Welcome to the world baby boy. . .

A beautiful birth story just in from one of my fabulous couples.  Proving that even when things don't go quite to plan, a positive, calm and empowering birth experience is still very much possible.

Hi Emma

So, an update for you, I gave birth on Friday 3rd February.  I was booked into to be induced that day but by the time I was taken down to the induction ward at 9am I had started having surges (I'm sure this was down to me really not wanting to be induced and I was willing my body to get things started on its own)!  

I was taken to the labour ward and by 11am I was at 7cm, the midwife got someone to double check as she was surprised as I was very calm and composed.  I gave gas and air a go for an hour or so but found that it just got in the way and didn't really make a difference.  Unfortunately baby had his cord around his neck and I couldn't push him out quick enough for the the doctor's liking and ended up having a ventouse delivery.  Our son was born at 15.31, weighing 5lbs 11oz; he was 5 weeks early.  After delivery the 2 midwifes in the room were commenting on how it was the calmest birth they had witnessed in a long time.

Due to baby's early arrival we had to stay in hospital for 5 days during which he had phototherapy for jaundice but he is now doing well and got to grips with breastfeeding really quickly for someone so small.  A couple of days after the birth the midwife from the labour ward came to see how we were both doing and she said again how surprised she was over the speed of my progress during labour and how calm I was during the birth.  

We used the techniques that you taught us during the 1st stage and I think this is why I stayed calm despite the birth plan I had prepared being somewhat irrelevant given the situation I found myself in; I tried to breathe baby down in the 2nd stage but unfortunately it wasn't to be.  I'm just pleased that we didn't rely on being able to attend the NHS classes to learn all about labour and birth as the early arrival of William meant that we had not attended them, the knowledge that we gained from your course gave us the confidence to ask questions and to be as informed as we could be on what was happening, thank you.