Birth story - Stephanie and baby boy

I had been experiencing period type pains and lower back pains with lots of Braxton Hicks for exactly 2 weeks prior to labour commencing, with the loss of some of my mucus plug 3 days before. My surges started at 3.45am but quite mild, I wasn't sure if they'd stop again considering the previous 2 weeks. But I was so hungry and they were intense enough that I couldn't sleep through them, so I got up at 4.25, cleaned the kitchen (not like me at all!) and had breakfast. Shortly after I put my tens machine on to use with my up breathing. Surges ramped up throughout the day (I was ramping the tens up with it) and I took the time to do the laundry as I knew it could be a busy few days.

At about 5pm they were coming 3 in 10 and enough to call the hospital. They did warn me that they might send me home but to come in anyway to be examined. At this point I wasn't sure about the tens as my whole body was twitching with each buzz! So I did have to turn it back down. They examined me and said I could walk around for a bit or go home as I was only 2cm but waters were bulging. I went home, as we live 6 mins away from the hospital, and if it could be a little while I thought I would be more comfortable there. We walked through the door about 6.30pm, I went for a wee and had a surge whilst on the loo and my waters went (which was very lucky as I had been so worried it would happen on the carpet) and there was some blood which was normal and part of my 'show'. I called the hospital and they told me to come back, in about 20 mins, but my surges were coming so hard and fast it took me about that long to get off the loo, every time I stood up it triggered a new surge so I had to sit back down.

My husband made me a cup of tea before we left as it had been a while since I had eaten or drank anything, and whilst I was sat on my ball drinking it my hind waters went in 4 big gushes. My leggings and underwear were soaked like someone had dunked me in a bath 🙈 but again I was lucky, this was on the laminate flooring in the lounge so my husband mopped it up quite quickly. My surges became very intense, I could barely move between them and definitely not during them. By the time I managed to get back in the MLU (about 7.45pm) I was 7cm dilated and started gas and air with my up breathing. The gas and air was amazing, I wasn't sure at first as it made me feel a bit floppy, but it relaxed me enough that I could focus on my breathing. I was completely in the zone, and apart from being aware that I needed to sit back up after my examination as I was so uncomfortable on my side, my body just did its thing and I don't remember much about this period in time, it just passed quietly. I found the tens on a 'constant' mode was more useful, I couldn't stand the other modes making me twitch. The midwife and my husband were amazing and just sat completely in silence so I could do my thing, with the midwife listening in on the doppler every 15 mins whilst I just sat on the edge of the bed.

Unfortunately, there was someone in the pool on arrival, but they were rushing to get it cleaned and full ready for me. I was transitioning by 10pm (I could feel my muscles starting to bear down but it was a small feeling, there weren't any big pushing motions) so they got me in the birthing pool by 10.15pm (I walked there in a trance with my eyes closed guided by my husband) and was straight in the pool and back on the gas and air. At this point I noticed how much of a distraction the tens was providing as it was more uncomfortable at the time of taking it off. My body really took to the pool and the bearing down started instantly, it was completely primal and there was nothing I would've been able to do to stop the pushing if I tried, I was grateful the midwife wasn't interested in checking I was at 10cm, I think she just knew from the noises I was making!

There were a lot of involuntary noises and movements at this stage, and unfortunately there was no way I could control my breathing either, my body just took over. This resulted in a lot of 'I can't do it' between contractions as it did make me feel a little panicked at the loss of control and I did come out of the zone a little and became more aware of my surroundings. But I was also aware that this was the point at which most people have a wobble which did help mentally. It definitely was a good thing though, as by becoming more aware I realised how thirsty I was so I drank between surges and really relished my husband being by my side and holding my hands and telling me how well I was doing.

It took until 23:35 to get babies head out, which was the hardest part for me. I could feel tearing quite high up, and with each surge the head disappeared back up the birth canal which was so gutting I just wanted it to pop out! With his head eventually out though his body followed on the next contraction. The midwife offered me to feel his head between my legs but at that point I felt if I let go of my husband I would never do the next push. The midwife grabbed him and passed him through my legs so we could enjoy our first skin to skin and let him receive his cord blood, we were sat like that for 7 minutes before my husband cut the cord and we got out the pool.

It was only at this point I noticed the student doctor (they had asked me on arrival if I minded and did say when she entered the room but I was too in the zone!) I was really grateful to have both of them help me out the pool as I was really shaky at this point and they dried me up so I could snuggle in bed with the baby and deliver the placenta (I rejected the injection but they did have to pull it out as it had detached but not expelled itself). We eventually made our way back to the first room at 00:40 and my husband had skin to skin whilst they examined me and stitched me up. I had tears in my labia that required 6 stitches but thankfully they were all superficial, the midwife said my gentle delivery of his head was really helpful and I was so grateful she didn't coach me. We then tried breastfeeding and seeing him latch was the most amazing experience.

Overall it went exactly as I wanted it to and I was so grateful for the hypnobirthing, I didn't follow the breathing exactly as expected but I trusted my body to do its own thing. I am the biggest wuss when it comes to any sort of pain (my family always laugh as everytime I ever hurt something I always claimed I thought it might be broken!) and I never thought I could do this until I started hypnobirthing. I would repeat everything tomorrow in a heartbeat, which I think speaks volumes about how positive the process was, and I am so glad I ignored everyone who said unhelpful comments such as 'just take all the pain relief you can'. It just goes to show how amazing our bodies are! Thank you Siobhan!