Jane's story, Warwickshire - straight forward labour and birth, 1st baby

"Sunday 23rd September 2007

At 3:30am I woke up really needing the toilet, so I got out of bed and went. Once I had sat on the toilet I noticed I had blood in my underwear. I went back to bed to tell Nick, who was asleep at the time and wasn’t really conscious of what I was saying. I decided to try going back to sleep as I wasn’t in any pain.

At 4:20am I heard and felt a pop, which I had read other mothers had felt as their waters broke, so I quickly made my way to the toilet again - I made it just in time. This time Nick knew something was wrong as he had never seen me move so fast. Nick went to have a cigarette whilst I had my first contraction. As he entered the kitchen and switched on the lights a bulb blew the fuse which put the house into darkness. He eventually found the fuse and turned on the lights again.

As I was still able to talk through the contractions Nick advised me to call the hospital and find out what they would recommend. The nurse I spoke to suggested that we make our way in to be examined as my waters had broken. I also phoned Mum as she was my other birthing partner. She said she would get herself dressed and would wait for a phone call from Nick once we had got to the hospital.

At about 05:15am we started the journey to the hospital. Nick made the decision that we should get Mum to come to the hospital as he felt things were progressing quickly; so I gave her a call.

We arrived at the hospital at about 05:45am. Luckily the nurses on the main reception desk let us go through the short cut to the labour ward. On arrival we were taken into the labour room and introduced to the midwife. She examined me and informed us that I was 3cm dilated. She then attached me to the machine that would monitor the baby’s heartbeat. My Mum had now arrived and was able to support me through the contractions. The contractions became very close together so the midwife attached the TENS machine to my back. I pressed the button like I was meant to on all my contractions, yet never felt anything from it. I was then put on the gas and air, which I ended up overdosing on and so they took it off me again. I then had to rely on the TENS machine. Through all the contractions I only felt the electrodes in my back on one of them. At this point I informed everyone in the room that it was working.

At some point there was a shift change and I had two more midwifes to get to know. After a couple more contractions they wanted to examine me again. So I lay on the bed and was informed that I was 10cm dilated and ready to push. My dad arrived at this point and was there to hold my hand and Nick hold my other hand.

After much pushing I was asked if I wanted to feel the head, which I did. I needed an episiotomy in order for the head to come out.

At 8:53am Aimee was born and was placed on me whilst the placenta was delivered. At this point my brother, Andrew, was called in so he could meet his new niece and also take photos. Aimee was then cleaned up and given to Nick whilst I received my stitches. At this point Mum, Dad and Andrew went to the café for refreshments. I was placed on a drip as I lost 500ml of blood during the labour which was close to a haemorrhage. Once the stitches were done I was able to give Aimee her first feed on the breast. She took to it very well.

After I ate some breakfast I was then cleaned up and moved to the ward. I was originally informed that I would be on a 6 hour discharge as I had had no problems. However due to staff levels we were not discharged until 16:30pm on Monday 24th September 2007."

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Beth's story, South Wales - need a poo!

"Tired and heavy and 5 days overdue, I took my 12 year old brother over the Showfield so he could have a mess around with his new golf clubs. It was fun, and I did nothing but laugh as we both attempted a game of golf. Golf is not one of my strongest sports, in fact I find it rather boring, but on this occasion it was hilarious.

Walking home later on, still laughing we discussed what Mam was cooking for tea - gammon, egg and chips. Yummy.

At home, the laughter continued. Little Brother started tickling me. Uh oh, I was laughing so hard, I wet myself. On examination in the toilet, I discovered I had not wet myself, but there was some strange liquid coming from me. “Mam,” I called, “I don’t think I’ve wet myself.” “What do you mean?” replied Mam. I wasn’t given time to answer, “Ow,” I moaned as I felt a pain travel through my bump. “Mam, I think my labour’s starting.”

It was 7.30pm and Mam hurried around to finish cooking tea, just in case it was labour, and within 30 minutes I’d experienced 4 contractions. Mam sent me and Little Brother out for another walk around the Showfield, armed with a pen and a piece of paper to jot down timings.

8.15pm – 30 seconds
8.23pm – 31 seconds

8.30pm – 40 seconds

8.45pm – 45 seconds

8.50pm – 50 seconds

8.55pm – 50 seconds

9.00pm – 60 seconds

As me and Little Brother arrived back at the house Mam took the paper out of his hand and raised her eyebrows, “Are you sure?” she asked. As Little Brother and I nodded in reply I saw a flicker of panic in her eyes, before she calmly stated, “we should ring M now I think.” (M is my Godmother and a midwife. At the time she was on sick leave and in remission from breast cancer, but was going to act as my second birth partner.)

