I had had tightenings come and go in the last few days of pregnancy but no real pattern formed, I made sure I walked and used by birthing ball for bouncing and rocking, also massaging Clary Sage oil into my bump and putting some in bath and just spent the last few days relaxing as much as I could.
On Tuesday 28th July, I woke at 5am to quite a strong tightening followed shortly by another, I decided to get up and have a bath and listen to some rainbow relaxation, I was feeling very calm and excited as I just knew that things were starting to happen and I wouldn’t have to be pressured into an induction. I had a consultant appointment at 2pm that day so spent the morning in the bath and spending time with my daughter and partner, all the while my surges were continuing at least 10 minutes apart.
At my appointment I told my consultant that things were moving and she then examined me, she told me I was 2cm dilated and that baby would be here soon.
Feeling really happy I wanted to get home and relax as much as I could, as soon as I got home my partner ran a bath and I listened to some birth affirmations, we started to time each surge, they were approximately 7 mins apart lasting 30 – 40 seconds and becoming quite strong though I felt I could cope at that time. After getting out of the bath I went to my bedroom and did some rocking and swaying and trying to keep on my feet, my partner made me something to eat but I couldn’t face food at that time so I lay on the bed cuddling my daughter and breathing through each surge.
Suddenly each surge seemed to be coming faster and becoming more uncomfortable and I decided I wanted to get to the hospital, we’d already loaded the car with our bags so everything was ready. I had a last cuddle with my daughter and off we went.
We arrived at the hospital at about 6pm and parked in the wrong car park meaning I had to walk around the hospital to get to the doors, in hindsight it was probably a good thing because by the time I got to the MLU my surges were 3 mins apart lasting 40 – 60 seconds and really strong. Once were settled in our room I used the birthing ball to lean over the bed and listened to more affirmations and rainbow relaxation whilst Michael did some light touch massage on my back.
By 8pm I felt as though I was having constant surges with as little as 30 seconds between them, I asked to be examined as I felt I was losing control due to the strength of them I was unable to maintain my breathing. I got in the pool at approx 8.30pm I found the water very soothing and was able to relax more, all the light were turned down and I was able to focus again, the only thing was that we had nowhere to plug our ipod in to so I couldn’t listen to any music or my hypnobirthing. Within an hour the surges were still coming thick and fast and were increasing in strength, I was really surprised by the force of them and again felt that I couldn’t control my breathing at that point I asked if I could use gas and air to help me focus.
It continued this way until around 12.30am, with Michael being on hand and talking to the midwife about what was happening, knowing he was there controlling the room was such a comfort. When I was having surges Michael was prompting me to relax and listen to my body and was stroking my arms and neck, in between surges I asked him to give me some visualization prompts of our beautiful son about to be born, which he did with the next surge, unfortunately within a few surges I found this quite annoying and had to ask him not to speak or touch me again! I found it really difficult to speak at that point there was no break between surges and I didn’t want to lose focus. I think I just wanted to go within myself and not be distracted in any way, I could hear a voice in my head telling me to relax, there is nothing to fear and my baby was finally coming to me.
At 12.30am the midwife said she would like to check my progression, to do that she said I had to get out of the pool, I really didn’t want to but as I made my way to the step to get out and got on my knees something changed I felt a really strong surge through my bottom followed by a pop…my waters!
I then refused to get out of the pool as I knew I couldn’t move, she said she would try and examine me in the water, quite difficult I’d imagine. With Michaels help they managed to get me into a position to allow me to be examined, I was elated when she said I only had a tiny bit of cervix to dilate and that my babys head was right there ready to be born.
I felt the top of his head with my finger and I can’t explain the feeling of pure excitement that came over me, I felt totally delirious. At this point my surges started to change each one felt like a strong force in my bottom they were lasting longer and again became more forceful.
