Dream Birth

Home Birth
Our Birthing Experience We Worked For And Dreamed Of

Albert (Bertie) – Baby Number 2

I have suffered with endometriosis since the age of 13 where I have had two operations and was told I would need support becoming pregnant: I now have two gorgeous boys and I didn’t require any help; have faith, believe in your body, it’s incredible!

As myself, my partner (David) and our Son Ted were getting glammed up for Ted’s christening and 2nd birthday celebration I decided to do a pregnancy test as that week I had been experiencing cramps (something I often do as having endometriosis means my cycles are very irregular and painful). We didn’t think there was a chance I was pregnant as you can imagine having a toddler and both working, well it doesn’t leave you much time to create babies. Anyway, five minutes before leaving we discovered that Ted was going to be a big brother! What an amazing way to start his birthday celebrations with our whole family. We were both in complete shock but of course VERY excited.

The next 9 months flew by and as a family we throughly enjoyed watching baby Albert (bump) grow as we prepared our lives for his arrival. We ensured Ted was fully aware and included: he came to all of the scans, helped us choose his name, decorated his nursery and bought him some gifts. We were determined to make this the most enjoyable pregnancy and birthing experience after previously having a very long, painful and traumatic birth where I suffered physically and mentally for quite some time.

We decided to attend a full Hypnobirthing and Mindful Breastfeeding course which opened our eyes and made us realise we were in control of our birthing experience. We gained a full understanding of the science behind labour and how the woman’s body works. Trust and listen to your body- your body and baby know exactly what to do. (If you are wanting to breastfeed please attend this course I’m two weeks in, after hitting many barriers, but I feel I’ve smashed it and finally its getting easier. Attending this course made us realise how demanding and hard it will be but also how amazing it is for you and your baby. I didn’t feed for long with Ted and that was right for us. This time I was determined and its been very successful. Sophie Burrows (feeding consultant) is AMAZING! My milk came in and we were struggling! She came to visit me at my house on day 4 and supported me with my painful, engorged breasts- she didn’t leave until I was happy and confident to continue mine and Albert’s breastfeeding journey @theboobladyibclc on Instagram).

The course also meant that David and I got to spend a few hours a week relaxing and learning together which was lovely- date nights!

We took this very seriously and practised all the different tools we would need to get through our birth as naturally as possible. We decided to have a home birth with a pool which excited us both very much!

Our “due date” came and went and baby was still very toasty inside showing no signs of coming soon. I was offered a sweep and despite not wanting any examination I decided to accept considering we were now 41 plus 4 days, my bump was huge and my toddler was very demanding.

The sweep was successful as I was already 1-2 cm open and within half an hour of the midwife leaving my house the period type cramps started and I couldn’t of been happier.

I had the best day with my aunty and son walking around a local park with animals , we went to costa and got ourselves yummy rolls and sandwiches which we then ate at home. After a doctors appointment for my son (like you do in labour) we arrived home around 2:30 pm where my surges became stronger and more regular. I spent my time on my ball in the garden with my son and aunty timing each surge, at this point they were very regular coming every 4-5 minutes lasting around 30-60 seconds. I used my calm and surge breathing and felt I was managing very well.

I decided it was about time I rang the home birth team considering my app told me to leave for the hospital immediately! They were amazing, Debbie asked if I was managing okay and to ring back in an hour if anything changed. They suggested to get the pool up and ready so I decided this was a good time to ring David and my Mum- “ITTTTTSSSS TIME FAMILY”!

At this stage, by 5:30 pm the surges were anything between 3-5 minutes apart- we decided Ted would be best at Nanny’s for a sleep over (this is why we had preferences and not a plan – sometimes you just don’t know what’s going to happen or how you will feel at that time). Ted shouting “wakkkkkke up mummy” while I breathed through my surges was not ideal! This meant that me and David could focus on the calm birth we wanted and had practised for throughout my pregnancy.