The next half hour was filled with contractions every 5 minutes, and lasting between 50 and 90 seconds apiece, while attempting a conversation with M. After what seemed like an eternity, she asked me to pass the phone back to Mam.

By 10pm we were in the car, and on our way to the hospital. Every speed bump torturing my body with every contraction.

11.30pm and we were finally in a room, and T, the wonderful midwife asked, “Would you like some gas and air while I do this?” while pulling on her gloves. (To me know the image vaguely resembles those comedy sketches of doctors pulling the gloves in an exaggerated fashion, but I’m sure it was nothing like this.)

I accepted the gas and air because I didn’t have a clue what was going to happen next until…. “OW, that hurt more than the contraction” I told T. She just grinned at me, while saying I was 3cm dilated with membranes still intact.

Mam noticed my puzzled expression and asked M to explain everything to me.

“Now, Beth, you have the option to go home or stay. You’re not in established labour yet.” T advised as she walked back into the room. Before I had chance to think about the choice, M answered, “I think we’re better off staying here,” and so it was I stayed in the room, and was told I’d be examined again in 4 hours.

The next 2 hours are a bit of a blur, I walked the corridors, I howled, I cried with frustration. Eventually M got me to take some more gas and air, and within minutes I was giggling about everything. “They sell this stuff in nightclubs, it’s called laughing gas,” I piped up. This set an incredible conversation off, and I was no part of it. I was already floating to play with the pixies. Another hour had passed and I was still puffing on the gas and air (although Mam later told me the cylinder was, in fact, empty) and continued giggling away. (My only explanation is that it was a natural high.)

3.30am, and T arrived to examine me. This time I was prepared. “You’re 4cm dilated, and your membranes are still intact,” she told me. There was a deflated atmosphere in the room as Mam and M worked out 1cm per hour for a first time labour, 6cm to go, 6 hours to go. 9.30am at the earliest. I cried when they told me. M and T talked me into having Pethidine ‘just to help the time pass quicker’. 20 minutes later, “I need a poo,” I shouted as I bolted to the toilet, and sat down. Mam joined me, for some ‘moral support’. "Mam, I’m gonna be sick!” Mam was one step ahead of me, and had a bowl in front of me before I could say ‘sick’. Somewhere in between, I was given the Pethidine, and the sickness was over with.

“I NEEEEEEED A POOOOOO!” I shouted. “Beth, are you pushing?” Mam asked. “No, I neeed a poooo!” I cried. “T, I think she’s pushing.” T rushed over, and checked. “Oh My God, she’s crowning.” I had absolutely no idea what this mean “Mam?” I whined. “It’s OK, Beth, you’re having your baby, YOU’RE HAVING YOUR BABY!” she shouted excitedly.

Immediately, everyone burst into action. I was told to get on the bed, we had to get down to the delivery suite as I was a high risk pregnancy. “Don’t push, Beth, don’t you dare push. We’re not delivering this baby in the lift,” M scolded as her and T wheeled me into the lift.

We arrived at the delivery suite at 4.15am, 1 push later and a head appeared.

“Slow down, pant, Beth, don’t push,” someone said. “Now, baby pushes.”

4.16am and a gorgeous little baby was placed onto my chest. “Is my baby ok?” I asked, concerned as I hadn’t heard the cry I was expecting. “Yes, everything looks OK.”

“What have I got?” was my second question as I looked between the legs and seeing little boy bits. “Mam, I’ve got a baby boy. Mam, I’ve got a baby.” The placenta took a while to deliver, but I was busy with my little boy. He latched on perfectly for his first feed within minutes of being born and I was already totally in love with my baby boy.

Later, T and M puzzled over my waters as they didn’t break throughout labour, and they didn’t follow Little Man out. In fact, we have no idea where they went, they just seemed to vanish.

It was a lovely labour, and an easy birth. Little Man’s shoulder grazed me on the way out, but other than that it was perfect. Established labour was worked out at 3 hours and 55 minutes, and 4cm to delivery happened within 46 minutes.

Little Man

13th August 2005

4.16am

8lb 3oz"

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Nat's story, East Sussex - use the pain!

