Baby B’s Birth Story
Whilst my birth certainly wasn't how i thought the ideal birth would be the experience was so positive that I wouldn't have changed it. Practicing the skills that Sam taught me and my husband definitely prepared us well for embracing all options throughout birth and whilst I wouldn't use the word calm for all of my birth, there was definitely times when I felt in the zone and in control of my breathing and allowing my surges to flow through my body.
At 41 weeks my surges began at home after asking for a sweep the day before. These were irregular through the night and the following day, unfortunately accompanied by vomiting and back pain therefore no sleep!. The following day, late afternoon my waters began to trickle. Warm baths and using the tens machine was helping as well as listening to hypnobirthing tapes and music but as a first time Mum I needed a bit of reassurance. So that evening I went to hospital for them to check my waters and give me stronger pain killers for the back pain. I declined an induction at this point as my waters had only just broken so I still had some time.
I carried on at home for another night using the same methods and trying different positions taught by Sam to help with back pain and encourage the baby to move into a better position as I guessed the baby might be back to back. My surges still weren't regular so by late afternoon the following day I was admitted to the delivery ward where I went straight onto the induction drip and was already dilated 3cm.
The staff were amazing and realised straight away that I wanted to use hypnobirthing methods. Although I was hooked up with wires, I still felt I had enough freedom to move around. They kept the room dimmly lit and very quiet. I rocked on a birthing ball with my husband rubbing my back through the night. I played my playlist the whole time and I think the repetition of the music, breathing and rocking sent me into a meditative bubble. I was using gas and air at this point too.
The surges felt very powerful and I could feel my energy draining more and more. Having not slept for 3 nights and not managed to eat I started to feel like my bubble of calm was bursting and I was beginning to struggle a little. I decided at 3am to have an epidural. The relief at this point was exactly what my body needed to rest and I was able to stomach some food for energy. After a couple of hours it was time to push!
This part felt reasonably quick though I can't remember how long it actually took! Altho the epidural had worked, I think I was lucky to feel the sensation to push still and thankfully had some energy to do so after a rest. I agreed to an episiotomy that was recommended and shortly after that my beautiful little girl was thrust onto my chest. The feeling is indescribable and one I shall never forget. The experience was truly amazing but think my husband and I were armed with the right tools to deal with it as best we could and without these and without him as a birth partner, the experience would've been very different.
