Birth story - Umm Ayyūb and baby boy

Sharing this journey to empower other mothers and soon to be mothers

My pregnancy was low risk throughout (only had GBS which was diagnosed at 30 weeks) I planned to have my baby in the birth centre under MLU.

As most mums who have given birth during the Coronavirus pandemic will explain, it was an anxious time leading up to my due date.

On the night of 7th April 2020, 2 days before my due date, I had a few really good laughs with my husband and I really needed that distraction (and oxytocin) from the negative news that was surrounding me during the days...

Around 9:30pm that same night I had what I thought was my usual Braxton Hicks tightening sensations which would usually fade by the morning, but on this night it was stronger than usual and it didn’t fade by the morning.

At 10am on 8th April I saw the bloody show. I was excited but anxious as it was my first experience and I was stepping into an unfamiliar territory (even with the theoretical training of Hypnobirthing from PBC).

The day before I had put off doing the last bit of my batch cooking so I finished that off and during this time my period pain/surges had eased.

After showering around 1pm I could feel it return. I began doing the monitoring on the Freya app and using the meditation MP3s. My surges were 10 mins apart for the whole of that day and they were tolerable with the up breathing exercises.

On the 9th April from 3:30am - 7:30pm I had gone to the birth centre 3 times as I was getting 3 surges within 10 mins and the app had stated each time that I was now in ‘established labour’. My surges were very regular and intense throughout but each time I was checked I was told I hadn’t dilated. Having the regular surges, not being able to eat or nap was taking its toll on me and I could only take cocodamol for pain relief as I wasn’t 4cm yet.

During this day I lost my focus as I wasn’t connecting with my body but once I surrendered to the process and began using my breathing techniques again I found my way!

I created a little nest in my bedroom with blankets and a pillow. I laid down in between surges and when a surge would come (every 3-4 mins) I would go on all fours and let it all out in moans. It felt very primal... I should tell you that my bloody show was released slowly throughout these 2 days and this is common. I don’t know why I thought it’s just a one off thing!

I remember emptying my bladder around 6:45pm and I was surprised by my how much I was holding in, I then went back to my bedroom and got on all fours again. I don’t know how I acknowledged that my PJ’s were damp as the surges were intense at this point. But I checked and noticed a lot more of the bloody show was present and some fluid (my waters had broke) I called the birth centre and they instructed me to go to triage, by now my surges were every 2 mins and I was struggling to complete the call and get out of our apartment.

I got to the triage section around 7:30pm, my husband had to wait in the car park until it was confirmed that I was in established labour. He wouldn’t go home and instead waited in the car for hours.

I was checked and they confirmed my waters had broken. I was taken to a normal ward (instead of birth centre as this was my 4th visit in 24 hours) and upon checking I was still only 1cm. I was given gas and air which helped take the edge off because my surges were every 2 minutes.

I was told that I made some random calls to people and soon after calling I’d hang up. I blame the gas and air! I also don’t know why I felt so bad for the other two patients in the same ward as me, I didn’t want them to hear and be disturbed by my moans but I needed to moan (after up-breathing) and release the surge. The moments in between the surges were bliss!

By 10pm I was 3cm and allowed to have the very welcomed pethidine injection. This helped with the mild surges. The midwife asked if I wanted a sweep to keep things going and I agreed. After the rigorous sweep, things got pretty intense; more water was released and the surges were more frequent and powerful. All this time I was able to just text my husband to update him.

Due to having GBS I needed to have antibiotics via a cannula which I was informed about. This was administered after I was 3-4cm around 11:20pm.

At one point I had to call out for a midwife because I could feel myself transitioning. When they checked me they agreed for me to go to the labour ward and said I could update my husband and meet him at the labour ward.

I was escorted in a wheelchair and managed to message my husband. I was worried he would miss it as I could feel the pressure.

Once I got to labour ward around 23:48pm I was greeted by a midwife from the birth centre. She was reading through my birth plan. I couldn’t help but push slightly with the surges and with each push there was release of a lot of wee! I couldn’t believe how much I was holding onto unknowingly.

The midwife explained that she needed to see how far along I was. So I agreed to be checked and she confirmed I was 7cm by this point. She advised I continue with breathing and refrain from pushing so I don’t end up having a swollen cervix. I felt like I needed to be on all fours and open my bowels.

I somehow went to the loo and emptied my bowels, I was then asked if I wanted to finish my labour off according to my original plan, in the birth centre and in the birth pool. I was gobsmacked as I thought that plan went out the window.

So I gladly agreed, once I knew there was enough time, and walked to the birth centre. I had a few surges on the way there and whilst the pool was being prepared.

I could feel the ring of fire as his head was exiting. I was advised to use the gas and air but I didn’t feel comfortable to use it for the down breathing, I felt like it would’ve got in the way of my rhythm. The midwives checked baby’s heartbeat in between the surges and he was doing fine.

My baby boy was finally born at 1:49am. It was only when I laid my eyes on him that it all became so real to me. He was finally here in my arms. I couldn’t believe it. Words can not describe how invincible and powerful you feel once you come through the other end.

We did delayed cord clamping and I agreed to the injection to extract the placenta. It came out so effortlessly. They checked me and confirmed that I only had a few grazes but no stitches required. They were surprised by this and I put it down to the Aniball perineal exercises that I did from 36/37 weeks.

While they did that my husband had his precious skin to skin contact with our son.

We then had our golden hour together before he was asked to leave due to the new COVID-19 health and safety regulations. We were aware of the changes beforehand and were prepared to be separated but it still wasn’t nice to have to split up so soon.

Because of me having GBS it was standard protocol for me and baby to stay in the birth centre for 12 hour observations. Fortunately everything came back clear and we were discharged at 3:15pm.

I am grateful for having such a supportive partner, for the positive birth company’s digital pack, the amazing team of midwives and for the Annibal pelvic floor tool. I didn’t go to my antenatal class as it was booked in during the lead up to lockdown and I didn’t want to be in a group environment and take unnecessary risks. So the digital pack was perfect for me.

I would advise mums to be to trust and listen to their body. To accept that their journey is unique and that they will progress through labour in their own way. I would also advise new mums to purchase the postpartum pack to prep in advance for what happens after birth as this is just as important as the prep for birth.

My journey was very wobbly to begin with but I had gained more control and felt positive in the second half and for that I will always look back with gratitude.

I look forward to sharing this bundle of joy with my family soon. For now we will remain socially distant for the sake of preserving our health.