Jodie’s Positive Water Birth

Love reading positive birth stories? You’re in the right place! This positive birth story is with Jodie and baby Archie. Jodie had a water birth using gas and air for pain relief.

On Monday 5th July, I started to feel unwell (lethargic, feverish and ‘period like’ cramping) which resulted me going into hospital as there was a worry I was developing pre-eclampsia. Obs were done which confirmed everything was well with myself and baby BUT I was 1cm dilated – YAY – the latent phase had started!! After (which felt like) a very long week of clary sage baths, spicy food and a couple of small walks things started to seem to be progressing.

On Saturday 10th July, I started getting intermittent contractions during the morning (11am-2pm) during this time I noticed I had a very clear thick mucus show. Unfortunately after 2pm, just like the rest of the week, things died off again. Feeling quite deflated, I decided to have a nap in the evening (which I was very grateful for) as at 11pm contractions started again every 8minutes lasting for around 45seconds – GREAT! I tried to sleep through them as I knew I wanted to stay at home as long as I could to keep that oxytocin hormone flowing! Using my breathing techniques, in for 4 out for 7 which I learnt from the course (with my partner also helping to coach me through) and a couple of paracetamol, I got myself to 2am of Sunday morning! Now it was time to go to the hospital…

On arrival at the MLU at 2:45am, I was assessed by a midwife and confirmed I was 3cm dilated with a soft cervix, agreed by the midwife I was to be assessed again at 8am. I was offered a small dose of Diamorphine to which I refused using my EBRAN as I weighed up the risks of it passing through the placenta to baby. I continued with my breathing, staying in an upright position (on my knees kneeling on the bed, leaning against the wall, bouncing on the ball and being on all fours on the bed) and paracetamol. At 6:30am things starting to seem as they were progressing quite fast, and the midwife made a decision to assess me again. She informed me not to be disheartened if things haven’t progressed any further, but using the courses positive affirmations I told myself “I am already 3cm, I can do this”. 

On assessment just like she said, I was still 3cm and it was agreed I was to be assessed again at 10am. During this time I started to lose my mucus plug, which caused a slight bit of panic as I did not expect it to slightly look like a period bleed at first which was then followed by a bloody like mucus. At 8:30am, my body felt like it had progressed much further – contractions were stronger and now much closer together. At this stage I was ready for some form of pain relief. Reluctantly the midwife agreed to assess me again earlier than the planned time, and to our disbelief I was 7cm!! Sticking with my birth plan, the midwife hooked me up to the gas and air and started to run the birthing pool. I got into the birth pool at around 9:00am, put on my relaxing playlist in the birth pool room and got myself into the ‘zone’.

Whilst in the pool, I had moments of fight or flight to which my partner was able to help me with by reassuring me with touch and using positive affirmation “You can do this”/“You’ve got this” as he understood from going through the course with me I was now going through the transition stage. I was now at the stage I felt I was ready to push, I listened to my body and starting bearing down completely in the zone after 3 pushes I welcomed a beautiful little boy into the world at 10:10am ?

Thank you to the course, I was able to keep myself focused, calm and positive throughout the whole experience. This course helped me to change my whole perception on labour from a very negative/anxious one to an empowering positive one with a massive thank you to Beth!! Knowledge IS power!!! 

Click the link for more information about The Bump to Baby Chapter’s Hypnobirthing and Antenatal Online Course. Know what you can do to stack the odds in your favour for the birth that you want. Videos, checklists, audios & a support group all created by a midwife to get you feeling excited, prepared and confident for birth.