Birth story - Leanne and baby Oliver

⚠️ Foetal heart rate dropping/distress, use of word contractions

It's taken me a while to get the time to write this up, but really wanted to as we had such a positive experience. I was quite anxious beforehand about having an induction that any positive stories I read were a big help to me! So bear with - it's a long one! 😁

PREGNANCY

My pregnancy was initially very straight forward, until 28 weeks in. I noticed I was very itchy, so text my midwife as I knew it was something to look out for. She arranged for additional blood samples to be taken to check my liver function and results came back with a diagnosis of obstetric cholestasis. At the same time I was also diagnosed with gestational diabetes and put straight onto treatment with insulin.

I was told from the beginning that both these diagnoses would result in transfer from midwife-led to consultant-led care and induction of labour - so there went the dream of a natural pool birth in the Midwife-Led Unit. Admittedly, I struggled with this for a few days - the idea of trying to make my body do something it wasn't ready for with synthetic hormones, the treatment regime and diet changes needed for the OC and GD and so many different hospital appointments were quite overwhelming to me. I made it a bit of a mission for me and my husband to do as much hypnobirthing and relaxation preparation as we could, as I felt I was now going to need it more than ever!

After a worrying few weeks, many meetings and discussions with doctors and midwives, and weekly blood tests and scans, baby's growth had started to tail off and the consultant was concerned that my placenta was starting to deteriorate; so at 36 weeks my induction date was set for 37+2. I had no issue with this and felt it clinically justified. It was exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time - I couldn't quite believe we were actually going to meet our baby, and soon!

I booked in for couple of stretch and sweeps (at 36+4 and 37 weeks) before going in for induction - I have no negative feelings towards examinations and I was keen for anything that might help things along! The midwives were surprised, given how early I was and a first timer, to find my cervix already softened, shortening and dilated. I did lots of walking, bouncing on the birth ball and colostrum harvesting in the meantime!

HOSPITAL/LABOUR

Examination and Bishops Score when I got to hospital on the Wednesday found that my cervix was favourable enough to go straight for breaking my waters, without needing pessaries, so it was just a case of waiting for a space in the delivery suite. This took a couple of days! Fortunately I was allowed to have my husband Aaron with me on the antenatal ward between 10am and 6pm, but there were teary moments of frustration, as I felt like his time on paternity leave was being wasted with nothing going on! But I managed to bring myself back to calm by chatting through my feelings with Aaron and him reassuring me it was fine, and it was out of our control anyway so not worth stressing about. So back on the birthing ball and walking around the hospital grounds for us, in the hope of triggering something spontaneous!

Finally, at 8:30 Friday morning the midwives came to take me to delivery! They assured me they had read my birth preferences and would do their best to meet what they could. I called Aaron who set out immediately.. and fortunately didn't tell me until he got to the hospital safely (and in relatively good time) that my chronically unreliable car had decided to partially break down into limp mode on the motorway heading over!! Once at Delivery, I asked for some time after they broke my waters, to see if any contractions started spontaneously, before administering the drip. I was told it was a less than 1% chance, given my gestational point and being FTM, that anything would happen - but bless them, they allowed me an hour and half whilst they prepared everything. This also allowed me time to munch all my snacks before I was put onto the drip and sliding scale for the diabetes, as once administration began it would be just plain water for me! Aaron took this time to set up our tea lights, fairy lights, photographs (of our dog, mostly!) and music and make the environment cosy and relaxing. The doctors and midwives really loved our set up, and it provided a conversation piece! Of course, nothing happened spontaneously for me, but I was glad I had the chance to see!

I was then kitted out with drips and monitors and began the administration of the drip. It took a couple of hours before I really felt anything happening. I found up-breathing helped me manage the contractions perfectly well, so declined pain relief. Baby's heart rate was dropping during contractions, so the doctor came to monitor the trace - if there was no improvement once I was 3-4cm dilated he planned to take a blood sample from Baby's head to check oxygen levels and if they weren't sufficient I might then need a caesarean. I stayed (surprisingly!) quite relaxed when hearing all of this, and remembered something my friend (also pregnant and hypnobirthing!) had said when I was having a wobble over induction - however our baby has to be born to make sure they are safe, is the right way.

Whilst the doctor went to carry out a cesarean, the midwives spent time trying out putting me in various positions during contractions, to establish whether any would help improve Baby's heart rate. Fortunately, we discovered that laying on my right hand side seemed to make things much better, so they and Aaron set about getting me as comfortable as possible on the bed, and were apologetic that they knew I wanted to stay upright and mobile throughout labour.. but it just wasn't safe for baby. But examinations showed that I was still progressing and continuing to dilate, so I was reassured by that. I avoided the blood tests or need for caesarean.

I continued to use up-breathing to work through the contractions, and found it all strangely peaceful. Aaron was fantastic, on hand to administer drinks and keep checking in with me that I was OK, but to be honest I was in my own zone! I remember listening to everybody's conversations, feeling quite content. Once I was quite far into established labour I opted to try out the TENs machine, and this provided a distraction. I remember the transition period very clearly - I had gone to the toilet and decided I might just stay there 🤣 Aaron managed to coax me out and I was allowed a brief period of being upright, whilst the doctor and students were reviewing me. I remember leaning over the bed and quietly talking to Aaron about feeling like I was a little bit out of control with my breathing, and not sure that I could do it. I had an internal conversation about pain relief, but decided I was probably too far gone for most things now, and anyway I was probably going to start pushing soon, so that might make me feel better!

Soon enough I changed position and lay on the bed in preparation for delivery, I got a second wind and was definitely ready to start pushing! I never could get the hang of down-breathing during practice and think I did end up pushing rather than breathing baby out.

Aaron was very excited to inform me when he could see the head, and we both had a feel! Then once baby was out he announced that we had a boy! I had asked for delayed cord clamping, so he was handed straight to me for skin to skin and oh my goodness the feeling of meeting our baby for the first time!! There is nothing like it! I was utterly insanely in love and couldn't stop kissing and hugging him! I barely noticed what was going on down the business end, but I had opted for the injection to help birth the placenta, due to increased risk of haemorrhage from the cholestasis - we did take a look at the placenta and listened in whilst the midwife was examining and training the student midwife.

We were then left alone to have our golden hour. It was so calm and peaceful, and such a lovely time just spent in awe of this tiny little human that is ours! And for me, processing what I'd been doing for the past however many hours! I felt incredible, on such a high and super proud of myself that I'd actually done it! And the tea and toast - with jam!! After months of no sugar and limited sweet stuff, it tasted amazing!!

I really think what we learned from the PBC digital pack made all the difference in having such a great experience. Understanding and being able to recognise what was happening at each stage, knowing that it's OK to question things and make the right choices for us took away any fear, and creating a cosy environment and utilising the relaxation tools made it so much more pleasant for us. I've been recommending the course to anybody I know that has announced pregnancies since!

So to any Mama's yet to meet their babies - and especially those whose journeys have gone slightly off the original track - you've got this! 💪🏼 you're going to be amazing! And those who have had theirs and are navigating the mad, magical world of motherhood - you're doing bloody brilliantly! 😘💖 xx