Born at home and avoided a hospital transfer

Marlee was born Thursday 26th March at 22:00 weighed 8lb 11 (due 25th March).

Thursday 26th March started as usual with me taking my daughter to nursery as normal in the morning. When I returned home I had some more breakfast as feeling very hungry I then decided to do the ironing, whilst ironing I was getting low backache and tightenings which seemed to be coming quite regularly so I decided to time them. I Found that they were lasting about 45 seconds and coming every 4 minutes, I was comfortable and able to continue what I was doing. This continued throughout the morning and when I went to the toilet I noticed some bloody discharge and realised my body was getting ready but thought it would be a while yet.

After some lunch I went to harborne as I had a reflexology appointment at 14:30, the backache and tightenings continued regularly throughout at a bearable level. The treatment was lovely and relaxing (don't know if it helped at all as stuff was already happening). I returned home around 16:00 and things remained at the same level (lasting 45 sec and every 4 mins) for the next couple of hours. My husband picked our daughter up from nursery and put her to bed at 18:30 as I didn't feel able to do the bedtime routine, I spent this time sitting on my birth ball doing circles, figure of eights and just generally rocking. Around this time the tightenings started to come every 2-3 mins with intensity increasing slightly. I continued to tidy up and spend time sitting on the birth ball. At 7pm I decided I should contact the midwives to let them know that I was in labour I spoke to Jo from the home birth team and let her know the contractions were around every 3 minutes or so, she let me know who was on call that night and it was Elaine (my named midwife) which was nice, she contacted Elaine as the shift change over is at 8pm and said to ring back if things changed. The contractions were still manageable and I was able to keep moving. After speaking to Jo my husband and I ate our dinner then I had a call from Elaine at 19:20 (just finished dinner) at which point things were starting to get a little more painful and were coming at times every 1 - 2 minutes always around 45 seconds long but a bit erratic. On hearing this Elaine said they would be coming round at 8. After eating my husband got on with organising our lounge to set up the birth pool, it's a small house so we were unable to have it set up before hand. Elaine rang again just before 8 to check how we were doing, everything was at that point has become more intense and I would have to stop what I was doing and lean over onto something and do some hip circles and deep breathing trying to remain relaxed, focusing on my breathing and the movement helped me to cope.

Elaine and Angela arrived just after 8pm, I had just been to the toilet, the pool was up but hadn't been filled yet, my husband started to fill the pool while the midwives set up their equipment. I then went upstairs with Elaine so she could listen to the baby's heartbeat and check position, I was offered a vaginal examination which I declined (Elaine supported and encouraged this decision). Whilst upstairs the contractions kept coming regularly and fairly strong and I would have to get Elaine to stop, whilst I coped with them by getting onto all fours doing hip circles and focusing on my breathing, when the contractions were over I felt good and we went back downstairs.

Once downstairs the intensity continued to increase and I remained in a kneeling position leaning on my birth ball and doing circles when a contraction came (they were now lasting about a minute). We were encouraged to do what felt right and to dim the lights and just be together. My husband gave me some sacral massage during this time as well, and at one point Elaine or Angela (not sure which as I was focused on my body) gave me a back massage. Just before 9pm I suddenly remembered my TENS machine but by this time the pool was about ready so there was no time to use it.

Just after 9pm I was able to get into the pool in between contractions, it instantly felt soothing and very comfortable, ( I had previously been concerned about what to wear in the pool but when it came to it I quickly stripped off and didn't care that I was naked with others around) I continued to be on my knees leaning on the side of the pool holding my husbands hand and circling, I had been in the pool only a short while (I think) when I decided I needed to use some of the gas and air (which had been delivered shortly after the midwives arrived). I was able to continue using the deep breathing and hypnobirthing relaxing techniques with the gas and air to breath through the contractions whilst listening to my relaxing music. Whilst in the pool Angela said to me that she could see a good purple line (I didn't know what that was at the time) which apparently can give an indication of how dilated you are. It wasn't too long, around 21:50, before I started to push using the gas and air and my breathing techniques, I was able to feel when babies head came out still in the membranes (continued to be on my knees leaning against the side of the pool). I remember Elaine talking to me and telling me to just breath, don't think I was able to follow her instructions as I remember her saying them whilst needing to push and not being able to not push with the intense pressure I felt, 10 minutes later our baby girl was born at 22:00 the membranes broke as she came out and Elaine had to wipe the membranes off of her face. She was then passed to me (we still didn't know it was a girl at that point) but she had the cord wrapped around her neck so there was a bit of manoeuvring to remove it, we then had skin to skin.

