Noah’s Positive Birth Story
An induction birth story as told by Dad and Birth Partner, Ross
Preparing for Noah's Arrival
My partner and I had talked lots about birth before the big event. We had learnt lots about it. We spent time packing and repacking our hospital bag (which no one ever tells you is actually a suitcase plus possibly another rucksack because who knows what size your baby will be, and you want to be prepared). We had picked out the outfit we wanted them to wear first. We packed the little teddy his auntie had bought. We discussed at length what snacks we might need if we needed to be in hospital for a longer stay.
Unexpected Twists and a Back-to-Back Baby
When we learnt our baby was back to back, it wasn’t anything we couldn’t handle. In fact, my partner knew exactly what to do to encourage our little boy to spin.
My wife’s hands and feet got itchy. We phoned up and headed in to get it checked out. I waited in the car park, my partner was disappointed to learn that we might need to induce, it all came as a bit of a shock. But because of hypnobirthing we knew we could take a step back and assess our options. We didn’t rush into anything. We felt confident to ring up the NHS and ask for more information about the condition. My partner went in for a further assessment and was able to ask all the questions we wanted to ask. Together, when we were ready, we made a decision, based on the evidence, to induce.
Creating Comfort In The Induction Suite
We went in and we set up the induction suite, making it as comfortable as possible. Fairy lights and electric candles can transform even the most medical of rooms into something twinkly. We hung up the baby’s first outfit to remind us of the joy to come. We used lavender scent to keep things calm and we watched some tv and bedded in to wait for a very important arrival.
When labour happened, it was sudden and quick, but my partner used a mix of breathing techniques, meditation tracks and a soothing playlist I made on Spotify to keep things chilled. I set up the labour room and every person than entered commented on the calm relaxed atmosphere that we had developed. My partner worked so hard, and I felt involved, knowing what I could do to keep her comfortable and relaxed. When intervention and pain relief was needed, we could make those decisions together. When she felt, she instantly might need an epidural, I was able to keep her focused until the morphine gave her some chance to rest. She was incredible. She has even told me she loved the part when they made her push. And even though the baby wasn’t coming she pushed and pushed for a whole hour. She was like an athlete. She was unstoppable.
Unforgettable Moments and Noah's Joyful Birth
When we got the doctors assessment, we knew what to expect. Claire our hypnobirthing tutor had prepared us for interventions. We knew exactly what a forceps delivery entailed. We weren’t phased by the people in the room because we had discussed this before in our hypnobirthing sessions. We kept the atmosphere in that room, full of hope and even laughter. This kept my partner relaxed and it meant she still had the motivation to push (despite not being able to feel her legs). So we had a vaginal birth and not a C-section. All the pushing and inducing had got us to that point.
Hypnobirthing had meant, despite things not going to plan, we could still see the victories in what we did achieve. And it felt like I could support my partner in achieving what she wanted at all these stages. And the setbacks were just that setbacks. We weren’t derailed. We knew what the next step would be and how to try and make that happen. I could advocate for my partner knowing the decisions she wanted to make. I could set the tone of all the different rooms we were in to make them just the way she needed it. I felt involved and useful. I felt like I could be leaned on. I was no bystander. I was helping birth my boy!
- Ross: Hypnobirthing Group Course