My birth story

Sean was born early at 36 weeks.  His arrival was a complete surprise – especially when my waters broke at lunchtime in the office! A colleague took me to hospital while my partner came to meet me after a frantic pack of the hospital bag.

During the long drive home (25 miles) my surges started with a vengeance. I was unable to get comfortable as I was unable to move about and became quite scared, I didn’t understand how I was discharged one minute and in a reasonable amount of discomfort the next.  

At 5pm we finally made it back to our home town – and hit the rush hour traffic!  By this point I really need to walk about, but of course couldn’t and needed to keep the seat belt on.  Fortunately, our drive home didn’t last much longer.

Once we got home, things improved dramatically.  I instantly felt more relaxed and happier as I could take some clothes off and get comfortable, the pain gradually started to subside.  Its amazing the effect comfortable surroundings has. He spoke to the hospital.  I then had a bath and shower together whilst he carried out light touch massage.  The light touch massage was the final straw and I went fully into relaxation.  Which was such an amazing state!

My partner realised my labour was moving along quickly and stated I needed to get dressed and go to the hospital.   I was less than co-operative as I was comfortable, had an amazing urge to go to the toilet and really didn’t want to go anywhere.  He finally persuaded me and we left home around 6.45pm.  

We arrived at the maternity unit at 7pm and was seen by a triage midwife.  She declared to my partner the “baby will be here soon” and we went around to the delivery suite.  Sean was born at 7.34pm, with my knickers still around my ankles!  

I had such an amazing labour, despite all the unusual circumstances.  The whole thing lasted 4.5 hours from my first surge without the need for pain relief, including gas and air.

We had a natural third stage.