Whilst enjoying the cuddles and awaiting the placenta to be delivered I was asked to get out of the pool as the midwives had noticed that I was bleeding and wanted to examine me to find out where the blood was coming from, they found I had a 2nd degree tear. I was left with some pads for a short time awaiting delivery of the placenta then went into the bathroom to try and encourage the placenta to come away, but I wasn't having any contractions and was still bleeding quite badly so it was suggested that I have a the injection to help deliver the placenta, within a few minutes of having the injection the placenta came away. Over the next hour I was stitched up, using some gas and air, whilst my husband had skin to skin with the baby and her checks and assessments were performed.

All assessments went well apart from the oxygen saturation on baby's feet which weren't within the correct range, so they continued to check these and tried multiple times to obtain a good reading. Angela stayed trying to get a reading until about 03:00 (during this time I had a bath and got cleaned up) when she still didn't get the right reading she called the hospital and it was decided that we should go in to get baby checked on the hospital equipment, so an ambulance was called. When baby and I got onto the ambulance her oxygen levels were rechecked on their equipment and we finally had some good readings, so another call to the hospital was made and we were allowed to stay at home, which was great news and a huge relief. So we went back inside where my husband was emptying the pool (he couldn't come to the hospital as we didn't have anyone to stay with our eldest daughter who had slept through everything). Angela then finished her documentation and was finally able to leave around 04:00, I then went up to bed with baby while my husband finished putting the pool away.

Our eldest daughter then got up around 06:30 to find a new baby sister, which was a lovely way to introduce the new baby. Having a Homebirth was all that we hoped it would be and would recommend it to everyone. The breathing techniques and yoga positions learned in class were especially helpful, I would also recommend some hypnobirthing practice, I never seemed to get around to sitting down and concentrating on this properly but what little I did helped me to focus on breathing and relaxing. I have felt so much better, healed and recovered this second time around than I did with my first where my whole body ached afterwards, think I was quite tense and unable to relax the first time as we ended up in the delivery suite where it was very bright and uncomfortable.

Marlee is now 7 weeks old and everything is going well, she is a fairly calm baby and loves to have a bath, it often really settles her if she is getting a bit grumpy before bed.

Positive but complicated experience of birth

so....Thursday evening was my due date, I went to the theatre and spent some time with friends, and then to sleep. At 2.40 in the night I felt warm water so jumped out of bed and woke my husband A. I ran to toilet, there was more water coming. I rang the homebirth team, M was on call. She was a bit worried I had some blood coming and no contractions so sent me to check in triage. we arrived at Womens, and while we were walking low contractions started. we had to wait and wait there, and I felt so hot in that hospital and just wanted to take some comfortable position on my yoga ball. finally they took me in and attached me to monitor with two wires for half an hour. baby's heart beat was fine, and my contractions were now coming every 5min. nurse asked me to do vaginal exam, and that was so painful. she said I am 3cm open. we wanted to go home, but she said I have to talk to a doctor..

then one lady doctor came and I didnt like her approach at all. she said "I see you want homebirth, but I am not happy with your test and you are not in active labour". when I asked her to explain me why is she not happy, she said "what do you mean why am I not happy, I am just not happy." she then said I can stay attached to monitor and lie on the bed. No way! I was standing all half an hour and I wanted to kneel. she said I can walk to the door and back and in the morning they will do induction. I got really angry. I asked her to leave me with my husband to talk. I told him that I hate this room and bed and bright lights and that I don't want all of this, and I am mentally prepared for home birth and I just want to go home. So we signed papers that we are leaving and left. In the car I said "Ok, I will get my anger out in next two minutes and then I will start with positive thoughts again." he laughed while I was yelling how I don't like people treating me like that. 

