Leah - Positive Unmedicated Vaginal Birth in Cork

Pregnancy was a breeze for me, finding out at 19 weeks + 4 days was the struggle! Mentally, coming to terms with being pregnant, delivering a baby, adapting my everyday life choices and adapting my life to suit a baby was the hard part! We had 20 weeks to get organized and to research birth stories to figure out what kind of birth we should aim for! The only negative was that I developed carpel tunnel towards the end however with the help of the midwives in CUMH they posted me hand supports and tips to deal with this problem! 

Feeling over whelmed and information overload I had to narrow down my thoughts! I embraced the pregnancy as much as I could showing off the bump and learning to connect with my baby through the bump! 

After researching positive birth story’s I choose to invest in a tens machine and a winner flow device as I wanted an unmedicated birth, I had to test these out before and had to learn how to use them before the birth. I had asked others about these tools however I received loads of feedback about the tens machine but not so much on the winner flow device, this was unheard of by a lot of women, a midwife that I was speaking to suggested this tool. 

I also drank raspberry leaf tea and expressed colostrum from 37 weeks as this would help to “bring on the labor”.

The whole experience went so well! I woke up at home around 2am with slight pains, I slept through these on and off until about 4am. I tried taking 2 paracetamol which just made me projectile vomit! I began to sway my hips from side to side while leaning over the banister and yoga ball. The pain was coming and going with up to 6 minutes in between contractions. I did not think any of this was labor I was thinking this is my body preparing for labor and this could go on for days.

A few more hours passed and my partner suggested going up to the CUMH for advice. When I arrived at the CUMH at 8:40am they said they would check me and shocked the whole room! I was 8cm and dilating fast, they rang my partner to meet us at reception and by the time we got the delivery suit it was time to push!

I panicked and asked for every medication there was! I spoke about wanting to use my tens machine and winner flow device but it was too late. The midwives were so nice and calmed me in minutes they listened to what I wanted and suggested if I worked with them for 1 hour I would have my baby in my arms. So we got to work.

They monitored the baby’s heart rate with a mobile device so I could move around. In between contractions we shared stories about ourselves, cracked jokes and got to know each other! I called the contractions coming and I decided if I would push or breath through as they were all different! I was on all fours and the baby’s head was there and I could feel it with my hand!

The security and information that the midwives gave me was amazing. I turned over and began to give it my all to push the baby out, the head came out when they announced this I said “everyone exaggerates the ring of fire” then we ran into a bit of trouble the baby wouldn’t take her hand down from her face so we needed intervention. The doctor came in and gave me an episiotomy, within seconds my baby was in my arms!

All the pain drifted away and 2 stitches later I was able to walk out of the delivery suit with my baby girl. I thanked the midwives and said it was so so manageable and it is once you think to yourself, “this pain is not going to last forever” “they do this everyday, they know exactly what is best for Mam and baby” “your body is made to do this” “keep going”

Some challenges I encountered include being told at my 40 week appointment that I would be induced in 10 days if nothing happened naturally. This was not in my birth plans and it did steer my mind in different directions. I was so disappointed in myself as I tried absolutely everything to bring on my labor! From 37 weeks I pumped colostrum, drank raspberry leaf tea, walked thousands of steps daily, completed a ball work out 3 times a day and much more. Hearing this I felt I had to give up. I began researching induction stories to prepare for mine! However at 40 weeks 5 days my labor began. 

After the birth, I kept my placenta and got it made into capsules. I think not enough people know about this option and the benefits were amazing! It was a wise choice for me as I didn’t feel much of the hormone imbalance and I healed well from the birth. I chose to bottle feed my baby and I found that my milk dried up quickly.

If I was to go again I would change nothing, every experience is different not every pregnancy is the same. Just research all types of birth, pain management and interventions so there is no confusion or stress on the day that could be prevented! 

The photo below was taken at 9:25am my Baby girl Priya was born at 10:00am. You can see there was pain, laughter and learning all in this one picture it shows how amazing women really are.

Leah right before the birth of her daughter Priya, supported by her midwife in the birthing suite of CUMH. (Consent has been obtained from midwife photographed for her image to be shared. Unable to contact medical student in corner to obtain consent so their image has been blurred for their privacy)