News

RECLAIMING BIRTH

22/02/2012

After King's have terminated the Albany Midwifery Practice contract, there is a March in London to deliver a petiton to the Health Minister and letter to the Prime Minister.

The March is supported by NCT, Association of Radical Midwives, Albany Mums, Independent Midwives Association and AIMS. 

1pm Geraldine Mary Harmsworth Park, Lambeth Road, London SE1 4EQ.

Please support in anyway you can.

To learn more about the Albany Midwives go to www.albanymidwives.org.uk 

The day 2 became 3 - Rachel's own birth story February 17th 2009.

05/10/2009

I had always wanted more than two children, but when I found out I was pregnant with my third child, it was a complete surprise! We hadn’t thought about having more children. The pregnancy felt easier than the other two but I am sure this was because I didn’t have time to really think about it!

I had suffered from SPD really badly in my first pregnancy, and a little in my second, but in this one I didn’t get it, which was a huge relief. I regularly saw a chiropractor, which I am sure prevented me getting it this time around. I also was seeing her as I had sore hips, and she worked wonders on me! This pregnancy I did feel more tired than before, and the aches were more regular but I am sure this was due to having a 5 and 3 year old to look after.

Towards the end of my pregnancy, I started taking homeopathic remedies to prepare me for the birth and I saw an acupuncturist to help with my energy levels, which helped a great deal. I had also been going to active birth yoga classes, which had helped me remember different positions that I could use during labour.

As my first and second were both born in water, I knew this was how I wanted to plan my third being born. My eldest had been born at the RUH and my second at home with independent midwives. I decided to have another homebirth and independent midwives this time for many reasons, the main being the continuity of care. I couldn’t imagine giving birth to my baby in any other way than in our home. I found it very important for me and my family to have a good relationship with our midwife as she became part of our family for the best part of 10 months. I had also decided to have a friend with me for the birth to act as our doula. She was there to look after my husband, children and me, in which ever order she needed to. So it became more and more important for this person to be someone who the children and Dean knew as well as I did.

The end of my pregnancy seemed endless. I put up my heated birthing pool at 36 weeks, so I could use it to relax in most evenings sitting in front of the TV! This was bliss and I found myself eagerly waiting for each evening to get in my pool and float. This helped the back and hip ache I was getting.

My sister in law was also due with her third on the same day as me and at 37 weeks her baby arrived. This was great to have another nephew, but I felt slightly envious of Tess having her baby! This made the last few weeks drag on. I got to my due date (8th February) feeling quite surprised my baby hadn’t made an appearance yet! I then got to 41 weeks and still no baby! By this time I was really ready! My children were both feeling rather frustrated with mummy as I hadn’t produced their sibling at the same time as Auntie Tess!

Anyway on the 16th February I woke up at the start of half term feeling slightly different. I carried on as normal, but had the urge to go to Tesco’s and do the biggest shop I had done for months. Just before I left I had a show. This was a new thing for me as I hadn’t had one with the other two labours. I knew something was happening, which I felt very excited about. I carried on and did the shopping and found I had bags of energy. I then had more show when I got home. Dean was working from home that day, which was great as he was on hand just incase it all started. My second labour had only been 57 minutes, so I was sure this one was going to be similar, quick and simple. Around 2.30pm I was feeling like I couldn’t sit down and relax. I had period like pain, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I asked dean to massage the base of my spine as I had found this really helped with the hip and pelvic pain I was getting. Just as he started to massage my back, I had one massive contraction. This really took my by surprise as I had no warning of this happening this intense. It was then I realised labour was commencing. I phoned sue (my doula friend) told her the exciting news, and prepared her that things were finally starting to happen. I then phoned my mum to get her to have the children as I had decided I didn’t want them around when I was in labour.

I was having contractions every 15 minutes or so, so I could carry on doing things without them getting in the way too much. My children had gone to have a sleepover at Grandmas house and Sue had arrived. I had called Sally (my midwife) and told her I would call her again when I needed her to come. Everything was ready, but baby wasn’t! The contractions died down to almost nothing and I felt very confused by the whole thing. Sue and I decided to go for a walk to see if this would help labour progress. We walked for about an hour, with me stopped about every 15 minutes to hold on to a lamp post and breathe. I got home feeling hungry and quite tired. I ate a little and still couldn’t sit down. I was pacing around the house waiting for my contractions to speed up. I sat on my birth ball and rocked which I am sure helped the baby move down a little, and straight afterwards, I walked up and down my stairs to try and get my contractions to get more regular. I started to feel quite impatient as I didn’t feel much was happening. I got into my pool to see if this would help. It helped in a different way to which I had hoped. I relaxed straight away which was great as I hadn’t been able to sit down and now I could. I stayed in the pool for about half an hour, which was good for me to recharge my batteries. I had a little more food and drank lots of water. I had some clary sage / lavender / jasmine burning as these oils help you to relax and I also had a hypnotherapy CD on to help me visualise. I shut myself in the room where I had the pool, and had space to myself as I really wanted to be alone. Sue kept popping in giving me homeopathic remedies.

