Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Sarah's Home birth to Redvers Frank
Nic's second Bracken birth to Ella Mae
You've probably already heard from some of the girls in Yoga that I gave birth to Ella Mae on 23rd July at 4.17. She weighed a healthy 7lb 9oz and the birth went really well; I managed without drugs although couldn't quite manage to give birth to the placenta naturally so had to have the injection for that. I was really lucky and managed to get into Braken and have Ella in the Water pool which really helped with the pain. Unfortunately Ella was born posterior which was very painful but it was quick at least, lasting only 3 hours 17 minutes!
I'd love to come in and tell my story, so just let me know when you would like me to come in.
Thanks for all your help again, your techniques were used throughout the pregnancy and birth.
Nic xxx
Wednesday, 13 July 2011
Laura's birth to Mary Ann
I've not been attending the yoga class because my baby girl was born 3 weeks ago on Monday 6th June (her due date!). Unfortunately I didn't get the home birth I so badly wanted but we gave it a good shot, labour started slowly on Sunday morning at 5am with very mild irregular contractions, we had a really nice day at home using my breathing techniques and yoga positions, Phil had my birth plan and was a wonderful support. The midwife came out to us at about 1am and examined me and I was 7cm dilated.
I got into the birth pool about 1.30am, I'm not sure when second stage began but looking back I think I fought it for a while and I wish I had been examined again and encouraged to push because by the time I was pushing which I think was about 5am I was exhausted, the midwife encouraged me to feel for baby's head as I was pushing and as I did this I popped the membrane with my fingers! I got out of the pool and this is when things became too much for me, I couldn't get into any sensible position to push as I had shooting pains up my back and down my hips, baby was in a perfect position so we wonder if maybe the head was pressing on a nerve, and I was starting to worry for baby as time was getting on, an ambulance was called at about 8am and we were taken to Musgrove delivery ward, baby was born at 8.54am, Phil tells me it took 4 pushes once I was in there and she was born.
The midwife came out to check baby the following day and she said she was so impressed with the support Phil had given me, we told her about your couples course! It was definately because of your course that Phil was so relaxed and confident and I'm so glad we did it.
So, Mary Ann was born weighing 7lb 4oz, absolutely perfect without a blemish and completely unaware of the drama! She is beautiful and we're all very happy.
We are already planning number two for next year haha and I will be back to your class then! Please send my best wishes to everyone and if you still here from Elsa could you please give her my love I hope all is well with her little one, I have been thinking of them.
Laura x
SARAH'S BIRTH TO SAMUEL
Hi Patricia,
I just wanted to let you know that I gave birth to our gorgoues little boy; Samuel Philip Marshall on Friday 24th June.
I was 13 days over my due date and had an induction booked for Saturday 25th. To my great delight I went into labour spontaneously in the early hours of Friday morning so avoided induction by hours!! I therefore was able to have the water birth at Bracken that I had really wanted. Eleanor was one of the midwives present for part of it too which was great.
I can honestly say that your yoga classes transformed both my view of the birth during my pregnancy and my experience of it. The breathing techniques were absolutely fantastic. I didn't take to the gas and air -(it made me sick) so I was completely dependent upon the breathing. So thank you very much.
I am now adjusting to the sleep deprivation and other joys of new motherhood, but my husband and I are completely be-sotted with Samuel and spend endless hours watching his funny little expressions.
i would be very happy to come in to give my birth story in a few weeks time if you would like me to,
Sarah Marshall
Monday, 9 May 2011
Hannah gives birth to Theo....
Hannah here from your Monday yoga class!!!
I have baby news!!
We had a baby boy on Good Friday (22nd April) at 4.03pm. We have called him Theo and he weighed 6lbs 7oz's ( 1lb heavier than Faith)
The labour was totally amazing and so different from my 1st. I was so frighten by my first as i felt totally under prepared with no coping strategies..
Again i had a very quick labour... that began with niggles on friday morning but we carried on as normal and went out for a family lunch as planned. During lunch the niggles turned into contractions approx every 10 mins and i could really feel them in my back. We stayed for lunch and i just breathed through them.
