Naomi’s positive induction
Love reading positive birth stories? You’re in the right place! This positive birth story is from Naomi. Naomi planned a homebirth, but upon hitting 42 weeks gestation she accepted a balloon induction on the labour ward.
First pregnancy and birth were uncomplicated (although 11 years ago!), so decided to register for homebirth as safe option and alleviating concerns regarding Covid and distance from hospital with potentially quick labour.
From 39+5 I had 4 sweeps which took me to 41+4 and no sign of baby. Cervix was softening but posterior. Midwives suggested opting for monitoring and staying on track for home birth past 42 week point, which sounded great. Went for fluid scan and CTG at 42 weeks, all well, requested internal, and nothing had changed from previous sweep, midwife performed another. Were given a monologue by consultant regarding risks past 42 weeks, I felt unheard and stereotyped as a homebirth hippy. Used EBRAN to decline induction and headed home feeling deflated.
We re-watched the induction portion of the course that night, and spoke to community midwife next day to discuss all options. Really did not want hormonal induction, but used EBRAN to request balloon induction the next day instead.
Went in for 1pm, and following obs, CTG etc balloon was inserted at 4pm. Contractions started approx 1/2 hour after, and we headed off to walk the hospital. Kept moving, did a crossword whilst bouncing etc. By 10pm contractions were 45 secs long, coming every 3 and a half mins, breathing was fine to get me through. Midwife suggested my husband go home and we both get some rest. I got into bed about 11pm, and woke again at 1145 to a feeling of knicker elastic going inside me, then had a little gush of waters.
Balloon was removed and things got very intense very quickly. By the time my husband got back at 1245 I had taken paracetamol and dihydrocodeine, which had done nothing, was on all fours on the bed, and really struggling, all the pain was in my back, and I was shaking like a leaf. Contractions were a minute long and every 2 minutes, Midwife finally came to examine me and we were at 5cm – there was then some debate as labour ward was really busy, but thankfully they found a room and whizzed me along on the bed as I couldn’t get myself off and into a chair.
In labour ward everything became a bit blurry. I got gas and air at long last and just kept concentrating on that whilst hanging over the head of the bed. We were on CTG due to being so overdue, and baby was displaying signs of mild distress with some contractions, and then the midwife requested attaching the clip instead as she was losing contact with baby. Being on my back was agony, and after the clip was attached I rolled on to my left and a peanut was found and popped in between my legs which was a good rest for my knees. An hour or so later I was back up on my knees and I was asking for more drugs, but midwife advised I would have a baby before I would be able to have and feel the effects!
Pushing seemed to last forever, I abandoned the gas and just went for it. Midwife coached me through delivering the head, and I remember thinking it seemed more effort than the last time. Finally baby was delivered, just 5 hours after my waters went, at 4.44am, passed up to me between my legs and the relief was immense. It turns out baby had turned back to back at some point (having been ideally positioned for months!), which is why my pain was all in my back, but my midwife did an amazing job of shielding me from that, and coaching me though getting him out. We got straight on to skin to skin, cord clamping was delayed, then my husband cut the cord. I had the injection to deliver placenta, then there was some concern over bloodloss, so I was hooked up to a drip. I had a small 2nd degree tear which was stitched in the room, and then we were left in peace with our tea and toast, and beautiful boy. Luckily my iron levels were insanely high when I went in, so with the bloodloss it came down to normal levels and we were able to go home the same day after spending the afternoon on the post natal ward.
Our birth was nothing like I had hoped for, no lovely sploshing in a birth pool in front of our Woodburner, but we were in the right place in the end. This course was so valuable in empowering us make the right decisions for us during pregnancy, and also preparing my husband and giving him the tools to cope with, and support me, through labour, so I am so glad we did it, and I am recommending it to all my pregnant friends. Many thanks Beth Kitt!
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.
