Birth story - Levina and baby Erin

*Trigger warning* - photos of surgery, blood loss, extended hospital stay and intensive phototherapy treatment for jaundice.

I am sharing my story to give comfort to anyone with a placental condition, meaning an elective C-Section is your only option, or generally to anyone who has a C-Section to give you confidence it can be a truly beautiful experience .

My pregnancy was pretty seamless - I had first trimester nausea, but aside from that I stayed active with swimming and worked right up until 36 weeks (3 days before she arrived!). We knew straight away we wanted to do hypnobirthing and started this course after our 12 week scan.

At my 20 week scan, I was told that I had a posterior low-lying placenta, I wasn’t given an exact measurement but was told it was pretty close and I’d have to come back for another scan at 32 weeks. My midwives told me not to worry as most placentas move, and if I’m honest I therefore didn’t put a lot of effort into worrying about it or researching - especially as my initial Google search told me that 95% of placentas move.

Fast forward to a very confused and highly emotional me at my 32 week scan when I was told my placenta hadn’t moved, it was 8.2mm away from my cervix (it needed to be at least 20mm away for vaginal delivery) and, because it was posterior, it was unlikely to move. I was sent away to a consultant who explained the severity of my condition and that I would have to be booked in for a C-Section between 36 and 37 weeks due to the risk of carrying on with labour past this. I honestly felt like the last 20 weeks of planning for a beautiful, calm, vaginal delivery had been ripped away from me and I was so upset. It took me around a week, and a hell of a lot of research, for me to get my head around the C-Section and prepare reams of questions, using our BRAIN, for my midwives. Once our questions were answered, we put all of our efforts into planning a beautiful, gentle as possible C-Section.

When I got my C-Section date through at 35 weeks, I asked if I could please be considered to have her at least when she was 37 weeks to get her to full term. Unfortunately for me, my 36 week scan actually showed it was even closer - 7.8mm - and I was told it was too risky. It was also explained that I was a “red” rated C-Section because of my condition, and that my consultant and anaesthetist were the most senior the hospital had, and there wasn’t another slot for me to re-book until I was 39 weeks which was too far away. So, we moved full steam ahead for our planned op 3 days later.

In terms of the day of the op, it felt surreal leaving the house knowing we’d be coming home with our baby girl. We were nervous but so excited. On arrival, we were taken through the op and all of the risks associated with my condition (heavy bleeding) and we handed our birth preferences document over. We met the anaesthetist, midwife and consultant all in advance, who all read and truly considered our birth preferences. At 10.30 we walked down to theatre. We met the numerous staff who’d be in our delivery room, we were calmly taken through the process (whilst our playlist was on in the background), and I had my spinal - which I needed some up breathing and massage for! - and away we went!

Our beautiful baby girl Erin Margot was born at 11.15 to ‘Drops of Jupiter’ by Train and it was truly the best moment of my life. They lifted her up to show us as soon as she was born, and the midwife took some photos of her coming out of my tummy too (not requested but I actually really appreciated).

We requested delayed cord clamping and immediate skin to skin, and got both. Listening to music wasn’t just lovely, but has allowed us both to recall the delivery since listening back. We couldn’t have the lights dimmed (fair enough) but I achieved everything else I asked for on my plan. I lost 1 litre of blood which was great considering my condition, and I didn’t require a blood transfusion. (Unfortunately the machine that collects your own blood to give back to you didn’t work properly so I missed out on receiving this back).

Given Erin’s prematurity, we struggled with a few things - she had jaundice, which she needed intensive phototherapy for, and as she was so little she struggled to latch properly. We ended up in hospital for 7 days but we were incredibly grateful for the support, which set us up well for breastfeeding.

It’s surreal writing this with a 1 month old baby, and I’m recovering really well. A planned C-section can really be wonderful.