my POSITIVE BIRTH (induction) story! no stitches or tears, epidural

Added: 2026-05-15

[00:00:00]I thought now would be a good time to do my birth story because it was a positive birth story in comparison to my last one. If anyone watched my videos back then, it was pretty traumatic. Took me such a long time to heal to the point where I was scared to have more kids.

[00:00:12]But I'm so glad cuz I was praying for a positive birth story. Now, it didn't go to plan because obviously my birth plan was I wanted to do the birthing pool unmedicated spontaneous labor when actually I had an induction. I was also in labor for 2 days, but overall it was still such a positive experience. Like I would definitely do it again. My pain tolerance was so much easier. I knew what was going to happen. Yeah, it was just such a It was a really nice calm birth. So, hopefully this can put people at ease, whoever is planned in for an induction, cuz I was so scared for an induction because I think there is a higher risk. Now, you'll have to look into to this yourself. Sorry, I didn't sleep at all last night, but there is a higher risk of emergency C-sections with induction. I don't know how much it increases the uh chances of that, but that's what I was scared of. I really didn't want to get an emergency C-section. Obviously, I had a forceps delivery with my first daughter. I really didn't want that to happen either. So I communicated that to the mid midwives when I was in the hospital and then they gave me really good really good advice while I was there. I think the best thing to do is to just voice your opinions and to voice your fears to the people and the professionals that you're with when you're in that situation. Okay. So from the beginning around 33 weeks my daughter she was now we didn't know the gender at the time or we didn't know the sex at the time. So my baby was she was measuring small but it was still like on the normal scale so they weren't worried. I just had to come in for a few extra scans and go in for more Doppler scans just to check her growth to make sure that there wasn't anything wrong. She was still sort of like in the normal range of her for her size, especially because they had my first daughter on file. So, they knew that I had relatively small babies. Like I went a week over with my first daughter and she was 76 and that's [clears throat] still like small, especially for a baby that's over the due date and I was also a small baby.

[00:01:47]So, they weren't worried. But then around 35, 36 weeks, they did start to get worried because she wasn't actually growing. Now, she was fully developed, like her lungs were developed, her brain was developed, her heart was functioning, but her body just was not growing. Like, she wasn't gaining any weight. Especially in those final few weeks, the baby is supposed to gain about half a pound a week. It's more so their brown fat that's under their skin.

[00:02:10]The fact that she wasn't thriving in the uterus, they thought that it's best if she was to come out. Now I they wanted to book me in schedule me in for an induction when I was around 37 weeks but Jason wasn't even back in Ireland yet.

[00:02:22]So I said is there any way we could push it back for a few days and see um and can I also get a second opinion? Also to always advocate for yourself and ask for a second opinion cuz sometimes especially when it comes to low birth weight a lot of the consultants and the doctors have different opinions. So the guy that I was talking to who wanted to schedule me in for an induction, he then left and asked one of the other doctors and she said, "Okay, we can definitely leave it for another week and just see because she wasn't I don't think she was below it's it's definitely an emergency situation when they're below the 10th percentile and I think she was just teetering on the line of that at this stage. She did eventually go under the 10th percentile which is why they put me in for an emergency. But anyway, so on the my 37w week appointment, they were definitely keeping an eye on me cuz her stomach, her AC uh was very low for her age. When I went in for my next appointment, now I went in on my own. I didn't think that I was going to be induced this day. So, it was just like my normal outpatient appointment. You know, when they check your blood pressure, your urine sample, and then give you a little quick scan to check the baby's heart rate, and everything.

[00:03:20]So, I went in for that, and it was actually a different consultant this time that I'd seen before. I think this is the only problem with the public is that you're seeing a new person every single time. I would have probably preferred to see the same person because again a lot of them do have different opinions on what you should do in this situation when it comes to low birth weight. Now the everybody was obviously lovely and really nice and they just wanted the best for me and my baby. So and I think one of the main risks for a baby with low birth weight or isn't thriving in the womb is that you run [clears throat] you run the risk of still birth which obviously you do not want. Now, I wasn't worried uh at this stage at all because she was so active in my womb that I never felt uh worried.

[00:04:00]Like even when on days where I didn't notice her, even if I had a little bit of chocolate, she'd be kicking and and rolling around and everything. So, I was never worried about that because she was so active. But then obviously when I was told the news, I was obviously balling crying. When I went in for my clinic appointment, I had my scan again, got this. There was a there was two doctors in the room. Went to get a second opinion, came back and I thought it was going to be the same as the week before where they said, "Oh, we could probably push for another week and see how you get on." But she was lower than the 10th percentile. So, I think this was like an emergency situation because she definitely wasn't gaining any weight.

[00:04:31]So, sometimes these scans can be inaccurate, but I had had gone in for so many scans at this stage that they they definitely thought that she was on the smaller end. Initially, they just wanted me to be an inpatient, an emergency inpatient, so that I'd get a another growth assessment scan on like the better machines in the main Ratunda Hospital. So, uh, but you can only get an emergency appointment if you're an inatient. So, that's why they had to admit me. So, I went into the hospital.

