Birth story - Linh and baby Jayden

When I fell pregnant, I was both excited and scared of giving birth. More scared if I'm honest. My friend recommended hypnobirthing which lead me to PBC on YouTube. I just felt more excited about the ideas introduced along with the science behind labour. I bought the PBC's book, and found it very interesting. Thank you PBC! I ensured I practiced the breathing techniques as much as I could.

When I was 38+4 weeks, I experienced my bloody show, the midwife said I could go into labour in a couple of hours or weeks so best monitor. Statistically, I was convinced I'd deliver after my expected due date. However, on week 38+6 I experienced surges from around 11am to 8am. It completely stopped in the morning. I was completely knackered. Someone in my NCT group had experienced the same thing, and the feeling hadn't returned since. This made me think I'd be the same and that I could have some rest the following night. To my surprise, the same thing happened! I experienced surges, which I managed by walking, breathing and watching ‘The Apprentice’ at home. Looking back there was a subtle difference the two where there was a pause between surges in the previous night. Thank God for my Tens machine.

At 5am my husband checked up on me, I wanted him to rest up as I needed him as my advocate during the final stages of labour itself. I answered with 'I think it's time we go to the birth centre now.' We got to Homerton birth centre around 6am, I was admitted around 6.30am, where I was found to be 6cm dilated. This was a relief as I was worried I'd be sent home (which can slow things down).

As soon as we went into our room, my husband managed the environment; sprayed the room, set up the music where I wanted to hear the positive affirmations. I wanted to get into the pool asap, it took a while for it to be filled up but as soon as it was ready, I jumped in. I have to be honest, I felt the Tens machine was more effective than the pool, and the gas and air. It felt like I was in the pool forever, I tried to remain calm but I had a bit of a wobble. Luckily my husband guided me through my breathing again. Giving birth gave me the same feeling of doing a poo.

In my birth preference I only wanted me and my husband, but I had two midwives as they were due to change shifts at 8am (they potentially did not have time to read all the details as my birth plan was long), but I'm so glad they were there. They gave me the encouragement I needed, and I delivered my beautiful baby boy at 8.04am.

Special thanks to my midwives Inma and Sarah at the birth centre. You made my experience positive and I cannot thank you enough. Also thank you to my midwives Claire and Danielle who looked after me from first to third trimester.

Points to note:

Read/watch a positive birth story a day during the weeks leading to your expected due date (shout out to midwife Rachel who recommended this).

Practice up and down breathing as much as possible.

Write down your most ideal birth scenario, read it before going sleep, but of course be flexible that things might change on the actual day. (I actually spoke to Jayden when he was in my belly that I didn't want to stay in the birth centre for more than 2 hours and amazingly he came out within that time frame, I feel I managed my stress level by believing he heard me and tried his best to accommodate).

Be open to pack some formula in your birth bag. For me, I was planning to breast feed but as Jayden was a water baby, he was so sleepy for the first 24 hours it was very difficult, and we were not discharged until midnight.

Enjoy the experience as you're creating lots of incredible memories.