A healing home-birth (VBAC)

My son was born by emergency caesarean on the back of a 5 day labour and an unsuccessful homebirth. When I discovered I was pregnant again I did a lot of trauma resolution to ensure I could have the birth I needed to heal from my previous experience.

On Saturday 2nd March we had such a lovely day. My husband and I did a hypnobirthing workshop and it really got the good feelings flowing. We did a trail run of the birth pool with my son, he loved it! On the Sunday we had a lovely family day and for the first time I really felt ready for the baby.

My contractions began at bedtime on Monday (4th) March. They were only one an hour so I went to bed and managed to get sleep in between them. In the morning I decided to get my mum to pick up my son so that I could have a good go at “getting things going”. My husband and I went to a midwife appointment then to get a few last bits for the birth.

When we got home my husband set up the room and I spent the time watching some tv and listening to music. By 1pm my contractions were more regular but lasting no more than 30 seconds. I was only really able to get comfortable standing up, swaying, breathing through the contractions, using the TENS machine and my husband sweeping down my legs. By 6pm I believe I was in established labour with consistent contractions (still not the 3 every 10 mins lasting a minute that is the guideline for calling the midwife). We called our Doula as I felt like I could do with some guidance and reassurance. She arrived and suggested that we should call triage to get the ball rolling with the midwives. There was a delay with them getting back to us by which time I was very much in the thick of it, weeping and tiring from all of the standing up. I decided to go upstairs for a lie down, at this point the midwives arrived (around 9pm and both together). They requested an examination, I allowed for them to check my blood pressure and the babies position but declined internal examination. After a short while upstairs and finding the presence of the midwives a bit overwhelming and the pain relief of the TENS machine wearing off, I requested the pool. My husband readied it and I got in, the water was very soothing. The next 2 hours were spent breathing my way through strong contractions but feeling in control and relaxed in between. On request the midwives were really hands off, enabling me to connect with my body and truly feel what was happening and believe my body knew what it was doing. I could feel her moving down with every contraction and when her head was born I was elated! I had done it, birthed my baby, my way! The midwives said they had never seen anyone this elated before the whole baby was born but I knew that was the hardest bit done. My doula used clary sage to speed up the next contraction and with that my baby girl was born. Just the best feeling in the world. We stayed in the pool for my placenta to be born, lapping up the amazing experience. The midwives stayed for a few hours doing their checks and clearing up and then it was just us. We were tucked up in bed by 2am with our precious baby.

Trusting my body and having the strong support system of my husband and doula allowed me to give birth to my baby in the way I had always hoped I would.

A hugely positive C-Section Experience

I went into spontaneous labour at home when my waters broke on Tuesday 25th July 2023 but unfortunately later discovered that our son had pooed so had to be admitted straight away as we both needed to be monitored closely. After 12 hours of labour we discovered that I was only 2cm dilated and not progressing as we’d have hoped so induction was advised. I was hooked up to the hormone drip which start to progress labour and dilation however our son wasn’t happy at all and was showing huge signs of being distressed. Our midwives and doctor closely monitored baby for a while but later made the decision for me to have an emergency c-section. This was music to our ears as we didn’t want any more drama and wanted to know that our son was safe and earth side. We can’t thank the midwives, doctors, anaesthetists and everyone else involved in the safe arrival of our son via caesarean section. Everyone knew what they were doing and the situation was handled so calmly and as dignified as possible. I have nothing but positive things to say about our c section experience and can say there is nothing to worry about if this is the way things go. A hugely positive experience for us and wonderful to meet little one in a calm way.

A “big” surprise!

It was our "last" Friday we said to ourselves venturing out to the pub (I wasn't drinking obviously)

as that morning I'd begun losing my plug but I'd heard so many mixed reviews on how soon that meant labour was starting so I decided to keep my mouth shut until something more happened.

After polishing off a battered sausage in the car about 7pm - what baby wants baby gets guys! - I started to feel what I can only describe as period pains, these came and went every half an hour and were nothing more than slightly uncomfortable. By 10pm I wanted to go home and get some sleep, still in slight denial this was even happening.

I texted my mum and best friend saying it's happening!! I was excited but mostly just trying to focus on all the breathing techniques I'd learnt.

My other half had typically passed out on the bed, I was tired too so I tried to lie down but as soon as I got onto the bed I felt the pain ramp right up and I immediately jumped back up. It was in that moment I knew (39+4) it was all about to get very real.

I went down stairs made a drink and got myself as comfy as I could leaning over my yoga ball. Timing the contractions using the Freya app suggested I should call triage, only just meeting the contraction criteria but they advised I should come in to get checked as I was in a lot of pain and being sick at this point.

I woke my partner up and we headed into the hospital with bedroom bin for being sick in hand.

By this time it was 5am and I was told I was 5cm dilated. I originally wanted a meadow birth with little pain relief but that soon went out the window as I not so politely asked for an epidural (10/10 recommend)

Everything went smoothly from here on, my continuity midwife arrived and looked after me every single moment, my amazing student midwife handed me anything and everything I needed and I was literally loving life.

12 hours later I'm still in labour and they're contemplating speeding things up with an induction as I wasn't dilating very fast. My body didn't like that thought and before we knew it I was 8cm and progressing quickly to 10cm.

The pushing stage started and with fantastic guidance from the team within an hour of pushing my big 10lb boy was born completely naturally. I used little effort and felt my body doing all the hard work for me, it was incredible. Did I know he was going to be 10lbs? Absolutely not! Am I glad I didn't know? Absolutely yes!

He was placed on my tummy to which I exclaimed is he ok and gosh he feels heavy, but it was the most amazing moment of my life. Something I truly cannot put into words. I was surrounded by amazing strong midwives and my fantastic partner whom I'd totally ignored for around 24hours by this point.

We were stitched up, cleaned up and wheeled off for more tea and toast. The days following were just as great as we were visited daily by the continuity team and we were allowed to borrow the hospital breast pump due to latching issues. I loved the experience so much and would love to be able to share my story to others to enable them to have a positive experience too.

A healing VBAC

I gave birth to my beautiful daughter at Worcester Hospital at 35weeks. After a difficult pregnancy, I wanted to have another vaginal delivery even after previous 3rd degree. I wanted to have a very controlled hands on birth following the OASI bundle.

Luckily I was given lovely Midwives Hayleigh & Steph to support and care for us in labour. I had another quick 1hr 40 Labour but they made me feel safe and in control. My flight and fight kicked in and I would like previous panic and push baby out quickly but this time, I was made to feel safe enough to feel in control and slowly deliver together with hands on support we did it. Hayleigh helped deliver my daughter and followed what I asked for and I was able to have a very controlled empowering and in my chosen position birth. Something that I always wanted to experience.

As for postnatal I also only had minor 1st that didn’t even need stitches. It made such a huge difference this time around being controlled and not tearing. It also shows that another vaginal delivery after 3rd and no reoccurrence is also possible. So Thank you Hayleigh for giving me a positive birth experience I always wanted. It was really empowering.

My daughter was 5lb 4oz I had a premature labour, however I felt safe and myself and daughter were well looked after. Our little rainbow was born perfect with no medical problems. So even when you have had previous birth trauma and labour happens early which is scary, it can still overall be a positive empowering birth."