I got out of the pool, had a cry and went up to my bed. I felt like I had been imagining labour before and that I had wasted everyone’s time. I felt very frustrated with myself as I didn't seem to be having the quick labour I had imagined it to be. By this time it was about 9pm. I was having contractions every 20 minutes, so I would lie down on the bed and then jump up and hold on to the bed and breathe. Each time Sue heard me jump out of bed, Dean or her would come and rub my back and give me a remedy.

At 10pm Sally called to see how things were going. I spoke to her and told her that not much was happening and that I felt a little frustrated with myself. She told me to rest and maybe take some paracetamol for the pain, so I did. Sue suggested I sat on the ball and watched some TV to take my mind off of things. This seemed like a good idea. I wanted company again now, so Dean and Sue joined me.

At about 10.30pm I suddenly decided I wanted to be in my pool. My contractions were still only 15 minutes apart, but I instinctively knew this was where I wanted to be. I got in and immediately felt more relaxed again. The feeling of weightlessness when you feel so heavy is amazing. As soon as I got into the pool my labour started to progress. I knew my contractions were now every 10 minutes and they were much more intense again, which was great. American Pie came on the TV, so we kept it on. This was a bizarre thing as I was in labour in a pool, in my lounge, with Dean and Sue with me watching American Pie!! I was having contractions and feeling in pain one minute then the next laughing hysterically! It really did work! I was quite unaware of how much my labour was progressing until American Pie finished and I asked Sue how often they were coming. 5 – 6 minutes was the reply. The TV then needed to go off as I had entered a different phase of my labour. Things were going well and I now needed Dean in the pool with me. He got his shorts on and got in the pool. I then needed him to support me through each contraction. They seemed to be coming much closer together now.

At around 12.30am, Sue asked me if I wanted her to get Sally. I had completely forgotten about calling Sally as I had convinced myself I had been imagining labour! I wanted Sally there, so Sue paged Sally to let her know that the contractions were coming much closer together, so Sally decided to come and paged Jo the second midwife. They both live in Bristol so had a 45 minute journey before they would get to me. As soon as I knew Sally was on her way labour then progressed even further. I was having contraction about every 2 minutes apart, and these were very intense. These then went so there was only a 30 second gap between them, which was quite hard to keep up with. I knew the baby was coming very soon, and was slightly worried that Sally was not there yet. I felt the urge to push, and as my daughter had been born in 2 minutes after pushing had started, I knew I didn’t want to start until Sally arrived. Sally arrived at 1.20am, as I heard her come through the door, I knew I could push. She came into the room, got her gloves on, and asked how I was. At this point I couldn’t answer. I started to push immediately. Sally said she could see a head crowning. I was kneeling on the bottom of the pool, holding the side with one hand and Dean was supporting me on the other side. I then gave another big push and the baby’s head was born. The amniotic sac was still intact and this burst when the baby’s head was born. I pushed again and the baby was born at 1.24am in the water. Sally passed the baby between my legs, and through to Dean and I and we brought the baby out of the water together. The baby’s cord was half way around his neck, so we untangled it and welcomed him to the world. Sally dried the baby’s head with a towel and popped a hat on. William Benedict Stacey was 7lb 5oz, and had finally made his entrance to the world.

Our second midwife arrived at 1.40am, to see that our little baby had already made an appearance! I stayed in the pool for about half an hour after the birth, feeding him and waiting to birth my placenta. I had decided to go for a physiological third stage. I decided to get out of the pool as I was uncomfortable and continue feeding him on the nest that Sue had prepared for me next to the pool. I decided to have the cord cut at about 2am as I felt restricted in moving with it still attached. I birthed my placenta at about 2.10am, which I was pleased about as now I could enjoy my baby! I sat on the sofa with him, had tea and toast and fed him. He fed for about an hour and I then went to the bathroom and had a shower while Dean gave him a skin to skin cuddle. We then all got into bed around 4am.

It was a truly wonderful experience being at home and birthing our baby in this way. This labour was different to the other two as it seemed much longer to get going, but in the end he came really quickly. The actual labour itself was only about 3 and a half hours. The best thing was being able to have him at home in water in our lounge, and have everyone I needed with me. Being able to have a shower and snuggle up in my own bed with Dean and Will was wonderful. When our other two children came home to see us the next morning it was wonderful just how normal it all was. They think that all babies are born at home in a pool, which is great!

William is now 10 weeks old and enjoying life to the full. He is well ‘looked after’ by his siblings and he has slotted into family life very easily.

Homebirth can be a fantastic way to meet your baby. You can have as many people as you choose to support you and you can have the birth you want. As long as you have a low risk pregnancy there is no reason why you can’t have this experience. I help run the Bath NCT Homebirth support group, so please do come along if you wish to hear other people’s birth experiences and gain support and information if you are considering a homebirth.

Rachel Stacey
Owner Born in Water