'The whole birth was amazing and I felt empowered to make it the way it was because of the course.'

Lizzie and baby Ellie

I had attended the 6 week preparation course run by Rosa in Southbourne, and following that the one day birth preparation workshop with my husband. He said he felt that following the workshop he was able to understand his role in the birth better - something which the hospital ante-natal classes had not prepared him for. Following the courses, I had planned for a water birth at Bournemouth hospital, and hoped to need no drugs or interventions.

My due date came and went, and at one week over I went to see the midwife who did a stretch and sweep, and I was already 1 cm dilated - and looked 'favourable'! However, the midwife said she thought the baby was a bit small, and I had to have a scan that afternoon. They found that my placenta wasn't working properly anymore, and that meant that the baby wasn't getting enough nutrients and that its stomach had shrunk to that of a 35 week old baby. So, it was off to Poole hospital straight away, and I was put onto a monitor to see if the baby was ok. I was already having very mild contractions which I couldn't feel and the baby's heart rate was fine, but the doctors weren't happy, and decided to admit me and to do an induction as soon as possible. I was a bit upset as I didn't want to be induced as it meant having to have the baby at Poole hospital not at Bournemouth and a

water birth.

The following morning I had another stretch and sweep, and everything was looking good and having dilated to 2cm, meant that I didn’t have to have any drugs and could have my waters broken when a bed became available. That evening at 7pm I had my waters broken, and after a very short walk, the contractions started, and they were very strong straight away. I put on the TENS machine which helped loads, and helped me feel in control, and laboured on my knees to start with, with back rubbing and pressure in the right places from my husband which Rosa had showed us during the workshop.

Everything happened quite quickly, and I used gas and air and vocalised a lot, which Rosa had taught us and allowed me to release the pain in a controlled way. After 4 hours, I was ready to push, and used the vocalisation to control my pushing, and using the TENS machine again allowed me to feel in control by using the booster button.

After pushing for a short while, I had to have a small cut to help her out, and Ellie was born following one enormous push. Her cord was cut quickly as she had to be checked over because her heartbeat had slowed, and because of that I couldn't birth the placenta naturally which I had wanted. But I got the drug free birth which I wanted and she fed straight away when she was brought back to me. The whole birth was amazing and I felt empowered to make it the way it was because of the course, and its something I am able to look back on with enjoyment, not fear or dread, but joy.