[00:04:53]It was like uh midafter afternoon. I had literally drove my dad's car in in the Spire car park cuz I didn't like I thought I'd be going home that day. I hadn't washed my hair. I had a literally I lit I I literally had a slick back in my hair. Was not prepared at all. like if I knew I was going to be admitted to the hospital, I would have had a lovely nice hot shower in my own house and wash my hair, you know, had no fresh undies or socks or anything like that. So, and I hate doing that, you know, making the list for someone to come in to give you stuff. But n anyways, I was admitted after having a little cry. I felt fine then and then I was ringing my mom, ringing everybody uh just to keep them updated what what was going on. And then Jason had to pick up bee from play school and then pack my bag and then come in to see me. So, that was fine.

[00:05:32]And my sister came in to see me, so I wasn't actually that worried. There was a few women who were admitted in the prenetal award ward with the same problem as me, like the low birth weight and probably had to be induced. I had to stay overnight. Jason wasn't allowed to stay with me. They're only allowed to stay with you if you're actually in labor. So Jason went home. I had like the worst sleep of my life. I can't remember why I I wasn't able to sleep. I think I was just on out because I was in a hospital, you know, like you're tossing and turning all night. No one was snoring or anything or there was no drama, but I just um I just couldn't sleep. The next morning I was like, "Oh, [ __ ] I really don't want to go into labor now because I I I was like going my close friends story being like I'm so not asked to give birth right now because I was so tired. Like you know when you you want to be well rested and stuff if you know you're going to go into labor. Like I knew at that stage I was probably going to be induced. So the doctor came in then I was still waiting for my scan. They said that I'd be given a scan first thing in the morning but the consultant at the hospital said there's no need for the scan. We're just going to induce you straight away. We already know that this baby is not growing. So we started out with the I asked as many questions as possible because I wanted to be as well prepared as possible. But anyway, one of the consultants came in and said that I was going to be given first the I think it's a prostaglandon. Is that what it's called? Prost pro prostagaldin prostag glandon. It's the same thing that's found in sperm, but this hormone. It softens your cervix. So, it's in the form of of a pesery. It looks kind of like a small ribbon. It's really tiny like it's not anything to fear. And they put it in just in behind your cervix to try open it up a little bit. Now at that stage when I got my examination, I actually was ephaced enough to get my waters broken at that stage because I knew I knew that I was kind of like getting ready to go into spontaneous labor at this stage of my pregnancy. Now I was 38 weeks but and I went into labor on my first at 41 weeks. So I knew I was going to probably going to go into labor spontaneously anyway. So I thought I might be a little bit dilated. Now that would be the ideal situation because you still could technically go into spontaneous labor. So, I was hoping that just with the pesery um and a lot of movement that I might be able to go into labor then without having to do the oxytocin drip because the oxytocin drip it does cause your contractions to be very very intense and usually quite close together. So, obviously you just don't want to be you want to mitigate as much pain as possible when it comes to something like this. But I think because I was already in the hospital for so long, I was really mentally prepared for what was about to happen. I got two examinations anyway to check my cervix.

[00:07:46]And the second doctor said, "You're probably I could probably break your waters now, which does speed up the process of, you know, labor." But I said, "No, I'm going to go with the pesery first to try open up a little bit more just to actually mentally prepare myself." Cuz I do think that labor a lot of it is to do with your mental space and like your brain power and how connected you are with your body. So, I was I knew I wasn't ready to actually go into labor just then. This was all like, you know, we got randomly a few days of really nice hot sun. So, I was like, I hope I'm allowed to get outside. I was like, no matter what, I need to go outside and like be in nature.

[00:08:16]Especially because like I feel like going into labor is such a spiritual experience. You want to be you want to feel close to nature and like really at peace with yourself and it's very claustrophobic, especially if you're in the cubicle in the hospital behind the godforsaken blue curtain. I just knew from my first labor, um, I didn't want to be stuck behind the blue curtain the whole time. My first labor in comparison, I went into spontane No, it was after a sweep, but I went into spontaneous labor. The next day after the sweep, I was distressed from start to finish. The whole time I was in labor, I stayed in the blue curtain in the cubicle. I was holding my breath. I was really tense. So, obviously, the pain is going to be much, much worse.

[00:08:52]Now, I knew this from my first experience that I wanted to move around.

[00:08:55]But also, when I was asking the midwives questions about induction, what's the best approach possible? Because I kept saying to them, I don't want a forceps.

[00:09:03]don't want an emergency C-section. So, the number one thing that all the midwives would say to you is to make sure that you're moving, be mobile, walk around, do as much as possible. I knew as well from my last time, the best thing to speed up labor especially is to do stairs. It's like, you know, the way people do the curb walking to help them go into spontaneous labor as well. Going into walking up and down stairs and walking up sideways, like doing side lunges up and down stairs helps your baby get into a really good position.

