It was Friday 6th October, (my husband’s birthday) we spent the morning at Aberdeen Maternity Hospital having an ultrasound scan, along with a chat to the doctor. I had reached 41 weeks of pregnancy, so it was a requirement to have baby checked to delay induction. The scan showed all was well with baby so off we went to the antenatal clinic to discuss my plans with the doctor. What a disaster that turned out to be, the doctor was completely against our wishes to hold off induction (or at least delay until I reached 42 weeks). She tried scaring us by saying we were putting the baby at risk, strangely she was unable to rattle off actual statistics to back up her claims. It was a very upsetting morning where I found myself haggling with the doctor over induction dates. I could liken it to buying a car, it was horrendous! In the end she went ahead and booked me in for induction on Wednesday 11th (41 weeks + 5 days according to their dates) which I had zero intention of turning up for. I knew my conception date, my cycle and ovulation dates (this baby was planned) there was no way I would be accepting induction when in my eyes the baby wasn’t due till 6days after their estimate date. I ended up accepting the offer of an examination just to get out of there and in the hope that I was already dilating. Thankfully she informed me I was around 2.5cms dilated. The doctor suggested I may go into labour prior to the scheduled induction. I left the hospital deflated and in tears. I knew I’d be faced with some resistance refusing induction but just didn’t anticipate how condescending and rude the doctor would be. She did not listen to my wishes at all and spent the entire time interrupting and talking over me. My brief experience of care at Aberdeen Maternity was a negative one, it makes me so glad that I went to Montrose for my first birth, then opting for a home birth with second. That afternoon my community midwife called to see how I got on at the hospital which was exactly what I needed. She lifted my spirits and helped me think positively again. Her advice was to put the trip to the hospital at the back of my mind and have a relaxing evening. She mentioned that she was on call that night and I instantly hoped that things would kick off. I went for a short power walk prior to collecting max from playgroup, and that seemed to release my uterine seal (I hate the use of the term mucus plug). Max was very hyper upon collection from playgroup and I had this strange urge to be away from him, so I arranged for him to have a sleepover at my mums. I guess looking back, I must have subconsciously known that baby’s arrival was somewhat close. At 7pm we were singing happy birthday to Clark and blowing out candles, by 2.25am Orla had made her eagerly awaited arrival. It was 7.30pm, Max had left, Clark was snoozing on the sofa and I was sitting bouncing on the gym ball laughing at Kevin Bridges stand-up comedy. I started to experience slight mild tightening in my lower stomach. It was faint and happening every 5-8 minutes. I then decided it was time to wake Clark and tell him what was happening. Around 8.45pm I messaged my birth photographer to let her know that tonight was the night. By that time my surges (contractions) were around 5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute. I nipped upstairs into a shower and shaved my legs (yup, that’s right, my priority in labour was to make sure I didn’t have stubbly legs). I decided to call Peterhead maternity hospital at 9.25pm to notify the on call midwifes that I was labouring at home. By this time my surges were 2.5-3 minutes apart but still completely manageable and causing me no discomfort. At 9.41pm one of the on call midwifes called me back to see how I was feeling and to ask if I would like one of them to pop round at that point. I felt I was coping well myself and said I would phone back when I felt the need for them. Kendall, our amazing birth photographer arrived at the house around 10.45pm and 10minutes later I decided it was time to call the midwifes round. I feel incredibly lucky to have had my own midwife on call for the birth. The chances of that happening were slim but it was clearly meant to be. Each time I had seen her for check-ups I always envisioned her being there for the birth. Getting into a pool can sometimes slow down labour progression, so I was holding off getting in, opting to instead labour leaning against the living room door frame, to sitting on my birthing ball. It wasn’t till midnight that I finally decided to get into the water. I felt the warmth of the water instantly relax me which I guess did slow down my surges a little. By 1am things were ramping up and I felt for the first time I was experiencing some discomfort. I was really having to concentrate on my breathing to get me through. I remember hearing a birth story at my pregnancy yoga class, where a girl had shared that she thought about words from our instructor telling