Sally from Eastburn, first time mum to Louis September 2009
I have several close friends who have had traumatic births. I was repeatedly told that you lose all dignity and that your birth plan goes out of the window. Whenever someone asked me about the birth during my pregnancy I always replied I've got to believe that I can do it, I'm ready for the challenge, although inside I was terrified. At about 20 weeks I decided to have a home birth, we were recommended Rachel Cline from an independent midwife and hoped that she would communicate our wishes to the NHS midwife attending our birth. Rachel helped facilitate an amazing birth experience. My birth plan was followed to the letter and rather than loosing dignity, Louis' birth was the most empowering experience of my life, this is in no small part due to Rachel's tenacity and guidance.
The Journey
During the antenatal care Rachel provided us with information through books, CDs and DVDs that helped us prepare for the birth experience we wanted. We felt better informed and able to make decisions about our birth plan with confidence. As the due date came and went, Rachel helped to support me resist increasing pressure by the NHS to book an induction by attending a consultant appointment and providing a sympathetic ear. I went into labour naturally in week 41 after transferring care to an independent midwife and the day after an acupuncture session given by Rachel (which hurt!). I gave birth after a four and a half hour labour, without gas and air or drugs (with the exception of 4 paracetamol). Louis was born at home in a birthing pool whilst I listened to hypnotherapy CD's (both of which were recommended by Rachel), weighing a very healthy 9lb 10! During the labour she was invaluable in helping assist with getting water, opening windows, finding buckets etc, all of which left my husband free to concentrate on me. After the birth my husband was speechless when he went downstairs to find that Rachel had cleaned out and deflated the birthing pool, tidied up and put two loads of washing on enabling us to spend our first few precious hours as a family together. During our post natal meeting Rachel again had very useful and practical suggestions - from which baby carriers might suit our needs to how to record more efficiently information about when Louis was feeding and sleeping. It has been such an amazing journey and one which we are pleased to have shared with Rachel. We feel that this birth has given Louis the best possible start in life and are grateful for all her help, support and encouragement (and chilli con carne and plum crumble!). Thank you.
John Parkin – my birth experience!
As soon as Sally became pregnant we immediately accepted that hospital was where we were going to have the baby. Even after my previous experience of a hospital birth which was over managed with very little personal contact and considerable medical intervention this seemed like the only option. My wife then started to research home births and I was immediately sold on the idea, I knew there had to be a better way, after all women have been giving birth naturally for a long time!
Our midwife in the NHS was not particularly supportive of the idea and it seemed like an exercise in risk management instead of the natural experience we wanted so we investigated employing a Doula. This seemed like a valuable investment in our birth experience as not only would we gain antenatal sessions, more importantly we would have an ally and consistent friendly face at the birth who knew what we wanted and would be able to provide an ear for either Sally or myself if we had any concerns . My experience of hospital births was one of staff changes and people coming in and out who I did not know and who did not know me.
During the last week of pregnancy we transferred our care to an independent midwife, this was the outcome from a series of consultant meetings that Sally attended at times when I could not be there. Rachel attended with Sally and supported her during this time for which we were very thankful and during the birth Rachel was invaluable in providing support for both Sally and myself. The birth progressed well at home and Rachel advised on the phone and used effective visualisation techniques with Sally to manage the pain. But the help provided was not just for the birth, Rachel emptied and packed up the birthing pool, put two loads of washing in, made tea and generally opened and closed windows, answered the door and a host of other jobs that meant I was able to focus totally on Sally and the birth.
One of the benefits of having a home birth was that after the birth we moved upstairs and spent our first night as a three together in our own bed, with no concerns about visiting hours or waiting to be fed or discharged. Both Sally and I felt at complete ease in our own surroundings and entirely comfortable which meant we could focus totally on the one thing that was new.
Two days after the birth Rachel came round with tea made for us in containers and advised on carriers that we were looking at and a range of other issues. Whenever we had a question Rachel knew where we could find the answer and my memories of the birth are of an amazing experience that I wish all people could have the chance to have. The birth went like a dream and this was in no small part to the support received from Rachel who was always available either in person or at the end of the phone, thank you.
Louis was born in water, 9 lb 10, after a short labour using a birthing pool and no pain relief.