Birth story - Seraphine and baby Ursula

From the day I found out I was pregnant I knew I wanted to try to give birth unmedicated. My mum did it 29 years ago when I was born and it felt like the best option for me.

I started PBC in my second trimester and watched the videos in the bath with baby kicking away.

I went into labour spontaneously on my due date and did the early stages at home, bouncing on some cushions, using up-breathing to manage the pain. I used the Freya app to track my contractions and when the time came, my boyfriend and my mum and I headed to a midwife-led birth centre. There, my lovely midwives supported me through active labour, without any pain relief, bar a paracetamol when I arrived!

Five hours later I pushed baby Ursula out, bearing down (and growling!) as down-breathing had taught me.

Unfortunately we had to be transferred to hospital shortly after she arrived to deal with an infection but she is fully recovered and perfect now. I feel so lucky and privileged to have been able to have the exact birth I dreamed of, and have felt immensely proud of myself ever since. Thank you PBC!