Third Baby Water birth Story
This is the story of our third baby. I so wanted a waterbirth this time but I was open minded as I was not able to do it with my first and second baby.
I still prepared my body and mind as much as possible. From the second trimester I was doing stretches 5 days a week at least, sometimes for half hour, sometimes even only 10 minutes, depending on how I was feeling. I was cycling to work until I was 7 months pregnant and then I walked one hour a day, 5 days a week. From 34 weeks I was eating my dates, drinking raspberry leaf tea and every night before bed, I was thinking of the best birth I could ever have, including the best time for me to go into labour so that our two years old would not miss us too much and the grandparents could look after her easily.
I picked up our little one from nursery at 4pm and I could feel some period pains, very gentle pains that I pretty much ignored them.
We came home, I bathed her and had a lovely meal with the family.
At 7:30pm I read few stories to our toddler and put her to bed. As these little cramps were getting a bit more alive, I told my partner to be ready not to go to work the following day. I had a shower at 9:30pm and as I realised that I might be in labour, we tried to go to bed and get some rest. It did not last long.. after 10 minutes I was up and kneeling against the bed. I found myself breathing and embracing the waves as they were coming. I asked my partner to time each wave for me, as they were getting powerful, I would only nod or pinch him when to start the timer.
I eventually put the tens machine on. I was a bit nervous at first as I did not know what to expect from it, it was the best decision I have ever made, it was great for me! Around 11:30pm my partner called the hospital to check in and see if it was time for us to make a move. At this point my surges were few minutes apart but they told us to wait one hour before going in.
At midnight we called a cab, I could not wait any longer, my body was just telling me to go.
We arrive at the midwife led unit at 00:20am. I hated the journey there! All the bumps in the car were very uncomfortable but I was listening to the birth-ed guided relaxation scripts which made a bit better. Once we arrived we checked in, my partner tried to do most of the talking but I did tell the midwife that now the waves were coming more and more often. We settled in our room and whist she was preparing the pool, she examined me and I was 6cm, it was 00:40. after the examination I told her that I had a "big one", I could feel pressure. I still had the tens machine and the scripts now on our speaker.
I loved our midwife! She was so calm and talking very softly, explaining what she was doing and what was going to happen next.
She informed me that I could go into the water and advised me that labour might slow down once in the water. I knew that but I was not ready to go in the water as yet. In the meantime, my partner set our play list and the camera on the stand to record the arrival of our little one.
After another big wave came, I was feeling the pressure soo much so I decided to go in the water. It was 01:10am.
The water felt so warm and it really relaxed me. As I removed the ten machine, I started to use the gas and air during the waves which were not slowing down at all. During one, I found myself thinking that I could not possibly do this, it was getting too much. But on the other hand, what could I possibly do? So, I put into practise your best advised and I relaxed. I let any rigid part of my body go. I let my body do what it wanted to do and I was there observing it. Such a beautiful feeling, something I never thought I could do.
Few pushes later, at 01:19 our baby was in my arms. I did it, I had the birth I manifested and was dreaming all those nights, including when going into labour! A coincidence? I don’t think so.
I even forgot to check if we had a little boy or girl.
Megan, your course really does make a difference. I wish more women and their partners gave it a chance! Everyone needs it!
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