Levi’s 2nd Birth

The end of my second pregnancy was very different to my first. We had a dream birth with my first son and we wanted to try and have a similar experience. 

We did Amy’s hypnobirthing course first time round and so it was only right we came back to her for a refresher.. and also if I’m honest, a bit of a confidence boost because this time I knew what’s coming and despite a previous positive experience I had a fair bit of anxiety. 

Fast forward to my due date, I had been having twinges for a week or two and it had been very stop/start (which I hadn’t had with my first baby). I guess I was a bit hopeful for another due date baby or near enough around that date however it was not to be. 

We tried everything to boost oxytocin; cafe lunch dates, comedy programs on the telly, lots of chocolate, massages but nothing. This baby was staying put. 

We had discussed at length how I really didn’t want an induction as I was desperate for another pool birth, it’s where I was most relaxed and in control. So after a brief chat with a midwife we decided to nip to the Horton for an examination and a sweep, maybe it would be enough to get the ball rolling. During the appointment I was told I was already 2-3cm! Wahoooo our boy is on his way, I thought. That afternoon I was starting to have more frequent contractions, 1 every 20 minutes but just like before it all came to a halt. 

By day 10 I felt miserable! I just wanted him out. 

The midwives were keen to get an induction date booked in but I dug my heels in and said that I wanted to wait and see what happens and if I get to 42 weeks then we can discuss induction. 

I woke up around 3:30 in the morning with a twinge, nothing major as I’ve been through this over and over, so I went back to bed. 4:30 arrives and it’s another twinge but bit stronger this time. Aaron was chit chatting to distract me whilst rubbing my back and then offered to run the bath. I got in and instantly felt soothed. I had 3 or 4 contractions that were every 20 minutes, but it very quickly ramped up. We phoned a friend to come over to look after our son and I felt ready to go to the hospital. As we left, Aaron put the sat nav on to get to the JR and it went from 35 minutes to 58 minutes. I remember thinking I don’t think we’re going to make it. 

We phoned MAU and informed them of how far apart my contractions were, where I had planned to give birth and asked them to fill a pool in the Spires for me. By this point they were coming every 2 minutes lasting for 1 minute. 

We kept MAU updated on how far apart my contractions were and they informed me they would have midwives waiting for us at the entrance with a wheelchair to take me up. At 7:30 we pulled into the hospital and I felt instant relief we had made it and that I could finally get into a pool. The midwives rushed me up to the spires and as I entered the room I told them I felt the urge to push. Leant over the edge bed I pushed down, breathing out. Quickly I was assisted into the pool and I felt a sudden sense of calm, confidence and relaxation come over me. I asked for some gas and air and began to push down. I was told that within the next 5 minutes my baby would be here. I listened to the urges my body was giving and before I knew it, my beautiful boy was out.

Once I was out of the pool and cleaned up, I had one of the best cups of tea ever and spent time having skin to skin. I could not believe how fast things had happened. I asked what time was he born and the midwife told me 7:58! We came home at 17:30 and introduced our newest addition to his big brother. 

Although our boy was 11 days late, he didn’t hang around when the time came.