Water Birth for Second Time Mum (GBS+, Meconium, Previous PPH)
Positive Labour Ward Birth for second time mum Tor
Tor’s Second Baby
Second Time Mum
Spontaneous Labour
Previous PPH
GBS+
Water birth (Labour Ward)
Meconium in Waters
I just wanted to message to say thank you for your great course! And all your free advice via the podcast and Instagram, so many amazing resources.
Birth Story
I gave birth to our second son on 29th Feb and had the most beautiful water birth! 2 weeks later and my husband can't stop talking about it!
During the birth of my first son, I had a heavy bleed from an episiotomy, so this time I was under a consultant and was told I'd need to be on the labour ward. I really pushed to be able to have a water birth and both the consultant and midwives felt this was unlikely in case I bled and didn't have a cannula in. On arrival to the hospital after my waters broke, there was meconium in his waters, the midwife put a cannula in my wrist (so I couldn't move it!!) for antibiotics for group b strep and told me I'd definitely be giving birth on the labour ward and not in the water.
Luckily there was a midwife shift change half an hour later. I really stood my ground and asked for the cannula to be removed so I could move my wrist, and that I'd agree to constant baby monitoring if I could use a pool. This midwife was amazing, she set me up a beautiful room with the pool, fairy lights and made it such a beautiful environment. My husband put on our playlist and lots of tea lights.
The midwife felt she didn't need to do a vaginal examination as I was progressing, so she just left me to do my thing. She didn't coach me to push, and I just remember feeling him slowly coming down the birth canal. I felt for the top of his head and he had a bag of water over his head so I instinctively popped it! When he came out I caught him between my legs, my husband helped us out the pool and we were able to cuddle him for about 4 hours until they needed to weigh him and do observations!
I used the breathing techniques, visualisation and gas and air. But overall I felt I managed to stay calm throughout because I just completely trusted my body, your course really helped me to feel in control.
It was the most magical experience, and I feel so lucky to have experienced it.
My son is also very relaxed and calm, and I feel that is in part because of his peaceful birth. Thank you for everything! Have included a photo of just after I caught him!
Lots of love, Tor xx
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