36 week arrival and in denial
I was very excited to become a mum but I was so scared of giving birth that Sam and I decided to do hypnobirthing with Emily to try and help ease my fears! She was absolutely amazing, I felt so much calmer and knowledgable after completing the course. My favourite thing was listening to the tracks which calmed me down at home throughout my pregnancy if I had a bit of a wobble!
On Tuesday 19th of July at 36 weeks and 3 days I woke up at about 6am with an upset stomach, slight cramps and lots of pressure making me feel like I kept needing a wee. (Writing that back now I obviously was in early labour but at 36 weeks I was in absolute denial😂) At about 8am I rang my midwife who said I could either be in early labour or it could be from the heat. She suggested monitoring the cramps to see if they get worse or closer together, and as I wasn’t in much pain I said I would see how I go throughout the day and then call back.
Sam ran me a bath and I began timing my cramps which were every 10 minutes. They didn’t feel like they were getting any worse or closer together so I just carried on as normal breathing through each cramp and tried to relax! My mum came over at about 11am and the cramps were so manageable that she agreed I probably wasn’t in labour. However, after my mum left the cramps started to change and by about 4pm I couldn’t sit down with the pressure in my lower back/bum! I started to get a bit worried so I rang my mum to take me and Sam to the hospital to get checked out. Luckily the midwives had already suggested we take a hospital bag so that was all ready to go!
On the way to the hospital the cramps were getting intense as sitting down was the worst position, but I breathed through every contraction and held Sam’s hand for the half an hour journey. We got to the hospital at 5pm, I got checked and I was 5cm !!! I couldn’t believe it! I was quite emotional, getting a bit panicky about the baby being premature and feeling not prepared at all, but the midwives were so so reassuring and after a bit of a cry I calmed down and was taken to the delivery suite- suddenly I was ready to have a baby! I remember in the lift the midwife said to me ‘ I wish everyone was like you, your already half way there ‘ and that felt so good to hear- I was actually doing it!
Once we were upstairs the contractions really ramped up and although we hadn’t had chance to do our birth plan I knew I wanted an active labour, (combined with the pressure in my back/bum that I really couldn’t lie down at all), I asked to stand and lean over the bed! I had to be monitored a lot due to being 36 weeks, as well as having a heart condition but the midwives were amazing at accommodating my wishes for an upright birth despite this! I got offered gas and air by this point and asked sam to put my hypnobirthing music on ( which he later told me he couldn’t find and in a panic just put on a random relaxation playlist he found on youtube haha). I breathed through every contraction, with the help of gas and air, sam massaging my lower back and my mum pep talking me, telling myself to ride the wave, that the pain will go, and each contraction is bringing me closer to meeting our baby! I always thought at this point I would be scared and screaming but I was the complete opposite, I stayed calm and focused the whole time- it was an amazing feeling!
It was going really well standing up until the doctor noticed a lot of bleeding and due to my heart condition they didn’t want to risk anything so I was asked to lie on the bed, and at this point I agreed as I knew it was the safest option for me and my baby. The midwives stayed so calm the whole time so I didn’t panic and continued to remain calm and focused! They then told me I was already 10cm and that you are going to push this baby out! I felt so so proud that I had got this far and was so excited to meet our baby! I had an episiotomy to help things move quickly and with four pushes she was here!
Our beautiful baby girl arrived at 8:04pm after only three hours of arriving at the hospital! It was the most overwhelming, empowering feeling and the most positive birth experience! I went from being terrified of having a baby to being excited to do it again!
The combination of knowledge from Emily, my supportive birth partners as well as amazing midwives and doctors made me feel so safe and calm through every part, and that was all I ever wanted!