[00:09:28]Now, she was her head was engaged for the past, I think, since I was like 31 weeks. So, I also knew that she was going to have a cone head because I could really feel, especially after the pesery. It wasn't like contractions, but I was getting cramps because her head was so far down. It was I could feel the pressure like on my cervix. So, once I got the peser in, I was in a really positive head space. Jason was with me, but I really thought that I was going to go into labor then. Like, I just thought for some reason I was like the peser will work, you know? So, I was doing the stairs up and down. And in my head, I had like a schedule made to make the day pass quicker. Now, when you're in labor, I feel like time does pass quick anyway, but if you have a little schedule for yourself, so like 20 minutes of stairs, 20 minutes, 20 minutes of outdoor, 20 minutes of rest or 20 minutes of the yoga ball or whatever. Now, we didn't have a yoga ball. I didn't have a pregnancy ball for my whole pregnancy. I didn't have it for the first time either, but one of the midwives was like, "If you have a pregnancy ball as well, you can bring that in and it might help you." And I remembered from one of the comments that I got, if you do the figure of eight or if you do the roll back back and forward, it helps your baby get in the right position and then it speeds up the process of labor and also pushing and stuff. The the priority in my head was to get her in the right position to make the labor an easy experience and also to hopefully avoid getting forceps. My first thing my plan of action after I got the pesery in, I was like, "Okay, I want to take a nice shower. Let's go get a few mini bits and boots." So, I'm literally technically in labor because I've been induced. have my pesery in and I'm like walking around town now. I did start to get really really strong cramps, but it was like a mixture of, you know, like mysterious ar pain when you're on your period. You know, like the shooting pain up your ars, but also you're on your period like first second day of your period. It was like that. It wasn't full-on contractions. But I was walking around town like and also you're really waddling because you're starting to dilate and the head is going down the more that you move around. So I was like proper getting into the zone. So we walked down to Jervis. I went to Boots. I picked out all my mini bits. I got a nice shampoo and conditioner. Got a moisturizer, got a facial spray. I got a few nice fizzy drinks. Then we went back to the hospital. Had a bit of time outside.

[00:11:31]There's lovely. Now, I don't know if anyone I didn't like, if I knew this my first labor experience, I definitely would have spent more time outside, but I just felt more comfortable. You know, when you you're a bit shy the first time you give birth, whereas this time I was definitely like, I want to go do this.

[00:11:45]Is that okay? You know what I mean? I was like communicating to them, I'm going to do this. They also have your number. So like if you're not, you don't need to be in the bed the whole time.

[00:11:51]They call you if like someone's there to check you if you need to be monitored or whatever. So then after we went to the shop, went back, got the baby monitored, you know, their heart rate and everything. Got hooked up to the machines, was getting the heart rate monitored, I sent Jason off to go to Sports Direct, which was only down the road to get me a pregnancy ball because that was next on my agenda. Then after we got the pregnancy ball, we went to this outdoor area, this like outdoor space. Now I think it's where the majority of the midwives and stuff will have their lunch and [ __ ] So I really didn't want to be like it would be so annoying if you on your lunch and this you know [laughter] it was like women in labor haunting you but it really put you off your food. So [gasps] you're just like oh and they're trying to enjoy their little salad. Do you know but anyway so we went out to these benches.

[00:12:30]If you if anyone has um given birth in Ratunda before 2026 you know it's where out near where the outpatients used to be or near like where the private hospital is. There's lovely pink picnic benches and like the sun is directly on there for the majority of the day. So it was brilliant. So I got a bit of sun in and that really helped me relax. We did the stairs again. So again I was doing my schedule doing up and down the stairs, a bit of outdoor time. Then I had the pregnancy ball. So I was doing a little like bouncing on the pregnancy ball figures of eight rolling front and back. The thing that gave me the cramps the most was definitely the stairs and the midwives as well were like the magical stairs. It literally it does help so much to move up and down those [ __ ] stairs. So then at this stage it was like really late in the evening. I thought I was in labor because I was getting like regular cramps, but they weren't like intensifying. So, I was it was a bit annoying. So, Jason was allowed stay over with me at this stage.

[00:13:23]Now, there was a bit more drama than this. I don't know if I'm even going to go into it, but someone's wallet was robbed on my ward. That was really distressing. Now, apparently that is like the I heard the midwives talking about it and they were like, "This has literally never happened in my 5 years of working here." So, it's definitely not a regular thing that happens if anyone is worried. it was someone's partner and I always have beef with um hospital visiting times. It's like one of my things I'm like people should be allowed to have their visitors. I kind of understood after this situation. I definitely understood more why there are visiting hours because it was someone's partner who robbed who robbed a wallet.

