I am very happy to report that all went well with the induction and I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on Saturday (39+2 weeks). She weighed 2.66 kg so the estimates were accurate! I found the positive induction stories on your blog (along with all the other hypnobirthing techniques you’ve taught me!) super helpful when preparing and getting into a positive frame of mind for my own induction. I would be honoured if you would consider publishing my story on your blog.
Despite living in Kent I decided to use a private hospital for my pregnancy and birth, The Portland Hospital in London. My mum is an ob-gyn and, given her own history of complications during a pregnancy (which very sadly ended in stillbirth), she sought out and generously sponsored the most expert care for us. I had antenatal care with one of the consultants who work at this hospital (but the appointments were at a nearby clinic).
I had an uncomplicated pregnancy and was hoping for a waterbirth, but found out at 34 weeks that the baby had dropped below the 10th centile (i.e. was classed as small for gestational age) and that induction at 38-39 weeks was recommended. I was quite upset at that, but after reading the relevant medical guidelines and the evidence I decided that following the recommendation was the correct decision for me and the baby. At the next scan the baby appeared to have grown above the 10th centile so I hoped that delaying or avoiding induction might be possible. Unfortunately, at the next scan at 38 weeks, the baby had dropped below the 5th centile and we agreed to go ahead with the plan to induce at 39+1 weeks.
I was on maternity leave by then so spent the time getting relaxing massages and practising hypnobirthing. A big part of my preparation was reading and listening to positive induction stories. I was admitted to the hospital on Friday night at 6pm to have the prostaglandin gel inserted. The doctor also attempted a sweep at the time but my cervix was too high up. I found the exam very uncomfortable but was able to breathe through it. We then went to have a nice dinner and tried to get some sleep at a hotel we’ve booked near the hospital. Around 1am we went back to the hospital for another exam, and I had another gel inserted. I had some period-like cramps which were later revealed to be mild but regular contractions, and at 8am another exam revealed I was 1 cm dilated, which was just enough to get my waters broken.
I then spent a couple of hours bouncing on a birth ball trying to get the contractions going by myself, but there wasn’t much progress so the syntocinon drip was started. I decided not get an epidural right away, and managed the contractions for a while with breathing, massage and sacral counter pressure from my husband, then added a TENS machine and then some gas and air. My husband was brilliant at helping me work the TENS machine in tandem while I administered gas and air to myself. At the next exam I was told I was 3 cm dilated. I was a bit disappointed, as the contractions felt quite intense. I hoped I’d made more progress, but reminded myself that dilation has little to do with progress.
Eventually the contraction got really intense and I requested an epidural. I’m glad I waited with it, because after I got a top up 2.5 hours later, my legs became much heavier and it wasn’t easy to stay mobile. After the epidural top up my doctor advised me to try and get some sleep/rest, and I got into side-lying positions using a peanut ball to keep my pelvis open, put my eye mask on and listened to hypnobirthing audios. I experienced some shivering during this time which I thought was a side effect of the epidural. However, it turned out I was going through transition because the next exam at 7pm revealed that I was fully dilated! Clearly the relaxation had done the trick.
I was given an hour to rest before starting to push. I was advised to push on my back due to the epidural, but I requested that my hips were propped up on either side to make space for my sacrum to move. I also requested warm compresses in lieu of the waterbirth.
The pushing stage was really intense and the epidural had largely worn off by then, so I used gas and air to help take the edge off. After an hour of pushing (which simultaneously felt like 5 minutes and an eternity) our baby girl was born at 9pm on the dot and placed on my tummy. After the cord stopped pulsing my husband cut it and we got a lovely 2 hours of skin to skin time. I could not have hoped for a better birth experience.
I wanted to share my story because induction is often associated with negative experiences, but it was reading and listening to positive induction stories which most helped me stay positive and determined to make my birth experience the best that it could be.
The hospital fees for the birth were about £9000. Antenatal care and consultant fees cost extra, but it’s possible to have antenatal care with the NHS and give birth at a private hospital, or to receive antenatal care from midwives at the hospital rather than a consultant. I also understand that some health insurance plans cover antenatal care and birth at private hospitals (including the Portland). I am glad that we went private as I had a very good birth experience, plus I was able to have continuity of care, where the consultant I saw throughout my pregnancy also delivered my baby.
Thank you again for teaching me the techniques in your excellent course, and for your support when it turned out induction was looming. I really would not have had the positive experience that I did if not for you.
Agata and Taz
