The Birth of Olivia: preterm birth at Queen Elizabeth hospital using Hypnobirthing

Our little surprise at 34 weeks…….as told by first time parents Rebecca and Laurence:

I got home late Friday evening, about 11pm after work. Technically my last full day of work before taking leave (she knew..!) I went upstairs to brush my teeth and wait for Laurence to come home who was in London Bridge with friends before going to York this weekend for work (for two weeks! Just imagine if he had gone already…..) again, we feel she knew. 

Suddenly at 11pm my waters broke. In a dramatic fashion, I even heard the pop. I called the hospital and they said come in, but as I wasn’t having any contractions I was to wait for Laurence to come and get me. I chilled for half an hour and managed to pack a small bag, throwing all our hypnobirthing items into it! 

We arrived at the hospital at 11.45, no contractions. I was put on a monitor to monitor baby and given some antibiotics to prevent any infection going into baby. 

The midwife’s assured me that baby won’t come yet and I’ll be sent home on anti-biotics and checked regularly to allow me to continue to get to full term, I was currently 34 weeks to the day.

Suddenly at about 2am I was hit by full contractions very quickly (eye mask and ear phones on! Massage techniques in full swing by Laurence.) At around 3am they got very close together very fast (1 in 10 mins to 1 every 20 seconds within the hour.) Lots of up breathing here and square breathing too. A doctor was called to examine me because of how fast it was all going…..to everyone's amazement and disbelief I was 8cm dilated! 

We were taken straight into our own room on the maternity ward. We had a doctor and paediatrician always in the room because baby was premature. I kept my eye mask on but decided to take head phones off so I could hear Laurence in front of me. The down stage of labour started very quickly, I literally did nothing, your body pushing is a real thing all!!! Down breathing was a god send and really helped me stay calm and understand exactly what my body was doing and why. I had gas and air which was enough to take my consciousness out of the room a bit when I needed but little enough to stay present and feel everything, I don’t even know how I did it but for some reason I was going through all the affirmations in my head, not sure how I even remembered them. The affirmations allowed me to always feel in control.

At 5.05 baby was born, on the 8th March, International Woman’s Day. (Yes!) I can’t quite believe it all took 5 hours, as my body hadn’t really had the chance to build and learn how to deal with the ever growing contractions. All the massage and breathing really got me through it. The (very short) up labour was mostly in my back, so Laurence’s hip and back massages helped sooo much. I changed positions three times during down labour, from all fours, to on my side, but did in the end go onto my back so the doctor could help if ever she needed it (I think this was just because she is premature) but in the end we didn’t need any help at all and I didn’t tear (it’s possible guys!!). Now I’m healing well, just very achy and trying not to sneeze……ever….

Baby Olivia weighed 4lb 6, which is a really good weight for a 34 week premature baby. It has meant she has not been put on a ventilator, and she is breathing fully on her own. 

Even though a birth in the maternity ward was not what I had originally planned, applying all the hypnobirthing techniques we had learnt allowed me to always stay in control, I was offered other interventions from the doctor during the labour and I felt confident and well informed enough to turn them down and know deep down that I could do everything naturally.

Now I look back with pride and admiration that my first birth was such a positive experience, even in uncertain circumstances.