[00:13:56]But anyway, she was then moved out of my ward. Thank God because I was like I can't be in labor with with [laughter] if her fella comes back like I'm going to kick up a fuss. But someone else actually got her moved. So then I went to sleep. I couldn't sleep at all because of this drama. There was like someone this the same person like tried to light a smoke in her cubicle. I heard the clicking of the lighter and it was and also I would like to mention because I know there was this a conference up in Draada recently about the abuse that nurses and midwives face and obviously this woman was giving it loads to the midwives refusing to get monitored. Now again let me remind you pregnant everybody's heavily pregnant. The majority of the women in my ward were probably worried about their babies because like if you're admitted into the prenatal ward, it usually means that there's something wrong. Then there was this woman who was like refusing to get monitored, h was trying to light a smoke in the in the cubicle, h fell out of her bed, was like starting fights with people. She started on your one next to her and then given abuse to the midwives, but the midwives treated her with literally the same compassion and kindness as they did with everyone else.

[00:14:56]I was like dumbfounded at how patient they were with her because I was pissed.

[00:15:01]Obviously, like being there, me and all the other women in the ward were pissed off at her. Uh, but the midwives were so kind. All the doctors um and the midwives that were treating her cuz you can hear everything that goes on in the ward, they were so so kind and compassionate to her and made sure that her baby was safe. Um, and she was moved into a private room. But anyway, that's besides the point. It's not even about my birth story. Jason slept over then that night and the contractions, as soon as I lay down on the bed, they completely disappeared. So I presume the the cramps were just the pre actually the feelings of the pressure on my cervix and like maybe the feelings of dilating. So then anyway, I was seen first thing in the morning. Thank god I got one of the doctors that I'd had before in the clinic who did. She was actually the first person to notice that my baby wasn't growing properly. So I was really happy to have her and she's the one who actually broke my waters and she was really nice. She's so smiley.

[00:15:46]Like you definitely you just there's no possible way you could be worried if you have her. Do you know that you know when someone's so positive you're like I'm not worried at all. Like you know what I mean? you could cut me open right here.

[00:15:55]So she then checked if I was dilated and you know you're like oh 7 cm 7 cm. So anyway she had the hand in I was like how how many centimeters am I dilated?

[00:16:04]thinking like cuz I have I've had this peser in for 24 hours and [laughter] she was like you're 2 cm got my waters broken no mcconium thank god because with my first daughter there was mcconium and it was a whole like no it was because I was so distressed I think that bee was then obviously in my uterus she was like what the [ __ ] is going on and quite literally shot herself this time this baby I could still feel her moving the whole time I was so relaxed I was actually really looking forward to giving birth then at this stage because now again I was I've been in this ward for two days at this stage. Two nights at this stage I've had the pesery in for 24 hours. Everybody's, you know, people people are coming in with their hands up your ghee and all.

[00:16:42]At that stage, I was like, I'm just ready to do it. I'm actually excited to feel my first contraction. So, I think that's another added layer of it where I was totally mentally prepared at this stage for labor. I was really comfortable with the hospital, the ward, the midwives that I had. I literally was like, I feel like I'm on a a volleyball team and we're all in this together. I was literally chanting like, "Let's get this [ __ ] baby out up and down the hallways." So then anyway, got my waters broken. I had a lovely shower, washed washed and dried my hair, was doing the bouncing on the uh yoga ball.

[00:17:11]And now Jason at this stage as well is really well prepared because again, we've both done this. We've this ain't our first rodeo. So he's like literally like fanning me with things, spraying uh facial mist. I have this my friend Angel who we actually had the same due date.

[00:17:26]Now she's actually still pregnant, but um we had the same due date. We also had our first babies really close together.

[00:17:32]It was incredible. I can't believe we literally had the same due date. But anyway, she made me this uh motivation spray. So, I was spraying that around the room as well. The midwives loved that. It was so nice. Bouncing up and down on the yoga ball. As soon as my waters were broken, sorry, as soon as your waters are broken, you're hooked up to the machine to check your baby's heart rate so that you know they're not distressed or like anything bad happens.

[00:17:50]She was fine kicking away, but I started feeling contractions almost immediately once my waters are broken. I was like, "Thank fuck." Now, I was a bit apprehensive because when I had the pesery in, I really thought that I was starting to get contractions. So, I was a bit like, is this a contraction or am I just getting the cramps again? I don't really know. So, I was like, okay, this is the plan of action, Jason. We're going to do again the 20 minutes of the stairs, 20 minutes outside, 20 minutes on the ball, then 20 minutes relaxing.

