First Time Mum Birth Centre Birth after declining induction
First time mum Catherine shares her birth story of her first baby. After her waters broke and she declined immediate induction, she spent most of labour at home and gave birth in the water on the Midwife Led Birth Centre.
I’m a first time mummy, non complicated pregnancy and was due 17th January. I came across birth-Ed on Instagram and signed up to the course thinking I’d just give it a go! Best decision I’ve made!!! I’m generally a very anxious person but the course really helped to give me a clearer picture of what labour and birth involves, as well as keeping me feeling calm and in control of what was to come.
At my term app on the 17th, my midwife offered me a sweep which I declined - I was keen to let nature take its course (I was only just 40 weeks so was in no rush!) but having read up risks/benefits of induction, I agreed to a sweep on the 22nd if things hadn’t gotten moving. Knowing that due dates are so variable and not to be relied upon really took any feeling of pressure off, so I distracted myself with some nice (but short) walks, good films and favourite foods!
On the 19th January, me and my partner were laying in bed 11.45 and I felt a big sudden movement which I assumed was the baby moving, but when I stood up fluid trickled out. I rang the hospital and the midwife said it was most likely my waters and to go down to get checked. By 12.20am I was sitting in the waiting room and my waters suddenly gushed out! When speaking to the midwife, she explained that I could choose to be induced there and then, or wait to see if contractions would start naturally but explained that once we hit the 24 hour mark that they would advise that we move ahead with induction. She was great at explaining actual statistics and really ensured that it was my choice how to move forward. I opted to wait - I was really keen for a water birth in the Active Birth Centre (midwife led unit) so we went home to wait. I was also extremely aware of COVID restrictions and wanted to labour at home until I was in active labour and my partner could come in with me. The midwife advised us to come back once my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart and lasting for 1 minute for a period of time.
Sure enough by 1.30am, the waves had started. We kept the lights off in our bedroom, just a red-toned night light on and put on a funny film. As the waves got stronger, I would stand up, bed over the bed and sway my hips or kneel over my birthing ball, then lay back down to rest. By 3am I took some cocodamol as the waves were coming every 3 minutes, so decided to phone the hospital and see if it was time for me to come in. The midwife I spoke to told me to leave it for another while as she didn’t want me to travel down to the unit in case I was 1-2cm and would be sent home again (despite the fact that during our short conversation I had 2 contractions!!!). My understanding is that she thought I was probably being dramatic which is annoying and unhelpful, but who knows! I thought I’d best continue with what I was doing and did so until around 5am when I had had enough and wanted to go to hospital. At this stage, waves were coming every other minute and lasting a minute, so after a really intense 10 minute journey to the unit I could barely walk myself into the building to be assessed. I must have stopped every few steps to get through a wave! Once inside, the midwife gave me a cervical exam and immediately sent for a wheelchair. I was fully dilated and ready to push!!!! Within minutes I was whipped up the stairs to the delivery suite in the ABC and helped into the birthing pool. The midwives were AMAZING and had read through my birth preferences - the room was dimly lit, sensory lights were on, they asked my partner to put on my labour playlist and ensured to run everything by myself and him before going ahead. I accepted gas and air which really took the edge off of the waves, but the birthing pool was amazing - the hot water soothed my back so much! I started pushing at 7.30am and by 9.23am my baby boy came into the world at 8lb 8.5oz
The midwives couldn’t believe I was a FTM and had laboured until 10cm at home without anything but 500mg cocodamol!! I genuinely believe I would never have been able to do it if it weren’t for everything I’d learned through birth-Ed. It really gave me the tools to empower myself and have an amazing and positive birth experience. I’ve already recommended the course to anyone I know who is expecting a baby and I will 100% come back for a refresher when the time comes!
Thankyou so much for sharing your story Catherine! If you would like to join our online antenatal and hypnobirthing course like Catherine did, you can sign up here!