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Birth Stories
The Birth of Alana - 23rd October 2009
From the minute I found out about my pregnancy I felt distrustful of the NHS' ability to provide me with the care I desired. In fact I was initially told I couldn't conceive, when I was already pregnant with my daughter Alana. On meeting my NHS midwife, I was informed I would probably encounter a host of problems from pre-eclampsia to gestational diabetes and I was discouraged from water birth. All this was because I have a very high BMI. I decided to research the 'facts' surrounding high BMI with pregnancy and found that there were higher risks, but nothing to justify the hysteria I had encountered. I challenged my NHS midwife with this information, only to discover she could not back up her previous statements. At the time of my research I found out about hypnobirthing and independent midwifery. I met Anja, we talked and for the first time I felt listened to.
Anja supported my choice to go for a home waterbirth, when others felt it an odd choice for a first time. She also supported my decision to opt out of the NHS system, when they wanted me to meet a consultant and anaesthetist 'just in case'. Anja gave advice to my husband and I on a host of concerns and was available 24/7, which was fantastic for a nervous ninny like me. She was fully aware of hypnobirthing and able to support me in the way I needed, before and during my birth. Additionally, I experienced none of the problems I was predicted and had a dream pregnancy and birth, despite my baby being overdue by 2 weeks and 2 days!!
My active labour took 6 hours with no pain relief but the prelabour was very unconventional. My husband was an amazing support -giving me affirmations, relaxation touches, massage and all I needed from our hypnobirthing sessions. He was amazed I breathed through all the surges and is so glad he was able to see his daughter born at home in such a wonderful, natural way. I really feel that the combination of an independent midwife and the hypnobirthing course and practice we did at home made this all the more possible. Had I not been able to stay positive about a 'late' baby and known I could cope with the whole birth process it may have been so different.
My contractions started Wednesday night at midnight until 8am, then Anja did a sweep and found I was 3-4 cm dilated and 50% effaced. We checked on Alana's progress at hospital, as she was now over 42 weeks, and although the monitoring was fine they advised a scan the next day to check her fluid levels. During the early hours of Friday morning my surges resumed until 8.30am. I kind of slept in between and breathed through them, but felt a little disheartened when they stopped as I thought my baby would be along soon! Luckily Anja came to do another sweep and found I was now 5-6cm dilated with Alana's head firmly in place and ready to go.
I went for my hospital scan, to be told by the consultant that her liquor levels were low, my waters should be broken and she was a huge baby (they said well over 9lbs, she was 6lb 3.5oz!) I am glad I had been using relaxation and remained calm, as this was just more NHS scaremongering. Anja did attempt to break my waters, but the membranes were stretched over Alana's deeply engaged head that they did not break.
Instead we agreed to do things the natural way, I took Anja's advice and went for a walk. My surges started in earnest straight after my walk, every few minutes for longer periods. I breathed through them, bounced on my birth ball, then hoovered and eventually got into my pool. When the more serious business of birthing my baby came it was a very different sensation, lots of pressure. I breathed/grunted/pushed, until Anja said her heart rate was dropping and she had to come out NOW. I don't know where the last surge came from, but I stood up out of the pool and Alana was out in less than 2 minutes. We sat together in the pool, having skin to skin time, and I couldn't believe how precious she was. My husband, Nick, was over the moon with her arrival and took her next while I thought about the placenta. I stayed in the pool, text my friends with her arrival, ate a yoghurt to regain my strength, did a visualisation then with one deep breath I birthed the placenta.
I had Anja's full and consistent support throughout my labour, which made it the experience we all wanted. My husband felt calm, able to focus on me and to trust in the birth process. I felt safe and secure, which in turn made me capable of tuning into my body and baby. I hope my family's journey shows that it is possible have a natural, positive labour in spite of what you may be predicted.
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