Forceps Delivery; Melanie’s Positive Birth

Love reading positive birth stories? You’re in the right place! This birth story is with first-time mum Melanie who says she was “terrified of birth” to the point of contemplating even having children. Melanie’s birth story is so empowering; she felt in control, she used EBRAN, and her partner played an active role as her birth partner. Melanie’s baby needed a little help and Melanie and her partner decided to accept the option of a forceps delivery. After only two pushes with the help of forceps baby, Rex was born and placed straight on Melanie’s chest.

I was terrified of birth, to the point we weren’t going to have children. So if I can do it and feel positive after birth, (thanks to this course) so can you! 

Baby Name: Rex Alexander DOB: 28.08.21 @ 3:17pm Weight: 7lb 4oz 41+2 days. 

Personal preference: Open to epidural, wasn’t keen on the injection drugs, bought a Tens Machine, open to Gas and Air. I loved the idea of the water birth. The whole way I was calling it “Birth Preferences” rather than plan. This really helped me not fixate on a certain birth.

Actual Birth: Tens Machine Support from Husband Gas and Air Vaginal Birth with Forceps.

The Build Up to Birth 

For a few days before Rex was born, during the night I was getting what felt exactly like period pains. It was happening in my sleep so I couldn’t be sure if it was fully related or it I was getting paranoid! I was overdue by a few days. At my midwife appointment at 41 weeks and was offered a sweep. I decided to take it because I wanted to know where I was (if anywhere) as I was already booked in for an induction 3 days later. 

During the sweep, I found out I was 2cm (period pains must have been related!). I went home not overthinking it as many friends of mine have stayed 2cm for a long time. That night I went to bed and woke up at 1am with what I assume started to feel like a contraction. It was super mild, a gentle tightening of my tummy. By 3am they had been going for a while so I decided to wake my partner up. He took full control which is why I have added partner as part of the birth as you don’t realise how much a difference these guys can make.

Early Labour

My partner read the instructions for my tens machine and put it on me. For the next two hours (3am-5am) the contractions started to get stronger. I stayed standing, actually in my doorway as it felt comfortable and with my eyes closed as if I was slightly asleep. By 5am I was like ‘I think we should call the hospital, at least to give them a heads up’. We got the standard take paracetamol and have a bath. I did neither of those things and continued to stay upright in my bedroom doorway! I told my partner to go back to sleep as I had heard how long these things can take. 

He was timing the contractions, I am someone who normally loves to be fully in control, but actually with him doing all of that it meant I could not worry and just get on with doing the job in hand! 7am came, I woke my partner up and was like I really think we need to go now. He started retiming and was like yes I think so too.

Arriving at Hospital

We live 30 mins from the hospital, we finally got there at around 8:30am. The hospital has a super long walk to the ward! 

I had to stand in a waiting room for around 20 minutes. In this moment I actually didn’t want to get in the water, which surprised me. Just after 9am we were taken into a room. I was given an examination to find out I was already 6cm and had completed that with tens machine! Contractions started to ramp up, and the breathing with counting was amazing here. Just kept counting to 7 in my head to help them pass. I then started on the Gas and Air. 

The need to Push

The midwife came in every 15 mins to check babies heart rate and to see how I was. It was great to have the privacy of just my husband and I. Again I assumed these things take ages, so told my partner at 1pm to go and get some food. My midwife went for some lunch too. As soon as they both left (typical!), I noticed my contractions started to change and you really do start to feel a different sensation. The need to push! 

I pushed for 1 hour 45, I just couldn’t quite get the hang of this stage. I did think back to Beth in the course saying you need to hold more. Midwife kept saying you are pushing baby out but then bringing him back in. I did the standard ‘I’m not sure I can do this’, I just didn’t quite understand how to do this bit. I was weirdly calm about it as I knew I was in the right place. By this point I was pretty tired (it’s surprising how much it takes it out of you!). Husband gave me Nutri-grain bars and Lucozade. 

Choosing a Forceps Delivery

Baby’s heart rate started to get a little distressed, the midwife could see I was finding it hard to do this bit so they decided I needed some help. I was fully in the zone just trying to push so my husband (using EBRAN) gave the approval for a forceps delivery.  Surprisingly I was open to this. I wanted to meet my baby and if they were going to help me, great. 

With only two pushes, with forceps he was out! My waters hadn’t broken so Rex came out with a lot of water. He was put on my chest and what a surreal moment. 

I was given an injection for the placenta, and I didn’t even notice this be delivered. This worried me!  I was given stitches in the room and left to bond with baby for over an hour with just my husband. Honestly, the thought of child birth scared me to the point of constantly thinking about it every day. I have come away super proud of myself for doing it, keeping calm and giving control to the right people to help me. 

Birth Reflections

This course was amazing as I believe as women we really aren’t actually educated enough on our bodies and what it can actually do. The course meant I actually understood each step of labour and I could mark them off as checkpoints to meeting baby. It became less scary as I understood it. It let me understand the different pain relief options, I really thought I was going to need the epidural, I’m rubbish with pain but I didn’t. I also liked the fact I could do it online and do each little video when I was ready and when I had digested that information. 

Your body really does only give you the ‘pain’ you can deal with. It really isn’t a pain either, it feels like muscles contraction a bit like cramp on a walk. 

Good luck with anyone else who has baby due soon. You will do it, you will own it and your story will be how it’s meant to be.

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.