We left the pub at about 1.30 and took Faith to our friends house... where my Fiance decided to have a cuppa!!!! we left there at 2 again with contractions ten mins apart but i was coping totally fine with them. Once we got home i packed a bag and made the bed... as you do and called the hosp (Bracken) to let them know i was in labour but i was fine at home and would go in when i was ready. I was waiting for them to get closer together although they were lasting over a minute i though i should wait for them to get closer. I got to hospital at 3.15pm as 'something' felt different!!! They began running the pool and my contractions became alot closer together and the breathing became alot louder. At this point i did start to panic and had the felling of ' i cant do this anymore'!!! i was checked and was 8 cm and had gas and air for a few contractions while i waited for the pool. Both me and lee got in the pool and a soon as we got in i started to push! I was pushing for 10 mins (no time at all i know) but Faith was born in one push!!! The sensation in the pool was completely different to being flat on my back like the 1st time. My body did it all it was amazing .... The 3rd stage i found a little strange and was pleased when it was over as i then felt like i could relax! We went home at 7.30pm ....
It was a whirl wind but an amazing day that i could do again ... I am so much more positive about labour and birth this time and i cant thank you enough for all your help your a total star!!! i would love to come and show him off he is gorgeous!!! xxx
Fliss gives birth to her second baby girl
Our baby girl arrived on saturday's full moon at home in water, all went really well. Midwife arrived as she was being born! All very happy, just very sleep deprived! I used a lot of yoga moves in labour, especially bum circling and lots of vocalising and breathing well which all really helped...so thank you for some great classes! I am still doing yoga poses now to try and help my very sore bruised coxcyx and rear end!! Hope to catch up with you soon and have a chat...
love Fliss
xxx
Monday, 21 March 2011
Welcome, not so little Daisy!
Sorry it has taken me soo long to email. I just wanted to say thank you for the active birth sessions, they were brilliant and very helpful throughout my labour. I had a beautiful not soo little girl called Daisy weighing 10lbs 11.5ozs. I went into hospital fully dilated ready to push, but Daisy got quite stuck and had to be helped by forceps. I managed to do it without any pain relief apart from the homeopathic kit you supplied, and the spinal anaesthetic which I had to have for the forceps which was very last minute.
Thanks again for helping make it such a nice birthing experience.
Julia, Mike and Daisy Adams x
Sal's birth to Xavier
Christell's birth to Jamie Liam
Just to let you know- I had a wonderful birth on Friday. Jamie Liam was born at 5.35pm, weighing 8lb 4 and measuring 56cm long- which I've been told is very long for a baby!
I managed to spend the majority of the labour at home, which I found very relaxing. I spent early labour on the ball progressing to being on all fours and leaning on the sofa. I used the breathing techniques as well, and when the contractions got more intense and I started to loose my breathing technique Jon was fantastic and got me back on track. I found moving around between contraction sped up the labour and soon I was in the hospital pushing! Staff were amazing- ended up going to labour ward as bracken was closed. But I didn't take much notice of it really as i was ready to push and was focusing on that. On the late stages I was kneeling, but right at the end I decided to lie on the left for delivery. I have no idea why- it just felt right. Midwife and student midwife were truly brilliant- I hardly noticed them there. They looked at my birth notes and read how I didn't want to be coached and let me push. I didn't have any pain relief because I didn't feel the need and just focusing on breathing and using the positions from your class were soothing enough for me.
I did have a third degree tear- but it was worth it. It really was a tremendous experience and I can't thank you enough for all the advice and tips- I felt really in control of the experience and focused. I would do it again a million times for Jamie.
Jamie is doing well- breastfeeding has been going well.
Christell and Jamie x
Jake's early arrival
Rachel's home birth
Just to let you know that that I had a little boy on tuesday. The birth was
amazing, I had him at home after 6 hours in the birth pool. The midwives were
brilliant and I managed to have him with no pain releif. He was 8lb 9oz.
Unfortunatly though i had a 3rd degree tear and had to go into hospital
But i'm holding onto my positive birth experience and its all thanks to you :-)
thanks you so much. I'll come in in a couple of weeks to tell my birth story -
i'll keep you posted.
