Positive Birth Story: #birthedonlockdown Positive instrumental birth
Positive Birth Story, A Positive Instrumental Birth
At the time of positing, we are currently on lock down as the COVID-19 Pandemic sweeps the world. This has meant we have seen some changes to the way our maternity systems are operating, and natural it’s left lots of women feeling a little anxious and unsure of what to expect. But here’s the thing, the way we give birth still works in exactly the same way! And the opportunity for truly positive birth experiences is still there.
Our new campaign #birthedonlockdown aims to share these stories with you so you go forward into your birth feeling reassured, confident and ready to have the positive experience you deserve.
Over to Maisie for her story…
I gave birth on the 9/04/20 at Jessops hospital in Sheffield and I'd like to share my birth story with you. Brace yourself it's a long one!
We went into lockdown when I was around 39 weeks. The rules changed constantly and I could sense panic setting in with the changes being put in place. However I had spent my entire pregnancy, and the months before, reading everything I could about having a positive birth, hypnobirthing and birth in general. I had done a hypnobirthing course locally led by a friend, I read every page on the birth-ed website, attended local positive birth movement groups, and I loved to read all kinds of birth stories. Even in the circumstances, I felt prepared.
I was consultant led throughout due to a slightly raised BMI and a long term kidney condition, however I felt really great during my pregnancy, other than the usual aches, I had bad morning sickness up until 18 weeks and one UTI. We had regular growth scans that showed baby growing well and I felt confident to discuss with the consultant to sign me off to have a water birth if all went well.
Considering Induction
My EDD came and went, I wasn't keen on being induced and with now being on lockdown I couldn't necessarily do the oxytocin inducing things I had envisioned, I could feel my anxiety rising but I spent the time relaxing as much as I could. With this in mind, I decided to have a sweep at 40wks. It was unsuccessful so I went for another at 41 weeks with an induction booked for 41+6days. I also had my last growth scan during this week and baby was nicely far down and a good size.
I'd had pains on an off for these two weeks but nothing developed. Instead I bounced on my ball, did some gardening, baked and just tried to focus on my baby.
The induction date came closer and I was no longer against the idea, I prepared myself and read positive induction stories, I was excited! And so relieved to know my baby would be here soon. The night before and my partner ordered our favourite takeaway, got an early night.
Then labour started!
I woke just before 6am, anxious to get ready to go to the hospital for 8am, got out of bed and felt a bit of fluid, went to the loo and took myself downstairs slightly wondering if that was maybe my waters. I sat on my ball and 15 mins after first waking up, my waters went everywhere! I stood frozen in disbelief as it wouldn't stop and I couldn't believe two hours before induction my waters had gone! I woke my partner, rang the hospital, scoffed some toast, my waters kept on going and my contractions had started to come every 5 mins lasting 40s.
We made our way in and as my partner doesn't drive we had to rely on a friend. Rules meant he couldn't stay at that point but he took me to the door and we both had a little cry. I was assessed and my blood pressure was high and I had proteins in my urine, blood tests were done to confirm the protein, no water birth for me!
But I was totally fine with it, baby was on its way! I used all the up breathing and visualisations as contractions were getting stronger, I kept drinking and snacking to keep my energy up, I'd had an examination and was 2-3cm at about 10am, bending over the bed knelt on a been bag on my own, I tried to focus but the intensity was increasing, I had a completely different contraction which gave me intense pressure down below , I vomited straight after and called the midwife, I was panicking because suddenly things felt they were moving quickly.
“I told the midwife I needed my partner and she called him in.”
I told the midwife I needed my partner and she called him in, he was here within half an hour and I was so relieved. He gave me some great back massages and just having him there made me feel a hundred times better. I was examined again at 11.30 to be told I was 3cm still, I was struggling so pain relief was discussed, I got some gas and air and instantly felt better but in my head I knew I'd struggle for the remaining long hours ahead.
I knew I didn't want pethadine as I react badly to morphine based drugs and I wanted to stay present. We were transferred to labour ward and they tried hooking me up to monitor, I was on my hands and knees but they couldn't get baby's heart rate, so on my back I went and they attached a clip to baby's head. At this point I was clinging onto my partner, contractions so intense I was feeling like I was pushing, examined again at 1pm I was now 6cm.
Knowing labour could be hours I asked for an epidural because I was shouting I couldn't do it, in my head I couldn't go through what I expected to be 6 more hours of this. Anesthesitist was on his way!
Labouring on my side, every other contraction resulted in involuntary pushing that I just couldn't help, my partner was everything I needed to be and I was clinging on to him for dear life, he kept trying to tell me not to push as I shouted I CAN'T HELP IT, and a lot of 'make it stop' mid tears. It was very much an out of body experience (probably transition?). Things changed and around half two when the Anesthesitist arrived explaining what would happen. I remember looking at him thinking I'll never be able to sit through it with these contractions as I began to push again, he took one look at the midwife and he said she's too close how far along is she?
I was examined again and I was 9cm! Bloody hell, I agreed to not have the epidural, with lots of encouragement from the midwife, consultant and my partner, as I couldn't believe how far id gotten already.
Things quickly changed as baby's heart rate dropped significantly, the consultant explained baby needed to come out and come out now. Because I was 9cm they didn't think I'd dialate in time for forceps so explained csection was necessary. Lots of people started filling the room, and even though I should have felt panicked or worried, I felt safe and cared for. Another contraction came alongside some pushing, consultant asked to examine me again which I agreed to, I had a contraction during and bam, 10cm! I couldn't believe it.
Forceps were out, and instead of feeling scared or upset I was genuinely happy about it, it meant it would all be over really soon and baby would be here any minute.
There were a few more midwives (and I specifically remember focusing on one of them because he was male and Scottish which distracted me for a second ) he pressed my belly to check for the contractions and encouraged me to refocus on my pushing rather than the pain. Three big pushes and at 3.10pm he was out!
He let the world know he was here and me and my partner cried with him.
I have never felt such joy and euphoria in that moment, it was perfect.
He was a good size at 9lb 1oz, I lost a litre of blood and had two internal stitches along with an episiotomy, I was pretty weak and spent the night on the ward, my partner left at 8pm and as it was a Thursday, walked out the hospital to an emotional scene of everyone clapping for the NHS.
I was discharged the following day, I was anaemic but only required some iron tablets and no further treatment.
Written down, my birth is nowhere near what I expected it to be, something's I'd learnt helped me understand what was happening along the way and has allowed me to reflect positively, and something's I learnt I didn't even have time to put into practice during the labour, but I'm ok with that.
I'm just so proud of myself, my baby and my partner. Everyone I came into contact with during my stay were nothing short of amazing, I felt cared for and safe, and I appreciate everything they did for us to bring our baby safely into the world. Thank you for letting me share this with you. Baby William is doing amazingly now we're all home.
In person courses are currently not an option in most parts of the world. So why not join us for the birth-ed® Online Hypnobirthing & Antenatal course instead?