her to enjoy every moment of it and let the process empower her, so this is what I clung onto and tried to focus on each surge bringing me closer to meeting my baby girl. My husband was playing a chill out playlist via apple music on his phone, several times it had come to the end and started playing more upbeat tunes, which had me snapping at him to get the nippy music changed. This would have been me in transition. I felt babies head was very low down for a while, but my surges just didn’t last long enough for my body to expel the baby. For the last 30 minutes or so my entire body started uncontrollably shaking. I also had to ask for a pot to be sick into. Looking at the video of my birth (yes, I did record it), the head seemed to be poking out and in for a good few minutes, which resulted in me asking if the head had already been born. Suddenly, I felt that stingy feeling as the head started to emerge. I completely forgot about the ring of fire feeling. Before I knew it, head was out, my midwife said her body should be delivered with the next contraction, however she only came out to her waist. My surges started to be ineffective and not lasting long enough to enable me to breath the baby down and out. I felt tired at this point and just wanted her out and in my arms. I heard Clark saying that baby’s eyes were wide open and looking up at them from the water. Instead of waiting for the next surge I put my hands into the water and between my legs and gently pulled the baby out the rest of the way and lifted her up onto my stomach. After being covered in towels and rubbed gently she let out her first cry and took her first breath. Orla Aitken was born at 2.25am weighing 7lbs1. We waited for cord to go white before cutting, which was listed on my birth plan. I was helped the pool and onto the sofa where I then delivered the placenta assisted by the midwife. Thankfully the wooden floors were covered with tarpaulin as my husband said I lost a bit of blood and the room resembled a bit like a murder crime scene when I got out the pool. Midwifes are like angels, the job they do and the care they provide for women is nothing short of incredible. I highly recommend home birth, there is no better feeling than being able to get into your own bed after going through labour and birth for snuggles with your baby. Yet again, the birth I had prepared for went exactly to plan. I had such a positive gentle and relaxing birth experience. So, when people say, ‘don’t bother making a birthing plan as it won’t go to plan’ take no notice. Just know the basics of what you want in any situation and stick to your guns. Recovery this time has been incredibly fast, but I’ll write a whole separate post about that. I managed to avoid tearing and by day 2 I felt back to my normal self. Our bodies are truly amazing, aren’t they? My advice for anyone currently pregnant and worried about birth, is to trust your body and follow its lead. Don’t be scared, our bodies are designed to birth and know exactly what to do when the time comes. Would I do it all over again……. Well, it’s still all a bit too fresh and raw in my mind, ask me in a few months’ time. Although Clark has already declared that we are done and there will be no more children. Who knows what the future holds, all I know is that my heart is bursting with love and I feel complete. Special thanks to my community midwife Gill. She kept me sane throughout pregnancy, supported my wishes and got me through labour and birth. She was nothing short of a superstar on the day and had such an incredible caring nature. I think I’d have another baby just so that I could have her as a midwife again. Huge thanks to my incredibly talented birth photographer Kendall. Cannot recommend her enough! Not only is she super lovely and an accent to envy, she was respectful throughout my birth. Half the time I wasn’t even aware of her being there, she was so discreet and snapped away in the background. I was so focused on breathing and relaxing that It wasn’t until I watched my birth video back that I heard the clicking of the camera. You can view more of her stunning photography on the following link: Simplygreenphotos.com I’d also like to thank my prenatal yoga instructor Lis. Her classes were the highlight of my week throughout pregnancy. Practising relaxation and breathing along with gentle stretching was so beneficial to my labour and birth. I will miss her classes and truly gutted that the post-natal class she runs is too close to playgroup pick up time meaning I am unable to attend. Pranamamayoga.co.uk Finally, I would like to thank my husband Clark. He has put up with a very hormonal crazy lady over the last 41 weeks. After near 11 years together, we now share 2 beautiful children and because of that I will forever love him (well when he isn’t being a pest at least).
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September 2017
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