#16: Fox’s mummy’s surprise, fast and spontaneous hospital birth…
Planning a caesarean birth is as controlled as it gets, but it guarantees nothing. As Fox’s Mummy’s incredible tale shows, sometimes its the unexpected twists and turns which give us the birth stories we want to remember and share.
Trigger warnings: please note that this birth story discusses mental health, instrumental delivery and unplanned vaginal delivery.
Before we get to birth, let’s start at the beginning. How was your pregnancy?
With my 1st child, I suffered from extreme pre-partum depression and anxiety*, so that was really tough and with my 2nd I was under the mental health perinatal team & on medication. I felt like everyone was watching me and worried, but I actually enjoyed being pregnant with him far more! I kept more active, walking and swimming and running round after my toddler!
Learning Point: perinatal mental health refers to any mental health issue that happens during pregnancy or the first year after birth. Although postnatal depression and anxiety are more well known and heard of, mental health issues are common throughout pregnancy too. The perinatal mental health team within your area, provide mental health support for parents-to-be and new parents. Support can start early in pregnancy and can be provided until your baby’s first birthday (support beyond this point would be provided by other mental health teams). Referrals can be made via your midwife or health visitor.
And, before the event, how did you feel about giving birth?
I was scheduled to have a c section at 39 weeks, after a difficult 1st labour by induction, so I did no preparation whatsoever for a natural birth….
Then the big day arrives. How did it feel when you realised your baby was on their way earthside?
I went into labour over a week before my scheduled C-section, and I didn’t really believe it was happening! It hasn’t crossed my mind that I would have a natural, early labour!
I had been uncomfortable all night and day, and was having what I now know must have been contractions all day, and an upset stomach. However I cleaned the shower room & made a loaf of home made bread during this time…
So, how was your birth experience?
At 3pm I messaged my husband saying he may need to come home from work early as I was having contractions, but I was sure it was probably Braxton Hicks - but just in case he should maybe head home. I messaged my mum and asked her to come watch the toddler but not to rush, as I was sure I’d be checked out and sent home anyway.
By 3:30 pm my husband arrived home and I was having back to back contractions I couldn’t talk through & he rang the hospital who advised us to come in, so I could have my c section early. My mother-in-law had to head over to watch my daughter as my mum hadn’t arrived, and within about half an hour I had gone from ‘this is probably Braxton Hicks’ to ‘I feel like I’m going to have a baby on the living room floor’!
We arrived at the hospital around 4, and I could barely get in the lift and head upstairs as I was having one contraction after the other - the speed of them was terrifying & I found it hard to get to the ward, do a pee sample etc. My husband had to go park the car & when he got back the midwife examined me so we could decide what to do about a c-section.
I was already 8cm dilated and progressing incredibly fast, so was advised to try a vaginal birth rather than a section at this point. I had had no pain relief at all by this point, and begged for gas and air before a cannula was put in - luckily they found a portable unit and wheeled it in, and I had a cannula put in & was moved to a delivery room.
A monitor clip was put on the baby’s head and it showed his heart rate was dropping, so I was advised I would need to go to theatre for an instrumental birth*. We had only been in the hospital for half an hour tops at this point & I’d only realised I was in labour for maybe an hour, so it all felt crazy fast!
I was taken to theatre and given a spinal block - I remember a healthcare assistant holding my hand , as I was contracting so heavily I could barely hold still! Once the spinal block was done, I immediately felt calmer and more in control! They told me they would try a ventouse cap & see if it would help him out - after a couple of contractions & pushing they told me to sit up and watch, as he had just slipped right out. I sat up and watched & he slid out and was put right onto my chest.
Glossary: an instrumental birth is a vaginal delivery with the assistance of a doctor using instruments. Forceps and ventouse are the two options available and while they both do slightly different things, and are used for different reasons, they both work in the same way. Attached to or around your baby’s head (via the vagina), the doctor will pull in time with your contractions to help your baby make a smoother, quicker exit.
Do you remember what you said to your baby when you first met them?
I have no idea! I just remember holding him whilst I was stitched up!
Think about it: if you require some medical attention, where do you want your baby to go? If you’re able to, would you like to keep hold of them, or would you prefer them to go to your partner? Or to a midwife?
Looking back, what was the best part of your birth experience?
The surprise element!
I remember my sister messaged me asking if I’d had a good day and what I’d done, and I replied ‘went to the hospital. Had Fox!’ And she thought I was joking!
And on the flip side, if you could, what would you have changed about the way your baby entered the world?
I would have been more open to a natural birth from the start, instead of scheduling a section!
If you could give parents-to-be one piece of advice about preparing for the birth of their baby, what would it be?
Not to get too attached to how it should go and prepare to just go with it!
