Birth story - Lianne and baby girl

In February 2016, I gave birth to my son. I was induced due to signs of preeclampsia, I was left alone (midwife didn’t believe I was in labour and they sent my husband home), I got to 10cm alone and not on the labour ward. My boy was then ventouse delivery and I had a retained placenta. I was not in control and felt I’d failed!

4 and a half years later, I’m pregnant and on recommendations from friends I purchased the hypnobirthing digital pack. I so wanted this labour to be different and oh boy, it was!

4 days before my due date I went into labour having been in “slow labour” for a week. My contractions were every 5 minutes at 6am. I was using my breathing techniques and felt in control - I knew what the physiological changes were.

At 10am I went to the toilet - contractions were now a bit more intense and 4 mins apart. I sat on the toilet and my waters broke and suddenly my contractions went to 90seconds apart! I started to panic but then remembered my breathing.

We arrived at hospital after the most eventful journey ever at 11am. I was 9cm dilated!

2 hours later I gave birth to my daughter with no pain relief, no gas and air and no intervention and on my hands and knees. She was passed through my legs and I had skin to skin straight away. We opted for delayed cord clamping and then my husband cut the cord. When she crowned I nearly lost my way but kept repeating to myself “it’s just like doing a big poo”.

I can honestly say I have never felt so proud of myself. I was totally in control and that is thanks to the guidance and knowledge I gained from the digital pack. My midwife actually said “that was a perfect labour”.

Thank you so much, the PBC, for being such an important part of my pregnancy journey.