First time mum Kristina and her partner Sam share their positive birth experience at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Greenwich (London). 

Key facts:

• 28th September 2023
• 1st baby
• 8lbs 1oz - arrived 4 days early
• 6 hour delivery with no interventions
• Delayed cord clamping and Golden hour
• Minor tearing, minimal drugs

4pm

I started getting leg cramping and what felt like mild period pains. I felt it was the start of the labour but didn’t want to stress so had something to eat, had a warm bath and relaxed as much as I could.

 6pm

The surges seemed to have progressed so rapidly, I didn’t have a chance to process. My waters had not broke and attempting to count contractions was difficult, although the breathing techniques I learned did help. I also kept moving throughout which to this day I know helped things progress as quick as they did.

 7:00- 8:00pm

I went into hospital triage as contractions were close to one another. I was examined by a trainee who said I was 3cm dilated. To check I was then examined by the head midwife who said I was one 1cm dilated, which at the time was deflating as well as confusing. The contractions seemed to have slowed down probably due to car journey to the hospital and having to lay down on my back to be examined and other stress factors. I was asked to go home and call back at 10pm when I had progressed further.

 8:15-9:00 pm

I had strong contractions throughout the car journey home, when I arrived home I was run a warm bath and tried to stay as calm as possible, continuing with breathing exercises. I was feeling more and more pressure with each contraction and my intuition telling me it would not be long. Because of this I wanted to be in an environment where I could get assistance if I needed it so called the midwives again and was asked to go back to triage.

 9:15- 9:45pm

This time I continued to walk around while I waited to be examined, I could not talk at this point and my legs were shaking ( later found out it’s a second stage of labour sign) My waters still had not broken by this stage but was told I was 6cm dilated and taken straight to the labour ward (I don’t think even the midwife’s expected me to progress so quickly for a 1st baby and felt up until this stage I wasn’t really listened to by triage midwife’s).

By this point I was zoning out and focusing on myself and the baby.

10pm

I was given gas and air which helped ease the surges but also made me feel sick so I tried not to  use often. The midwife overseeing my labour was kind,calm and listened to me. While she set up she had me continue to walk around and also sat me on the exercise ball, within minutes my waters had broke. Not long after I was asked to prop myself on the bed in a position comfortable for me (the knees together feet out came in handy ☺️)

I was examined again and told it would not be long and to tell her when I feel the need to push.

I had a small moment where it all settled and I didn’t feel as intense surges as before. I had a drink and was fed some skittles by sam which turned out to be the wrong choice as they ended up being brought up when baby’s head was crowning 😂

Everything else was a blur, I was told I was pushing for roughly 1 hour 20 minutes before he arrived at 11:56 that night. I did not find out what I was having and when I was able to bring him to my chest and find out myself I knew it was the best decision and that got me through each push.

I had no music, calming lights or birthing pool as I had pictured but it was the birth I needed. My boy arrived quick, safely and healthy.

I’d like to think we got each other through the whole experience together.

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Huge congatrulations to Kristina and Sam - thank you for sharing your story to help other parents-to-be!

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Do you want a Positive Birth too? 

My antenatal Hypnobirthing courses are available both in-person and online, and are designed to be a fun and relaxing experience for you and your birth partner - a real highlight of your pregnancy.

I offer different formats suitable for every budget as it is important that Hypnobirthing is accessible and affordable for everyone.

Find the perfect class for you: 

• Private 1:1 Birth Coaching
• Group Hypnobirthing Courses (Abbey Wood, Bexley, Eltham, Sidcup, Woolwich & Greenwich)

Not sure which course is for you? Sign up to my next FREE Online Mini-Masterclass to start your journey to a glowing pregnancy, a positive birth, and the best possible start to parenthood!

Support Small Businesses this year with this Ultimate Gift list for pregnant mamas, all organised by trimester!

First trimester

• “Morning Rescue”, Hottea Mama – a gorgeous refreshing brew to help keep that first trimester nausea at bay https://www.hotteamama.com/
• Pregnancy Journal, Blush & Gold – capture the important details of your pregnancy to treasure forever https://blushandgold.co.uk/
• Pregnancy leggings, Latched – this small business is my absolute favourite maternity sportswear brand. Super comfy leggings that grow with you through pregnancy and postnatal – I absolutely lived in mine! https://latched.uk/

Second trimester

• Hypnobirthing Course, Rise & Glow Births – second trimester is a great time to start preparing for a positive birth and meeting other parents-to-be at our fun and relaxed antenatal classes https://www.riseandglowbirths.com/
• Pregnancy pillow, Baby Bub – as bump gets bigger, a decent pregnancy pillow becomes essential for a good night’s sleep. This innovative compact design is great if you don’t have a lot of space https://www.babybub.com/
• Ginger Switchel, Mother Root – when you fancy something that feels a little grown-up, try this fresh and fiery non-alcoholic sprit with soda water, ice and a slice of lemon https://www.motherroot.london/

Third trimester

• Labour prep kit, My Expert Midwife – fabulous products to reduce your risk of tearing during birth, and help with postpartum healing https://myexpertmidwife.com/
• Maternity photoshoot – a photoshoot in your third trimester with the right photographer will make you feel like a goddess! Lucy Griffiths Doula is a super talented photographer who specialises in maternity, birth and newborn shoots in Kent & South East London https://www.lucygriffithsbirthphotodoula.com/
• Pregnancy massage – such a great way to soothe any aches, relax, and prepare for the arrival of your baby. Hannah (Serving Hands Massage Doula) is based in Bexley in South East London does wonderful pregnancy and postnatal massage https://www.servinghands.co.uk/

Fourth trimester

• Oscha sling – babywearing is an absolute gamechanger for soothing your little one, keeping them close, and helping them sleep. There are lots of carriers on the market, but there’s something magic absolute wrapping your bundle of joy in a beautiful snuggly woven wrap. Oschas Slings are based in Scotland and have the most amazing woven designs. I’ve worn my mine pretty much every day for a year for both my babies and I have really special memories of the bond we created in that sling https://oschaslings.com/
• New Parents Box, Cook – what a great gift to have nutritious, delicious, hand-prepared food in the freezer ready to pop in the oven during that hectic newborn phase https://www.cookfood.net/menu/meal-boxes/new-parents
• Postnatal doula – treat a newborn mama to a few visits from a postnatal doula. Emma (EmmaDoula) covers homes in South East London and can help with cooking and cleaning, supports you with caring for your newborn baby, and is a listening ear when you need https://www.emmadoula.co.uk/

All recommendations are my own, based on my experiences as a mum of two, and from working with hundreds of pregnant women - I'm not affiliated with any of the above ðŸ™‚ 

Laura xx

Group Hypnobirthing Courses

Private 1:1 Birth Prep Coaching

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