Take care, speak soon and thanks again Rachel xxxx
Jonty's birth
Hi Patricia
Hope all is well. Just a quick email to say that I did not come to Monday’s class because I had my little one on Friday. He is called Jonty James Holcroft and (as you said would be likely) was not on the worryingly small as possibly predicted! He was 6-14oz and is fabulous. Your breathing techniques really helped as I got to 7cm at home through breathing, using the ball and the exercises that you had taught us. Ironically, I went for my Bracken assessment on Thursday afternoon, as they now want you to have a detailed assessment to check your suitability for Bracken . I was in the early throws of labour and contracting while I was there but the midwife who assessed me put it down to practice contractions.
I loved the classes and the advice was really helpful. I also was sick only once thanks to the little pills you gave me. Thanks you so much and good luck to everyone else.
Love Tammy and Jonty
Monday, 14 February 2011
Wecome to Poppy Eloise, born in her caul!
Poppy Eloise was born on 1 February at 7.39 weighing 7lb 7oz. The labour was a very slow start and it took 30 hours to get to 4cm. I was having 3 contractions in 10 minutes and Bracken was busy so went straight to labour ward. There was no one on reception and we were messed around a bit and so everything stopped for a few hours. This was really a blessing in disguise because by the time I was 4-5cm Bracken was free. I went in the pool at 5.00am at 4-5cm and Poppy was born at 7.39am. The pool was amazing and I felt like a different person as soon as I got in the water. I had gas and air until I got the the final stage and then I had nothing. It was amazing how instinct took over and I said to the midwife "the baby is coming" flipped over (I was on my front in the water for the most part) and started to push. My waters had not broken when Poppy came out so the midwife broke my waters when she born. I then got out of the pool and lay on the massive bean bag with Poppy skin to skin on my chest. My midwife (Mandy) was amazing and understood the type of birth I wanted. The after care in Bracken was excellent and we were allowed to stay as long as we wanted. We stayed until about 5pm because I wanted to get a few feeds in before leaving. Breast feeding is going well and Poppy is back to her birth weight within a week.
Thank you for all of your help in the classes - had I not been I would never have thought of going for a water birth.
Catharine
Monday, 11 October 2010
Jo's last minute home birth to 3rd baby Theo
As you know we ended up changing our planned place for birth from Bracken to a water birth at home and with yours and Davina's help, we managed to arrange this! Within 24 hours of deciding on a home water birth we had managed to transform our conservatory into the birthing room with the hired birth pool from Davina set up in place! By the time I had finished the room, I felt very tired and had a bloody show. I had been losing bits and pieces of my mucus plug for about a week with lots of Braxton Hicks! By now I was a week over due! My community midwife has never been the kind of midwife I would recommend or want to deliver my baby and even now she was the only negative factor in the whole shift of birth plans. She was not encouraging of our plans and although she did organise the home birth paperwork, she kept reminding us that it still might not go ahead. I had to repeatedly chase up the home birth box to be delivered. My CM also told me that there would be no available pain relief and that there was no Entonox, but this was not what I was told by the lovely CM we had come round to assess me when I was in the latent stages of labour! However, I was woken up at 3am by vague period type pains on Thurs 23rd Sept. I went to the loo and realised I had had much more of a show and with that, contractions started to come about every 15/20 mins but they weren't really very painful. So I put on my TENS machine and tried to rest until morning. I got up and showered and phoned my CM to inform her that things had started. She sent a lovely CM round as she was busy in clinic and I was told I was 2/3cm dilated but that baby needed to move to a slightly more favourable position before labour would really start so I spent some time on my birth ball and on all fours. By just after lunchtime the contractions intensified and my CM turned up and examined me. She is not very gentle and I knew I must be around 4-5cm and was feeling ready to get in the pool as my TENS machine was beginning to not provide enough relief from the pain. I was trying my best to relax and breathe through each contraction and had some relaxing birth music on but I knew it was time for the warm water to relieve the tension I was feeling. However, on rough examination my CM told me I was still only 2-3cm and 50% effaced which I knew was inaccurate as I had already examined myself just before she got there! Maybe it was the anxiety she created that made me clam up! Tony also didn't like her attitude. We knew she was on duty until 5pm and desperately did not want her to be here to deliver our baby, so we were both relieved when she said she would leave us to it for a bit but that I should not get in the pool yet as I needed to be at least 4-5cm before I could do so or I would risk stopping or stalling labour. After she went, my contractions ramped up another gear and I began to get tearful as I was not coping well with the pain. So after about an hour I examined myself and could feel no thickness to my cervix so knew I was totally effaced and guestimated that I was about 5-6cm dilated. So I got in the pool which instantly relaxed me and I found I could cope better with the contractions and could zone out in between each one to get some much needed rest. By now I was vocalising through my contractions to enable me to cope. It was just Tony and I and Tony was very supportive but had to spend much time regulating the pool temperature to keep it constant.
