Positive Birth Story- Homebirth for a first time mum Jenna

Welcome to this small corner of the internet where we share positive birth stories.

Here is Jenna and baby Henry’s story:

I was so proud of myself and was totally overwhelmed by what I had just done – I was on top of the world; I remember I kept thinking, ‘Wow – you’ve just had a baby. You are awesome!’.

Jenna

Henry was born at home at 8.21pm. He was one week over my estimated due date. My husband, Alex, and my mum, Val, were both at the birth, as well as 2 mid-wives (Steph & Inaki) and a student midwife (Emma). Alex and I had planned a home birth from quite soon into the pregnancy. Home births were encouraged in our area by the community midwife team, and the team ran a monthly ‘Positive Birth Stories’ session where new parents bought their newborns and talked the expectant parents through their positive (mostly homebirth) stories which was really inspiring. 

In the lead-up to the birth, Mum and I had read a book on hypnobirthing, passages of which I read to Alex, and attended the free hypnobirthing session at our local hospital which was run by the community midwife team. I didn’t do the daily hypnobirthing training; I ended up just doing bits that I thought would be helpful. I did practice my breathing often, and visualisations of a happy calm place (which was a real memory of our honeymoon – a clifftop walk with amazing views). I also prepared a playlist of calming music. I’d written my positive affirmations out in pink and blue ink which I stuck on the mantel piece, in front of the birth pool, and put lots of happy photographs around that I could see when in the pool. I had a nice candle to light, and fairy lights to turn on. This was all very important to me, and I think really helped me get into the positive strong mind-set that got me through. At 2 points during the labour, when we were waiting for the contractions to come quicker, Alex and Mum read the affirmations out loud, so I could keep positive – they were really special moments. 

I initially started weak contractions at about 5pm on Thursday 2^nd March. By 10pm I tried to go to bed, but couldn’t sleep because the contractions were roughly every 6 minutes. It took a long time for me to dilate! I did much of me labouring resting over the back of a dining room chair! I used a tens machine – I was a bit indifferent to it – but I think it helped divert my attention! Mum & Alex told me that I didn’t make much noise; I really focused on breathing into the contractions (I had to put my fingers in my ears and tightly shut my eyes to do so!). With every contraction I just kept thinking that that was one more I’d successfully achieved, and one less in the journey to having our baby. I kept reminding myself of my affirmations to keep my confidence up. My mum rubbed my lower back a lot, which was very helpful (she had to get multiple chiropractor sessions afterwards from leaning over so much! Oops!). Alex would gently put his hand on my shoulder, and knowing he was there was such a comfort and strength.  Other than that, Alex mostly timed my contractions, kept everyone fed, and kept the mood positive and calm (he also confessed afterwards that he spent a lot of time watching cricket on his phone!!! But I didn’t mind, there was a lot of time to kill, and that helped him keep calm). 

It wasn’t until about 7pm the following day that I could feel the head coming, which was all a bit of a shock to everyone because they’d been waiting for a long time for anything to happen! Then it was a mad rush to get the pool warm again! I used gas & air when I got in the pool which I loved. I was mostly on my knees with my arms and head resting over the edge. Alex was leaning over with his head right by mine, breathing so I could copy him, and helping me focus. The lights were dim, fairy lights on, and music playing low. I remember my main midwife guiding me through the birth. Alex reflected that this was like watching art in motion, as Steph gently but firmly explained what she needed me to do. Then Inaki put Henry in my arms as soon as he’d been born. As I got out of the pool, Alex held Henry for the first time, and then I had him on me for an hour while I laid on the sofa as we waited for the placenta to be birthed. In the end I had to have the injection, and for about 2 hours I was upstairs delivering the placenta and being stitched – I mostly remember looking at Inaki’s wedding photos and laughing a lot! It was all a bit surreal. Alex and Mum were downstairs getting Henry dressed, they were both very excitable! When I came down at about midnight we all had champagne; it was a real celebration.

This was like watching art in motion

ALex

I was totally elated by my birth. I felt that what women can do is the most incredible feat of emotional strength in the world. I was so proud of myself and was totally overwhelmed by what I had just done – I was on top of the world; I remember I kept thinking, ‘Wow – you’ve just had a baby. You are awesome!’. The birth of Henry was the best experience of my life, and I feel incredibly lucky.