If you've seen my previous post you will already know I was lucky enough to have a truly wonderful birthing experience.
My pregnancy was tough, dominated by sickness, hospital appointments and multiple hospital admissions for anti sickness medications, intravenous vitamins and re-hydration therapies. My consultant had considered an elective c-section as he was not sure I would have the stamina to endure an arduous labour but after discussions with my haematologist felt this was not the safest option. It was to be a natural birth, with as little intervention as possible to reduce the need for an assisted delivery. I don't mind admitting I was terrified. Williams birth was still very much at the forefront of my mind and the thought of going through the same experience again filled me with fear.
On Saturday 29th after William awoke from his nap at 3pm I took a trip into town with my mum to pick up a few essentials. I felt as though the baby had dropped down and it wasn't long before I was struggling to walk and needed to go home. We got home about 16:30 and I knew it was starting. My back was aching and I had menstrual cramping sensations in my abdomen and down the front of my legs. I decided to have a nice bath and at 17:10 felt my first contraction. They progressed from 7-8 minutes apart to 4 minutes within 40 minutes and the intensity was increasing. I phoned my husband at work to let him know but said not to rush as we probably had hours. By 18:30 he was home and the contractions were coming hard and fast every two and half minutes. The hospital had advised I could stay home until I'd put William down at 19:00 but then I had to be admitted. I was actually relived as I longed for a good lung full of gas and air.
19:20 we arrived at the hospital and following a quick assessment were advised it was likely to be a quick labour. I was not convinced. Thoughts of Williams birth kept creeping back to haunt me and it took all the strength I had not to panic. I calmed myself with deep inhalations of lavender and cranking up the tens machine with each onset of a contraction.
20:10 I was admitted to the ward and delighted to be handed the mouth piece of the gas and air. I took long controlled breaths and actually seemed to work with the contractions rather than against them. The intensity was something else and things were progressing more quickly than even the midwives had bargained for.
After only 40 minutes I'd progressed to phase 2 of the labour and I began to loose it. There was an obvious language barrier between the midwife and myself and without the ability to build a rapport with me she could not instill the confidence or reassurance I so desperately needed. My wonderful husband could see my distress and as always stepped in, took control and quite honestly rescued me. He explained what was happening and helped me through each agonising contraction. I asked for some pethidine to help me better manage the pain and my anxieties but then suddenly felt the need to push. The midwife said I couldn't have it if that was the case but overwhelmed with fear and high as a kite from the gas and air I told her the feeling had passed. She administered the injection and after ten or so minutes the urge to push was even more overwhelming.
We realised at this point that when I'd changed into my fabulous birthing shirt courtesy of
The Birthing Shirt Company I had left my bra on. I'd planned to have skin to skin so needed to try and get it off. Between the last three contractions I managed to slip my hand behind my back. unhook the clips, slip my arms out and pull it through the sleeve of the shirt, just in time for Thomas to be placed upon my chest. I was euphoric. I had managed a normal delivery within 3.5 hours from the first little contraction to his arrival into the world and I can not begin to explain how amazing it was not to feel like I'd been hit by a tram. It was the end of a very long journey and the beginning of a new one.
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| All Wrapped Up After Skin to Skin in my Fabulous Birthing Shirt |
Beside from my husband there are a few things I would not liked to have been without. The first thing was my birthing shirt. Its hard to know what to wear when you give birth but you need to feel comfortable and have your dignity preserved as much as possible. Made from super soft bamboo Jersey it stretch breathable, durable and Eco-friendly. The convenient front poppers were excellent for skin to skin post delivery and for breast feeding and I found it comfortable and cool to wear during labour. I can not recommend it enough. With a retail price of £35.99 (plus p&p) it seems like a bit of a luxury but as it can be worn during pregnancy, birth and post-natally it's exceptionally versatile and in my opinion well worth the money. You can click
here for more info.
My second must have was lavender. I inhaled it through my pregnancy and it helped to relieve the nausea but during the contractions before I had gas and air it was my life line. I deeply inhaled it off a tissue during each contraction in conjunction with the tens machine and believe its calming properties went some way in helping me manage my anxieties.
And finally the tens machine. I didn't use one for William and was dubious about its effectiveness. However this time I was open to anything, I desperately wanted the experience to be easier and I believe it helped. Whether it was simply a distraction or if it helped to ease the pain I don't know but I found it very useful and if I ever have another baby it will definitely be in my hospital bag with plenty of spare batteries.
So there you have it, a happy ending for us all, especially for me. I'm a very grateful, happy mummy who now understands that natural child birth can be just that. The fact that I'm already feeling recovered proves to me it was the best outcome I could have ever hoped for. I'm totally in love with my new addition and my new complete little family.
Donna....x
