Hi Karen
Just a quick note to let you know I gave birth to Caitlin on Wednesday 10th September. I went into hospital at 4am and she was born at 11.56am. Quite a bit longer than the one hour I was expecting...I kept calm and focused the whole way through and the midwives and Doctors could not understand why I did not want any drugs, they were really surprised how well I was coping. I went in at 4cm dilated and contractions every 2 minutes that would last 1-2 minutes each contraction. I spent time leaning over the bed whilst sitting on the birthing ball and everything I could to keep my tummy laying forwards. I did not know why I wanted to position myself like so, but it all becomes clear later.
At 8.30am I had my waters broken and the surges were really strong. The next 3 hours were very intense with very strong surges, I found it hard to get comfortable, but leant over the back of the bed for quite a while, I then sat on the bed and breathed through the surges with the help of Simon and the two midwives in with me (one was a student midwife on her first birth) They all still found it really odd that I didn't want any pain relief. A doctor came in and asked if I wanted an epidural, I laughed at her and said "do I really look like I need an epidural???"
At some stages I was told to start to push, this came as a great relief (even though we were taught not to push, I really needed to and the midwife and Simon helped me with the breathing. Another midwife was called to help deliver Caitlin and she was born at 11.56am after 8 hours of labour. She was born on the due date I originally had (the scan had her due on the 6th) she weighed 8lb 15 oz and I had no stitches/tears or cuts.
After a few days, I had a really strange back ache for a few days and couldn't work out why. I then asked Simon what way she was facing when she was born, it turns out she was facing upwards and therefore I had a back to back labour, which explains my positions and why she took so long to birth. She also had shoulder dystocia, but apparently as I was completely in control the dystocia was not a problem and I birthed her with the help of the midwives and by keeping calm.
Simon cut the cord and was quite emotional after she was born, he was so proud of me and probably quite surprised how well it all went without pain relief. I was up and about almost immediately, Caitlin was in special care for 4 days, as her sugar levels were really low, so we couldn't leave until they had risen and stabilised. We came home on the Sunday and I was up doing the school run on the Monday, I am so surprised how well I have got over the birth and I only had 5lb to loose after giving birth, I was back in my jeans within a week, I think that's due to all the fitness bits I was doing whilst pregnant.
Caitlin loves her sleep, so much so, I have to wake her to feed her, as she will sleep up to 6- 7 hours at a time, which is lovely but she ends up missing her feeds, hence waking her.
Anyway, I must thank you for the information on hypnobirthing, I have raved so much about it and would definitely recommend your services to anyone looking for an alternative way to birth, it is an amazing experience and look forward to possibly doing it again. I am so proud of myself
Tom and Jessica totally adore Caitlin and are such wonderful helpers, they love her to bits.
Love
Kay & Simon Maisey
