Roisin’s Birth Story

Written by Roisin

I had been having intermittent cramps and back ache for a few days and was unsure if I was in early labour or it was in my mind (!) so at my routine midwife appointment I did ask for a sweep but more so to check if my cervix was showing signs of early labour. I felt I made this decision knowing exactly what was going to happen/risks/benefits etc. She said I was showing signs of early labour so I was glad it wasn’t all in my head!

I instantly started getting period like cramps but put it down to the sweep. I had a show later in the afternoon and just carried on having cramps and back ache. The following day, these became more intense and started coming and going. I was getting weirdly excited that these may be contractions because I was potentially going to be meeting our baby very soon. The contractions intensified but I was able to breathe through them but we started timing them. We very quickly noticed they were happening every 2-3 minutes and 1 minute in length. 

As they became more consistent, I decided to phone the Bracken Birth Centre. They offered me to come in but unfortunately their pool was in use and the other pool was not working. This was disappointing for me as the only way I could ease the pain was by having a bath but I stayed positive and continued to breathe through it all. We arrived at the Bracken centre who determined I was in early labour but wasn’t established. I got offered to stay on a ward or head home and return when things progressed. I felt more comfortable at home so we headed back. I laboured at home from midnight until 5am when things really intensified. Again, I was managing it all using my breathing tools but we decided to phone Bracken again who said the pool had just become available. We headed back over to Musgrove and had a chat with the midwives and we thought it was best I get in the pool and see what happens over the next 4 hours.

I got in the pool and felt instant relief. I could move freely, I could manage the contractions and my back and bump could be submerged in the water. I actually felt myself drift off to sleep at points! I had been told baby was back to back so this may cause the labour to be longer but we timed my contractions which were still 2 minutes apart and 1 minute in length. I had planned mood lighting and music but in that moment I just wanted complete silence. 

Then after 2.5 hours since arriving I got this almighty urge to push so I asked Ben to grab our amazing midwife Emily. Emily was incredible and completely took my guide on everything. We all thought that it was that I needed to go to the loo and as baby was rotating round from it’s back to back position, this was putting pressure on things. However, the urge was getting stronger and I just trusted my body and my instincts. I had a moment where I said to Ben “I don’t know if I can do this anymore” so I decided to feel what was going on and sure enough, I could feel a head to which the midwife was surprised and excited about!! In a time that should have been sore, Ben and I just started beaming with excitement. I kept saying “we will meet our baby soon”.

I pushed for 30 minutes and again I just listened to my body and breathed through each contraction. My partner Ben was incredible at just taking my guide on things and we just worked as a team. Before I knew it, I grabbed our baby from the pool and put him on my chest. We then got to find out it was a baby boy and it was the most incredible feeling. We waited for the umbilical cord to turn white before Ben cut it. I then got another urge to push and I delivered the placenta naturally about 10 minutes after birthing Dougal. I really couldn’t believe it!! We had 1 hour of skin to skin and we were in awe of everything that happened and how perfect he was.

Unfortunately, on examination they were unsure if I had a second or third degree tear so the midwife got a doctors second opinion. They were also unsure, so thought it would be best I was seen in theatre. Oddly enough, I wasn’t bothered. I felt after our sessions with Mollie, I knew this was something that can happen, and I knew what this would look like. I knew this would involve a spinal and being in theatre so I was well prepared for the situation. It was disappointing in some ways as I had had the most beautiful water birth, but my mindset was also in a way that I just knew this was part of my birth story. 

I had surgery and Dougal was allowed to come and sit on my chest whilst I had it done. I had an afternoon of recovering and chose to stay in overnight just to make sure everything was OK. I am currently cuddling him and just staring at him in awe! He is so perfect.

I really couldn’t have had this incredible experience without your help and guidance. I am so proud of myself and what my body did. It felt so instinctive and like what my body was meant to do. I now understand why you said you were excited for birth again!

I will be recommending you to EVERYONE and I will be telling everyone my positive birth story.