Wirral Home Birth Stories

Livi's second baby was born at home - 24/02/09

After my first pregnancy I found I was worried about giving birth and wanted to ensure that my second was a more positive experience. I tried to research it more but without looking at the scary bits (and I thought it all was scary). I was nervous about giving birth even though I had done it before. It didn't help that I had a needle phobia and wasn't too keen on hospitals. I was sure that I didn't want to have the baby in hospital as found that although it was ok, I really didn't enjoy it and was worried especially as at one point they said if he didn't come soon, they would have to call in the big boys from upstairs. From about 30 weeks I had a hospital bag packed in case things didn't go as planned.

While I was pregnant I went to a baby show and saw Susy on her hypnobirthing stall. I decided to attend the taster class. After discussing this further with my husband we decided to have private sessions so that we didn't have to find a babysitter. The sessions were great as they encouraged us to talk more and had a positive feel with a positive aim. I found the refresher session was brilliant as by then, some fears had resurfaced and I had forgotten things.

To prepare a bit more we attended a couple of the NCT homebirth groups. These were great as we were able to borrow books and ask questions. It brought up things we hadn't really thought of - such as having a normal bed (rather than the loft bed we have). At this point we confirmed childcare for Jez as well as back up childcare. From the information we received we decided to have a birthing pool as well.

As I'm not too keen on needles I also had hypnotherapy for it done by a lady I had met through work. I wanted to be prepared in case I had to go to hospital and also for the jab to bring out the placenta. I think this has helped as after the labour I didn't notice being jabbed.

Three weeks before my due date the home birth kit was delivered from the hospital. This made it all seem a bit immanent. So from this point I cleaned the house a lot just in case the baby arrived early. In the end, the contractions started a week late which was a day before I was due to go for a check up and for a sweep.  

On the 23rd of February I had had a relaxing day as my little boy had been at nursery but I still went to bed at 9.30. Not long after I had been in bed I started to experience some pains. They were coming 10 minutes apart right from the start. After three I went to find my husband, Ben to let him know. At this point I thought the baby would be arrive the same day. The contractions continued to get faster but I would have them close together and then one far apart (which lasted for ages). We passed the time talking, changing position, spending time on the birthing pool, walking and watching television. I rang the hospital at 3am when they were 5 minutes apart but I was told to wait until they were three minutes apart to ring again and to take some paracetamol.  At this point the contractions started to slow down.

For pain relief I tried a tens machine but this didn't seem to do anything apart from give me a shock when I pressed the wrong button. I had a couple of hot water bottles and these seemed to help. Since the contractions started I used the breathing techniques taught in hpynobirthing as well as using the visualisation techniques and listening to the cds.

By 7am the contractions were just coming about 15 minutes apart. So Ben got up our little boy and took him to nursery. He managed to get there and back between contractions. I felt so tired as had been up 24 hours at this time.

By 11.30 I decided I couldn't handle the pain any more so I rang the community midwife. Fortunately she was free so said she would come over. Sarah arrived at about 12 and examined me to find that my waters hadn't gone and I was only 5 cm dilated. I found this very disheartening. Although things started to speed up after this! At this point Sarah called the other midwife, Gemma to come along. So I got in the birthing pool and was shown how to use the gas and air. Although I had hoped to get through just using the hypnobirthing techniques I found the pain was too much. Gemma arrived shortly after. Again, things slowed down so I got out of the pool and had a walk around and had something to eat. After a while the pain was too great again so I asked if there was anything they could do to speed things up. I was examined again and then had my waters broken while I was on the bed. The baby then arrived within 20 minutes (after 17 hours of labour). The pain was intense and I can still remember seven weeks later. It was handy that I had got out of the pool as Sarah had to untangle the umbilical cord from around the baby's arm. I didn't need to have any stitches. The midwives checked the baby over, let us feed her and made sure everything was ok and left shortly after.  

I can't thank the midwives enough as they were fantastic. I think it helped that I liked both of them, plus they were happy to keep to my birth plan, and their actions to be led by me. Even though I had a birth plan that tended towards a more natural approach, they were flexible and happy to help things along when I had changed my mind.

It was lovely to be at home and be able to feel comfortable. We were able to spend some time alone with the baby girl before Ben picked up Jez from nursery. When they came home they came up to see us where we had cake for Jez from his new sister (cake is his favourite thing). He was more bothered about going for his tea. The next day there was a train set waiting for Jez as a present from his sister which he was most pleased about. It was rather surreal changing her nappy while Ben was bathing Jez. Strange to have another person in the house without having to go to hospital.  I think having the baby at home, in comfortable surroundings, without feeling frightened of possible interventions enabled me to bond with the baby more easily. I didn't feel scared or being watched at what I was doing, just perhaps overwhelmed but in a good way.

I have recently had to spend four days in hospital when the baby was ill and found it to be a not very pleasant experience so was happy that I hadn't had to go for the birth. I think that if I was to have another baby (?????) I would definitely do it again at home. The only downside was having to keep cleaning the house just in case. Also, I would start listening to the hypnobirthing cd and practicing the breathing earlier and I think this would help and prevent me getting so stressed.