Katherine's Birth Story



Byan and I had stopped using contraception right from the moment we got married on 18th Dec 2004 (my birthday!). By Jan 06 nothing had happened. I had started to get disappointed and a little down but realised that if it was meant to be it would happen all on it’s own and to stop worrying!

It was the beginning of June 06 when my brother announced he was going to be a daddy! They were 12wks in and everything was going well so far. It was a great shock to discover 2 weeks later that I too was expecting and was due 21st Feb 2007. I was so excited and just couldn’t believe it had finally happened.

I was 8 wks pregnant when I had my first midwife appointment, got my green book, had blood tests and was able to discuss any worries I might have. I remember getting very stressed when I realised I wouldn’t be able to have the same midwife throughout pregnancy and birth and after discussing this issue with many friends and family found out this is normal! We couldn’t afford to hire an independent midwife so I had to get my head around this some how. I walked out of that first appointment very unhappy.

August we had 12 wk scan followed by 10day holiday in France. I was eating loads of junk food as couldn’t eat anything healthy – I was never sick though which I thought was a good thing.

September I visited the midwife for my 16 week check. I remember being kept waiting for over ½ hour and received no apology. I hadn’t felt very enamoured with the midwife when I first saw her and this just strengthened the fact. I was very excited to hear baby’s heartbeat though. Couldn’t believe how fast it was.

October it was time for the 22wk scan and thank goodness all was ok. My mum came with Bryan and I for this and we all had tears in our eyes.

November I’d been experiencing pain around my ribs and under my boobs and one day it had got so bad I had to see my doctor who said to get it checked out at A & E as soon as possible. Unfortunately no diagnosis was found and I was forced to just accept it. I saw my midwife the next day coincidentally (kept waiting again) and she said if it happens again to go straight to the labour ward. This I had to do 3 day’s later as I had been having difficulty breathing. The midwife was fantastic but unfortunately the doctor I saw was not. She said she could send me for a scan if I wanted which I did. I discharged myself after ½ hour of her not returning to me to find she had gone to theatre and no scan had been booked. Stressed and amazed I left the ward. I eventually had to call and book scan for myself! No problems were found and the pain mysteriously disappeared middle of Dec. I then got a chest infection just in time for Christmas.

Dec 27th I had my 28wk bloods taken and 2 days later was contacted by my doctor to say I could be getting gestational diabetes and must go to clinic for some tests. (By the way – I hate needles so bloods being taken are a trauma for me!) It all went well though and seemed to be a false alarm. Sometime in Oct/Nov I had found out about the Home Birth Support Group that had just been started by Helen Treacy. I went to a meeting in December and my eyes were opened up to the pros and cons of having a home birth with or without a pool! Kate Lamb from Aquarius Birthpools was there to discuss her experience too. I went away with a pack of many leaflets and some video footage of homebirth diaries and positive views from everyone there. It was in this pack that I found out Goldhawk Media wanted to film home births to go out on Living TV. I was intrigued so contacted Bernadette to discuss further. After a face-to-face meeting I agreed it would be great to do and was given a camera to film my diary of events.

This was when the problems started! I was 35 wks and hadn’t realised that having my birth filmed would create such a strong reaction from my midwife. It was all very stressful for Bry and I. Berny was getting frustrated especially when we were told the press officer wanted to be there too! In the end Berny suggested I contacted an independent midwife friend of hers to come out and to discuss my options. It was then we realised we should and would book her for our peace of mind.

We had our first appointment with Virginia at 39 wks with Berny filming. We talked about my options if I was to go over my expected due date. I was adamant this birth was to be as natural as possible and Virginia said not to worry as he/she will come out when ready, but it had better be before she went skiing in 5wks time. All was going really well and I felt great and couldn’t wait for the baby to come. At the beginning of Wk 40 I had reflexology but my expected due date came and went. Had a chat with Virginia to make sure I was all right and we arranged to see each other the following week for another antenatal check. At this stage I had everyone calling to see if anything was happening asking was I getting fed up etc. this drove me mad in the end.

