Birth story - Sam and baby Henry

‘I’d do it all over again’

Those were the words I said to my partner when this picture was taken. They were the words I shared when I was leaning over the chair in my delivery room, listening to my playlist. It’s what I uttered as the spinal block was administered (whilst experiencing an intense surge) and it’s something I say daily, no hourly, to anyone that will listen - less than a week on from giving birth to my first child. My little boy, Henry.

In society we have been conditioned to fear childbirth. To feel as women that we need to share a horror story in order to be part of the motherhood, to carry battle scars and heaven forbid you talk about a caesarean (the ‘easy option’)... Years of ‘you forget the pain afterwards’...

The Positive Birth Company changed that for me the moment I read Siobhan’s book. Years of anxiety regarding getting pregnant, carrying my child and then giving birth had left me terrified. The power and calm I felt after finishing the book was instantaneous. Then came the digital pack... the Instagram account... the community... I suddenly felt as if I could conquer the world.

Then came showtime and you know what, those feelings never left me. I didn’t want to be induced, opted for a midwife-led water birth, gas and air only, minimal intervention and my plan stated how calm I wanted the environment to be.

What actually happened?

Induced at 8.30am on Sunday, 4cm dilated by 5pm (on a busy induction bay ward with a rather negative fellow patient), 10cm dilated by 11.20pm using gas and air like a lifeline, in a cramped labour room at a hospital I didn’t want to be in, and still no baby... then at 6am on the Monday we realised that he had got stuck, twisted. I had an emergency caesarean - noisy and very rushed. It had to be.

And do you know what, I wouldn’t change it for the world.

My plan changed, it was as if it never existed. Never even came out of my bag. I just breathed through it. I never once doubted my body’s ability to birth my baby. My body created the surges, that meant they weren’t stronger than me. I was clear what I wanted at every moment and the midwife even commented on how strong I was, amazed that I wasn’t being fazed by the twists and turns. Nobody was going to ruin my birthing groove.

All of this was undoubtedly due to the Positive Birth Company, who explained clearly the science of pregnancy and birth and enabled me to be the woman I have always wanted to be for my child. I’ve made my sister excited to have a baby one day (pretty big achievement for a 19 year old), I’ve helped my sister-in-law realise that if things don’t go to plan in January for her birth, it doesn’t mean it’s something negative and actually it can still be magical. That’s what this community does for women every day.

If you’re due to have your baby soon - feel empowered, it’s bloody magical and you have totally got this. You were born to do it. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat and every time I will embrace the Positive Birth Company.

My Instagram account - babydaddyandi.