Birth Stories > Megan's Birth Story
During my first labour I was overwhelmed with many aspects of labour and birth. My partner John and I had felt traumatised afterwards and I was not at all sure I would ever have the confidence to fall pregnant again. There was a multitude of reasons why it all ended up that way, so after a while I began to think it all through and made some firm decisions after many conversations with friends and midwives, that I would aim for a natural birth and a positive experience this time around.
Once I became pregnant, I had mixed feelings; I was delighted to be pregnant again, but I was quite worried about the birth. I considered all my options for the birth and chose the birth centre, with terrific midwifery care, and selected the course that would fulfil my need for building my confidence and focus my breathing and relaxation skills in readiness for the labour and birth. I promised myself that I would practice my breathing and relaxation as much as possible - and I did it. During the classes when we would all talk about what was happening during our preparation, how we were feeling and just sharing our experiences it really came over me that "Yes, I can do this!" and it was a wonderful feeling.
It went swimmingly this time! Thanks so much, Julie, for all your expert tuition and guidance. A completely different birthing experience this time round - the one I was after in fact! My husband, John opted to stay with Gabriel, so my mum came with me as birth partner. Surges started coming at 7 am on 1st October (my due date). I rented a TENS machine which I used in the early stages to help me focus - I also used it on the way to the hospital and in the active stages towards the end of the first stages in addition to the calmbirth® techniques.
There were some points where all I felt was a warm sensation in my uterus - even the 'power surges' were comfortable. There were points that I went so deep into relaxation that I actually blissed out. My mum said that I had this contented smile on my face. About lunchtime, the surges were coming every 5 minutes and lasting for 90 - 120 seconds, but I could carry on a conversation between them. We phoned my midwife, who advised that we wait until the surges were closer, if at all possible. I kept up the relaxation and breathing until about 7 p.m. Then, while the intervals between surges were about the same, they were lasting longer and was, as my mum says more 'away with it'. At that point I was either shivering and shaking or too hot, a very good sign of progress in labour, I believe.
At about 7.30 p.m., I asked my mum to phone our lovely midwife, to tell her we were heading to the birthing centre. I was not convinced that I was ready to be taken in, so John waited with us to hear from Helen. I was, in fact, well dilated; 6 cm by then. My midwife told me that if I didn't go into the final stages of labour in 4 hours, she would offer to break my waters. I didn't want this to happen so my mum pressed acupressure points, and I started walking and swaying, I was quite comfortable and focused on remaining active and upright as I wanted to move things along. 
About 1.00 am I went into the wonderful bath which is where the real challenge was for me. I was so petrified of tearing, after my last experience, that I breathed to relax rather than push the baby down. My midwife coached me through each surge and I realised that I just had to go for it and simply do what my body wanted to do. When I let go and followed my wave like surge I ended up roaring loudly like a wild banshee primitive woman, which actually helped me to finally release my beautiful baby girl, that bit was not quite what I expected or had visualised as a quiet and calm but I didn't mind as it worked for me and Francesca was born at 2:14 a.m on Tuesday 2 October.
It was a wondrous powerful experience for me; I was elated and energised afterwards. Thanks to the Epi-No I only had the slightest graze, which my midwife said was absolutely fine and didn't need any stitches at all. Oh! wasn't I so pleased at that? Completely different to last time; wish i'd known about the Epi-No for my first birth; what a difference it made. Francesca and I were so well that we were discharged that evening. She feeds well, settles quite quickly and sleeps well. She is a calm and happy baby, except when she wants to be fed or her nappy is being changed. I feel very blessed that I had a chance to experience such a beautiful birthing. Thank you so much, Julie, for guiding me on that path.
Megan x