Page 35 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)

Bump&Birth

Three things thanks to the books I’d read to him about
I’d tell my labour. Despite being so vocal, I felt calm.
friends There was a change of midwife shift at 8pm
and by this point I was exhausted. The beads

were still in my hands, and I fiddled with them,
Be open-minded reminding myself to stay strong. This whole
about your birth plan. time in the pool I’d been on all fours but now
I was adamant I wasn’t I took the midwives’ gentle advice to get out.
going to have the As soon as I did, my instinct was to squat. ‘I
injectiontodeliver can see the membranes bulging,’ a midwife
theplacenta,butin said. Those words spurred me on. I had two or
Support from big theend,Iwastiredso three intense contractions as the head moved
brother Rufus
realisedIneededit. down. In the next huge contraction I breathed
Bepreparedto deeply and the baby’s head emerged. Then,
It was 3am the following morning when changeyourmind. with the next one, the baby’s body slid out.
I knew things had changed. The sensation Ifanoldersibling’s The midwife placed baby Eden straight onto
in my bump felt much more intense, and goingtobearound my chest, and I felt euphoric.
the tightenings were frequent. I left my forsomeofyour ‘I did it!’ I gasped, over and over. I’d had the
then husband, Chris, sleeping while I crept labour,preparehim most positive, healing birth. I looked around to
downstairs and sat on my birthing ball. forwhat’sgoingto see Rufus peering adoringly at his new brother,
I remembered the meditation Lucy had taught happensohe’snot Lucy busying herself making tea and toast,
me about each contraction being like a wave scared.Reading and Zoe in tears! I couldn’t have felt more
on the beach. Visualising the tide, and HelloBabybyJenni supported. After I’d cuddled Eden and
breathing in time, helped keep me grounded. OverendtoRufus delivered the placenta, one of the midwives
My doula, Lucy was first on my list to call, reallyhelped. helped me upstairs to shower. Then,
and she arrived at 7am. I immediately relaxed Researchyour as Rufus and I got into bed for more cuddles
when she offered me a back massage. The pregnancyandlabour with Eden, I reflected on what an empowering
house was quiet as my son, Rufus, and Chris rights,andreadabout experience I’d had.
slept upstairs, Lucy and I sipped tea. By 8am positive,empowering My recovery was great, and Lucy
the contractions had reached three in every 10 real-lifebirths. carried on supporting me. When
minutes, and it was time to phone the midwives, Surroundyourself I later got Danielle’s amazing photos,
who said they’d come over later that morning. withpositivityin everything about the birth – the
Chris and Rufus came downstairs to find me therunuptoyour excitement, hard work, and joy –
calmly breathing. My sister Zoe was staying birth,andit’sbound came flooding back. I couldn’t be
with us, and she busied herself making tea and toruboff. happier with the choices I made. SHARE
keeping Rufus occupied. The house got busier YOUR
still at 9am when my photographer turned up. STORY
I’d met Danielle at a networking event and Alexandra with Tellusaboutyour
discovered she was keen to start photographing Eden, at one experienceofan
births. When she started setting up and taking day old empoweringbirth
photos, I hardly noticed her presence. atfacebook.com/
The midwives turned up at 10am and did motherandbaby
all the exterior monitoring like blood pressure.
They read my birth plan and totally respected
my wishes about minimal intervention. I spent
the next few hours sitting on my birthing ball,
pacing the house and chatting. With so many
people, there was a lovely, sociable vibe.
That afternoon, Lucy gave me another
massage and guided me through a visualisation,
as I held the beads we’d prepared. Touching
each one reminded me that the journey I was
on was totally manageable. Before long,
everything started to feel instinctive. The pool

had been filled and I knew it was time to get in.
As I lowered myself into the warm water and
leaned over the side, my body started to relax.
By 3pm, things had ramped up and the
midwives returned. Everything was primal now,
and I was roaring with every contraction! ‘It’s
OK, Mummy,’ Rufus said sweetly, dabbing my
forehead. He was completely comfortable,