Birth Stories
'Ant was brilliant at keeping me calm by talking through the relaxation techniques'
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Alison's story
Well... it finally happened... Oscar Anthony Harwood Poole was born at 6.20am on Sunday 26th August 2007 weighting 8lbs 1oz!!!
The birth was quite quick and really manageable.My waters released at 10.15pm on Sat night and that was the first sign of labour that I had. As I felt OK, and hadn't had any surges, I wasn't going to phone the hospital, but decided to, just to see what they said. They said we should go straight in (we nearly didn't take my over night bag because I thought we'd get released after being assessed) but luckily we took it and as soon as I got in the car, about 1/2 an hour later, my surges started. They were fine and I practiced the visualization techniques (theatre curtains rising up) which helped as did the balloon breathing and also had the affirmations CD to keep me calm (Ant and I were both pretty excited and a bit nervous!)
By the time I got to Derby City Hospital, the surges were about 5 mins apart and whilst waiting in Triage to be seen (which took an hour) they became 1 min apart and very strong. I listened to the CD's (on my iPod) in the Triage area whilst being examined and I was already 5 cms dilated so I was moved to the Delivery room.
The Delivery room was fabulous... full of twinkly lights, bean bags and cushions... not at all clinical. I did originally want the pool room, but the midwife said that as I was progressing so quickly, it may not be suitable as it would take too long to fill the pool.
Once in the Delivery room, I had some entinox which was great and really took the edge off the discomfort of the surges. Ant was brilliant at keeping me calm by talking through the relaxation techniques with me and doing light touch on my back- which I made him do for about 4 hours!!!! We had the CD on throughout also and the midwife was really open to our requirements and stuck to my birth plan (more than I did, as I'd forgotten what I'd put on it!!!)
I soon (after a couple of hours (it's true that you lose all concept of time!)) felt the urge to push (it feels quite involuntary - like when you need to be sick and can't really stop your body from doing it) and I gently did push but not with force (I found it easy being on my knees leaning over a bean bag and this also let gravity help move Oscar down), however, after an hour or so, Oscar hadn't moved any further and his head was only about 2ins away from coming out but his heart rate was dropping so the midwife decided that I needed an episiotomy to help him come out so we went to a different, more surgical delivery room to carry this out and to further monitor his heart rate, and after a few more pushes, he was born- safe and sound!!!!
All in all the birth took 7 hrs from my waters breaking to him being delivered- it would have been sooner had his head not got stuck! I was able to use a lot of the relaxation techniques, particularly on the way to the hospital and in Triage, but I have to admit, things were more rapid than I had planned for- I was expecting a longer labour with more of a gradual build up, but I have to say, both Ant and I remained calm throughout the whole experience- we were never scared or frightened, just focused on the delivery and the midwife commented on how calm we were (especially Ant!).
Oscar is a fantastic little man and we're so pleased to have him- we can't stop looking at him and kissing him. He fed from me straight away and is very contented He loves to be cuddled and comforted and I think his chilled nature must have something to do with the way in which he came into the world, in a safe and stress free environment.
The staff at the hospital were fantastic. We felt very much in control and the midwife did not interfere in our plans and wishes, which was great.
The key really is to be relaxed!
Alison, Ant & Oscar Poole – Castle Donington