[00:18:12]So, it was just like that over and over again basically for my whole labor. And then when I was hooked up, one of the doctors came in. They had no rooms available now at this stage to actually go even start the oxytocin drip if even if I wanted to because they were all taken up by people in labor. So one of the doctors came in and said, "Would you are you open now to getting the oxytocin drip or do you want to stay in?" Like they were really nice. They were like, "Do you want to stay in for another day and see like how you get on?" Now obviously they don't want you to be in labor for too long once your waters are broken because it increases the risk of infection for your baby. They were like, "Do you want to just see how you get on with your labor or do you want to start the oxytocin drip once a room becomes available?" So, I was like, "I'm actually ready to get this [ __ ] baby out." So, give me the oxytocin drip. Um, and then I was like, I was asking all the questions then, you can't do the birth pool if you're being induced. There's also only one birthing pool in the ratunda anyway. So, there was a high likelihood that I wasn't going to get the room with that. I was asking one of the midwives, h I was like, "Do people do oxytocin drips with unmedicated like without the epidural?" And she was like, "Eh, it's not that common." I was like, "Are people are they psychopaths who are able to do that?" She was like, "People do do it. It's just not very common to do that because your contractions are so intense with the oxytocin drip." So, I was thinking then cuz I really wanted to try do it without the epidural. Um, she said, "Now, some people get the epidural immediately once they start the oxytocin drip, but you can wait to see for a little while to see how you get on." So, I wanted to try that, but then again, I was open to getting the epidural. Now the thing is with my first the reason why I was so against getting epidural epidural is because with my first I thought that I'd gotten just a normal epidural but actually what I got was the spinal and that really hindered my I I couldn't I didn't know when to push. I couldn't feel contractions so I couldn't follow my body's natural cues when it came to labor. And this is a completely different experience with the epidural because I got I'll tell you now when I got the epidural but anyway when I got it it was the like lower dose one. It wasn't the spinal. Now you do get the spinal when you're closer to giving birth. I was probably like seven or eight centimeters dilated, which is why they had to give me the spinal because a normal epidural obviously takes a while to kick in and they thought that I was going to be pushing very very soon, which is why I got the spinal that time.

[00:20:18]The first time around, I was doing like the up and down the stairs and then kind of hanging and squatting off the off the banisters in the stairs. At this stage, I didn't give two monkeys who walked by me. Like, I couldn't give two rats. I was like, "This is a maternity hospital.

[00:20:33]You're obviously going to see women in labor." So, I was like full on in proper labor. I think I did try to leave the did I try to I tried to I was like okay let's go get a coffee and then I was like absolutely I absolutely can't do this I'm proper I am in labor now. So when I was hanging off the stairs I was doing my low tonal breathing. So the the best kind of breath that helped me when I was actually contracting was the and kind of vibrating off my lips. I was trying to do like the but what helped me the most was vibrating my lips together.

[00:21:03]I don't know why but it really really helped. I barely used the birthing comb to be honest. I used it when I was getting the epidural put in and I just held Jason's hands when I was getting my waters broken. That's more just uncomfortable, but it's not that sore.

[00:21:16]It's just like obviously there's someone really, you know, in there. So, it was a bit uncomfortable. But the for the contractions, I found that I didn't really want to be touched. I was kind of I wanted to be like sort of in a squat position and I was doing the the vibrating off the lips and going it was it was exactly like that like that and it was great. I thought that from when I started labor there would be people like you know they're checking how many centimeters dilated you are. I hated that the first time I was in labor because it's so it feels so uncomfortable especially when you're contracting. But no one actually did.

[00:21:48]And even when I started the oxytocin drip, it was only when I started feeling the head come out that I was actually examined, which I really really liked.

[00:21:56]So if it's possible to ask for that, to say only examine me if it's medically ne necessary, I would opt for that again if I'm going to have another baby. I thought that was great, not having to be examined all the time. Like the internal examination, you know, where they check how many centimeters dilated are. Did only I think I did one round of the stairs, one round of sitting outside on the bench in the sun, and then one round on the yoga ball. And then at that stage, I think I was in the bathroom when a midwife came around and said, "There's room available if you want to start your oxytocin drip." And I thought, I'm definitely now again, I didn't know how many centimeters dilated I was because no one was examining, but I was kind of guessing. I was like, I think I'm 4 cm dilated, you know, and but as soon as we got into the room, I was hopping on the yoga ball and I got hooked hooked up to the oxytocin drip.

[00:22:35]So, they start with it's like every half an hour, they they increase the amount of oxytocin in the drip in increments depending on how intense the contractions are. I think I stopped.

[00:22:45]They only increased it twice for me because I was full. I was proper in labor then then. And at one stage, my midwife actually did turn it off because I was like, I can feel the head come out. [laughter] Now, this is when it gets actually really nice because I didn't go for the epidural straight away. I said, I'm going to try feel feel out how many, you know, how much pain I can tolerate. I want to be able to feel it. I want to be able to know what it's like to see how much better I can do this time. But I was still open to getting the epidural. So, anyway, good girl. Oh, she's a sleepy girl. So, first of all, when I got the oxytocin drip, the contractions did really ramp up.

