Hi Kat
I wanted to let you know that last Wednesday morning our little boy (name tbc) was born – at 06:36 as the sun rose.  Ross is gunning for the name Sonny (as in sunrise!).

As you might remember I was looking into the option of a homebirth and you put me in touch with various people and resources who could help me with that decision.  I spoke in detail with Philippa Cox at Homerton and afterwards felt that a hospital birth was the best option for me – she explained that the amount of blood I’d lost and the difficulties they’d had removing the placenta the first time around would be risky were i to stay at home and have the same happen this time.  She never told me what to do or which decision was right but empowered me with the right information to make the right choices for me and my baby.

We did go into hospital I was left to progress naturally and peacefully (as per my birthing preferences).  I was being monitored and being given antibiotics (due to GBS) but all in a very considered and non invasive way. 

After an intense few hours of breathing my way through the surges we agreed with the midwife that she could break my waters to bring things on a bit – it was then the hypnobirthing practice kicked in – I didn’t open my eyes again until the end – I sent myself off to beautiful beaches – crashing waves and sunrises, breathing through every surge.  When just over 2 hours later the midwife said she could see his little head  I could hardly believe it – I had been sure that I’d be rushed into theatre at the last minute for a C Section.  Moments later there he was snuggling up in my arms and snuffling away for the breast.

The placenta didn’t come out and I was losing blood so was taken to theatre where they manually removed it.  I was only away from my baby for an hour and I knew he was with Ross in a room nearby having skin to skin with his Daddy.

I feel so pleased with how it all went and so blessed to have had so many people to help me come to the right decision – one of them was you.  And without you there’s no way I would ever have thought having a vbac was possible – and definitely not a drug free one.  I genuinely don’t know how people manage birth without hypnobirthing.

We came home the following day and now settling into family life as a 4 – busy but beautiful times.

Thanks Kat –
see you next time!
lex x