Emily’s Birth: Pethidine

First time mum birth story from Birth Chapter grad Emily who gave birth to her baby girl. Emily’s birth deviated slightly from her original plan and she used EBRAN to decide to use Pethidine as a pain relief and to help relax her. Love reading positive birth stories? You’re in the right place…

Ophelia Annabel – 7th February 2023, born vaginally at hospital.

While the birth is still on my mind and fresh I thought I would give you my birth story. Overall I would say I had a really positive birth, but it was the most mentally and physically challenging thing I’ve ever done, but also the most rewarding, I’ve never been so in awe of the body and proud of myself.

Membrane Sweeps

So on Monday 5th early hours I started having more period cramping like cramps …. I called triage and they told me to go for my sweep still which was booked for 11.30am.

I went for my sweep – this was uncomfortable but not bad at all and lasted about 1 minute. Here she told me I was already 2cm dilated and that the sweep would likely bring things on quickly.

Contractions Starting

Quickly was an understatement – within half an hour I was having contractions. These were intense but very manageable, I used my app to track them and breathed through them and had a restful afternoon. By 4pm they were coming every 3 mins and the hospital told us to come in.

Oh that’s another thing, I didn’t get to give birth at birth centre because it was shut due to ambulance strikes. To be honest, I didn’t care about having to go to hospital. I just focused on getting her out safely.

Heading to Hospital

When we got to hospital at 5pm I was checked and told I was 4cm and needed to stay, this was a shock to us, I fully expected to be told to go home.

We were transferred to our birth room which was lovely – it had a massive pool and the room itself was huge.

Getting in the Zone

My contractions were getting more intense but I felt so calm and relaxed. We had game of thrones on, fairy lights and I bounced on my ball. Each contraction I felt this intense pain in my bum  like I couldn’t sit down so I had to get up and bend over and breathe them through. Movement is deffo your friend. I wouldn’t say it eased my pain but it gives you something to focus on to get you through the 60 odd seconds.

I started on gas and air – one thing I would say here is try to get to know when your contractions are building. At first when I was using this I was waiting until the contraction was strong-ish so it didn’t kick in fast enough. The midwife told me to take it about 15-20 seconds earlier than that and it did help … although makes your mouth soooo dry so you need all the water!!!!

I was then checked at 9.45pm and had got to 6cm which I was so pleased about as they said first time mums usually take longer than I did so I was soooo pleased.

Intensity Growing

This is when it then got more intense. My waters were not breaking and I think this was making more pressure I carried on though. I was getting in and out of pool, it was sort of a nice break to get in as it eased things a little and calmed things down and then I’d get back out and things would ramp up… the contractions were very very strong so o felt I must have been making progress.

At 12.45am I was examined again and sadly had only dilated 1cm more. They decided to break my waters … This is when things changed.

A Change in Plans; Pethidine

Ophelia panicked and her heart rate went from 135 to 180 which is dangerously high, so I then panicked. The pain got unbearable. I had to lay on the bed and have her constantly monitored for two hours and it was so painful to lay down … In the end her heart rate wouldn’t come down and it was nearly time for emergency c-section. I made the decision to take Pethedine. While not a preference it eases anxiety and pain slightly so I chose to take a small dose so I could relax and get Ophelia relaxed. It worked so I managed to avoid a c-section!

After this things progressed well, but I would say an intensity I’ve never felt before… there was a lot of ‘i can’t do this.’ I also threw up sooooo much from the pain and also gas and air but Haydon was amazing at ensuring I had a sick bowl and giving me water.

Time to Push

By 7am it was time to push, after 45 mins of pushing I was exhausted. I’d tried bent over but every time I pushed her head went back in. In the end I tried switching onto my side with my leg open and 4 pushes and managed to get head out.

The ring of fire is a true thing – not to scare you. It bloody hurts but you can do it. Quick panting to stop yourself freaking out or pushing too fast. You need to allow the skin to stretch slowly so push, pant until next surge, push pant.

Once you get the head out I promise it’s easy from there, two more little pushes and she was out.

Pain subsides very quickly, of course still there but nothing compared to what it was.

Hello Baby

Skin to skin is amazing and I did delayed cord clamping. I took the injection for the placenta and that came out in two mins. Didn’t even need to push and it felt like such a relief.

I had second degree tear on my perineum and a graze … they injected me with numbing stuff and I used gas and air while they did this and they sewed me up and I didn’t feel a thing.

Postnatal Recovery

In terms of how I’m feeling now – down there is sore but not as bad as I thought, peeing doesn’t hurt and swelling is already starting to subside.

I would deffo recommend which hazel cooling pads!!! They’re so relieving.

Not sure why but I didn’t expect every single muscle in my body to hurt. My sides, my lungs, my hamstrings, they’re more sore than my downstairs , so I recommend stretching!!!! I’ve just done a stretch this morning and it felt so good to gently move my body.

Overall, there is nothing that can prepare you for the gush of love you will feel when you meet your baby. I can’t stop staring at her, it’s the most intense feeling I’ve ever had. I’ve never been so proud of myself and my body. Seeing Haydon with her has been the most magical thing I’ve ever seen.

Is birth hard – yes, hardest thing you will ever ever do, is it worth it – a million times over. The self love you will have for yourself after and the love for your baby trumps the pain over and over again! Xxx

Read another first time mum birth story, Emma’s First Baby Birth Story. Or for another birth story using pethidine, check out Heather’s Positive Water Birth.