#8: Megan’s empowering, natural and fast waterbirth…
Each individual pregnant person will know what their body is doing and what works best for them; as Megan's empowering, natural and quick waterbirth shows, communicating with those around us can help it to happen in the way we'd like.
Trigger warnings: please note that this birth story discusses pelvic girdle pain, induction procedures and quick birth.
Before we get to birth, let’s start at the beginning. How was your pregnancy?
My pregnancy itself was a little difficult, morning sickness for about 5 months and due to an underlying condition I had PGP* (or SPD as it's sometimes known) from 16 weeks and was on crutches by 20 weeks. I was also heavily pregnant during the hottest summer on record, so that wasn't fun.
Glossary: PGP (pelvic girdle pain) also known as SPD (symphysis pubis disfunction) is pain and mobility issues within the pelvis caused by joints moving unevenly as you move. As your baby grows, symptoms can increase due to the additional weight on these joints. It is very common (around 1 in 8 will experience symptoms) but those with previous back issues, pelvic injuries or with hypermobility syndrome may have a higher chance of experiencing it. Treatment is available through physiotherapists, but chiropractors are also able to help. Treatment is safe at any point during or after pregnancy.
And, before the event, how did you feel about giving birth?
With my first baby, I had created a birth plan and I didn't really want to deviate (even though I eventually did, and it was magical): looking back, I was understandably nervous but I just think that was the unknown. My only reference to child birth was the TV and movies. They all scream and it's all very dramatic.
But by my 2nd I knew this didn't have to be the case and was actually ok about giving birth. In fact I was looking forward to it as it meant pregnancy was over!
Then the big day arrives. How did it feel when you realised your baby was on their way earthside?
I was in slow labour for 2 days and the contractions were not progressing. I was pretty tired and fed up and 38 weeks so full term. I'd already been approved for an induction from this point due to my PGP but wasn't keen on that so my midwife performed a sweep to try and move it along. This didn't work so they agreed to break my waters and see if this helped.
Think about it… a stretch and sweep procedure is a form of induction, but because it can be performed by a midwife outside of the hospital it is not regarded as being as medicalised as breaking waters or the IV drip. It can prompt the body into active labour which can help end long early labour stages, and give back a sense of control. However, they can also not work and they carry risks of infection, discomfort, disrupting the flow of hormones and accidental rupturing of membranes. The choice of having one is yours. Would you accept want to accept one?
So, how was your birth experience?
With my first, I was only in labour for 4hrs so I gave them the heads up that when it started, it might be quick. 90 seconds after breaking my waters, strong, progressive and intense contractions started, which I think shocked my baby as his heart rate fell and the consultant was called. I could see my dreams of a peaceful planned water birth slipping away. Thankfully it came back up and stabilised and the consultant signed off on the water birth.
All this took about 25 mins and by now my contractions were about 3 mins apart. At this point the midwife bundled me into a wheelchair and ran with me across the maternity wing the the birth centre and hollered for them to get the pool running (this lovely midwife knew how much a water birth meant to me, and I was not missing out on her watch). It felt all go and chaos.
Once the pool was deep enough I was in. The sounds of the water and the dimmer lights helped my lioness-vibe get ready. As the contractions were getting stronger, I was finding it harder to focus on my breathing and was clearly struggling.
My midwife said 1 line that changed all this "your body was made for this, you can do this" and I roared.
My beautiful boy was delivered in 1 push (I think I must have the fetal expulsion reflex*) because the midwife was telling me to pant and I couldn't I just kept pushing. It happened so fast my partner almost missed it having a pee.
My baby was born 1hr 53 mins after they broke my waters. And he was perfection and at home snuggled up 4 hours after he was born.
Glossary: the Fetal Expulsion Reflex is when the uterine muscles contract forcefully to birth a baby very quickly; people who experience it say that they couldn’t avoid pushing and their body took over. FER is cannot be created externally: it is a reflex response that happens when babies initiate or activate certain nervous responses in the cervix and birth canal.
Do you remember what you said to your baby when you first met them?
“You're really here!”
Looking back, what was the best part of your birth experience?
Feeling so empowered almost primal, like an actual warrior! It was like the Lion King moment: I wanted to hold my babies up in the air for all to see and roar... I DID THIS!!
And on the flip side, if you could, what would you have changed about the way your baby entered the world?
I wouldn't change a thing.
If you could give parents-to-be one piece of advice about preparing for the birth of their baby, what would it be?
It is you're story, don't let others tell you how it should be. If you want a natural water birth at home with essential oils and whale sounds you push for it and if you want a hospital birth with all the doctors around and all the medication then you push for that.
It is your story.
