Fin and Bonnie
Sex: Boy –
Delivery: C-section
Due date: 26/8/2009
Date of Birth: 16/8/2009
Plan: Elective C-section 18/8 on account of my medical history at the time. I asked very little and assumed that was the best plan for me and my baby.
Water break: Like a pin in a water balloon at 4am 16th Aug. I had been on a Hen do that evening and got in at 2am. I was fast asleep in bed when my waters broke.
Surges: Began almost immediately.
Pain relief: Gas and air
Mucus plug: Landed on my foot around 5.30 am
Birth: Finley Frank Born by C-section 6.30 am weighing 7lb15oz
Sex: Girl
Delivery: Water Birth using hypnobirthing techniques
Due date: 1/1/2019
Date of Birth: 21/12/2018
Plan: Shared care with the consultant due to IVF pregnancy and my previous C-section.
This is where my hypnobirthing classes really came into play.
The consultant was keen my pregnancy did not go beyond 40 weeks on account of my pregnancy being IVF. I asked why, I took on board his reply and I asked him what his thoughts were on a VBAC.
I then went away and researched prior to our next appointment.
Researching VBAC and induction at length and talking it through with my husband. Understanding my risk of a uterine rupture could increase with syntocinon (hormone drip to encourage labour). Also carefully considering the consultants reasons behind an “induction”. I could of given up at that point and opted for a C-section but I knew that wasn’t my ideal.
On returning to see the consultant, we had a discussion. He respected my desire for a normal delivery, and I respected his rational behind my pregnancy not progressing beyond 40 weeks. Together we came up with a plan.
The actual plan: We agreed to a stretch and sweep at 38 weeks, followed by a 2nd one if needed and then agreed to a water break with the understanding that if baby had not made an appearance within 24 hours of the water break I would require a section.
Brilliant we had a plan for an ‘induction’ that was right for me, now to talk about the delivery.
Could I have the waterbirth I had been dreaming of? Yes I could, but he would like continuous monitoring.
Result
Following that consultant appointment, I met with my trusts active birth midwife, she was amazing. She showed me the pool, she talked me through a water birth, the option for dimmed lighting, aromatherapy diffusers, speakers playing into the room and telemetry monitoring that would allow me continuous monitoring in the birth pool.
I skipped my way out of that birth centre, well as much as a 30+ week pregnant lady can skip, but I was super happy. I felt heard, understood, and most importantly felt like we had made a plan for delivery that was individual to me and my baby.
Surges: At 3pm Tuesday 18th Dec, I had my first stretch and sweep. Around 8pm my surges started and around 2am we made our way into the Birth centre, surges 3-10 min, I was 3 cm dilated.
Mucus Plug: I lost this in dribs and drabs over the space of a week
Pain relief: Non
Birth: Labour was intermittent from the first stretch and sweep into Thursday, I kept busy, went for walks, watched Fin’s school Christmas play and enjoyed some reflexology. At around 4am early Friday 21st Dec we headed back In to the birth centre. I was 3cm dilated.
Following a joint discussion with the consultant on that morning it was decided that the midwife would break my waters at 9.15am. My surges instantly ramped up to 3 or 4 in 10min. I waddled myself along the corridor to the pool room. I put my headphones on with my positive affirmations playing, I climbed into the pool.
Birth: Bonnie May, in the pool, 12.12pm weighing 5lb 14oz
Conclusion
Note how the details of my first birth are fairly short. I’ll be honest I barely asked any questions. I didn’t know I could!! Nodded my head. Almost 10 years older with Bonnie, we had been through so much with our IVF. Hypnobirthing gave me the confidence to ask, it made me confidence I was prepared for birth no matter what that looked like. It rocked.
Read more What is Hypnobirthing? – Beautiful Births (beautiful-births.co.uk)