As soon as it was just us I immediately relaxed, got in the zone and the labour started to progress quickly. The house was warm, the pool was up and slowly filling with water, my birthing playlist was gently playing, the fairy lights were on and the lantern was lit and at the end of the drive so the team could easily find us (call the midwife vibes)!
At 7pm the lovely Emma rang me as she had just started her shift! She was going to be the lady to deliver our son- very exciting! We had a chat and she decided it was time for her to make her way to ours, she advised that I didn’t get in the pool yet and just used my breathing and TENS machine which I did. In the meantime David’s mum dropped us over battered sausages and chips and between surges I ate my dinner in our calm, candle lit front room.
I was feeling so relaxed and in control that we both didn’t realise how far into labour I already was. Emma arrived shortly followed by Liz- they were both such lovely ladies and settled quickly into our home. A quick check of baby’s heart rate and a few wees later I decided to get in the warm pool which felt amazing! I’ve always dreamed of a water birth but unfortunately didn’t experience anything like it with my first so this was pure bliss.
David got me through the whole labour; He focused me on my breathing when things got intense, rubbed my back with massage oil, held my hand, fed me sweets and drinks. I couldn’t of been more relaxed and felt so lucky to have him with me. I didn’t think it was possible to fall even more in love with him- but I did!
I stayed in the pool for the next 4 hours where babies heart rate was checked every 15 minutes. I didn’t want any vaginal examinations. I believed in my body and I knew I would know when it was time to meet our son. The intensity grew over the next few hours. I kept active and regularly went to the toilet (this was the hardest part, getting in and out of the pool, as the surges were far more intense out of the water). But of course David and the ladies held my hands and told me how amazing I was doing. During each surge Emma rubbed my back as I was now feeling extreme pressure in my pelvis and lower back and this helped the surges to be more manageable. David held my hand the whole of the labour! I felt so lucky.

My waters broke at 11:48pm and the pool water then became cloudy which became difficult for Emma and Liz to see what was happening with their mirror and torch.

At this point Emma explained that the baby was ready to meet his mummy and daddy (she showed David the line on my lower back that glowed purple which meant baby was ready- no examinations needed ladies!) This gave me a boost of energy and motivation which is what I needed at this stage as I felt tired, calm and sleepy. A few sweets and surges later Emma suggested getting out the pool as she knew the surges would be more intense and it would encourage me to follow my body’s path and get baby out.

I made my way onto the sofa where I took the all fours/ leaning forward position (this was the only position that felt comfortable during every surge).
During my pregnancy I practised calm, surge and J (birthing) breathing and I encouraged myself to believe that my baby and my body would work together to get the baby out which had worked very well up until the point of getting the head out.

At this stage I felt the urge to bare down calmly, whilst still using my breathing and within two surges the head appeared still in the sack with his arm and hand next to his head.

David was asked to deliver the baby (this meant letting go of my hand)
this encouraged me to get the baby out even quicker as I wanted to be
near him. On the next surge I gently pushed following Emma’s verbal
lead and within seconds baby Albert was on our sofa at 12:30pm. He was passed under my legs , I turned around and just couldn’t believe that we had done it! My 9 pound 13 baby was finally in my arms. No damage done- amazing considering the size of my baby!

The surges started again which was the placenta trying to make its way out. I wanted a natural delivery of the placenta. I was very uncomfortable in a sitting position at this point so I passed baby to dad and got into a squat position and again after a few surges the Plascenta was out which felt amazing! This also meant I could feed my baby and sit down comfortably in the comfort of my own home.

The next few hours were a blur as I
was totally in love all over again. Tea
and toast was made for me, I fed
baby and had skin to skin time. My
placenta was collected by PlacentaPro
to make into capsules. The midwifes and David tided up and my front room was spotless again.

After a couple of hours and the checks had been done I made my way upstairs got into my bed and Emma passed me my son where I stayed until the next morning staring at his perfect face (of course I didn’t sleep a wink).

This was honestly the most amazing experience of our lives. If you want to achieve something and you believe in yourself and practise daily you really can have the most amazing experience. I want to take this opportunity to thank Laura from LemonTree Hypnobirthing and mindful breastfeeding for changing our lives. Not only did you enable us to have the most perfect labour but myself and David are more calm and relaxed in general – we aim to enjoy every moment as life goes way too quickly.
My family is complete!