The unpridictable nature of birth…

Birth happens, but just because your birth doesn’t go exactly as you planned, doesn't mean it can’t be beautiful!

I’m super excited to share this gorgeous birth story with everyone. I’m a firm believer that birth can be beautiful, even if doesn’t go to plan. Laura is a Perth mum who shares exactly this experience she had a “textbook pregnancy” and had all intentions of a medication free, minimal intervention birth at a hospital. Although Laura didn’t exactly get what she expected, she was still able to walk away from the birth feeling confident and empowered, she then went on to have another two little ones after her son. Read her story in her own words below;

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After the birth of her son, Laura went onto birth two beautiful little girls.

My pregnancy with my 1st born was pretty much textbook perfect. Morning sickness until 14 weeks, so much energy and vitality in the second trimester; my skin was glowing, and my hair was thick, shiny, long and luscious - I’d never felt more beautiful and confident in my own skin ever! I would have loved to have birthed in a birthing centre but FBC was too far away from us for me to feel comfortable with, so I opted for our local hospital and my hope was for a drug free birth with minimal intervention, however, I was still open to whatever was necessary for mine & bubs safety knowing childbirth can be unpredictable. I was really scared of the idea of a c-section or even being induced. I’d heard a lot of negative things about it, and how much more painful labour is being induced.

At 37+3 I woke up at 4:44am to go to the toilet and saw blood when I wiped. Initially I panicked and called out to my partner, he reassured me it was my mucus plug and then got really excited and went to wake up his mum (who just by pure coincidence had stayed at ours the night before) and 9yo daughter. I put a pad on in case there was any more bleeding and called the antenatal team at the hospital and the midwife I spoke to said, “it’s just your mucus plug, it could still be another 2 weeks before the baby comes”. Feeling disappointed I went to tell my partner and mother-in-law that the baby probably wasn’t coming today and that I was going back to bed.

As I lifted my leg onto the bed, I felt a gush of water (thank God I was wearing a pad already 😂),I was starting to feel excited again I jumped up to go back out and tell the other feeling more small gushes with each step I took. I called the hospital back, got the same midwife and said “so my waters have broken, what do I need to do now?” She told me to go have a shower and then slowly make my way in.

I only had very mild period-like pain in my lower back when I went in, no contractions, so told my partner he may as well go to do a job as first baby it would most likely take a long time. The midwife took a swab to confirm it was my waters had broken and then called pathology to get my results back for strep b swap as I hadn’t had them back yet. They were positive so I was told I was going to have to be induced now that my waters had broken and given antibiotics by drip.

At this point I was already 4cm dilated, so I was given Pitocin via drip at 9am and rang my partner to come back from work. By 10am the contractions were so intense and so close together, the gas and air were just not enough and being only 6cm or 7cm dilated still I decided I couldn’t keep going on like this and asked for an epidural, despite my intentions for going drug-free. I am so glad that I made this decision. The anaesthetist got to me at around 11am and it was the biggest relief when it kicked in. I was in control of how much was administered and so still was able to feel when I was having a contraction but without the intensity. We dimmed the lights, had an upbeat Spotify playlist going so us and the midwife were singing and bopping along to songs. The whole family stopped by after lunch, my mother-in-law & sister-in-law came into the birth suite and massaged my feet, keeping the vibe so positive & relaxing. Not long after 4pm I was 10cm dilated and ready to push.

There were still some waters that they needed to release so they ruptured the membranes which had baby drop down quickly and resulted in his heartbeat dropping low and going into distress. The emergency button was pushed, and the team were in the room within seconds. It was scary and a little overwhelming but everyone was great at remaining calm and making me feel as calm as I could in the situation. The obstetrician tickled the top of baby’s head for a few seconds which thankfully calmed him down and brought his heart rate back to normal, and we were able to avoid any further intervention. And just as quickly as they came in the emergency team left and our suite was back to relaxing and positive as if nothing had ever happened. Our midwife, Lucy, was amazing at keeping us reassured and in good spirits. My sister-in-law / bestie was there filming and within 4 or 5 pushes later at 4:50pm our son was born to Halsey & Khalid - Eastside, with no tearing, only a slight graze.

The moment this incredible Mumma laid eyes on her gorgeous son.

Despite not being the drug-free, intervention-free birth i had originally hoped for, it was the most beautiful, magical and peaceful experience. I would do it all over again 🥰

Laura enjoying those special first moments.