[00:23:17]Like, it was very, very strong. Now, Jason was timing them before I started the oxytocin drip. And what it was was I think I was probably 4 minutes apart, and they were lasting 30 to 45 seconds each time, but they were kind of different each time. But anyway, when I started the oxytocin drip, straight away, they were like 2 minutes apart, but like 30 seconds long, but very, very intense. Really sore. Like, I couldn't speak. I couldn't look at anyone. Like the midwife was asking me questions, I was like and I was kind of hunkered over the bed. Jason did make me a birthing playlist with like all the songs that remind me of us and the family, like stuff we'd listen to in the car together or like what we'd listened to in France when we were having dinner and stuff just to make me feel more at home and like relaxed and we were able to have the lights dim. Now, I was actually really glad that I ended up it was probably when I got given the oxytocin drip, it was probably half 7 in the evening and the sun was setting and I knew I was going to be pushing when it was dark outside. So that was actually really nice because it was really it was definitely more calm for her sake because obviously it's dark in the uterus and then they're coming out and it's dim lights and it was really relaxing. Now I thought I was like please don't let it go um [laughter] you know too far into the night. She was born at like 10 midnight or something so we didn't know which day it was going to be. So the contractions were ramping up then and the midwife was like you just let me know whenever you want when you want the epidural or if you want the epidural I can order it for you and it takes like half an hour to you know it takes like 15 minutes to put in and then it takes like 15 minutes to actually work on your body. So just to keep that in mind. So then anyway it was they swapped shifts so I got a new midwife and my the midwife who delivered her she was such a legend. Oh my god, Christina.

[00:24:52]Um she was from the southern Ital Italy.

[00:24:54]She was so nice and she actually had a low birth baby as well. So, she really put me at ease and she was like, "My little girl is like thriving now, so it's nothing to be worried about." So, then at that stage, once there was the shift um handover, then I was like, "Okay, I think I'm ready for the epidural now." But then one of the other midwives came out and was like, "Sorry, I've just gotten a woman who's like about to give birth and we need the anesthesiologist." So, I was like, "That's okay. I can actually wait."

[00:25:17]During this period, I wasn't even listening to the birth playlist. I think I did at the start for a little while and then I was like, "Actually, I want to watch TV." So Jason set up my I was like hanging over the bed. I was on the yoga ball kind of hang hunkered over the bed. Um and now you kind of have to stay in one position because they have to monitor your B. You're attached to a lot of things is the only problem when you're being induced. There's a lot of wires cuz you're given fluids when you get the epidural. You're given the oxytocin drip. So you have the line in.

[00:25:45]You also have to be monitored so you have loads of straps over your belly. So you can't really be moving around too much. So I just stayed in the yoga ball kind of hunkered over the bed and I was like I want to watch telly. So, I actually watched an episode of First Dates. [laughter] [gasps] I watched an episode of First Dates, finished that. It was really good episode. Watched an episode of First Dates and then I watched an episode of Love is Blind. [laughter] I was like, "This is perfect." Um, and the room was really quiet and like we were really chilled out. I tried to do a Sudoku, but my brain wasn't working properly. It was too hard. Yeah, I tried to do Sudoku as well during it, too. And then once I got the epidural, you're in bed. So, if you do get the epidural and and not the spinal, make try make sure you're in the sideline position with the peanut ball.

[00:26:23]Ask for the peanut ball if you can. It really helps with getting you more dilated. It like increases the chances of dilating and making sure that your baby's in the right position. Try not to stay, you know, on your back. Sometimes then the baby can go back to back with you and it can be it can get them in like a difficult position. The epidural that I had of I don't know if it was because I had the oxytocin drip or the type of epidural that I had, but I could still like really feel the contractions.

[00:26:45]They weren't obviously sore. It was like a lot of pressure. So, but I was glad that that was happening. I was like, I really want to be able to feel this labor so I know when I feel that urge to push. Do you know that kind of way? I had a little nap. I had the peanut thing in between my legs. The as well the only I was so strapped. So, also when you get the epidural, you have to have a catheter in because you can't feel when you need to pee. You can't like get up to pee or whatever. So, I was like strapped in everywhere. That's the only horrible part. Also, actually, sorry, I forgot to talk about getting the epidural in. The sorest part of the whole experience was getting the epidural in. And this is also the scariest cuz you're given like a leaflet being like all the risks of getting an epidural. Now obviously everybody knows what the risks are but then when you see them on the paper you're like oh [ __ ] this is real. It was really really scary. Now obviously everything is fine.

[00:27:28]I've gotten two epidurals before. I was like I could definitely do this again.

[00:27:32]When I got the spinal I didn't feel it at all. Like I really didn't I didn't feel it go in. I think it because at that stage my my contractions were so bad and I was like anything is better than this. But this time getting the epidural in. I don't know if it was because of the anesthesiologist or the type of epidural that I was getting, but there was like a popping. Oh my god.

[00:27:49]Sorry. Sorry if this is scares anyone.