At home I felt much better, I had banana and yogurt, my music, essential oils and candles. I had contractions every five minutes and I was drawing my poster with positive thoughts and cervix opening in colours. I felt really positive and relaxed. 

Midwife A was on call that day, she called me and she was listening my breathing and contractions. she came very soon with Midwife K, I don't even know what time it was, maybe 9 in the morning. during all of this, I lost sense of time. 

My husband made tea, we were eating biscuites and joking but every now and then I had another contraction. it was amazing to experience how nature is completely taking control over my mind and body, and I just had to surrender. The pain was like stronger period pain, and now I am so grateful I had painful periods my whole life cause it prepared me for giving birth. I was breathing on all fours and making that "horse sound" with my lips, that helped a lot. my husband was holding me and whispering in my ears. during last month of my pregnancy I made him practice labor massage, but now I just didnt want any touch on my back. I prefered gentle stroke on my hair, that was like little distraction.

The contractions became stronger and stronger, with no breaks to rest. I asked for my song that I was singing every morning after yoga and breathing, I was singing in labor and again that helped. When I thought I can't make it, I would look in A's eyes and at Midwife A's smile. Her smile was the most encouraging thing, and she always said "you are doing so great, you are doing so good."

I was very hungry, but felt too sick to eat. Because I was loosing energy, they gave me food, but then I vomited. Again, after contraction was gone, the pain was gone again and I again felt hungry. very strange feeling. :-)

Then the need for pushing came, I just felt it like big need to empty my bowls. I felt a bit ashamed, but I told that to Midwife A and she told me not to worry. she called another midwife. 

All 3 of them were so unobtrusive, but I felt their presence. They were checking babies heart beat and my pulse, but I felt I am going in my head in some other world and that feeling was so powerful.

Only problem was that this need for push would come and go. and then I had to wait for it to come again. and that waiting was bad. I just wanted to push him out, I could feel his head coming down and then after the need was gone, his head would go up again.. I was becoming impatient and stressed, thinking 'what is wrong?'. I didn't like the breaks. Midwife A was suggesting change of position, so I went from kneeling on all fours in my husband's lap to standing. A was reading me affirmations from hypnobirthing and that also helped. Midwife A gave me a little mirror so I was able to see his head and even touch it.

In the end, I gave birth on my left side, Midwife A was holding my leg so that I can push. He came out and started crying immediately. Midwife A put him on my breast and he started sucking my nipple. it was amazing feeling. A was stroking him and I just felt all the pain is gone. he was born at 2.40, exactly 12 hours after my water broke. he was 4kilos, everybody was surprised he is such a big baby, cause my belly was small. I was so happy to be surrounded by love and peace. 

Finally I was able to eat so I enjoyed my jaffa cakes and just looking at our baby. I knew that third stage is coming, but I didnt feel any need to push anymore. It all felt to me like 10min, but later on they said it was 40 minutes. I saw Alice is worried, although she turned her face into smile every time I looked at her. She was trying to put me in better position, but my knees were shaking. A cut the cord,  placenta came only half and she gave me some syntocin, she was pulling placenta slowly, and a lot of blood came with it. She had to do two stitches, she gave me an injection, but I was just breathing and looking at the baby. It all looked fine and I was very positive and full of love.

Sadly, seems like I was still bleeding and suddenly I heard music in my head and started fainting. They called me and Midwife A said we should call the ambulance. My husband got scared cause my face was yellow. But I kept on smiling and holding my baby and that was only important. 

I just remember I was very hungry and very cold, but no negative feeling or fear. The ambulance came, they were all lovely, they took me in the van but allowed me to hold the baby during the whole journey. Midwife A was with me, we were talking and I felt safe because of her positive attitude. 

In hospital they gave me gas and air to do the vaginal examination. that was so painful and horrible. I felt like I am on drugs, not aware of things, but I could still feel the pain. I started laughing and yelling, and I was just repeating how glad I am I didnt take any drugs during giving birth cause I wanted to be aware of every sensation. 

