{Birth Story} Alastair’s Birth
This is the birth story of my third baby; I used HypnoBirthing with my previous 2 and had a refresher session with Jade a week before (2 weeks before I was due). My first was born in the midwife let unit in a birthing pool (7 hr labour), my second was born unplanned at home (3 hr labour). So I decided homebirth was the best option for this birth.
I started feeling surges at 6 am (39 weeks + 1) not very strong and coming immediately at 3 mins apart. I got up and had a shower but they still continued, without gaining in intensity or time.
My husband came home just in case, and the kids went off to Granny’s. I then chilled out with candles, listening to the affirmations and rainbow relaxation while he set up the pool. By 5 pm I was pretty fed up with no improvement in surges so we switched on the TV and watched some Olympics!
We went for a wee walk and then tried some nipple stimulation, which if nothing else made us giggle! At 7 pm I stood up and suddenly got much more intense surges and an urge to use the toilet! Hubby called the midwives and by time they called back at 7.30, I was having surges every 2 mins and starting to feel shivery. I got in the pool and had a show.
The midwives arrived at 8 (one rang the doorbell!!). They were very hands off as requested other than checking with foetal Doppler every 15 mins. Hubby repeated affirmations to me and used the countdown script through surges.
I said that the baby was coming; the midwives had a quick check with the torch but shook their heads at each other! His head then came out but as he was still in the sac they couldn’t see it! Sac burst on next surge and his body appeared. He was placed on my chest and hubby cut the cord once it stopped pulsating. He was born at 9.16 pm.
I had skin to skin and fed him for 45 mins whilst waiting for placenta. It was a lovely bonding experience for all 3 of us, and labour was recorded at just 2 hrs 16 mins! The midwives said afterwards that they thought it amazing that they couldn’t tell when I was having surges and could only stand back and wait. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend a home birth or hypnobirthing.