We realised I was at transition stage when I started talking rubbish and crying! We waited until after my CM's shift finished before phoning labour ward to ask for a midwife. They called one out to us but we had to wait for her to get here. I was wanting Entonox by now but was just about coping. I was starting to feel the urge to push and so in between contractions, examined myself and knew I was fully dilated and could feel baby's head at the top of the birth canal. My waters were intact and I could feel the membranes around baby's head. I remained as calm as I could and Tony told Labour Ward I was starting to want to push. They said they would send a second closer midwife but if he thought delivery was imminent, he should phone an ambulance so the Paramedic could deliver the baby. I continued with the urge to push getting stronger with the next few contractions. Finally the door went just as I had a really powerful contraction and I told Tony I needed the Entonox quickly! Just then I pushed hard and baby's head crowned and I told the midwife..... "his head's crowning!" The midwife rushed in and told Tony to prepare to catch the baby whilst she scrambled around her bag to fetch out some gloves. Baby's body shot out with the next push (all in same contraction) and the midwife just managed to get her gloves on and grab him, brought him to the surface of the water and removed him from inside the intact membranes. He immediately cried heartily! The time was 6:24pm. Meanwhile I was in complete shock and crying and shaking all over. The midwife hadn't even had a chance to introduce herself and said to me, "you were hanging on to him until I got here, weren't you?". To which I replied "yes, I think so". Relief flooded my body as I realised he was fine and we had done it without any drugs or medical intervention.
The midwife said how lucky it was for baby to be delivered in his water sac. I felt sick and shaky due to the speed of delivery and how touch and go it was that the midwife was going to make it in time! But within a couple of hours I started to feel better. Baby latched on straight away and fed for an hour in total. He weighed in at 8lb 10oz with a head circumference of 35cm and a length of 51cm. He was perfect but we couldn't decide on a name and at almost 48 hours old, we finally decided on Theo Jamie. I escaped with a very minor tear so no need for stitches despite the speed of his delivery!
So there we go!!!!! We are recovering well and Tony was and is great - really stepped up to the mark and I can recall him standing there expecting to have to catch his new baby son, like a goal keeper with hands outstretched and a look of concentration and fear right across his face! He said it did not bother him in the slightest to watch Theo coming out into the world, whereas, he's never wanted to be down "business end" before with our other sons! lol
I wanted to say thank you for all the advice and support you have shown both Tony and myself through the classes, couples workshop and texts/phone calls. The homeopathic remedies came in handy too, as did the lavender facial spritz, Rescue Remedy and I found Tony blowing cold air on my face helpful!! I truely think we made the right choice in the end for our birth experience and much of that was due to your advice and guidance. The recommended books were also an excellent reference. As it happened, when I was in labour, I would have been turned away from Musgrove due to how busy they were and transferred to another hospital had we not opted for a home birth!! Little Theo had it all planned out for us and waited until we had all our plans in place before making his special and extremely memorable appearance in this world!!
I have attached a photo of our new baby son and look forward to coming along soon to tell his birth story to the Taunton yoga class and for you all to meet him.
All the best.
Jo x
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Emma's Birth Story
Congratulations to Emma and Adam on the birth of their first baby Isaac: Here's their story:
I really wanted to thank you for every thing you did to help us
prepare ourselves for the birth of Isaac - it was an incredible and
joyful experience. Isaac is beautiful and very loving baby - and is
settling well into this world. He is now 5 days old and is feeding
well, sleeping in the day but still finds the idea of nightime a bit
alien but who can blame him! So... my birth story! It may seem quite
short as my labour cetainly was.
few in the week before so was unsure if they were contractions, I also
had been trying to turn Isaac round, baby spinning website was great,
so I was unsure whether this may be a helping hand to get him to move.
