"Birth of my baby"

My labour went along well, until it came to a hault, had an examination to see what direction my baby was facing from a doctor which was the most painful part of my entire labour and birth. I was then told my birth was going to be extremely painful following the need of Syntocinon, and was explained in full why having a epidural would be beneficial for me. I chose to have the epidural, though as the anaesthetist was leaving I recall they joked and said they would be seeing me in theatre in a couple of hours. This changed my mind set completely and I then believed I couldn’t give birth naturally. 

Thankfully the midwife I had with me, Emma noticed I was less enthusiastic and really encouraged me, she really went above and beyond. Her knowledge and explanation for everything that was happening or about to really put me and my partner at ease and made me comfortable and confident that I could actually birth myself again. After a couple of hours I was guided through my birth and holding my baby in my arms.

My baby was taken to the Special Care Nursery over night. The following morning I was spoken to by an older Paediatrician, who made me feel inadequate with feeding, despite trying my absolute hardest to express as much colostrum as I could, which I entered the hospital with a decent supply of already. I was told I was not feeding my baby enough, and would need to supplement with formula. This is my first baby and to be told I was not feeding my baby adequately was a big hit to my confidence. Thankfully I was reassured by the midwife’s who had care for myself and my baby over the coming day that there was plenty of brown fat to burn before there was any concern for my baby.

I was visited by Emma the midwife a few days after my birth to check in and see how we were going and she helped boost my confidence again with her encouragement.

I will forever be grateful I birthed on a day Emma was working, and hope if I birth again she will be there again.

My experience was positive and negative but there were a few midwives who I remember for their great care- Emma, Sammy and Nikki.