THE BIRTH OF LUCY

This is my own birth story with my second child.. It was the most empowering thing i’ve ever done! 

I had done soo much to prepare for this birth leading up to it. I had my birth preferences and had made informed decisions. I was fully confident in my body, my baby and myself. I also had lots of techniques to use thanks to the Hypnobirthing course we had done and the support I needed from my partner and midwife. I was excited to birth again!! 

It was Friday night, i was 38+6 pregnant and had spent all day in the car to a non-pregnancy related specialist appointment out of town. I had increased and frequent Braxton Hicks during the day and in the evening I noticed a change. BH turned into a period ache low in my belly, very weak but noticeable. 

I stayed up later that evening to get some work done and by 9 pm they were pretty frequent so I started timing them just for fun. Around 5 min apart and a minute each. 

I headed to bed to try and get some sleep if things would pick up, as I had in the back of my mind things would happen quickly once started due to my first birth was very quick. The surges (contractions) were just uncomfortable enough for me not to sleep, so I decided to wake up my husband Robbie at 2 am to let him know what is happening and that I was going to get up and check the bags and make sure everything was ready to go. He came up with me and helped packing the bags, pack the car, made cups of tea and sandwiches. 

Then we waited. 

And waited. 

Nothing picked up, they were just consistent but not progressing or picking up. I was getting really sleepy so we headed back to bed. Woke up in the morning as usual and all day Saturday we went on with our day. I was certain it was prodromal labour (practice or false labour) as I had surges all day but it didn’t bother me - but little did I know I was actually labouring away!! By the time my daughter Summer went to bed at 7 Pm I was getting a bit uncomfortable with lots of pressure so I bounced on the yoga ball and did some work on the computer. Started timing the surges again and messaged my midwife updating what’s going on. At 8 pm they had been consistent 3-5 min apart lasting for a minute each for a while and intensified. I got Summer’s arrangements ready and told Robbie we should probably drop her off in the next few hours. I could tell he wasn’t sure it was time as I was handling everything so well and didn’t seem to be in pain. I felt in control and had my techniques for managing the surges and my birthing affirmations playing on my phone. It worked so well! 

By 9 pm I felt like the 30 minute car drive to the hospital was going to be hard, so I called my midwife Demelza saying we will be heading in tonight and she said “I’ll meet you at the hospital within the hour”. Oh ok!

So we woke Summer up and drove to my friend Jess’s house. Put our big girl in her travel cot, said our goodbyes and headed for the hospital! Next time I see her she will be a big sister! Drive wasn’t too bad (I had a horrible drive last time) and I focused on my breath during surges and talking to Robbie in between. We were getting really excited - baby is coming! 

When we arrived at 10 pm my midwife was waiting and had our room ready, dimly lit with fairy lights and a birth pool set up in the middle of the room. We unpacked and settled in. She checked my blood pressure and bubs heartbeat while Robbie filled the diffuser with my labour oils (Balance and Motivate) and got my cameras out. I sat down on a Birth ball as I had done at home but it quickly felt wrong so I changed position. My go-to position was kneeling on the floor and leaning into the ball so I could flop and relax. Robbie was sitting behind me doing gentle touch and applied counter-pressure on my lower back. Soo good! 

I spent the next hour in this position but at midnight I was ready for the pool! Got in and it felt amazing!! The warm water was great and I felt so much more comfortable. I was really calm and fully focused on my breathing, on my knees and leaning on the side of the pool. Surges were getting really intense now. I could literally feel my body opening up, slowly but surely. 

20 minutes in, and during a strong surge I felt a massive pop and gush. My water broke!

Instantly the fetal ejection reflex kicked in and I couldn’t stop it. This took me by surprise so I lost my rhythm for a moment. Robbie grounded me and reminded me to breathe. I regained my focus knowing baby is nearly here and started my ‘bearing down’ breathing. After a few big long breaths I reached down and could feel the head with lots of hair swaying in the water!! I couldn’t believe it. 

My midwife reminded me to stay relaxed and calm as this was my most important moment to take things slow and relax. 

Her priority was making sure to prevent tearing, per my request, due to previous damage and scar tissue to my perineum from my first birth (3rd degree tear and multiple repairs) so she was behind me with her torch and a mirror. 

I could definitely feel the ring of fire this time around, as I was so aware of every step of the way as baby slowly emerged. Once the head was out baby started to wiggle (weirdest feeling ever being half in half out!) and rotate and I could then breath out the rest. 

As bubs came out I looked down and saw two arms stretched out so I grabbed one and gently pulled it up. A tiny body emerged that I slowly brought up to the surface to meet us for the very first time. We had skin to skin cuddles straight away and an uninterrupted and quiet moment where we waited for baby to make a noise. This baby was just looking around! Then she let out a little cry. Oh and then we remembered to check if we just had a boy or a girl!! 

Baby girl. 

“You’re here” was all I could think. Born 00.44 am on Sunday morning. 

It was so quiet and calm. No rush, no checks, no doctors - just us. I was left to do what I needed. I sat down on the little step in the pool and made sure she was still in the water to keep warm, and we just sat. Soaked her in. Counted her toes. Kissed her cheeks. Robbie couldn’t look any happier. I was so relieved. 

She started looking for boob so I let her explore and find her way, and she did. It wasn’t a full breast crawl because I was sitting up but she found it alright. She also had so much vernix! Her back was covered and so was her forehead. I wanted to keep it to rub in, and not clean it off (its sooo good for their skin!). 

Then I waited for the placenta to come out naturally and I could feel cramping while little girl was nursing. 

I received the placenta by myself shortly after (just after 1 am) and placed it in a bowl floating on the water. Inspected the cord. I was happy to have the cord cut then as it had stopped pulsating and looked white. It had been about 23 minutes since birth. Robbie cut it and she was free. 

Midwife examined the placenta while we were still in the pool, then we decided to get up as the water was getting colder. Robbie took her to get weighed before I got up. 

3120g 50 cm long and 32.5 cm head. 

Then I stood up and blood just poured out of me. Big cloths. I was feeling shaky. We tried to transfer me to the bed and I got up in the end. Midwife kept a close eye on the bleeding but didn’t seem too concerned * this is normal *. She examined me for damage while daddy had his first cuddles. The damage was a little tear at the top and a small one on the inside. The perineum was ok! She said I didn’t need stitches but she could do a couple if I wanted to, to help the healing. I opted for the stitches. 

So so happy I didn’t tear much at all, and felt like all my hard work and preparations really paid off! 

Once done I got a wheelchair as I was looking really pale and had lost some blood. We went to our recovery room to rest and that is what we did! Rest. But first I had a shower that felt like a million bucks (sitting down) then we all got tucked into bed. I couldn’t sleep of course since I just had a baby and riding the birth-high but resting felt so good! 

She was here!! I had done it. 

We stayed all morning, Robbie left about 9 am to pick up Summer and take her home. Me and baby girl stayed until they both came in that afternoon around 3 pm. Then we all went home as a family of 4 and had dinner and tried to understand we just had a baby.

I’m so proud of this birth and i’m so happy it turned out just the way I wanted it to. Such a powerful thing, taking charge and having just the birth you envisioned all along.

Louise xx