Natalie’s Positive Induction Birth Story

This positive induction birth story is with Natalie’s first baby, an induction for low fluid around baby. She used breathing techniques, hypnobirthing and encouragement from her husband. Love reading positive birth stories? You’re in the right place… 

• FTM.
• Induction at 38+4.
• Labour 5hrs 46min.
• Gas & air just for delivery (unintentionally! I wanted pain relief but too late!)
• Dad nearly missed it!

It is now my turn to write my positive induction birth story! After growth concerns at 37 weeks I attended a scan at hospital. Growth and weight was on the smaller side but ok. We discovered a lack of fluid which was actually more of a concern. Baby’s movements were reducing so I attended daily CTG monitoring and an induction booked.

Consultant Appointments

The first consultant I saw was awful – he didn’t discuss anything, didn’t give us a chance to ask questions, just instructed that an induction was happening at 38 weeks… Christmas Day!!!! I deafly nodded along in such shock and drove home in silence. Once home, I discussed it with my husband and we both had so many questions to ask!

When I went for my checks the following day I had a LOVELY consultant and midwife who happily took the time to chat everything through. I used my EBRAN. I felt much more prepared and we made a plan to continue monitoring and if all ok then induction pushed back so I could spend Christmas with my family and instead opted for a sweep first.

The Start of my Induction Birth Story

A couple of days after Christmas I had another scan and the lack of fluid was too concerning to ignore so I agreed to an induction as by this time I felt my priority was to get my little girl here safe and well. I was induced at 2pm on 29th Dec and by 9pm I had little tightenings.

By 10.30pm the CTG showed regular contractions and labour officially marked as started, however, no pain just uncomfortable. I continued watching Netflix and practising my deep breathing ready for the bigger contractions. At 11pm I asked for paracetamol to make myself comfortable enough to doze off. I very lightly snoozed, with my iPod earbuds in. At 1pm I woke with stronger contractions and very light discomfort. I continued the breathing, music, gently moving around my bay/area.

Having a Bath

At 2pm I got in the bath to ease my back. The pessary slipped out when I went to the loo so I figured I must be about 4cm for that to happen. Whilst in the bath the contractions really ramped up, coming closer together and pain level increasing. After about 3 of them I made it back to my bed. I tried to keep mentally strong and calm, deep breaths and moving around but after a few more contractions I was bent forward over the bed and swearing into my pillow. I called for the midwives and asked for strong pain relief as paracetamol had worn off; I needed something stronger than that or gas and air. Then I phoned my husband (who was at home 20min drive away) and told him to come to the ward and wait outside the doors so we can go to the delivery suite together.

Good new after an examination

The midwives disappeared to get pain relief but didn’t seem to come back in what felt like ages (probably wasn’t!) so again I pressed the buzzer and cried for help. I was vomiting with the pain, no position was working and I could barely catch my breath. Lead midwife arrived to examine me in order to give me my options for pain relief…. 10cm!!!!!!!!!

I couldn’t believe it!!!

I’d done most of my labour on my own, without my husband and without more than the two paracetamol which had worn off. I told the midwives I had enormous pressure as if I needed to push or poo. They rolled me onto the bed, threw a sheet over my modesty and RAN the bed down the ward to the delivery room. I looked up only once as we went through the doors, desperate to see my husband and grab his hand… he wasn’t there!

Searching for my Husband

A midwife went down the corridor in search of him and calling his name… nothing. I remember screaming “she’s coming now” as they wheeled my bed into the private room and suddenly “loads” of midwives and nurses filled the room all trying to help get me parked, hooked up to the CTG and get some gas and air into me.

My body completely took over and did it’s job…

The next contraction came and, before the gas and air was even in my mouth, my body pushed hard without me consciously doing so! I was trying to relax and hold on for my husband! I remember saying to a midwife “I didn’t want to be a screamer! But I am right now! I’m sorry!” To which she replied “darling you’re pushing a baby out without pain relief, you scream as much as you need!” The gas and air was shoved in my mouth and I breathed HARD! Desperate for some relief… it didn’t do much compared to the pain but oh well, too late now!

Husband Arriving!

My husband appeared in the doorway and looked gobsmacked to what he’d just walked in to… a midwife told him he didn’t need all the bags and snacks as he wouldn’t be there long enough, ditch the bags and go hold my hand. Bless his heart, he was like a rabbit in headlights as he had no idea I was in the final stages, he expected to walk in to me bouncing on my ball at 4cm! 

My husband likes to feel useful so we had planned in advance for him to be the communicator and EBRAN man. Regularly asking what my pain relief options are at each stage and when is the last point I can have certain things. Well he did his job once he put the bags down, I heard him ask…. I just yelled “it’s too bloody late, she’s coming out right now!”

My body felt paralysed to one position on my side, it was so busy working it’s natural magic downstairs that my brain and arms were just along for the ride! I wanted to be on my knees, leaning up and forward over the back of the bed, but I simply couldn’t move! I remember thinking, well on my left side is better than my back! 

Baby’s heart rate started to drop with each contraction, from 140 to 90 and then disappearing off the monitor. I had to be put on my back which I didn’t want but at this point I said to myself, do what the midwives ask as the priority is the baby and they want you on your back for a reason (I just didn’t compute what they said at the time!).

Encouragement from my Husband

Baby got stuck right at the last bit. I was bearing down and pushing hard but it felt like she simply wasn’t going to fit. The midwives hit the call button and the room filled with more people, all getting ready to whisk me to theatre to cut and use forceps which I desperately didn’t wan. I begged for one more chance and pushed with everything I had.

My husband said he could see her and gave me the best encouragement to try harder. Then the contraction disappeared… I couldn’t push! I held the pressure on to keep her right there….. then with the next contraction found the last bit of strength needed to get her out. As soon as her head was out the rest flew like a rocket and the instant relief was bliss! Yes I felt some tearing but

as soon as my baby was put on my chest nothing else mattered!

I was shaking like mad and utterly exhausted but at the same time completely in awe of what my body can do all on its own!

Golden Hours

We had skin to skin and my husband cut the cord. We were given 4 golden hours instead of 1 considering my husband only made it 15minutes prior to the birth. Nice peaceful room with dim lighting and lots of happy tears. Baby even had a first feed before going for skin to skin with my husband whilst I was stitched up. 4 small tears with a couple of stitches each…. amazingly superficial considering how stuck she was, I expected a LOT worse. So for those thinking inductions take longer…. not necessarily! For those who say first timers take longer too…. not necessarily! ?

Reflecting on my Birth

Now although it wasn’t what I wanted, I didn’t use all of my tools, I didn’t get to experience it with my husband properly, it wasn’t how I had in mind…. BUT I have absolutely no doubt that my mental attitude to get to 10cm, the tools I did use, my EBRAN, my breathing etc was all down to TBTBC!

I totally bossed it and that was thanks to this course and group!

Even the midwives asked what I used for my knowledge, mental power and calmness, and when I said TBTBC they all replied “oh yes! That’s a good course that one!”

So a big thank you to Beth (midwife at TBTBC) for this amazing course! You’ve helped so many women and should be mega proud of what you’ve created!

Olivia
30/12/2020
6lbs 0oz

The perfect way to end a year and start a new one!

Want to read another induction birth story? Take a look at Elisabete’s Positive Induction or Using EBRAN to choose induction: Jemma’s Birth Story. I truly believe knowledge is power, so if you want more information to help you make an informed decision on choosing an induction or not head here to read 2 weeks over due. Should I have an induction?