Leilia’s Birth Story – What birth taught me…

After a very positive and uneventful pregnancy, I was surprised to experience early labour symptoms for 3 weeks before our son’s arrival. The extensive early labour period was extremely mentally challenging and draining. However, I felt confident using the techniques I had learnt at Calmbirth to cope with the discomfort. At 10pm at 38 weeks my waters broke, and contractions were immediately 7 minutes apart. As a first time mum I figured my labour would last a long time, so suggested my partner get some rest. I laboured alone for a while using all the breathing techniques we had learnt in class. Focusing on my breath during this stage kept me calm and centred. I also used a tens machine and made sure to stay on my feet or on all fours to help with pain relief.

At 1:30am my partner came into our spare room and at this stage my contractions were 3 minutes apart. My partner couldn’t believe how close the contractions were and suggested we go to hospital. I was in complete denial that our baby was coming anytime soon, so suggested we just let our doula know. At 3am our doula came over and by this point my contractions were about 2 minutes apart. I was still saying I didn’t think I needed to go to the hospital as I kept telling myself this was only the beginning (boy was I wrong!).

At 3:45am we decided to leave for hospital. Moving positions to walk and get into the car was not enjoyable. It was at this point my partner and doula realised I was in transition – of course I was still assuming I had hours of labour to go. We arrived at the hospital at around 4am and met our midwife there. At 4:15 I got into the birth pool and immediately experienced involuntary pushing.

The birth pool was magical. In between contractions I was calm and singing along to my birth playlist. At 4:53, I delivered our son, Alfie, with my own hands, with my partner right beside me. 

While a drug free birth is definitely no walk in the park, I felt so confident from what we had learnt from Calmbirth. The tools also got us through the 3 weeks of early labour! Understanding how we could work with our baby during labour was such a gift. We leant on these skills so heavily and are so grateful for the course. I think about my birth every day and how magical it was and can’t wait to hopefully experience it again.

My Message to share about what birth taught me:

At 23 I was delivered some dire fertility news which resulted in my partner and I bringing our plans to start a family forward. At 25 I fell pregnant. While I was overjoyed to be carrying our baby, I was so scared about parenthood and how I would mother a baby, when I felt like a baby myself.

Birth, and particularly an unmedicated birth, showed me that I am capable of so much more than I give myself credit for. Enduring the challenges, discomfort and power of birth created a foundation of faith and trust in myself, my body, and my natural maternal instincts. 

The most empowered and transformed I have ever felt in my life was birthing our son. Birth has given me a newfound respect for my body and what it can do, and a sense of pride in my mental strength.