However, I thought I would continue with the day and went to do the
weekly shop where the contractions became more noticeably in gaps of
about 5 minutes. Quite funny when I ran into so many people I know
asking me when the baby was due...soon I thought! Got home made
flapjacks and then a roast dinner.I then had a bit of a show with some
blood. By the time I was finishing food I had to stop what I was doing
during contractions and convinced myself this really was going to
happen. I rang Bracken and said i was fine but warned them I would be
in later. I couldn't eat much and got in the shower/bath and Adam made
sure last bits and pieces were ready. Contractions continued to get
stronger but remained 4-5 minutes apart from start to finish. I was
going to get out of the bath to see whether the contractions
escalated, they did! I was doing my stuff on the ball but by about 9 I
had a strong feeling of needing the loo but when in the bathroom
thought the loo is too small and got in the bath and my waters broke
in the most explosive style. We rang and warned bracken we were on
the way and got me into the car. I have to say this was a bit nerve
wracking bit for me getting to the hospital. The breathing techniques
we learnt had become so imbedded in my experience that despite the
pain, I seemed to know exctly what to do. I also appreciated the
vocalising experiences from the class as I am usually a bit self
concious but the noises flowed and allowed me to communicate with Adam
without having to engage in conversation. On arrival at 11pm l I met
the midwife Eleanor - she read my birthplan, asked me where I had been
introduced to active birthing and when I mentioned your name she said
she knew you and said to just follow what you had said, what I had
learnt and she made Adam and i feel empowerered and able to be fully
involved in the birth. She gave me an internal then asked if I wanted
to feel the baby's head! Birth imminent she filled the pool and I
crawled around on the floor and did a combination of deep and shallow
breathing and a hell of a lot of vocalising - although painful and
amazing and I have to say again a joyful experience. Once in the pool
I politely asked whether I could have my baby!! and Eleanor said yes.
She then sat in the corner and left me to it. I did know what to do,
when to relax and when to push. I found it so strange that I knew I
was ready as my mouth was wide open and my body was then doing the
pushing instinctively. His head came out and I was then elated and I
could feel him wriggling. He came out 'superman style' with one hand
out but I managed to avoid a tear. This stage took 20 minutes! Adam
picked him up and then Eleanor and another midwife helped hand him to
me and we had our first cuddle.He was born at 12.17am (1hour 17 mins
after our arrival!) They helped me out of the pool and put him on my
stomach and we helped him to my breast to feed. He latched on and I
looked at him - a truely wonderful experience. The placenta wasn't
rushing out so eleanor give it a gentle pull that initiated a
contraction that birthed the placenta. She put it in a bowl next to
Isaac.Adam later cut the cord. We were then left alone, brought tea
and toast. We were then asked if we wanted to stay in for the or go
home. We both decided immediately to go home. I had a bath and they
gave Issac a quick look over then we got dressed, put our unopen bags
in the car and took our little boy in the car and drove him home. The
whole birth was phenomenal and the most amazing time of my life -
thankyou so much for giving me the confidence to really experience his
birth and to for us to have such a fantantic time meeting my boy!
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Callum's birth
Baby Callum arrived 1st June, so 11 days late. I’m sure the Clary sage and the reflexology points worked because as soon as my sister had finished massaging my feet the contractions were reasonably strong and regular! Thank you for your help and advice and I’m so glad I came to the classes it made a huge difference!
The birth went well, I started on Bracken and then got moved up to the labour ward as Callums heart beat was racing. After lying on my back for an hour with a monitor strapped nice and tight to my belly, they decided all was well and I got moved back to Bracken.
Things were going well until my waters broke and there was old meconium - which apparently is normal with an over due baby. The midwife on Bracken wasn’t happy so I was sent back up to labour ward. I was quite far on at this point so the move was not appreciated!
