'Rosa classes meant I went into labour with the confidence and knowledge to know whatever path we ended up taking it would be wonderful and it was.'

Sarah and baby Isaac

My experience with Rosa started at 16 weeks pregnant. I soon found the class to be my focus for getting though the week and looked forward to seeing my new friends. Every week we shared our experiences, talked about a new topic and then dutifully did our yoga. Rosa was always flexible and sometimes chatting at the start would spur a different topic than she planned.

Time progressed (with never ending chats, cups of herbal tea and lovely cake after class) and soon enough the 29th June 2008 arrived but no baby! The days passed and Rosa came to visit me to see how I was. Isaac had still not fully engaged and Rosa’s trusty scarf (Rebozo) soon appeared and carefully wiggled Isaac about.

At 5am the next morning (Wednesday the 2^nd July) the contractions started, at 10am felt I wanted to get in the birth pool which we had ordered ready for our home birth. The midwife arrived shortly after and the contractions started to progressively get stronger. We enjoyed the calm of being at home, the water helped to relax me and reduce the discomfort. As the contractions became much stronger I started to use the breathing and pain control techniques taught by Rosa. Towards the end of the morning I started to use the gas and air. The contractions changed and soon found myself pushing, it was very exciting as I could feel Isaac moving with every push. The second midwife and her student turned up at this point. After about 10 minutes of pushing the contraction changed again and I was no longer feeling the need to push.

The midwives helped me out the pool and assesed me, I continued to try to work with the contractions but after an hour Isaac hadn’t progressed any further. We decided I should transfer to Salisbury Hospital. On arrival the consultant confirmed that Isaac was in a difficult position and was also brow presentation. The consultant asked if she could try forceps, but also prep me for theatre in case of any complications. I was taken to theatre, had a spinal block then a small cut was made and they tried forceps. Isaac still refused to budge, but then started to panic. Within seconds the team changed over, two minutes later (8.35pm) Isaac arrived (very loudly) via emergency c-section. Isaac was wrapped up and passed to his very stunned Daddy who held his face next to fine.

After some repair work, I was taken to the ward where we were settled in. The midwife helped me feed Isaac and in a very stunned state I sat in bed staring at Isaac until morning. I made a quick recovery and was allowed to come home on the Friday morning. Rosa was on hand to offer support and soon came to visit us at home, along with my three other friends from class who had given birth in the weeks prior to me. We all sat down for a baby feeding frenzy and a relaxed lunch. Rosa had a cuddle with all the babies.

A few weeks later I visited the class with Isaac to share my birth experience. I was nervous about this as felt my experience wasn’t exactly ‘natural’. Rosa soon explained that every birth experience is worth sharing, by understanding every possible set of events it allows us to have an ideal but also the flexibility to change as the need takes us. Rosa classes meant I went into labour with the confidence and knowledge to know whatever path we ended up taking it would be wonderful……and it was.