[00:27:50]Now, obviously, I'm fine. You know, there was nothing to worry about. I was like, "That's it. I'm paralyzed." You know, I'm [ __ ] When the needle went in, I there was like a popping on the right side of my hip and then screaming, screaming pain to the point where I actually started screaming. Like, I was scream. Now, like I said, with the contractions I was having, I wasn't screaming in pain. I was like and couldn't talk but with the epidural pain I actually went ah like out loud screaming in pain and I was like that hurts that hurts that hurts and he was like oh as if confused being like it's not supposed to hurt and I was like oh god something something wrong has happened and poor Jason as well was probably [ __ ] himself. So then anyway he something else happens and then there's a popping on the left side.

[00:28:33]So then that was that was terrifying, but uh everything was fine. And then I was scared to lie down being like this is the last time I'm going to lie down ever in my life. I really was like this is horrible. Then when the epidural actually kicked in, my whole body started shivering. My heart rate my the baby's heart rate was fine the whole time, but my heart rate went really really low. So Christina was like, "Oh god." But actually what happened was I fell asleep a little bit. Um and then I was sweating. Now these these are really common um side effects of the epidural.

[00:29:00]But then my whole body was itchy as well. So that but that was really really scary. I was like, "Something something wrong has happened." Like, "This is definitely not right, but it was everything's fine." So, then I fell asleep, had a little bit of a nap with the peanut thing in, and Christina was like, you know, having a cup of coffee.

[00:29:13]We'll probably start pushing in a few hours, blah, blah, blah. Um, and then I woke up and I could just feel, no, again, I could feel contractions, but they just weren't really, really sore, really painful. I could feel how close together they were. And then I was like, I can feel the head come out.

[00:29:28]>> [laughter] >> I was like, "Jason, uh, I think you better get Christina cuz I can literally feel the head coming out." Now, [gasps] she was in such a good position, but I could actually feel the the the pushing.

[00:29:39]You know, you'll feel the crack contractions are kind of squeezing. Um, well, first of all, you can feel like your hips kind of pull apart and then and then sort of a squeezing feeling on your uterus, but I could then feel, you know, the p it was like a pushing, you know. So then I was kind of asleep, half asleep, and then once I could feel the baby come out, I was kind of testing to see if I could push. This is was what I was most scared of because I didn't get to push with my first daughter. I didn't know if I was going to be good at it. I thought I was just going to [ __ ] myself on the table sort of thing cuz I've I haven't done it properly before. And it's hard to know how to like push something like I got the remember the if anyone remembers the menstrual cup story. I don't know if anyone remembers.

[00:30:15]I got a menstrual cup stuck in my vagina and when I was on the phone to the nurse, she was like, "Can you push it out?" And I was like, "No." So that's my big fear. And then I had to go to the retunda and they had to remove it.

[00:30:25]Someone had to put their hand up.

[00:30:26]Anyway, they got it out in the end.

[00:30:28]Everything's okay. It's not swimming around my uterus. That can't happen anyway because your cervix is there.

[00:30:33]Anyway, so when I could feel the head come out, got Christina, she tested to see how many centimeters dilated it was.

[00:30:39]And she was like, "You're only 7 cm dilated." And I was like, "That doesn't make sense because I really can feel the head come out." Then um she was like, "Okay, I'll check you now in 5 minutes."

[00:30:47]So she pulled the arm out and then went back in and was like, "Oh, your cervix is completely gone now." And now that was like one the difference between one contraction. So she was like, "Okay, you could probably start um pushing in the next 15 to 20 minutes cuz we don't want to go if you go too early, you increase the chances of ripping and then if you go too late, the baby might get start to get distressed." So she was like, "Okay, we're going to start in 15 to 20 minutes." So she went off then. I think she needed to help some other I think she was the only senior midwife on call or something at the time. So she kind of had to monitor people, but she was like available. So then anyway, 5 minutes went by and I was like, "Jason, I really feel like I do need to push now." So she came back in, she was like, "Okay, let's get the show on the road." So she was like, "And now I had asked beforehand when I first went in. I was like, when after I give birth, I just I don't want to keep the placenta, but I just want to know what it looks like cuz I didn't get to see it the first time." And then I wanted Jason to cut the cord. I wanted Jason to announce the sex of the baby cuz obviously we kept it as a surprise.

[00:31:41]Basically, she I was like, "Christina, listen. I don't think I'm going to be good at pushing. I haven't really done it before. I'm scared of getting the forceps. I'm scared of the baby getting um distressed because I know if you're pushing for too long, they'll really start to get upset because every time um there's one of those contractions when they're pushed down into the birth canal, the baby kind of heart rate drops once their head gets squeezed. So, obviously the more times that that happens um the more chance the baby is going to get a bit scared. So, I was like, I really don't want to be pushing for long. I don't know if I'm good at this. So, she was like, "What you're going to do is you're going to fill your lungs with air, and then you're not going to blow out when you're pushing.

[00:32:16]You're going to push as hard as you possibly can." And I also saw on Tik Tok being like, "To push as if you're doing a crunch, not push as if you're pushing out a poo." But she was like, "Just push and open." Would I concentrated as well the whole time that I was in labor?

