Sunday 9 June 2013

Felix Jakub's birth story


My second son Felix Jakub was born at home just over two weeks ago, 2:51pm Saturday 25th May. 

I was 40+6 so had started getting anxious about my chances at having a home birth. I had had a stretch & sweep at 1:30pm the day before. At 2:45pm on the Friday I had my first contraction whilst walking to the supermarket. My contractions continued throughout the afternoon & evening. They were manageable & irregular so just very early stages but we got the living room ready, pool up, towels down, nest area made etc. I went to bed at about 11pm & slept through the night waking from time to time with the off pain.

Mini Birth Pool set up
Belly during the set up!!
In the morning I was disappointed things hadn't progressed but none the less we got my parents to pick up our son for the day. It was gorgeous weather. I pottered around the house, did some washing, sat in the garden. By about 11am, whilst my contractions were still irregular in duration and time apart, I was feeling a lot of pressure. I called my midwife but she was sure it was the head engaging. I tended to agree. My previous labour was 30 hours & I had my waters broken & only dilated when they gave me the drip. She told me to keep in touch.


I rested on my sofa for a while & walked around the house.
At about 2pm I was sitting on my birthing ball when my waters suddenly & loudly popped. I wasn't surprised as the contraction had been quite painful, I had felt like a balloon about to burst! We has towels to hand but there wasn't much mess. I went upstairs to clean up. In the bathroom my contractions were now coming 3 minutes apart & were very intense so we called the midwife & my husband started filling the pool. The midwife said she'd be there as soon as she could but it might be 20 mins. I knew now it wasn't going to be long.
Stood in the bathroom I thought to myself "I have to get downstairs!" So I waddled to our bedroom for clean pants & a pad for the show & waters leaking out, put them on & slowly made it downstairs. I got on all fours in my nest area. I was pushing & pushing, I had to go with my body. Hubby was rushing around in the background getting things ready but I felt calm. It was peaceful. I knew I had to stay in control & just breath.
I could feel that the head was crowning so had a feel & could feel my baby's head, all slimy, just waiting there! As the midwife wasn't there, I was waiting, holding back from pushing. I didn't want to tear either & new this would stretch things. I visualised the head crowning in my mind & just keeping it there.
Soon, I could wait no longer. My pants were still on & I knew I was going to push him out. I thought hubby was going to have to deliver. I yelled "Help!" & just at that moment the midwife arrived. She was calmly bringing her equipment in but her demeanour changed a bit when she saw me. was calm but obviously saw there was no time! Pete mentioned that the pool wasn't ready but the midwife told him it was too late for that!!
She was very calm with me, got my pants off and then told me to push when I liked. I pushed. Felix was born 5 minutes after she arrived. It was amazing looking down & seeing him there. So different from my last birth where I'd been given pethidine.
After the cord had stopped pulsating & had been cut we got into the pool together for our first feed. It was wonderful. So calm. I could hear the birds outside & the sun shining through the curtains & I was on such a high.


It was a shame not to have given birth in our pool but I feel nothing but happiness when I think of this birth.  I was in control, it was at home, just as I'd wanted.  Thinking about it empowers me and makes me smile.  It was a wonderful experience.  We still enjoyed the pool afterwards,  it was easy to use, set up and empty.
Home birth is wonderful! No tears, no stitches, no pain relief. I feel humbled to have experienced this.
**Our birthing pool was provided by The Good Birth Company**

4 comments:

  1. Aww what a lovely way to give birth! Very jealous, mine was terrible and still suffering from the stitches 14 weeks later!
    Congrats again, he's so beautiful xx

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    1. Thank you! I must say I'm still over the moon about the labour :) I hope you're stitches are on the mend now! xx

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  2. How lovely! What a way to come into the world. Welcome little Felix! xx

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