I was also repeating how bad it would be for me if I had to give birth in that room with bright lights and that hospital smell.

So....in the end....we spent the night in the hospital, I had two amazing nurses checking me all the time and answering all of my questions. I was hungry all the time, but they didnt allow me to eat, just in case I bled more. They gave me a transfusion. The positive thing was that my husband was with me in private room all night and baby S was with us, we were both holding him skin to skin, and he was eating colostrum. In the morning they let me eat and I had shower. I was transferd on the ward (I just wanted to escape from that place). Luckily, I was able to leave before bed time. I had lots of pain down, but knew I just need some sleep (and the ward was too hot and full of people).

One more thing I remember was how bad the food was - after all that pushing and bleeding I wanted some healthy warm meal and they gave us chips, beans and pies - not good for recovery and digestion.

I came home and had some soup. I was so grateful for everything that happened. and my baby was fine and healthy. 

We are now getting used to the lack of sleep. I am breastfeeding and just lying next to him, observing every grimace he makes. I have to admit, I am falling in love. 

that was my story :-) I am lucky I had positive experience of birth, although there were complications after, emotionally I felt great

Second baby born at home: the most incredible experience

Before I share my birth story I thought I’d just mention the experience I had with my first child, Arthur, who’s 3 ½ .

My waters broke – 10 days early – at around 9.00pm in Paula’s yoga class and I immediately had contractions every minute to two minutes. By 11pm I was 7-8cm dilated and we went to hospital. The midwives thought it would all be done and dusted within a few hours. But things slowed down – he was also back to back, which didn’t help. Arthur was eventually born after a 15-hour labour. I was prepped for a C-section (after ventouse didn’t work) but he was delivered with the assistance of Keillands forceps (BIG forceps). Despite the interventions, the whole experience was really positive. Excellent care from the Women’s Hospital. The worst bit was recovery (3rd degree tear and episiotomy).

This time round a friend who was training to be a midwife asked whether I had heard about the new home birth team. I had never even considered a home birth before. What I did know was that I did not want to be under the same community midwife, who had reduced me to tears twice in my previous pregnancy – she was abrupt and grumpy. So I thought about it, chatted to a friend who had had a home birth, read some stuff online, talked to my husband and decided to go for it. The end result was easily the most amazing and uplifting experience of my life.

While Arthur was 10 days early, this baby decided to make an appearance 9 days late. It turns out I had probably been in a latent phase of labour for a few days. On the Friday I had my fourth (!) sweep and was already 3-4cm dilated (they’re not comfortable, but fine – especially when you have them at home) and I went for an acupuncture session. On the Saturday I was VERY grumpy and emotional (not a great birthday for my husband, I think). I had had a lot of Braxton Hicks throughout the second half of this pregnancy, and by Sunday they were quite intense. I was sitting, rotating on my birth ball when the baby did a huge wriggle and twist and my waters went at 10.15pm. With a second ‘pop’ of waters my contractions started thick and fast – every couple of minutes. The tens machine proved to be excellent again until I got into the water. The midwives from the homebirth team arrived within 30 minutes and the race was on to send Arthur to stay with friends and to get the pool up and filled. Having gone upstairs to the bathroom, I managed to make it downstairs (just!) and the pool was set up just in the nick of time for me to get in. Can’t tell you how good the water was. Although the midwives had sent for the gas and air from the hospital (it gets sent over in a taxi) it didn’t arrive in time – turns out this was actually a good thing, as I felt far more in control and present without it. Hester I H was born in water, 2 hours and 10 minutes after my waters broke. Turns out that I was the first person to hold her, as Lauren (my midwife) didn’t actually touch her during the labour. She was born in the water and ‘swam’ up into my arms, where I was the first to see that she was a girl. She weighed a respectable 8llb 2oz. 

