Lydia’s Christmas Baby – Born in time for Christmas Day

*Positive birth story* My miracle arrived in time for Christmas and made my dreams and wishes come true. Isabelle , born December 19th, 5lb 8. (38 + 6).

I wasn’t going to post but wanted to right a review and thank The Bump to Baby Chapter Online and Beth for this course.

Went into hospital afternoon of 18/12 due to reduced movements night before. Baby was monitored and I was told she was ok but I just wasn’t feeling her as much and explained her lively movements, particularly at night had been replaced with braxton hicks, quite painful ones.

I accepted an examination and was informed that I was 2-3cm dilated, had an extremely soft, thin cervix and baby was in the best position and extremely low down. Midwife offered sweep and I accepted.

Approx 18:30, after dinner, pain started but again I said to my husband, it’s probably braxton hicks so I just have to go with it.

21:00 ish, I tried sleeping through the pain as I had read others did this to get rest before the big event (still not knowing if these were real contractions). 45 mins later, I hadn’t slept so had a long, warm shower and washed my hair. Quick dry and back into bed at about 22:45 but at 23:00 my waters broke 😂.

So, it was time to make the call and was only at this point I said to my husband, the pain must be contractions and not braxton hicks.

Sorry this is turning out to be far longer than anticipated. I was told to come straight in, but alone and in a mask. Took 1.5 hours to be monitored and examined and the midwife said she couldn’t believe it but I was at 5cm and wouldn’t be going home.

Amazingly, hubby was allowed in and we were taken to a lovely, calm, dark room with a pool.

After hours of breathing through contractions, my midwife reminded me in my birth plan that I had a tens machine. Wow is all I can say, I found this contraption to be amazing to help breathe through contractions. For hours, I managed to have the tens machine around 2/3. I didn’t want to get into the pool until it felt almost unbearable.

Finally made it to the pool and was in there a few hours, just using breathing technique to cope with the pain of the contractions. I eventually asked for gas and air but they wanted to examine me. I had gas and air just whilst I was out of the pool and my amazing midwife said ‘omg, I don’t believe it but are you ready to have a baby?’ I said, ‘I’m fully dilated’? ‘Yes, and I cannot believe it myself as you have been amazing coping with the contractions’.

Unfortunately, when I got back into the pool, after half an hour of pushing, nothing had happened so had to get out and try pushing on the bed. Again, little one just wasn’t moving enough and I was informed my contractions were too short for me to push. Ended up on a drip to try speed them back up. I was exhausted at this point and it’s painful to push ladies and reckon I reached the transition stage at this point because I remember asking for a c section 🙊.

With support from hubby and midwife and thinking about this course, I changed position and decided to GO FOR IT! It took awhile but I dug deep and found the strength to push my little bean into the world. I think it was the fear of tearing that was stopping me getting her head out so told myself that if it happened, doctors would fix me.

I felt a tear and had a little wobble (who wouldn’t) but my husband was amazing and shouted ‘her head is out, you’re doing SO well, one more push!’ Well that is the hardest part right? Two more pushes and out she came, crying almost immediately as I had hoped.

Ladies, the relief is instant and once their heads are out, it really is slightly easier and midwifes can help with a little pulling their end. I also accepted to have warm compress on my perineum to show me where to push during contractions.

I’m gutted about the tearing, I have a second degree and a tear near my urethra but this was stitched up quickly by a fantastic doctor who reassured me the entire time and I didn’t feel a thing with the pain relief. They know what they are doing down there so try not to worry too much.

I remember thinking that I couldn’t have done this without the Bump to Baby Chapter course, no way. It’s the best money my husband and I have spent. I am SO proud of myself for using just a tens machine and a quick blast on the gas and air only for pain relief. It was ALL about the breathing.

If I can do this, believe me, so can you 👊🏼💪🏼.

Merry Christmas! Good luck to every single mummy to be and remember how strong you all are please 🎄. #itstotallyworthit