As I type this I found the whole experience very positive,despite some comedy moments!!!.... So read on!!
I went to an NCT meeting on sun evening - 6th, having fully expected bubs to be there in person.By my dates I was due that day! After going to bed about 11pmish I woke around midnight having had cramping pains. Tried to ignore them as they were only 20-30 mins apart (which had happened a couple of weeks ago then stopped after about 4hrs) By 7am monday this had carried on which was promising or so I thought! As I got kids ready for school everything stopped! Typical I thought.Bubs has changed her mind again!
Had the odd twinge late afternoon but nothing I considered to mean everything was going to happen. About 7pm however this all changed and the cramping pains returned only more forceful in my back and hips and every 10-20 mins. About 8.30pm had a show so decided to ring labour ward for advice. Told,have a bath,take paracetamol and ring back when unable to cope with pain and they were more regular. They'd then send a midwife out to check me.I was txting a friend around an hour later saying was going to leave it till 11.30 to ring again when pains suddenly went to 4 mins apart and I was so unable to cope !At 10.30pm 1st midwife arrived.The first 20 mins were the worst.(wait for the comedy moment coming!!) She couldn't get the attachment for the gas and air to connect properly! She then started to read the instructions that came with it and still couldn't do it! (great I thought what else is going to happen!!) After 20 mins she asked my o/h to have ago and finally it was spotted she was trying to attach it upside down and back to front! Once sorted I was away. Examined and depressed to find I was only 3cm! Needed more pain relief so asked for some pethidine.This was brought by another midwife who arrived around 11.30pm.I was 5cm and felt quite overwhelmed by the whole thing but the midwives were brilliant.Telling me to go with what my body was telling me in whatever position was comfyest.(Spend most of it on my birthing ball) Around 12.10am contractions seemed to be rolling into one and checked again to find I was almost 10cm. Asked not to try pushing through next 3 contractions then just to do whatever my body said.26 mins later Victoria was born at 00.41am. Delivered straight onto my tummy. I had a natural 3rd stage (no injection to speed up delivery of after birth- this took only 14 mins and I barely noticed it!) While o/h and I admired our new arrival the midwives completed their paper work and tidied everything away. The bubs was weighed after an hour. .O/h had run me a bath so he had a cuddle while I cleaned up. Midwives left around 2am. As my eldest daughter was half awake I took baby into her and woke my other two. We then had a group cuddle on our bed (me and the kids) while I was made some tea and toast.Kids went off to bed and we went to sleep around 4am with Victoria asleep in her moses basket beside us.It was so lovely to wake again as it was getting light and have everyone around me. My o/h was a star. He looked after me so well and told me how proud he is of me having baby at home.It was nice not to be separated from him or the kids immediately after the birth as well.
It was a lovely experience.One i'd recommend but have no intention of repeating!
My o/h seems more supportive and has bonded really quickly with Vicky.Which I'm sure is the result of the birth being intimate as well as in our own surroundings.It has left me feeling empowered although I do have moments when I can't quite believe I did all that at home!

[Modified by: julieslot on 27 August 2008 17:11:28 ]

Awwww congratulations to you hun, fab birth story!!! Very funny that the midwife couldnt get the gas and air connected lol Well done to your hubby he sounds like fab support xxx

hi

thats such an encouraging story, l'm planning a home birth & its lovely to hear such a positive experience.
thanks for that & enjoy your new arrival!

anna, 28wks

xx

WOW that sounds lovely - I am really tempted to try home birth this time around glad it all went well.

Sarah
xx

Congratulations! So pleased that all went well and your little babe arrived safely.

My husband ended up doing the same with the Gas and Air with our 2nd hb!!! I nearly killed her while she was fumbling around!! Thank god my hubby sorted it!!!!

Sounds like everything went perfectly. It's made me quite excited about this one - hopefully my 4th hb if all goes well!!

Big congratulations to you all
Caz xx

ps- Nice to see that you went for the physiological 3rd stage! Everyone I have spoken to seems to be going for the Syntometrine injection to speed things up. I think that more literature needs to be given on the longterm benefits to the baby, all for the sake of a few extra minutes! Well done!

Have to add as not having injection for 3rd stage I didn't throw up immediately after giving birth! (as i had with my other 3) nor did I get the after pains I had with my 3rd.Victoria has been alot more alert than my other 3 as well.She hasn't been sleepy after birth as had my others for around 24hrs aterwards.

Ah congratulations! Lovely story and so good to encourage others to try homebirth!

I sent one of the midwifes out for more gas & air during my homebirth, but luckly she knew how to put it together. x

Hi Julie,

I've just read the struggle you had for a homebirth, and I'm so glad you got the birth you wanted- good on you, and congratulations on the birth of Victoria!!

I tried for a homebirth with my son, and transferred to hospital after 30-odd hours as he was stuck although I was fully dilated for quite a while (he was back to back and trying to get the biggest part of his head out instead of tucking it down!). I was much more relaxed at home than I would have been starting out in hospital, and I feel happy that being at home followed by the transfer in was the right thing to do. I ended up having a ventouse and forceps delivery, which in our case was necessary as he wasn't going anywhere otherwise! I just avoided a c-section though, which was v important to me. I hope to be able to have an actual homebirth this time round.
xxx
18+5