My Positive Birth Story

10 months on from the birth of my gorgeous girl, I have finally got round to writing my birth story. I had been determined to have a better birth experience this time around as my the birth of my son felt quite traumatic, and I knew it could be better. Now, it didn't exactly go the way I had planned but with the use of my new hypnobirthing tools and wonderful other half, I was able to come out the other side feeling so positive.

At about 24 weeks, I had started the online hypnobirthing class due to face to face classes being cancelled (thanks covid!) and got into it really quickly. I loved learning the science behind birth and can't believe I didn't know half of it during my first time around. The positive birth company made me feel so empowered just being able to understand what was supposed to happen, and how, at every step of the way.

My son was born 8 days after our due date, and I'd been in (extremely) slow labour for 2 weeks, so the wait was slightly excruciating. I was so focused on keeping calm and patient if this happened again.... until I remembered how uncomfortable this part of pregnancy is! It's nearly impossible to be patient at this time!! Anyway, 9 days after my due date, I had a midwife appointment and being told baby wasn't engaged at all was so disappointing. I had a little cry then picked myself up again and watched Frozen 2 in bed whilst we had family round for dinner. I was aching all over and getting contractions on and off so stayed unsocial and out of the way. I had been drawn downstairs by the desert and everyone shortly left at around 6pm. I was quite glad as my contractions were starting to feel more intense but were still not very regular. Russ (the best birthing partner ever) got our boy off to sleep then set up our bedroom with candles and fairy lights and another disney film so I could get in the zone.

Here's where our first plan changed... We had planned a home water birth to save the uncomfortable journey to the hospital, but when we called the team they were too busy and had no midwives available. We called the hospital for our back up plan but unfortunately they gave us some false information about the home birth team and said we could contact them by a mobile number. We seemed to keep getting passed along to different teams and I knew we were running out of time quickly. The midwives at hospital kept insisting on talking to me on the phone which was starting to disrupt my breathing exercises and being in 'the Zone'. It was about 11pm when I abruptly shouted "we need to go to hospital now!" So off we went, the journey was so difficult and was basically one long contraction. One of the roads was closed so we had to turn around and find another route. I kept closing my eyes and doing my up breathing, trying to cancel everything out except the app counting my breathing in and out.

We were about 5 minutes away from the hospital when suddenly my waters popped all over the car (proper movie style), and I felt her head drop right down. I'm sure I could feel her head at this point. However, I then felt a sense of relief for a few minutes until my body just started pushing. It was so amazing feeling this after having an epidural with my first. It is so incredible that I wasn't doing anything apart from concentrating on breathing and my body was just doing it. On its own. We were now in the car park, Russ ran in to fetch somebody to help which is when I panicked. I didn't want to be left alone. I knew she was coming right now. Luckily, a patient was outside and asked if we needed help. I was now crawling across the floor outside the main entrance! I couldn't walk as her head was nearly out. The longest few minutes passed when a team of amazing midwives ran out with sheets and a wheelchair. I was helped onto the chair on my knees and got straight back into 'the Zone'. I was so thankful that I'd learned the ability to block everything out so long as I felt safe, as I had been in sheer panic for the few minutes spent crawling outside.

Approximately, 2 minutes after we arrived in the labour suite, her head was out. The midwife quickly scrambled to put on her gloves as Russ fed me water and squeezed my hands, telling me positive affirmations.

And then she arrived.

The most perfect, squishy, lovely little Marcie.

Born at 11.42pm, when at my 2pm meeting with the midwife there was zero sign of her imminent arrival.

We were on top of the world and soon laughing about her quick arrival. Our midwife said she felt like she was on an episode of casualty because it was so dramatic! I really have the PBC and Russ to thank for getting me through this birth and remaining mostly calm!

However crazy and fast her birth was, we wouldn't change it for the world!