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February 2022 Babies 🇬🇧

Birth story

Hi ladies. Our little girl arrived today, a week early. We aren't sharing pictures yet but thought it useful to share how my story went, I found reading others really useful.

My contractions started around 8pm last night and I lost my mucus plug at 930pm. Contractions were every half an hour until 3am, when my waters broke. I called the birth centre at this point and they said to come in when my contractions were 3 in 10 mins or at 7am. We ended up going around 630am.

I was 2cm dilated and contractions were regular but not strong enough for me to need to be there. We were sent home and told to call back when contractions were a minute in length, 3 times in 10 mins and more intense.

I went home and managed the contractions by having a bath, massages, nice setting - pic attached. During this time, I just managed the pain with paracetamol.

We went back to the hospital when the pain become unbearable at 630pm and we no longer felt we could manage at home.

I was 9cm dilated and ready to push! Baby arrived within 2 hours of us getting to the hospital.

They had read my birth plan in the morning and had the bath ready for me, dim room, electric candles etc. Unfortunately my water birth didn't happen as it slowed the contractions too much.

I birthed her on the floor on my hands and knees! I used gas and air as found the pushing and pressure painful.

I listened to my body and pushed when I felt to. The midwife told me when NOT to push which was also very helpful and I didn't tear. I did have to have one stitch but this was done quickly and relatively painless.

She is perfect. She latched to feed straight away. We both got skin to skin after. I had the injection to birth my placenta (something I originally put in my plan that I didn't want) because the thought of pushing anymore was just a no from me! Also, my contractions didn't become back to the regular "3 in 10 mins" so we were at risk of a) me having to push the placenta out with no contractions (ouch) or b) my uterus closing and having to operate to remove the placenta.

Don't be too attached to your birth plan. We don't get a trophy for how we bring our babies into the world, so do what feels right at the time and as long as they're safe, that's all that matters 🥰

Overall, painful but magical.