Third baby, first home birth.

So from Monday I had been having Braxton Hicks and the start of a show. My BH got a little stronger so I sent a text to my midwife to keep her up dated with anything that was happening. They subsided and my show stopped, so I let my midwife know.

On Tuesday the same happened but I just figured that this could be happening for a long time, since I was only 39 weeks on the Wednesday, and I went over with my two girls, by 5 days on the first and 11 days on my second. Wednesday came and it started all over again but the BH were a bit stronger – but not painful. So I let my midwife know and she said to keep her posted.

I woke up Wednesday night/Thursday morning at 1am with a surge that hurt and I was afraid the next one might burst my waters while in the bed because of the pressure. So once it stopped I got out and told my husband that I was ringing my midwife (previous history is that when my waters go my babies arrive within minutes).

My husband jumped up out of bed and got the pool ready downstairs while I had a shower. All the time I was having surges but they were not like the ones that woke me up. They were a little less strong.

When my midwife came and did her checks she asked were they still coming. But they were stalling/less intense and I was starting to feel bad that I even rang her, and got her out of bed (I kinda felt like a first timer rushing into the hospital with the first stirring of labour!). But she was very quick to tell me that I was not to worry that she is here and that we would see how things went. That this is what she is here for.

She rang the 2nd midwife to stop her coming out just yet. With that my surges started again, and they were beginning to build up so that I was making sounds and unable to talk during them. I got into the pool at about 3.30am and it was wonderful. I found the surges were easy to manage once I could hold my husband’s hand and hear him telling me to breathe, and relax. At 5am my two little girls woke up, my husband went to them to get them ready for my Mam to pick them up for adventures and sleep overs.

While he was upstairs playing with the girls my surges became really powerful. My midwife was very quick to come to me and hold my hand and give me encouragement, I found her very soothing. And after each surge I felt great, that I could do this….if only my waters would go, as the pressure was very intense.

Mum came and took the girls, and my husband returned to me. I felt a little lost if he was not beside me.

I wanted to get out of the pool at that stage (6am) as I felt the pool was going against gravity and not letting my baby come down far enough for my waters to go. The pressure was unreal. I felt like I was not progressing at all. I was beginning to get frustrated with my lack of progress, as my last labour I was spoiled with an easy quick one (3.5 hours from the very start to being put into my post natal bed).

Once I got out of the pool the surges came with such power I was losing my strength to stand and I needed to lean on my husband. I went to the toilet to empty my bladder and was so comfy there, but of course I had to get up. My midwife and my husband were telling me to go back to the pool or go to the couch ( I guess they could see how soon the baby might arrive and a toilet is not the place to be).

So I decided that the couch was the option for me. I leaned over it and the surges were so strong but I was getting fed up and I was feeling so weird because my waters just were not popping and I knew that if they did I was on the home run, at one stage the thought crossed my mind that I was gonna be one of those very rare births where the baby was born within the water bag!!! I even asked my midwife if she could break them – even though I knew she wouldn’t. But she explained they would break very soon, that I was nearly there. I was telling her that I was feeling tired and fed up.

It was so weird, I was telling my midwife that my body wanted to push but the waters were in the way. My midwife said just let my body do what it wanted to do and don’t worry.
So I did, after the next couple of surges my waters went with such a gush I think I got everyone wet . I felt such relief, and said thank god for that, I am feeling much better now.

The contractions started up again and baby wanted to come out, but he would just about crown with my body stretching for him, when he would go back in. This was happening quite a bit so after a few surges my midwife asked me to push with my body to help it along. So I did and he moved but his head got stuck half way out. I had to push really hard again but nothing. My midwife got me to move my leg to a different position, kinda like a squat on one leg and kneeling still with the other, and with that push he came out, turned and then the rest of him on the next surge. J was born at 7:19am. About 6 hours after I started labour.

It turned out that the cord was caught around his neck and that it was stopping him from making his appearance. Once my midwife worked on him with suction and the mask he pinked right up in less than a minute, then my husband cut the cord and he was handed over to me. I was on cloud nine looking at my baby boy. Life could not have gotten any better – still can’t.

My midwife then came to me and gave me a big hug saying that I did great, I had to really work hard for him, as it was not an easy labour.  He had decided to come down the wrong way – his head almost coming down facing my leg not my bum and with the cord wrapped around his neck that made it all the harder. But my midwife said that it was a blessing that my waters let go at the last minute as it was allowing him to turn (very slowly) into a position that would enable his head to be born.

I got back into the pool and we had our first swim and proper cuddles together.

Then my midwife brought me upstairs to check me over and I only needed a couple of stitches – which I am amazed at considering the amount of work that was needed to get him here. But my midwife explained that it was because we were relaxed and I didn’t do coached pushing.

My midwife then left after another big hug when everything was checked and checked again. Telling me to stay in bed and that she will ring later in the evening and she will see me again tomorrow.

I cannot believe I had such an amazing experience, in my own home. Yes, it was a hard labour, but I feel so privileged.

During the times when I was fed up and wanted a break, I never thought that I could not do it, never thought that I needed pain relief. I just knew that yes, it is hard, but by god I will do it, I CAN do it and I will see my baby…..and I did.

I just want to say a big thank you, without your GentleBirth workshop I would NEVER been able to have James naturally without intervention, I would have never even considered a home birth, but the workshop gave me the tools and confidence to do it and I am so happy I did.