Catherine's Story

Dear Dany,

Just to let you know that Christopher Joseph arrived on bonfire night at 8.23 pm weighing 7lb 15 oz and is doing fine. Contractions/surges started around 1am on Monday but seemed to be short and irregular – speeding up then slowing down. By Wednesday, they were around 60 secs or over but still seemed to have regular and then irregular phases so we got fed up and decided to go to the hospital to get checked out. When there, it looked like I had traces of a urine infection and so it was suggested that I produce a proper sample for analysis and antibiotic could be given which would likely clear it up – things would then stop and “proper labour” might start at some point thereafter. (It certainly felt to me like something was happening down in the pelvis even though the midwives didn’t seem to think so). The prospect of the irregularity stopping so I could get some sleep was attractive and it sounded plausible so I hopped on the bed and started reading a book while waiting for the jug of water I had been asked to drink to find its way through. (At no time had the surges stopped completely, but they were by no means as closely spaced as they had been.) After a while I felt a slight urge to go to the bathroom so made my way next door. No sooner had I got in there than I felt a strong downward jab in the pelvic area and waters broke in spectacular fashion.

There were traces of mec in the waters so a waterbirth was out but I was duly taken off to be examined (but not before the best part of an hour had passed) whereupon, much to the astonishment of the midwives, I was found to be fully dilated. They couldn’t understand how I could have reached this stage without realising it.

Got through surges/contractions by sleep breathing in between sitting astride chair worked best, and then standing up with slow breathing on the in breath focusing on relaxing all parts of the body (“my shoulders away from my neck” was particularly effective.) and long slow exhalation “golden thread” yoga breathing on the outbreath. Standing against the wall circling hips was also effective as were various types of massage. I was lucky in that Clive, my mother and my sister were all prepared to give support and massage.

Baby was very calm after birth although now seems to be waking up. It rather seems like labour and birth were the easy bit and now the hard work really starts!

Good luck to Leanne and Fiona. Please pass on to them whatever parts of my story they might find helpful. I thought that the delivery staff at QMH did a great job and was satisfied with the result, which I suppose is what hypno birthing is aiming for anyway.

I enclose some photos. Many thanks for all your help. Of all the antenatal classes that I took, yours was the most helpful since I left it in a positive optimistic state of mind.

Best wishes,

Catherine

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