On labour ward they insisted on me lying on my back with the monitor strapped to my belly. They couldn’t get a good reading of the baby's heart rate so the strap was getting tighter and tighter! I requested to go on all 4s, but the midwife wasn’t convinced as they couldn’t get a reading with me on my back so thought they wouldn’t be able to get a reading on all 4s either.
At 9am it was shift change, so my 3rd midwife (not keen on 1st one, liked 2nd one and was concerned about who would be my 3rd midwife) Both of us were delighted when Eleanor walked in : )
Eleanor took off my monitor straight away got me off the bed and I gave birth on a birthing stool within the hour. Not the water birth I wanted, but it all worked out in the end. The breathing, the birthing positions and the couples workshop definitely enhanced our experience and gave both Robin and I the confidence we needed for an empowering birth. Thank you for your help advice and support throughout my pregnancy - I would definitely recommend active birth sessions to expectant mothers.
It was a great experience and I’m looking forward to doing it all again : )
Victoria
Congratulations to Clare and Malcolm on the birth of Jasmine
Just to let you know how the birth went . . . . . .I spent as much
time at home as possible. We were the only ones in Bracken (luckily).
The midwife who I think you know - the one who is knowledgable about
aromatherepy - Jane was with us (along with a student) for
the first shift overnight and then Jill took over the following
morning with another student. Jane was more laid back and was fine
about me not wanting any internals etc but Jill was much more time
conscious and as soon as she came on shift basically said that she
accepted I didn't want to have an internal examination but that I
should know it was difficult for her to know at what stage I was at if
I didn't!! She also checked more frequently the baby's heart rate.
After being at Bracken from 11.30 pm on the Tuesday night at about 10
am on the Wednesday I had a really strong desire that I needed to empty
my bowels - I had already done this earlier on and felt that it was
probably what was holding things up. I went with Malcolm to use the
toilet (just off the room with the birthing pool) and after a while
Jill came into the birthing pool room and said that she was going to
deliver the baby and that she didn't mind where she did it - even if it
was in the toilet! I realised later of course that the desire to empty
my bowels was in fact the baby!?! The bean bag I had been using and
cushions were then brought into the pool room and Malcolm suggested
that I go in the pool for a while - they filled the pool up and I went
in. It felt lovely and in this position Jill was able to establish
that I was fully dilated. Unfortunately, I think the water meant my
contractions slowed down - I was in the pool for about 1 1/2 hours. I
got out and went back into the original room I had been in. Jill once
again expressed concern that she felt she really needed to do an
internal examination to see what was 'holding things up'. I agreed as
I was feeling very tired by this stage. She established that the
baby's head was slightly turned so we then tried squats and also used
the birthing chair. As things still did not progress we then
transferred to the room with the bed in it and I climbed on and put my
legs in the stirrups. I felt utterly exhausted at this stage but it
was not long until they could see the head. Jill encouraged me to use
the vocalising effort internally in order to help with the pushing. I
did this as much as possible and eventually birthed the head. I put my
hand down and could feel her head and a lot of hair and a mirror was
brought in so I could see her. It was incredible. One last effort and
she was born. We didn't know the sex but discovered together and were
delighted. Jasmine was placed straight on my chest as I had requested
in my birth plan and I felt really tearful and so happy.
I used my birth ball a lot and found the breathing techniques excellent and did lots of vocalising too!
Malcolm was a fantastic support. I spent a night in Bracken ward which
was really nice as there was only one other new mum on the ward so it
was really peaceful. We came home the following day.
It took me a couple of weeks to get to grips properly with
breastfeeding. I even went back into Bracken ward (when Jasmine was
about a week old) and Jane spent a couple of hours chatting to us and
giving me lots of encouragement (which is I think what I really needed)
and confirmed that I was feeding well and that Jasmine's latch was
fine. I am really pleased that I have perserved with it because it's
fine now.
I just want to say a massive thank you. I gained a great deal from
the Monday evening classes and really valued all your knowledge, advice
and input. I really feel that the birth experience I had was excellent
and I feel that is down in the main to the classes and your teaching.
Also, Malcolm and I really enjoyed the couple workshop in Exeter and feel that it prepared us well for the birth experience.
Jasmine is an absolute joy to have and we are over the moon.
Clare