Positive Birth Story: Natural homebirth with transfer for first time mum
Thankyou to Kirsty for sharing her Positive Birth Story, what a supermummy!
It started as a homebirth
My positive birth story begins at home... I woke at around 5:30am with hip pain, I thought I had hurt myself in the night but as it turned out, my labour had started. Many ladies had said to me 'oh you'll know when your in labour' but I really didn't. I was even happy for my husband to go to work and I carried on with the morning as usual. It wasnt until the hip pain had moved to my abdomen that I thought 'this might be something else'.... I bounced up and down on my birthing ball and gave my husband a 'heads up' text. I was 3 days away from my due date and very excited to finally meet this little one.
We opted for a home birth after having completed a hypnobirthing course.
The birthing pool had arrived several weeks earlier and was already set up, I would even lie in the inflated but empty pool with my hypnobirthing book and practice breathing techniques, also, it was kind of like my own little den, I had pillows and a throw in there for comfort and even my doggy loved jumping in with me.
My husband returned from work at around 10:30am and rang the hospital to inform them labour had started, it wasnt long after that he was ringing them to say 'send the midwife!'. I was already in the pool when the midwife and a student arrived. My surges were getting stronger and the hypnobirthing techniques to remain calm and tranquil were withering away... but my husband was doing an amazing job at being my husband and birthing partner. I honestly believe the skin on skin contact that we maintained got me through and we were able to carry on with hypnobirthing. He helped me to match his breathing when I was struggling with the breathing techniques and remain focused in doing so.
After several hours in the pool and needing gas and air, the midwife tells us that there is no gas and air left and if I want stronger pain relief, we would require an ambulance to the hospital. I laboured for over an hour with no pain relief and surges that were no more than 5 minutes apart. Eventually, the ambulance was called and waited a further 30 minutes for it to arrive.
I really only had a few birth preferences, one being a natural birth and drug-free
I really only had a few birth preferences, one being a natural birth and drug-free, the other was an image that I didnt want tubes or anything attached to me while I gave birth. On the way to the hospital I saw both things having to happen...
We were met at the front door and was taken to delivery suite 2 where the midwife tells me I'm 10cm dilated and to push when I need to push! Our baby was born within 10 minutes of arriving at the hospital, where there was no medical intervention, no drugs in my system, no tubes... even typing this now it's hard to believe.
What's great is that I rather liked being at the hospital, I thought I was going to hate it but at least I was no longer thinking of all the water I was getting on the floor or all the mess that was going to need to be cleared up at the end! I had an 8lb baby and had no tearing, so recovery immediately after the birth was more enjoyable. We even had skin to skin for over an hour while the umbilical cord stopped pumping. It was all so perfect... not at all what I thought a hospital birth would be like.
I enjoyed the time in the delivery suite with my husband, baby and later my mom. I then got to stay over night and have the benefit of midwives assisting with breastfeeding, which I greatly appreciated and even breakfast and lunch the next day!
I love hearing my husband tell people our 'positive birth story'
We now have a healthy baby girl and I love hearing my husband tell people our 'positive birth story' because that's exactly what it was. No matter a slight hiccup, when they arrive, it's worth it... every single surge, pain and discomfort brings you one step closer to meeting your baby. I'd do it all again for her.