After a few days of surges- nothing too significant, I was starting to well and truly get ‘over’ pregnancy. This was still my shortest gestation length, at 40 weeks + 5 days (by ‘guess dates’)
I woke Tuesday, hoping it would be birthing day. Surges were infrequent and would stop when I rested. I visited the chiropractor to make sure bub was in a good position, went for some walks and did some yoga throughout the day.
The end of the day was near and I was a little disappointed that this baby didn’t seem to be any nearer. I went to bed a little after 8pm with my HypnoBirthing birth rehearsal playing on my bedside table. I woke at 9pm, after having a few surges 5 minutes apart. They were quite intense, so I text my midwife and asked whether she thought I should hea d in. It was a definite ‘yes’. I got my other children up and headed for the car. They were in a sleepy haze, and didn’t seem too fazed that they could soon be welcoming a little sister or brother.
Surges were getting stronger and closer together in the car, I was struggling to find a comfortable position, to be able to still my mind and body. We arrived at the hospital at 9.30pm and quickly took the lift to the Birth Centre, as guided by the nurses in emergency. I was so glad to see my private midwife already there, filling the birth bath. I rested on the best for a short time, then went to the bathroom, sat on the birth ball under the shower and let the water run over my stomach, whilst I tried to calm my mind and body.
I kept visualizing my birthing muscles as satin ribbons in my birth colour of teal. Whenever a surge would come, I’d visualize myself at the beach and use the HypnoBirthing control valve- switching it to the off position. Surge s were still a few minutes apart. As soon as the birth tub was full enough, I hopped in. Surges still a few minutes apart, but I felt the need to almost completely submerge myself in the water. Continuing my calm breaths and surge breathing, whilst I was listening to my birth affirmations.
Labour progressed quite quickly. During transition, I became a little noisy and felt the urge to breath down.
My children were very excited, but kept so quiet, knowing I still had work to do. There was a restful period before the next surge, I felt my baby’s head and looked around. My midwife was very respectful of my space and just told me to go with my body. The next surge I could feel the shoulders and the rest of the body slip out. The cord was around baby’s neck twice, but didn’t cause any distress. I grabbed the baby from the water and brought it to my chest, asking what sex it was. She didn’t know- I checked and it was a BOY.
My son couldn’t contain himself any longer and was cheering ‘it’s a boy!’. Kingsley James arrived at 11pm, 26th May. Born gently into water. 8lb 5oz. He was so calm and didn’t make a sound, sleeping on my chest until I left the birth pool to birth the placenta.
by Alecia Staines
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