We stayed in the water for a while (with a welcome glass of champagne) and then the midwives helped me into the sitting room, where I was comfortably ensconced on the sofa and had the syntocin injection to deliver the placenta, and Lauren gave me local anaesthetic and stitched up my small 2nd degree tear – the gas and air had arrived by this stage, so I used this. Then we all sat around in the sitting room drinking tea and champagne, eating cake and admiring the baby. Afterwards, the midwives helped me upstairs to have a shower and then I went to bed. My midwife Lauren came back to visit me and did all of the post natal checks at home – we saw her most days for the first week. I can’t describe how amazing it was to have that continuity of care – from antenatal, to labour, to postnatal – all with the same fabulous midwife. 

Throughout my pregnancy I was aware that things might change and that I might need to go into hospital (and also if that needed to happen during labour, I’d be there within minutes) – that it worked out the way it did was just the most incredible experience. Richard, my husband, also said that the experience for him was markedly different to being in hospital – he felt much more empowered being in his own home. If you haven’t thought about a home birth, then do – particularly if it’s your second pregnancy and you know a bit more what to expect. The new home birth team are ALL totally brilliant and very lovely. I’m almost sorry that I won’t be doing it again.

I had been having twinges all week and everyday at some point I thought "this could be it!" But they never got into a rhythm that lasted longer than 2 or 3 hours.

Finally on Thursday morning at about 6 ish my waters broke and continued to trickle......I had a few twinges after that but again nothing began to establish, so after a very long walk at approx 12.30pm with the family, I decided to have a kip. I slept for about 2hrs and when I woke up the twinges had disappeared completely. I think they came back about 4 or 5 and began to get into a rhythm we started to time them although I knew it was early labour the sensations were getting stronger. I had been bouncing on my ball and staying upright and at around 10pm I called the midwife and she came out, she examined me and I was only 2cm dilated, so left. After that they eased off for a bit but at about 2am the sensations had increased in pressure and I was hoping to get into the pool (I'd completely forgot about my tens machine!). The midwife came out examined me again and I was still only 2-3cm arrghh!!!! So she went. Again the twinges decreased for a bit.

I was so disheartened, and cross with myself. At around 3am I sent my husband to bed as he'd been up as long as me and I knew he'd need his strength for later.

The feelings were strong but I knew they should be stronger, so I ate dates, after every date I had a contraction which was more powerful than the last and at around 4.45am I threw up, and that's when things started moving!!!! I woke my hubs and asked him to get the pool ready, I rang the midwife and told her I needed to get in the pool. She asked me to wait as she didn't want baby coming whilst she wasn't there. I waited as long as I could and at 7ish about 1min before she arrived I got in the pool, the pain eased immediately, at 8am she examined me but I was still only 2-3cm, at this point I was so disheartened I asked if I could go the hospital and have an epidural as I was knackered and it isn't called "labour" for nothing! It was decided that if things hadn't started to get going by 12pm I'd go in. I was offered gas & air and along with my hubs awesome sacral skills that eased things.

The next exam was at about 10ish and I was 4cm....WOOHOOO the magic number! At about 11am I had asked hubby to get in the pool, he was reluctant but I gave him no choice, I was getting urges to push I was examined and was 8cm so was told to breath thru by 11.30 I really needed to push I was examined again and told that if the midwife stayed where she was for the next contraction she could "fold the remaining cervix" over babys head, then I could let rip on the pushing front. Jeez, that was an experience, needless to say I asked if the midwife could remove herself from the position at this time! (In the back of my mind was my previous birth experience and that was not helping) I wanted to push but wanted to be entirely sure it was ok to do so, so I was holding off. The midwife suggested another exam and if this time, if needed, to be able to do the folding, at 12ish I agreed. A few min after, around 12.10pm my hubby got out the pool to use the loo, when the next contraction eased, by the time he got back she was half way in the world, he didn't miss the important bit! She was born at 12.19pm!

Sacral massage from the hubs, breathing correctly, and gas and air saved the day! 

There were times (lots) when I just wanted to give up, go to hospital and have drugs! but with my husband's and the midwive's encouragement, I stayed at home and birthed the way I wanted to.

I want to thank Paula's Pregnancy Yoga for the lessons she taught about breathing, being upright and moving,  and especially sacral massage!!!!