Birth story - Lisa and baby Eleanor

My first baby was born 3 days early and within 3.5 hrs from start to finish and living an hour away from the hospital I was conscious of getting there quickly this time!

On the morning of the 16/10 I was having very mild cramps in the morning and woke my husband just before 7am and we made the decision to head down to the hospital so I could feel a little less stressed as we were already there! Everyone told me the second baby would come quicker!

At 9am the midwife examined me and I was just 3cm, we went for a walk and waited in a café nearby, by this time I had been having a few very mild contractions but they would come and go, I just wanted to be on my own away from everyone at this point and knew it would have been easier to labour at home, I sat down, closed my eyes and used the breathing techniques from the course and it was the only way the contractions would come on and they got quite intense just by doing this, it was quite amazing.

I was offered another examination at 2pm which I declined, by this point we were sat in triage, I knew things were progressing and by 4pm I was examined again and was 6cm. I then asked for a water birth which I particularly wanted first time round but couldn’t as there wasn’t enough time. We got into the birthing suite and using just gas and air she was born 1.5 hrs later.

Unfortunately she took a down turn and they were concerned about her breathing, she was admitted to NICU so I was unable to hold her for long or have initial skin to skin. We had to stay in for 6 days as they suspected sepsis and needed 5 days of IV antibiotics. Her breathing rate was also fast. She is however absolutely fine and her treatment was precautionary.

She is settling in well and we are enjoying life as a family of 4. Thanks so much to the Positive Birthing Company for such a brilliant online course, I learnt so much, and was able to keep calm and positive throughout pregnancy and birth.