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.
