This is me pictured in 2014 expecting my eldest. I was a few weeks away from giving birth.
I had been attending an antenatal class which was fantastic for making friends. But in all honesty it didn't really prepare me for the things that were coming!
Towards the end of my pregnancy, I was told that he was weighing on the large side and likely to weigh over 10 pounds!
As you can imagine that information in itself had already put me in panic mode and fright and flight.
As it was my first, I was booked in for a sweep (roughly two weeks before my due date) as they wanted to try and induce labour so that I didn't go full term and that he didn't reach that weight. I didn't ask any questions. As far as I was concerned, I was having a 10 pound baby and he needed to come out ASAP!
So I went for a sweep. Nothing happened. Was then booked in for another sweep about a week before my due date. That started something!
I remember waking up in the early hours with a heavy bloody show and some cramping.
I then went into hospital and was monitored.
My labour was long!! It felt like my body was working so hard and after 24 hours I was still only 3cms.
I then had a bath which worked wonders and then sped labour along! However as this was happening suddenly really quick and intense, I then went into panic mode and accepted every drug possible.
By nearly 40 hours, my body was absolutely shattered. It had enough. I was exhausted.
It resulted in an episiotomy and forceps being used to pull him out.
I was relieved but shortly after he was born as I was taken to theatre to be stitched up, I started hemorrhaging and needed a blood transfusion.
By the time I was reunited with husband and son, I was completely drained, exhausted and didn't know what was happening. It was all so foggy and hazzy.
After all of this, do you know how much he weighed? 7 pounds 12 ounces! No where near the estimated weight of over 10 pounds!
My body clearly wasn't ready for labour and as such, the early intervention had forced my body to do something which it wasn't ready to do. Resulting in a long labour, a tired body and further interventions and complications happening.
I was rushing my body to labour when in fact it didn't need to be rushed at all.
Looking back, I know that if I would have invested in full depth birth education, this could have prepared me more:-
✨️ I would of had a greater understanding of the physiology of birth and why we feel what we feel, instead of going into fright and flight mode and tiring my body out with so many different drugs
✨️ I would have more knowledge about induction including sweeps and gained the tools to be able to ask the necessary questions, use the evidence given or researched and make an informed decision.
✨️ I would have been able to gain the confidence to be able to advocate and ask for the alternatives, and knowing what to ask for.
✨️ I would have learned the techniques to be able to calm the nervous system and get into the right head space whilst in labour. Give myself and my body the chance to labour as easily as possible and not under strain any pressure.
Which is why I do what I do! I became a hypnobirthing and antenatal teacher back in 2022, so that i can provide all of these things to parents-to-be.
I want to provide that education, knowledge, toolset, techniques and confidence so that women can make those informed decisions and choices which feel right for them.
As well as giving mums-to-be the confidence, positivity and empowerment to trust their body and themselves to birth their way! To be able to look back and think I had a positive birth experience.
As I often to say to parents-to-be, its not how you give birth, but how you feel when you give birth. Was you heard, did you have choice, was you given what you needed, did you have control over decisions made etc.
If you would like to know more about the packages and courses I offer, you can find details in my pinned post on Instagram or on my website.
Any questions please dont hesitate to ask 😊
#birthchoices #firstbirth #birthexperience #yourbirth #birthpositivity #birthtools #birthknowledge #birthempowerment
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