Rhiannon's Home Birth 

Rhiannon & Huw

Second baby

Born at home, 10th July, 06.17 am

Bristol Southmead Homebirth Team 

 

After my first daughter turning up at a very timely 39+3, the last week dragged on…. We had always joked that seeing our close friend Rowena had brought me into labour last time (my waters broke like a comic book all over my kitchen floor as I hugged her on her arrival), so at 40+0 I joked to her “well, maybe I need to get you over!”… being those friends you need in life, they came the following day, for a day of toddler chaos, good food and the boys chopping down trees. As we chatted that afternoon I had a fair few tightenings, but nothing to get excited about (and nothing different to over the previous few weeks). 

 

We went to bed, and just before 0300 I was woken by a tightening. Again, no different to multiple nights over the previous few weeks, although it was fairly strong. I went for a wee, and back to bed, to be woken by another. Again thought little of it, then another came. Looked at my clock again….hmmm that would be 3 in 20 minutes then…. 

 

Lay there for a bit longer and another couple came. Pretty meaningful. I poked Huw and calmly said “could you just put a bit more air in the pool and find the stuff just in case this is it? If I’ve gone back to sleep then obviously false alarm!” 

 

We’d written Huw his own birth plan of all the things he’d need to find and set up (everything was hidden from our feral 2 1/2 year old!) so I knew everything was in hand. I lit a lavender aromatherapy candle and tried to go back to sleep. No chance. They were coming every 4-5 minutes and whilst totally copeable with, were building in intensity. 

 

I pottered downstairs to find huw had already set up the pool, aromatherapy diffuser, fairy lights and candles. He looked at me and said “shall we call?”… I called myself and spoke to the birth centre - in a “I don’t need you yet, but just so you know, we think this is it”. I was devastated that the team were already out with another family. However, in the time it took for us to talk and think about it, I had a message from a colleague (now I’ll tell you I’m a midwife myself!) saying “we’ve rustled you a second team love, just call when you want us”. It still gives me goosebumps, the relief and knowing that the team had my back to make sure I got my Homebirth.

 

By 0430 they were starting to be pretty long and strong, although still only 2:10. I was using the Freya app for affirmations (which I hugely recommend). Huw texted back for me- “we’d like someone to come now”… 

 

By 0505, one of my closest friends on the team, Beth, was in my living room. I was still able to just about string a sentence together at this point, and was happy for her to do my observations and listen in to our baby. I know that as soon as she arrived I definitely “let go” and let myself progress, as the surges definitely picked up from that point. Another close friend, Alice, arrived as second midwife at some point. They carefully read my birth plan and absolutely respected every point, setting up in the kitchen next door, and pretty much leaving me to it to be in my own space, just popping in to listen. In this time I stood and walked the living room, putting my arms around Huw’s neck and swaying/dancing when the surges came. I naturally found myself doing KIKO dance moves, and just knew intuitively that my baby was coming pretty quickly and that all was well. I can truly say no doubt entered my mind throughout my birth. The pool was ready eventually (our water pressure is awful - thank goodness we had a “mini” pool) and initially I wasn’t sure about getting in, as standing seemed to be working so well. But then another came which was even stronger, with the familiar intense hip pain from my previous birth… so in I got about 0545. The water was wonderful - and the next few surges felt more comfortable, but really it was the total relaxation in between which was the game changer. I started using gas and air around this point. 

 

The relief was short lived though, as soon I began to feel myself bearing down (I have not consciously pushed in either of my births, I wouldn’t know how!) and knew my baby was on its way. It was intense and tough, but within it I knew my body was just doing it and all I needed was to let it happen. I used the gas, and knelt leaning into the side of the pool with Huw right there next to me. Beth and Alice sat to one side and were there as a super reassuring presence, with simply the odd word of calm positivity. At one point I moved my leg to allow them to listen to my baby, and then realised that I’d kept my leg there afterwards being “helpful” - a lesson to me the midwife to encourage women to move back into the position that feels good for labour. 

 

As her head came, I naturally quickened my breath on the gas, and plunged a hand down into the water and onto her head to slow her - it felt like the pressure was super far forward and was pretty excruciating! I had this very odd meeting of worlds, where my hand was feeling the baby’s head emerge as I’ve done as a midwife, but with a strange realisation that “oh gosh, that ME”. Her head was born and I turned into a squatting/seated position to birth her body, reaching down myself to bring her up to the surface. She cried immediately, along with both Huw and I. The total joy, relief, pride and empowerment of having birthed my baby in our living room was beyond anything I have ever experienced. 

 

I stayed in the pool for about 20 minutes, getting to know her and marvelling at the fact she was a she. Our little Olwen Aneira. I got out and tried to bear down for the placenta.. no joy. Decided to relax and breastfeed in an attempt to release it physiologically. I began contracting again, very strongly (needing gas) and moved again to try more upright positions. I had sytometrine at around 40 minutes as this was an exact repeat of my first birth and I was struggling. Nearing the hour, Alice suggested I try going to the bathroom to wee and sit on the toilet for a while as that often helps. I was becoming panicky that it wouldn’t come and remember saying to Alice “I NEED to calm down”.  Alice went to go and find my aromatherapy oils, leaving Huw and I together, me still holding Olwen to my chest. Thankfully, my placenta then came, exactly an hour from birth. 

 

I was helped back to the sofa and cwtched up with plenty of blankets, a decent slice of toast and my favourite mug of tea. Relieved that no stitches were needed. Huw emptied the pool and Beth and Alice tidied and started the paperwork. Soon Alice heard our three year old Merryn singing to herself on her monitor. Huw went up to get her… I will never forget her joy and excitement, coming down to meet her baby sister.