A few surges later I had one long surge that was followed by what can only be described as an uncontrollable bearing down sensation, I knew my body was pushing my baby out. I couldn’t speak and anytime the midwife asked me a question I could only nod or shake my head. Again the surges changed, they were more intense but there was a gap in between, I remember saying to Michael that my body was giving me a rest to give me energy. The surges varied in intensity at this point all of them strong however not all of them gave me a bearing down sensation, I could feel the baby’s head coming down but at the end of the surge he would slip back a little, I started to become a bit disheartened as this was the point in my birth with my daughter that didn’t progress and ended up with intervention to get her out but the midwife said something that spurned me on, she said that the baby’s head was like a rolling pin and with each surge he was rolling out the perineum which would become flatter and allow him to be born, so with every surge I imagined this is what was happening and I was opening up for my baby. It did take a while for his head to come down, I remember looking at the clock at around 3 am and thinking it was taking too long, I had been shifting positions quite regularly and found that squatting was helping the most.
The surges continued and the midwife was telling me to push down, which I did a little, but more so I breathed down into my body which took over the job for me, it was an uncontrollable force and my body shook with the pressure yet I had the clarity between surges to talk and be calm, I was so glad to be in the water.
Finally at around 4.20 am my baby’s head came out, it was such a relief and to feel his head there was a tremendous feeling, I was so excited and deliriously happy to feel him, I could feel him rotate himself into position to be born, that was a strange sensation I’ll never forget. Myles Finley was born at 4.41am weighing 7lb 15 oz he was placed directly onto my chest and took his first breath and cried his little lungs out. I can’t describe the feeling but the relief and the elation has left me on such a high since his arrival, I couldn’t believe after the traumatic birth of my daughter that I had birthed my baby without anything but gas and air and a pool, it was exactly what I had wanted.
We stayed in the pool until the cord stopped pulsing, then Michael cut the cord, I then had to get out of the bed to deliver the placenta on some beanbags in the corner of the room while Michael had time to cuddle our new son, about 10 minutes later I released the placenta naturally and was examined and told I had just a small labial graze, I couldn’t have been happier. The midwife cleaned me up a little and wrapped a blanket over me, Myles was placed on my chest and latched on immediately, while she went to fix us some tea and toast. We were left in the room for a while to bond, the midwife said to tell her when we were ready to go back to our room, nothing was rushed, we lay on the bean bags in the dim light, the sun coming up and feeling so very peaceful and elated.
Michael asked about when we would be able to come home and I was so surprised when they said later that day! We were discharged from hospital at 1pm, since coming home Myles has been a content baby, he only cries if he has wind or needs a feed, we are totally exhausted and breastfeeding hasn’t established but it’s all early days, Myles seems like a very hungry baby. He’s alert when he’s awake and is perfect in every way!
I felt immensely proud following our birth, apart from the usual aches my recovery is going really well, The midwives at Liverpool Womens hospital were excellent, so different from my last birth, Karen who was with us throughout was quiet and respectful and asked us what we wanted rather than try to force anything on us. Michael said that I was so in control and I did what I wanted to do, if she suggested something that I didn’t want I would just say no, if she suggested I move position and I didn’t want to I would say no and she never tried to push me. Karen said it was a lovely calm and perfect birth and whilst it was hardwork at times I have to agree! My only complaint was having no means to plug in our ipod station, I don't even think we checked though if we could work it with batteries!
With Hypnobirthing I was able to prepare myself for the birth of Myles, I had a traumatic birth with my Daughter and was filled with fear, I had 2 miscarriages in the last year and was terrified something would happen to Myles, through fear release I was able to let go of those feelings and be calm about my impending birth, I know I couldn’t have done it without Hypnobirthing. It helped me more than anything understand my body and what it is naturally meant to do, whilst the force and intensity of surges may have been more than I was expecting I was able to cope. I know Hypnobirthing doesn’t promise a pain free delivery but it was manageable and peaceful and I can’t think of a better way to have brought our Son in to the world!
I'm so glad I found Hypnobirthing, I could shout about it from the rooftops, why pregnant women aren't introduced to it through their antenatal care is beyond me!