Mummy and Me Magazine August 2014 August 2014 | Page 9

Birth Story of

B

eatrice Violet was born on Christmas Day
2013, four days after her due date.

I stayed active going on long walks, practicing my
pregnancy yoga and bouncing on my yoga ball.
However the weekend went by with no labour
pains. My midwife again gave me a stretch and
sweep. By now I was 4cm with bulging waters,
but no contractions. I was booked for induction on
New Years Eve.
On Christmas Day I woke up just after 8am to
find my waters had broken in the night. I rang the
hospital who said to come in, but that as I wasn’t
having contractions I would most likely be sent
home.

After just over
an
hour
of
pushing
and
an episiotomy,
Beatrice Violet
Beautif
ul Beat
arrived
at
rice Vio
let
12.49pm, weighing
8lb 3oz. As requested the
midwives delayed cord clamping and Beatrice
came up for skin to skin. Once the cord had
stopped pulsating Jamie cut the cord.

REAL BIRTH STORY

Exactly one week before my due date, my
community midwife had given me an internal
examination at home as I was having irregular
mild Braxton Hicks. To my surprise I was already
3cm dilated! My midwife gave me a stretch and
sweep, encouraged me to keep moving and was
confident I would go into labour over the weekend.

Birth & Beyond

Beatrice Violet...

I am so grateful to the midwives and to Jamie
for helping me deliver my daughter naturally and
safely. I ended up staying in overnight as Beatrice
wouldn’t latch on. The staff were brilliant, staying
up with me to help with positioning and latch,
and showing me how to express when Beatrice
remained fussy. It is partly thanks to their help
that we have been successful in breastfeeding.
Beatrice is now 8 months old and doing great.
We can’t imagine life without her!

We arrived at hospital just after 9am. As I had
blood in my waters it was decided I should go on
a monitor. Thankfully this came back perfectly
normal. By now I was experiencing mild tightening
roughly every 10-12 minutes, and was told I could
go home and come back when these were more
regular. However at this point the midwife had to
attend to an emergency. When she came back
it was just after 10am and my contractions were
coming thick and fast roughly every 3-4 minutes. I
had an internal examination and was 5cm dilated.
Active labour had finally begun!
I went into the birth pool which was lovely and
relaxing. I chatted with my husband and used the
gas and air while my midwife read my birth plan.
By 11.45am I was very uncomfortable! I started
to seriously doubt my ability to have the natural
birth I wanted and began to panic. My wonderful
husband and midwife calmed me down, and
helped me onto the bed so that I could be
checked. I was 10cm dilated and ready to push.
The midwife was excellent, encouraging me to
keep using the gas and air and letting me know
what was happening. My husband Jamie was
invaluable, offering me sips of water, rubbing my
back, and telling me I was amazing.
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