Claire's Birth Story
Olive was due on Wednesday 23rd July 2014. After four unsuccessful sweeps with the midwife, I was booked in for an induction at the Home from Home Birth Centre at St Thomas’ Hospital in London on Monday 4th August. - This is my experience over 3-days
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10:00am - A midwife from St Thomas’ called to say they had a bed for me and asked me to come in at 1:00pm.
1:00pm - We arrived at St Thomas’ Hospital.
3:00pm - I was given a Propess tablet, which is a pessary inserted into the vagina like a tampon.
5:00pm - Andy and I went for a sunny walk along the South Bank. I started getting period-type pains, so we thought it would be best to go back to the hospital and rest there.
8:00pm - Andy went for a walk across Westminster Bridge to get me an Evening Standard newspaper. While he was out, he did a bit of sightseeing and took photos, which he sent to my phone.
8:15pm
My waters broke.
I pulled the emergency cord, but pulled it out of the wall. I screamed to my roommate to call the midwives. Andy phoned me at the same time, and I told him to come back straight away.
I was moved into a birthing room.
The contractions were coming less than two minutes apart and lasting for over a minute. They were very painful. I was given gas and air, which I used for the rest of the labour.
I wanted to get into the birthing pool, but I was not allowed until I was 4cm dilated. I also could not have an examination to check how dilated I was until six hours after my waters had broken. So the midwife ran me a bath instead.
I stayed in the bath for ages. It was lovely and really helped with the pain, along with the gas and air.
That night was the centenary of World War One. Our room was opposite Big Ben and had panoramic views of the River Thames. All the lights of Big Ben were switched off for an hour, and we could see it from our room. It was magical.
There was also an art installation to commemorate the centenary, a shaft of light that was switched on every night for a week. Andy was fascinated by it. Every time someone came into the room, he talked to them about it, along with his remote-control fake candles.on text goes here
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2:00am
The midwife examined me and said I was only 1cm dilated.
I felt really upset because, with the pain and the length of the contractions, I thought I would be much further along by then.
The midwife suggested Diamorphine to help me sleep, as I was exhausted. I agreed to take it.
Andy and I went to sleep, with him on the sofa. I slept for about an hour.
5:00am
I woke up and started timing my contractions by Big Ben. I slept in between contractions for the next hour.
The midwife decided to leave me contracting until 2:00pm before examining me again, hoping that I would be further dilated by then.
2:00pm
I was examined again and I was 4cm dilated. Hooray!
At this point, community midwife Anne took over from the hospital midwife.
Anne emptied my bladder, which had a big bulge, and drained 1.3 litres of urine from it. She had to put in a catheter, which meant I could not have a water birth.
This was very bad practice by the previous midwife and could have caused permanent damage to my bladder. Anne completed a risk assessment report against the previous midwife.
Anne stayed with me until 8:00pm. Louise then took over.
My cervix was dilating as it should, and labour was progressing nicely. I felt very relaxed and was breathing well with the gas and air. I was enjoying the view of the river and Big Ben, which felt very calming.
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Midnight
On examination, my cervix was fully dilated.
Louise prepared the bed and the room and said that all I needed to do now was push. But then my contractions stopped. I couldn’t push, or I didn’t know how to.
I stayed there for an hour, trying different positions to encourage the contractions to come back, but they didn’t.
1:00am
Louise said she was really sorry, but she would have to take me round to the maternity ward and put me on a Syntocinon drip to get the contractions going again.
She explained that there was only a four-hour window from when the cervix was fully dilated to deliver the baby, otherwise I would have to have a caesarean.
I had always been scared of the idea of having the Syntocinon drip. Louise asked me if I wanted an epidural.
I didn’t know. I was scared, exhausted, and wired from the gas and air.
We moved to the maternity ward. Louise said she would leave Andy and me to discuss it. Andy reminded me that I had come this far without an epidural and that I had always said I didn’t want one. I was still scared of the pain.
When Louise came back in and we still had not made a decision, she put the drip on.
The contractions became extremely painful. I was lying down on the bed and strapped to a monitor.
The contractions continued for a short while, then the baby’s heart rate started to drop.
Louise asked Andy to pull the emergency cord, and suddenly the room was full of people.
An obstetrician examined me and decided it was time to get the baby out. My legs were put in stirrups, and I was given an episiotomy.
She attempted to deliver the baby with a ventouse.
She told me I was not breathing properly and that I kept “breathing the baby back in” because I was taking very long, deep breaths in and out, as I had done throughout labour.
She explained how I needed to breathe, but I was confused and didn’t understand. I asked Louise and Andy to explain it to me. Eventually, I got it.
With a lot of pushing and screaming, and a lot of pulling from the obstetrician, my baby was born.
4:48am
Olive was born, weighing 8lb 1oz.
We were both delighted.
Andy cut the cord. We couldn’t do delayed cord clamping because Olive’s heart rate had dropped, and also because I am Rhesus Negative. It turned out that Olive was Rhesus Negative too.
