Birth Stories

The Birth of Lola Florence- 13 March 2007

I met Anja through my local NCT branch. I knew from that moment on that when my husband and I were ready to have another baby, it was Anja I wanted as my midwife. It’s thanks to her support, expertise and great sense of humour that my dream came true.

My due date came and went much to my surprise, having had my first daughter, Tilly, two days early. For the following six days, I tried the various methods to help things along, apart from sex! The day before labour day, I had an intensive reflexology session followed by a long strenuous hill walk. This probably wasn’t a good idea bearing in mind my husband, Mark, was away on a training course the following day and it was the one date that we did not want our baby arriving on! Low and behold the next morning, I heard Mark leave the house at 5am and I was experiencing very mild cramping in my lower back. As I had had a few false niggles previously in the week, I decided not to call him back and tried to get a few more hours sleep before my daughter, Tilly, woke up. When I woke at 7am, the cramping had increased although still mild. I called Mark to let him know, however, I still wasn’t convinced this was the real thing. I then went to the toilet and had a small show. I now knew things were starting. I called my husband again who offered to come home, however I felt relaxed enough that things would progress slowly so encouraged him to keep going. I’m not sure why I felt this because my first labour was only six hours. I had another show at 8.45am. By the time I dropped my daughter off at pre school at 9am, the contractions were every 10 minutes but still in my mind, very mild. Once I returned home I promptly called my mother who made her way over with my ten year old sister, Ella. I also let Anja know that things had got going. To my surprise, I felt incredibly relaxed and in control throughout the morning therefore did not feel the need for Anja to come over just yet.

The contractions got progressively stronger throughout the day, but remained at ten minutes apart, however I still felt totally relaxed, obviously due to Anja’s fantastic preparation. It was a beautiful March day and unusually very warm. Anja recommended that we all went for a walk to try and get things moving. We had lunch and then made our way to the local garden centre. On route, I hesitated with every contraction as they increasingly became stronger. One of my happiest memories of the day was holding baby rabbits with Tilly at the garden centre, during which time I strangely did not have one contraction.

When we got home, my mother mentioned that the expression on my face had changed and that she felt I should call Anja to come over. It was approximately 2pm. I decided to text her to let her know my progress. Even though the contraction were getting stronger, I felt they were bearable and still they were only ten minutes apart. I decided to keep log of the frequency and length of each one. During the afternoon, I spoke to Anja once more. I recall hearing a slightly anxious tone in her voice but still I felt it was not time for her to come over. I progressed through the afternoon still contracting ten minutes apart. At 4.45pm, I decided I needed to go to the toilet upon which I felt a warm gush. Not lots of fluid, but enough to soak through to my trousers. Without any hesitation I called Anja. I still felt very calm and was coping with the pain so she decided to make her way over. Within ten minutes, I was losing more amniotic fluid and the strength of the contractions were increasing rapidly. By 5.10pm I had urges to push although I think I was still in denial that things were progressing so quickly, maybe because I knew Mark was on his way back but would still be a few hours. With Ella looking after Tilly in the playroom, I had my mother in the middle of cooking spaghetti bolognaise and trying to readjust my tens machine whilst saying in a calm voice, as mothers do ‘Rosie, do you want me to check to see if there is a head’ upon which a firmly stated ‘I NEED ANJA NOW!’ I asked my mum to call Anja to check how far away she was. Apparently she could hear me in the background bearing down to push. Anja arrived at 5.40pm. I immediately asked her to check how dilated I was and again made a loud groaning, pushing sound upon which she firmly informed me she did not need to check and that I should get straight in the pool. I’m not sure why I didn’t get in before. Very soon, my baby’s head was visible. After fifteen minutes of pushing, Lola Florence was born at 5.59pm, weighing 6lb 13oz. Immediately after, my mother, Tilly and Ella burst into the room, upon which, Tilly stripped off and jumped into the pool with Lola and I. It was truly a magical experience. I felt totally elated. I then informed Mark by phone that I had just given birth to his daughter, much to his surprise. Tilly went on to cut the cord, ‘Big sister’s duty’. Lola also had her first feed in the pool. Mark arrived home 45 minutes after Lola arrived. I recall spending a long time in the pool whist waiting for the placenta to be delivered naturally. With nothing happening, I got out to try various other positions. Eventually after some gentle encouragement from Anja, it slipped out an hour and a half after Lola’s arrival. By 10.30pm I was showered and tucked up in my own bed with my new baby.

I totally underestimated how important Anja’s postnatal care would be. To have her on call 24 hours a day for six weeks was so reassuring. I was never made me feel guilty about calling if I had any concerns, of which to my surprise, I did. In fact, I felt as if I was Anja’s only client, although I knew I wasn’t. Anja’s tip using Quark cheese for Mastitis was particularly amusing, but highly affective. Apparently a very common remedy in Germany. Having had my first daughter in hospital, this was a totally different experience. The support I had from Anja was invaluable. She is truly amazing. I distinctly remember that immediately after pushing Lola into the world, I felt I wanted to do it all over again! The journey I experienced through pregnancy and labour was a dream come true. Thank you Anja

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