough how much the up breathing helped me throughout the whole labour. It was truly amazing! I even got compliments from my midwifes at QMC about how good my breathing technique was 😁. 

I monitored my contractions all afternoon/evening. However, they were still 5 minutes apart and not changing at all. I rang the hospital but they told me they couldn’t have me in until I was 3 minutes apart and to take some paracetamol. 

At around 7pm, I started the use my tens machine. I was a bit sceptical about whether this would help but it was a brilliant distraction from my growing contractions. I would highly recommend getting one! 

At around 11pm, my partner and I decided to try and get some sleep as I knew this was going to be a long labour. However, I couldn’t settle and the contractions began to get more intense. I tried to ride them out but knew that I now wanted some extra pain relief just to take the edge off. My contractions were still 5 minutes apart but on ringing the hospital, they said that I could come in. 

We arrived at the hospital around 2.30am on Tuesday 5th January. 

On arrival, my blood pressure was checked and it was deemed too high for a water birth and they thought I had possible pre-eclampsia. I knew I didn’t but agreed to be monitored.

At this point, nothing really happened for hours and my partner was allowed into the room. I was stuck at 4cm dilated and it was a mutual agreement to break my waters. I was then left to get things moving - I bounced on a birthing ball and watched 3 Shrek films back to back (amazing!). It was also at this point that my partner threw up all over the floor for no apparent reason. He said it was the toast he ate but I knew he was just nervous. Bless him. 

Once my waters were broken things really cranked up a notch and I ended up asking for gas and air plus an injection of diamorphine. I really didn’t want an epidural for personal reasons but I knew I needed something to take the edge off. Especially, as I wasn’t allowed a water birth. I kept my tens on the whole time as well. I think more just for comfort at this point.

Once I had had the diamorphine, I was pretty out of it for a while. I was examined again and I was 6cm. I started to panic that I couldn’t do this but my partner and the midwife team were amazing at encouraging me and keeping me going. The next hour or so is a blur but my partner informs me that he had great chats with the midwife about nightlife in Leeds 🤣. 

All of a sudden I needed to go to the toilet. I informed the midwife who asked if she could examine me first I agreed but told her I might poo on her while she did it (spoiler alert - I didn’t need the toilet. I was 10cm dilated and ready to go!). 

At this point, I burst into tears as it had honestly felt like it would never happen. I don’t know what came over me but I pushed Robyn Hazel out within 15 minutes! I think I was just so done with labour. 

No tears either. I couldn’t believe it! 

My partner watched the whole thing despite being the most squeamish person ever and we both cried as our little one entered the world. 

Honestly, it was the most incredible, euphoric experience and I feel words do not do it justice.

Robyn is now 3 months old and thriving. I think about her birth a lot. It wasn’t what I expected but it was somehow more. It transcended expectations. 

My advice would be to let go of preconceived ideas and just roll with it 💕