Birth story - Leanne and baby Eva

I am a first time mum and I was frightened to death about giving birth and I heard a lot about hypnobirthing so I decided to purchase the book (I had a lot of time on my hands to be able to read the book due to being furloughed from work).

I had a sweep the day after my due date which I wanted as I really didn't want to be induced. The following morning on the 27th August at 5.30am I started getting period like pains, I couldn't get back to sleep but just rested in bed. I sent my husband to work at 7am, knowing most first time births are long, I had a shower and the surges started getting stronger. I did the up breathing I learnt from the book and it helped so much. I tried to relax, have breakfast and watch tv but I just wanted to be stood up. I started timing my surges on the Freya app at 9am, (I also used the app to help me with my breathing) they were 4 mins apart so I messaged my husband around 10am to come home.

When my husband got home I asked him to put the tens machine on me, which really helped. My surges started to come 2 mins apart by time my husband was home, so I called the hospital at 11am. I was worried they would send me home so I decided to stay home for a while longer and they told me to eat and take paracetamol...I couldn't do either, I rang back 20mins later and I decided to go in.

I was told to come up to ward alone which made me anxious that I didn't want to go in, but my husband assured me he would walk me to ward then leave, which he did, he went and sat in car. We arrived at the hospital around 12pm. Once in the room I took my bottoms off and asked the midwife to check how dilated I was. For some reason she couldn't tell, she said I was 5cm maybe more but I was a bit gutted she couldn't tell. She did tell me I could call my husband and ask him to bring my bags, he got to me about 12.20pm and found me leant up and over the back of the bed concentrating on my breathing. I was asked what my birth plan was and I told them it was a water birth.

The midwife never said anything about how far along I was or anything, she just kept telling me to keep breathing. I was given gas and air and she asked my husband if he would like to put music on for me. Not long after I began to feel lots of pressure and felt like I wanted to push. The midwife asked if I wanted to move and I decided I wanted to stand remembering the UFO position. She never told me how far along I was, or what was happening, she just let me listen to my body.

My tens machine got disconnected and my husband asked if I wanted it back on, I said I didn't need it now as I knew I wanted to push and I changed my breathing.

I asked the midwife to break my waters, as the pressure was so much, but she said I should wait a while to see if it would happen naturally. She said my baby would help to open me up more and with every push I squatted down and I kept thinking of the affirmations 'with every surge I am closer to meet my baby.' My waters finally went just before her head came out and the pressure was gone, a couple more pushes and she was born at 1.54pm.

I had two tears, one that was a bit complicated as it tore my urethra and a second degree tear, but luckily I never felt the ring of fire people talk about.

After waiting a while and my placenta not coming out I had the injection, it still took a while but it finally came out and I asked to see it. The midwife opened it up and checked it in front of me telling me about it. She also told us to feel the umbilical cord as it was pulsating, she told us about the parts of it so it was like a science lesson but we loved it.

It is truly amazing what our bodies can do, they really do know how to birth our babies. I just listened to my body the whole way through, my midwife never had to tell me what was happening.

As soon as Eva was born I wanted to do it all again, I had such an amazing experience and it was so quick, especially for a first baby. I couldn't believe it, I didn't even have time to get my nighty on. I felt so relaxed the whole time, the only wobble I had was being told I had to come on my own, but luckily I progressed so quick I wasn't alone for long. My husband was able to stay with me until 8pm when I was moved to a ward and I was able to go home the following day. I felt so strong I couldn't believe I did it.

My husband was amazing, having a good birthing partner and someone you trust is so important. He said it was the best experience ever and he found a new respect for women after seeing what their bodies can do. I couldn't have felt more in love, the moment she was born, for my baby and my husband. xx