A positive induction: Alice’s birth story
This was my third pregnancy after two miscarriages so we were very nervous. I was healthy and in good shape when I got pregnant and the pregnancy went perfectly, all healthy - the only problems were extreme swelling and carpal tunnel. I read a lot of books about natural childbirth and wanted a drug free water birth. I planned on exclusive breastfeeding when my baby was born.
My birth didn't go to plan at all but this was something Happy Parents. Happy Baby. prepared me for. Happy Parents. Happy Baby. had explained all the possible interventions that might occur and what would happen if baby needed extra help after birth which happened to us. I was 10 days overdue and my midwife performed a sweep, contractions began that night and the next morning my waters broke but labour did not establish, so my water birth in the birth centre plan was out the window. 24 hours after waters breaking, I was told to go to hospital and once there, I was told to walk around for three hours and come back. Eventually I was admitted and induced in the evening, by the middle of the night I was maybe 5cm dilated and I couldn't take the pain and hadn't really slept in over 24 hours so I had an epidural which was not part of my birth plan. I was able to sleep a bit and woke fully dilated. Pushing began and the midwife noticed meconium, our baby had had their first poo inside and was at risk of inhaling it. The doctor was coming in and saying there may be support with instruments but the baby came out just before.
My midwife was an absolutely amazing support. There was a team waiting to take my baby and check her, she had breathed in meconium and couldn't breathe properly so they had to work on her. It was scary to see your newborn surrounded by a team of doctors hooking things up and putting a mask on her but I remembered the session at Happy Parents. Happy Baby. with the doctor when he explained what would happen in this type of situation and that helped a lot. Our daughter ended up in the neonatal unit on a ventilator and feeding tube but after three days I was able to start breastfeeding and after four days we were able to take her to the maternity ward. She didn't have any lasting complications and is perfectly healthy now.
The moment I firs saw my baby I felt relieved because labour had been so very long, proud that I managed it and scared because she needed help.
I couldn't breastfeed for the first few days because my baby was in neonatal with a feeding tube but I expressed for her and was able to begin feeding eventually and exclusively breastfed. I think the session with the lactation expert really helped this to happen because she gave really practical information. I remember she told the dads and partners that to really best support mum if she wants to breastfeed, they should do everything else so she has the energy to exclusively breastfeed if she wants to instead of offering to give a bottle in place of her breastfeeding. That really helped me have the confidence to say no I want to breastfeed. My partner and I followed her advice and in those first few weeks my daughter nursed over nine hours a day. I barely moved from the couch or bed and my partner brought me food, drinks, did everything I needed which was amazing. I also didn't worry about my daughter feeding nine hours a day, I never doubted my supply wasn’t enough (it definitely was - she was 99.9 centile!) and a lot of that confidence came from learning at Happy Parents. Happy Baby. I also definitely benefited from the baby care session, I was terrified of the first bath and following Happy Parents. Happy Baby. instructions it was totally fine!
I would recommend Happy Parents. Happy Baby. to a friend because the range of information covered is much greater than other courses, covering birth, nappy changes, bathing, etc, lactation consultant, paediatric advice, first aid, hypnobirthing, and for much less money than other courses that cover less. The classes are fun and the social time is really great too.
Top Tips:
● Know that your birth might not follow your plan and don't feel bad if it doesn't.
● You don't need to be instagram ready the second you've just given birth, if you look like you just ran a marathon and then were pulled through a hedge you'd be doing a thousand times better than I was, I'm ok with that, we all should be.
● Breastfeeding can be tough, it is literally almost all you for the first month or so. It will probably hurt to start but eventually it won't hurt at all and it will be so easy you'll forget how hard it was to begin with.
● Lean on your family and friends for support to do housework, cooking, whatever you need at first.
● And it's ok if in the beginning you realise you can't remember when you showered last!
You can read lots more Positive Birth Stories here. We have positive birth stories from all types of births, including homebirths, water births, induction of labour, instrumental deliveries and Caesarean section births.
Download our free birth plan template and other resources for your pregnancy here.
Find out more about our antenatal and hypnobirthing classes in London, Essex and online and book your place here.
Access free hypnobirthing relaxations and videos to support you through your pregnancy on our Instagram TV page here.
