The Birth of Baby Olive

So, on Tuesday 28th I was having some light tightening during the day, I didn’t think anything of it and went about my day with Seth (my son). Come the evening I had a show … and the tightening became slightly more intense. Again, I still carried on as normal, mopped my hallway and kept moving. I then decided to run a bath and relax listening to positive birth affirmations. I went to take myself to bed and couldn’t get comfy and decided at that time it would be best to have mum come over in case I needed to get to Exeter. I used my breathing technique learnt in class and kept moving on my ball. Things became more intense quicker than I thought – we made our way down to the hospital. The whole way down I just breathed through the contractions with a fan in hand and some fruit pastels. 

When we got to Exeter, from the minute we got there everything was very calm and nothing was forced. I had some observations done and got given the option to have an examination which I decided to do. I was 4cm – this was at 1:30am. My midwife said I was in active labour so could now go into the birthing centre and get into the pool. 

Using just the breathing and gas and air (taking regular sips of water and using my fan with every surge), things got very intense very quickly. By 2:25am, baby was here. She made such a calm entrance, no screaming, just nice and chilled on my chest in the pool. I then stayed in there and had a physiological third stage. Shortly after, Lewis cut the cord. The whole experience was very calm. The midwife was amazing and supportive. We got left alone after baby was born to have that time. Lewis also had skin to skin. After a couple of hours, I had examinations done and had to have a few stitches due to more bleeding than expected. Again, the midwife talked me through everything and didn’t do anything until I was ready. Aftercare was also very good. Food and drink offered straight away. We stayed until midday then made our way home in which we stopped and got a KFC. Everything we wanted to do on our birth plan we did, staying calm and in control using the breathing was key. Lewis was so supportive keeping me breathing and reminding me in between each surge I could do this. 

Using just the breathing and gas and air (taking regular sips of water and using my fan with every surge), things got very intense very quickly. By 2:25am, baby was here. She made such a calm entrance, no screaming, just nice and chilled on my chest in the pool. I then stayed in there and had a physiological third stage. Shortly after, Lewis cut the cord. The whole experience was very calm. The midwife was amazing and supportive. We got left alone after baby was born to have that time. Lewis also had skin to skin. After a couple of hours, I had examinations done and had to have a few stitches due to more bleeding than expected. Again, the midwife talked me through everything and didn’t do anything until I was ready. Aftercare was also very good. Food and drink offered straight away. We stayed until midday then made our way home in which we stopped and got a KFC. Everything we wanted to do on our birth plan we did, staying calm and in control using the breathing was key. Lewis was so supportive keeping me breathing and reminding me in between each surge I could do this.