A positive water birth in Prince Charles Hospital
Mum Leah and dad Rhys tell the birth story of baby Arlo, born on Boxing Day in Prince Charles Hospital labour ward. A water birth using hypnobirthing.
Boxing Day 2023
🩵🌈
Our beautiful rainbow baby, Arlo, was born at Prince Charles Hospital naturally in the birth pool (no pain relief).
Born 6 days after my estimated due date.
A sweep was attempted on my actual due date but it was not possible as my cervix was completely closed at the time.
Throughout my pregnancy I practiced my breathing, especially in the bath. Rhys would randomly remind me to do them too 😂 we went on a tour of Tair Afon midwife led unit in Prince Charles Hospital to mentally prepare myself and visualise the space where he would be born.
Christmas evening when getting ready for bed, I had extreme lightning crotch that was constant and the baby was moving like crazy, it was physically impossible to lie down in bed to sleep as it was so uncomfortable. Tried having a bath at around 2am Boxing Day to see if it would help with the pain. Decided to go downstairs for a change of scenery as I knew there was no way I was going to be able to sleep.
Around 6 hours before Arlo was born
Around 5am-6am I suddenly started having back pain and extreme cramps in my lower abdomen, which were coming and going every 2-5 minutes, lasting from 30 seconds up to 2 minutes. I was struggling to talk through them so my partner Rhys phoned PCH for advice and they suggested I should go in.
We parked at the hospital at 7:45am, I was examined on arrival and told I was already 6cm dilated!!
Group Hypnobirthing courses in South Wales, various locations and dates available. Click image for more info
Around 4 hours before Arlo was born
Sadly the birth pool room I had viewed wasn’t available and although I was disappointed that Tair Afon was full at the time I was in labour, I quickly accepted that it didn’t matter and I just needed to get through the labour and birth as best as I could with the only option I was given initially, which was a normal labour room without a pool.
Around 10 minutes later, I was told somebody on the labour ward was not using the pool in their room so I had the option to use that room if I still wanted a water birth, which I accepted. Was taken quickly to that room with the pool. I worked my way through the contractions on all fours in the water.
“I used my hypnobirthing calm breathing throughout and both Rhys and the midwife reminded me to do keep practicing it. ”
I wasn’t able to speak throughout the labour but visualised my baby being in my arms to keep me focused, kept telling myself mentally that the pain is temporary and it was going to be over soon, that my body was capable of doing it.
Rhys spoke throughout which did help distract me, he was telling me it was going to be OK and I was doing a good job, I held/squeezed his arms/hands when I felt like I needed touch for comfort.
Rhys remembered to get my birth comb from the suitcase (I didn’t ask him to get it) and I did use it for a bit in the pool. My birth plan stated I would be open to gas and air, plus Pethidine. The midwife didn’t offer me anything but Rhys remembered my birth plan and asked them to set up the gas and air for me (although I didn’t end up using it anyway as felt like I was coping!!).
Ten minutes before Arlo was born
Around 11:30, my midwife noticed the baby’s heart rate started getting higher, I was told that if I wasn’t able to deliver in the next couple of contractions then I would need to get out of the pool and move to the bed (this gave me that extra bit of adrenaline to push harder).
My waters broke naturally in the pool just before Arlo was born
Arlo was born at 11:40am, after being in the pool for just over 3 hours 🩵
My midwife and partner both reminded me to breathe through the pain and kept me focused on meeting our baby 😊
“I attended Hannah’s hypnobirthing relaxation classes during my pregnancy to mentally prepare myself for labour and birth, something I had always been afraid of. The advice and tips she gave really did play a part in my ideal birth of delivering in the pool naturally. I highly recommend her classes ☺️.”
A message from Hannah @ The Contemporary Birth Company:
A huge congratulations to you and Rhys on the birth of the absolutely gorgeous baby Arlo! It was so lovely to be part of your journey and I’m so glad that your birth experience was a positive one. You smashed it!