Birth story - Charlotte and baby girl

I was told about the birth pack when I was 35 weeks pregnant by a fellow mum to be. I did the online course and spent the next few weeks watching the videos. I was originally scared of birth but the course put it in a better light and I felt much more confident.

On the morning of the 05-10-18 I had a massive surge of energy. I spent the day baking cakes and wrapping Christmas presents. That evening I felt uncomfortable but didn’t think anything of it. I bounced on my ball for most of the evening and watched Netflix with my other half.

At 1:30am the next day I woke up with mild cramps which came and went. I went to the bathroom to discover my bloody show. As I went back to bed I felt a small gush followed by a few more gushes. However the waters had a yellow tinge that didn’t seem normal. I rung the hospital and they told me to come straight down.

I was assessed and found out I was 2cm.They also tested to see if my waters were gone. I walked around the block and the surges started to get stronger so that I had to stop each time. A few hours later the tests came back and I found out my waters had gone and it was meconium so I was hooked up to a monitor.

I set myself in my zone with whale music, scents, dimmed lights and a light projector. The surges were getting stronger so I asked for gas and air. Then the midwife had to push the emergency button as her heart had dipped. Then I was put on fluids and her heart rate was more steady. They checked me again and I was 4cm. I also found out she was back to back. The doctor suggested he would come back later and see if I had progressed.

I set myself in the zone again. I asked for pethedine which was so relaxing. The doctor came back and checked me a few hours later and I had progressed to 5cm. However he still wasn’t happy with her heart rate so I was taken straight down for a caesarean.

Once we were in the theatre it was a blur and I was given to spinal and I felt my surges ease away. 10 minutes later she was out. I couldn’t hold her at first as she needed a little oxygen and a checking over. But it wasn’t long until she was in my arms and we got lots of cuddles. Turned out her heart rate dipping was caused by her cord which had became wrapped around her legs. I’m very grateful for the pack as it gave me a positive experience on a birth that didn’t go to plan. I would recommend the pack to any mum to be.