"I had made a bet that I would have my baby on the 16th November as I thought I was going to a comedy show on the 15th and it would kick things off (it was actually on the 10th! My head was so not in the game in those last few months!) My due date was 25th which was bang on with my dates.

Anyway DS woke me up at 7.20am on the 16th (9 days early) and I realised that I was having very mild contractions, bit like period pains every 10 minutes or so. DH had already gone to work and Mum and Dad were coming over to help me get the house sorted out so got up and took DS to nursery, contractions getting a bit stronger but nothing worth worrying about. M&D arrive and we start moving boxes and sorting, about 10.30 I had a semi painful contraction which made me stop and Mum gives me a look so I confess that I have been contracting. Hadn’t said anything as didn’t want to worry anyone or have anyone fussing. I told Mum that it would probably take a while so we carry on sorting and then go get DS at 12 from Nursery. I had to keep stopping to breath through the contractions but nothing I couldn’t handle on my own, although I did get a few funny looks from some of the other mums at the Nursery. At about 1pm I call DH to tell him I think its happening but not to worry about coming home early as it could take ages (took two days with DS!). His first reaction was 'you are joking right?' the reason for this is he had just had three weeks off for a bad back and it was his first day back at work ops.... Got a call about 10 mins later saying he was on his way home as he works and hour and a half away and didn’t want to risk missing anything. Was quite relieved to be honest. Also called the birthing centre so they knew I could be coming in that day.

So we carried on packing boxes until about 2pm when I had to stop as the contractions were getting too strong to concentrate, DH got home about 3pm and M&D went home taking DS with them. Things ticked along and about 5pm we went to the birthing centre to be checked over just so I could get an idea of what was happening if anything! Got there and the contractions pretty much stopped! Typical. They checked me over and said nothing was really happening; it could be false labour or go on for a few days or kick of anytime, that helped! So went back home (only live 3mins by car from the birthing centre). Well contractions kicked off again and slowly got stronger and stronger but was managing OK with the tens machine. To be honest I was totally gutted as had hoped to have a quicker time than with DS but after being told not much was happening I could just see me heading for another two day labour. Sat on the sofa when I got home in a total grump. Even when the contractions got stronger I still didn’t think it was going to happen any time soon.

At 10.30pm DH was outside having a cigarette and I had an almighty painful contraction and felt something pop, luckily DH saw this through the window so came rushing in, he managed to get me to the loo and I had another contraction with a massive show and some waters. For some reason, and I still have no idea why or how, even now, I was in just my pants and a vest top. What had possessed me to strip off when I was in labour I have no idea, so DH had to get me dressed (that would have been very funny to watch I am sure!), called the birthing centre and we headed straight there. Getting to the car was fun, two steps, stop breath, stifle a scream so I didn’t disturb the neighbours and repeat. Same when we got to the birthing centre took me five minutes to get from the car in the door!

When we arrived they already had a birth going on so we went into the second birthing room (good job we called ahead as they only have two rooms so they had kept it for me!) went straight into the birthing pool which helped. Its funny but I really had no preference when it came to being in the water but when I arrived the MW said it would help with the pain and it really did. Very quickly the pain became truly awful and I was sucking on the gas and air like my life depended on it! The MW was brilliant, really supportive and friendly. The contractions were coming on top of each other almost as soon as I was in the pool and I was so encased in the pain that I really wasn’t listening to anyone but at one point the MW said “use the pain to push with”. It was like a revelation and suddenly the pain became useful. Still hurt like hell but I felt back in control again. I started with the pushing whilst still in the pool but was on my back so not the best position, managed to change positions and kept pushing but not much was happening. The MW said I needed to move as the baby was not coming out so could be stuck due to position, managed to get from the pool to the bed (how I still have no idea!) and onto my knees gripping the back of the bed and two pushed later baby River arrived weighing 5lbs 12oz. DH told me we had a girl and after I had managed to get the right way round I had my first cuddle. Wonderful!!

Had a 2nd degree tear but didn’t care was just so glad it was over and my little lady was here safe and sound! When the MW did the time of birth I had missed the 16th by 2 mins! Still can’t believe I managed just on the gas and air, or that it was only just over an hour and a half from that pop to giving birth! Seemed much, MUCH longer! I can honestly say it wasn’t a pleasant experience but was so much better than DS birth. That said never doing it again! (But pretty sure I said that after DS...)."

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