I couldn’t wait to do it all again.
It was the most magical experience of my life.
Olive was due on Wednesday, 23rd July 2014. After 4 unsuccessful sweeps with the midwife, I was booked in for Induction at Home from Home Birth Centre at St. Thomas' Hospital, London, on Monday, 4th August.
Monday 4th August (WW1 Centenary)
10 am: St Thomas' Midwife calls me and says they have a bed for me and to go in at 1 pm.
1 pm: Arrive at St Thomas' Hospital.
3 pm: Get given a Propess tablet (pessary inserted in vagina like a tampon).
5 pm: Go for a sunny walk with Andy along the South Bank, but getting period-type pains, so think it's best to go back to the hospital and rest there.
8 pm: Andy goes for a walk across Westminster Bridge to get me an Evening Standard paper. He does a sightseeing tour and takes some photos that he is sending to my phone.
8.15 pm
My waters break. Pull the emergency cord and pull it out of the wall. Scream to my roommate to call the midwives. Andy phones me, and I tell him to come back straight away.
Get moved to a birthing room.
Contractions coming less than 2 mins and lasting for over a minute. Very painful. Get given gas and air, which I take for the remainder of the labour. Want to get in the birthing pool, but can't until I am 4cm dilated. Can't have an examination to see how dilated I am for 6 hours after the waters break. So the Midwife runs me a bath. Stay in the bath for ages. It is lovely and really helps with the pain, along with the gas and air.
That night is the centenary of WW1. Our room is opposite Big Ben with panoramic views of the River Thames. All the lights of Big Ben are switched off for an hour. We can see this from our room. It is magical. There is also an art installation to commemorate. A light shaft that is on every night for a week. Andy is fascinated, and every time people come into the room, he talks to them about it, along with his remote control fake candles!
Tuesday 5th August.
2 am
The midwife examines me and says I am only 1cm dilated. I feel really upset, because with the pain and duration of contractions, I thought I would be much further along by now. MW suggest Diamorphine to help me sleep as I am exhausted. Take it. Andy and I go to sleep (him on the sofa). I sleep for an hour.
5 am
Wake up. Timing contractions by Big Ben. Sleep in between contractions for the next hour.
MW decides to leave me with contractions until 2 pm to examine me and hope I am further dilated by then.
2 pm
Examine me, and I am 4cm dilated. Hooray! Community Midwife Anne takes over from the hospital Midwife. Empties my bladder (which has a big bulge) and empties 1.3 litres of urine from my bladder!!! Has to put a catheter in, which means I can't have a water birth ;( Very bad practice by previous MW. Could have caused permanent damage to my bladder. MW Anne does a risk assessment report against the previous MW.
Anne was with me until 8 pm. Louise takes over at 8 pm.
The cervix is dilating as it should be. Labour was progressing nicely. Very relaxed and breathing nicely with gas and air. Enjoying the view of the river and Big Ben. Very calming.
Midnight.
Wednesday 6th August.
On examination, the cervix is fully dilated. Louise prepares the bed and room, and says all I need to do now is push. My contractions stop, and I can't push or don't know how to. Stay there for an hour, trying to change position for contractions to come back. They don't.
1 am
Louise says she is really sorry, but she is going to have to take me round to the Maternity Ward and put me on a Syntosin drip to get the contractions going again. As we only have a 4-hour window from when the cervix is fully dilated to deliver the baby, or else we will have to have a cesarean. I have always been scared of the prospect of having to have the Synthosin drip. Louise asks me if I want an epidural? I don't know. I am scared. Too exhausted and wired from gas and air. Move to the maternity ward. She says she will leave Andy and me to discuss. Andy says I have come this far without an epidural and have always said that I didn't want to have one. I am scared of the pain. Louise comes back in, and as we haven't made a decision, she just puts the drip on. Contractions become extremely painful. I am lying down on the bed and strapped to a monitor. Contractions go on for a short while. Babies’ heart rate starts to drop. Louise asks Andy to pull the emergency cord, and suddenly the room is full of people.
The obstetrician examines me and decides it is time to get the baby out. My legs are put in stirrups. I am given an episiotomy. She attempts to deliver the baby with a ventouse. She tells me I am not breathing properly and that I keep breathing the baby back in, as I am taking very long, deep breaths in and out (as I have done throughout labour). She explains how I need to breathe, but I am confused and don't understand. I ask Louise and Andy to explain to me. Eventually, I get it. With a lot of pushing and screaming and a lot of pulling from the Obstetrician, my baby was born.
4.48 am
Olive is born weighing 8lb 1oz.
We are both delighted.
Andy cuts the cord. We can’t do delayed cord clamping as Olive's heart rate had dropped, and also because I am Rhesus Negative. Turns out Olive is Rh Negative too.
Can't wait to do it all again.
The most magical experience of my life!