[00:32:30]Because the first time I was so tense every time I got a contraction and when I'm nervous or scared, I actually clench my pelvic floor. So, but when you're obviously in labor, you want to relax your pelvic floor and imagine it opening like a flower, you know? So, the whole time I was like, "Okay, I'm going to imagine my vagina." You literally just imagine your vagina opening. [laughter] That's that's the best way I could describe it. So, I filled my lungs with air. This is the only time I was then sort of making noise. I I think during the whole labor cuz I was really pushing for my dear life cuz I was like, I don't want to get forceps. I don't want to get a C-section. So, I was imagining myself opening and I could feel the contractions coming and I was feeling Mel's air and going as hard as I could three times for each contraction and I got her out in three contractions. So, she I started pushing at like 10 to midnight and she came out at 9:00 past midnight. So, it really wasn't a long time pushing at all and it was like three or four contractions. I think the first contraction I had was kind of like a practice run because again I was being coached on how to push. I didn't really know how to do properly. So, she was like, "You have to hold the crunch for the push for longer." I was doing them too short. But anyway, got her out. Uh, the head was out first. I got to see it.

[00:33:37]Jason, it was like the whole thing was so relaxed. She was like, "Look, the head's out." And I looked down and I was like, "Yeah, there's her head now." Now, with Bee, she started crying as soon as her head was out. So, there was a bit more reassurance there. Whereas with her, it took her a while to actually make a noise. So, we were a bit worried.

[00:33:50]And she was also very purple. Um, so the head was out, then got the then got the body out. And she was like kind of in shock when she first came out. So, she was but she was moving. So, I actually wasn't that worried, but Jason was like, "Is she okay? Is she okay? what's happening. And then after about 30 seconds, the longest 30 seconds of our lives, she did start crying. She took a while to latch on now. She's flying it now with the with the breastfeeding, but she did take a long time because she is so tiny. I think it was like overwhelming for her. And also, she came out early. She was like, "This is too early. I should still be inside you, mama." Do you know? So, um, it did take her take us it took me probably about half an hour to get her latched on.

[00:34:24]Eventually, I got her on with the sideline position. I tried loads of different types of positions and then once I breastfed her, I just puked my ring up. I didn't even get to have the tea and toast. Didn't even have a sip of the tea. I think I had a bite or or two of the toast and vomited it up. So, I was getting sick then for the rest of the time. I was [ __ ] out of it. And um got myself into the wheelchair, got pushed to the postnatal ward at like 1:00 a.m. Had a lovely night mid midwife. Her name is Sasha. She got me an anti-nausea medication. I don't know why. I was like I'd I've I've been like pumped up with drugs for the past two days. And when she was like, "Do you want an anti-nausea medication?" I was like, "What are the side effects?" as if like that's the [laughter] the most of my worries. Like that's literally the least of my worries right now. An anti-nausea medication cuz I was really worried about Jason leaving and then me like not being able to pick her up and then being stuck in the you know getting sick the whole night. So I had the nont anti-nausea medication uh the injection and that sorted me right out. I actually got a bit of a sleep cuz they're not really that hungry the first night they come out. They just kind of want comfort. So I breastfed her I'd say three times throughout the night and had a bit of had a bit of a kip. The only problem, someone was snoring now next to me, but like it wasn't a big deal. It was fine. I got over it. Yeah, she's great. She's only six pounds now. So, I'm about 2 weeks postpartum. She's only six pounds now. If that gives you any idea of how tiny she was, she was measuring in the 9th percentile. I pushed her out with no no tears, no stitches, but probably just due to the fact that she's so small rather than me being good at pushing or like me having a wide set vagina. Oh, also in between contractions, I asked for the warm compress, but apparently that's like routine. I mean, they do that anyway with everybody who's pushing, but I made sure to ask. So, they like wet um a maternity pad in warm water and then put it on your paranneeium in between pushes to reduce the chances of tearing. So, I would ask for that as well if you're planning on giving birth vaginally. So, yeah, I I think the fact that I had no stitches, no tears, it really like sped up the the healing process. Like I feel fantastic now. I was just a bit sore like around my back and you get you still do obviously get that pressure from when your organs are relocating themselves but overall had a fantastic birth experience. It was such a positive nice like relaxing time. The lights were [clears throat] dimmed the whole time that I was in labor. She's doing great.

[00:36:33]A if you have any other questions do ask.

[00:36:36]I probably forgotten to mention something. I think the best thing to do is to ask questions especially when you're in the hospital. Ask as much questions as possible to put yourself at ease. I think the hardest part is the unknown. It makes it scarier and then it will make the pain worse. So to make sure that you ask as many questions as possible and get yourself moving, you know, up and down those stairs. They're like magical stairs in the rotunda. And get outside. So yeah, if you have any questions, let me know and subscribe and like and that's it. Yeah.