Here is a lovely birth story from Becci who was taught by one of The Calm Birth School instructors Liz from Enhance Your Birth.
“Finally getting to write my birth story. I had gone over my guess date and I really wanted a natural birth. I knew time was running out before they would want to interfere and induce me. I had (as well as my husband Daniel) put a lot of preparation into our birth experience. I had been to antenatal yoga classes every week from 10 weeks, did birthing partner workshops and hypnobirthing classes. I also did perineum massage every night after my bath from 34 weeks.
We both felt it was because of all of this we had such an amazing positive birth experience. We really can’t thank you enough, Liz, for everything you taught us, and for reassuring me through any of my fears or worries.
I was doing everything I could to bring my labour on naturally. Reflexology, drinking raspberry leaf tea, eating lots of pineapple, medjool dates and hot curries. We went for long walks daily, hot baths, sex, relaxation, breathing techniques, listening to my hypnobirthing mp3s, Daniel doing soft touch, stroking massage. I was doing my lunges over my ball and hip circles and on my all fours to help my baby be in best position.
My surges started on Thursday 6th October about 6.30pm after a sweep I had. Becky the midwife said I was 1cm dilated. I was over the moon, I knew finally things were starting. We went for long walk after and Becky did have to book me in for induction at Burton Hospital for 8am next morning, which I wasn’t overly happy about. Becky reassured me that I didn’t have to be induced, but to go and be checked but know I had till midnight Saturday to still go to Samuel Johnson. I was doing my breathing. My hip circles etc Daniel was timing my Surges on his phone app, it said for us to go the hospital. Daniel phoned Samuel Johnson and they recommended I come in.
I went to Samuel Johnson Thursday 6th Oct at 10.20pm, they got me settled in the pink room, lovely lighting, nice and chilled. After about 20 minutes I was offered an examination to see where I was. I was 1-2cm dilated, my surges had calmed down too, which I knew was common and so did midwife, so she said to relax and made us both a hot chocolate. We stayed an hour and the midwife said it was up to us whether we stayed or went home. We decided to go home and try and get some sleep.
My surges were 2 every 10-15minutes. I did stay in bed, even though I really didn’t get much sleep, but I knew I needed to try and rest, reserve my energy ready for the birth. I did my wave breathing through each surge.
I went to Burton Hospital at 8am (Friday 7th October) for my induction appointment. I was really tired and having to stop and lean over with every surge, hip circle and breathe through it. They hooked me up to machine to monitor my surges. Wanted to do Vaginal Examination (VE) because they needed to see both dilation and surges to know if I was in established labour. I did question the VE, once understanding why I let her do it. I was 2-3cm dilated, she said she could feel my waters bulging and would be able to easily break them with her fingers and I could have a water birth there. She thought my labour would move along quickly waters had been broken. I said I would rather be able to go SJ. She said I could go home and to not leave it too long to go SJ. So went home had hot bath, which was lovely, helped my surges feel a lot more comfortable, did my breathing, listened to my mp3 and got ready to go SJ.
Got to SJ at 12.30/1. When Daniel called they asked what room we would like, we said the blue room, with birthing pool. When we got there, there was a student midwife and another midwife. They got us settled in the room and did a VE and I was 3-4 cm dilated, and told my waters were bulging, so I was nearly classed as being in established labour. The student midwife was the one who was mainly looking after me, she would come in and check on me and check the baby’s heart beat.
At 3.30pm they were debating/discussing whether it be best that I go home and come back when I was further along. Me and Daniel were not happy with this and I said to Daniel “I’m not going home”. Me and Daniel said we were not happy to go home, they said they couldn’t make us, but they made us feel uncomfortable, not welcome to stay, but we were adamant we were not going home.
They said they’d give me an hour till 4.30pm. We told them our concern was I was really tired especially because I hadn’t slept properly since Wednesday night and I wasn’t sure how long I could go on with such low energy, the thought of another night with no sleep was a very worrying thought for me. So they suggested calling Burton Hospital to see if I went there they would break my waters and move things along. Burton said they were short staffed, I could go there but they wouldn’t be able to break my waters until Saturday. So me and Daniel discussed this and decided we were staying put. I allowed them to do a VE at 5pm and I was 4cm, thankfully because I was classed as being in established labour. So I could stay without feeling I couldn’t.
Thankfully they had a change over in staff. Mel and Kate come on shift, both very experienced midwifes. They both came in and introduced themselves. Kate was a trained hypnotherapist and was very keen and interested in my hypnobirthing preparation. Both midwives couldn’t believe how quiet and calm I was. All this time I was doing hip circles and figure of 8’s through each surge. I started leaning over the bath then as it eased stood upright and did figure of eights. In between the surges I was sitting on birthing ball leaning forward or sitting forward resting on chair. I was using my different breathing techniques for resting and through my surges. I had a hot bath, my back was aching, Daniel did pressure on my back and massage to help my back through my surges, and pulling my pelvis out and back which helped. I had a VE at 8pm I was 6cm. I felt it seemed I was dilating really slowly and I was tired, just not knowing how much longer it would be going on for. I just didn’t feel I could face another night with no sleep.
I kept thinking once I get to 10cm I will get the resting stage, that was the only thing helping me get through the tiredness.
I kept feeling like I needed a poo, I went to the toilet and did birthing breath. At 10.15pm my waters popped on the toilet, it was like a water balloon popping. As soon as they went my surges really ramped up. They became really intense and I started making some noises, coming from really deep within, at the back of throat, uncontrollable. They wanted to examine me again, said I was still 6cm and to get on the bed and lean over the back of the bed. I could really feel the pressure of the head, I said I can feel the head bearing down and that I felt I needed some help with how intense the surges were. Daniel carried on with the discussion of what my options were. The sounds, deep mooing (animal sounds) totally uncontrollable just like my body was taking over and pushing the baby down.
I kept thinking stay open as baby beared down. The midwife discussed pethidine and another drug which affected the baby less or gas and air. Daniel said I definitely didn’t want pethidine which he knew from what we had discussed in the build up to the birth. So we agreed on gas and air. I didn’t know how to use it, I would take one little inhale, didn’t feel it was doing anything. I said I could feel the baby’s head moving down.
The Midwife said I had still got a couple of hours. Daniel firmly suggested they start filling the pool. He knew from how I was being (the noises I was making and how in the zone I was) that baby was coming very soon.
The other midwife Kate showed me how to use the gas and air, breathe in and in and in all the way up to the peak of the Surge. I could feel the difference then. The pool was nearly filled and I could get in. Daniel and a midwife helped me in. I literally got in and breathed my baby’s head out and then one more and the baby’s shoulders were out. My baby was passed under my legs to me. The midwife had to give the baby some oxygen and a bit of a rub, only for a matter of seconds and he was brought back to me in the water. Daniel told me our baby was a boy once in my arms which was so beautiful, such a special moment.
The midwife who was trained in hypnotherapy was really keen on hearing about the hypnobirthing I’d been taught. She said she wished she could have filmed my birth to show to the other midwifes.
Thank you. I truly don’t believe it would have been such a positive enjoyable experience without everything you taught us.”
If you want to experience a positive birth, PM me or email liz@enhanceyourbirth.co.uk to find out how xx”
If you’re based in Solihull and looking for in person classes please check out Liz’s website www.enhanceyourbirth.co.uk and if you’re unable to make the classes, remember we have you covered with our video course. Try before you buy with our free classes here