Week 41 came and went - we went out to dinner and had a joke with the waitress that I was overdue and did they do any hot curries! Antenatal check was all ok although I was wondering why nothing had happened yet.

Week 42 more hot curries! Virginia came over again and everything was ok but to be sure she arranged a scan with KMI at Kings Hill (+2) just to be sure and to put our minds at rest. The scan was done and measurements taken. Baby’s head very low and ready to be born I was told. I went away with another scan picture and the relief that the baby was perfectly ok – more importantly the placenta and fluid was all in good health.

How long are they going to leave you until you get induced? I was asked this practically everyday! Nearly fell out with my mum quite a few times as she was so worried, this I didn’t want as she was to be at the birth. Everyone one else was extremely worried as it’s very unusual for a baby to be this late naturally. If I had been with NHS midwife, I would have been induced at the first opportunity and that thought scared me.

Week 42 +5 – Another scan at KMI. Nothing had changed from wk2 +2 so again my mind was put at ease. This baby was going to be so chilled I could tell. Everyday when I had a bath I would lie on my front with my belly touching the bottom of the bath then quickly turn, the baby would then kick like crazy telling me he/she was ok!

By Wk 43 I’d decided to have a membrane sweep as I’d had enough of everyone being concerned and giving they’re point of view. I’d tried everything possible to bring labour on – curry, reflexology, acupuncture and raspberry leaf tablets but the baby just didn’t want to come out. Also Virginia was going on her long awaited ski trip 3 day’s later that was also Mothers day! On wk 43 +2 days Virginia arrived at 8:00am to give me my membrane sweep. Unfortunately for me it was the most painful thing ever. The period pains started very strongly and then went away. I had another membrane sweep that night hopefully to encourage labour again. I slept fitfully, apprehensive that labour was about to start but by morning the dull ache had disappeared. (+3) I then went for a long brisk walk, which seemed to help but nothing definite started happening. I was very disappointed as Virginia was going off duty at 10pm that night and we just knew she was going to miss out on the birth. Luckily for me her partner had agreed to step in from 10pm so after a quick chat with Kay I went to bed hoping for a good nights sleep. I was awoken with this unbelievable pain at 3am the next day coming around every ½ hour. I slept in-between contractions but when they came I found it was too painful to go to the loo, to bend over and to lie in bed etc. I didn’t wake Bryan until about 7ish and we decided we should warn Berny and Kay that it was slowly happening.

Berny turned up at 9:00am, Kay at 10:00 and Mum at 10:30. Kay stayed for 1-hour checking baby and myself and decided I should go for a walk and call her again when contractions were closer together. The Tens machine was also put on. So we went for a walk, had bacon sarnie for lunch and by 5pm I was definitely in full labour so Kay was called.

I couldn’t believe how much pain I was in but with my Mum, Bry and Kay’s help I got through it well. I even received a lovely aromatherapy massage from them all. I got into the pool later in the evening, which was fantastic. It gave relief straight away but unfortunately this was short lived as I seemed unable to cope with contractions in there so I got out and returned to the sofa where Kay said I seemed to labour better. I had also started on the gas and air. By this time we had reached midnight-ish and I was starting to push. Kay had said she saw the baby’s head when I was standing upright but lying over the sofa she could not.

In the blurry state I was in I decided I needed to stand upright and use gravity so I moved to the side of the pool, which had fantastic solid handles. I swayed from side to side, moving very slow and pushing regularly. After 1 hour I could feel the head and I knew I didn’t have very long to wait. At the burning stage I took about 10 drags on the gas and air and gave one final push and our baby was born. It was the most amazing feeling of all as I sat down next to the pool to see we had a little girl. My mum had seen the whole birth from the kitchen, Kay was behind me ready to catch, while Bry had sat by me giving me so much encouragement. I will never forget this moment especially as Berny caught it all on film.