Molli’s calm breathing helped her stay focussed during her fast labour

Story by Molli & Owen

At 39 weeks I started having intense braxton hicks, I lost my mucus plug, I experienced period like cramps and back pain that was ongoing on and off for about a week.

At 40 weeks and 2 days the real labour pains begun without realising that we queried may have been intense braxton hicks due to the irregularity of them, we watched a movie and had a nap. As they became more obvious I got in the shower and my partner and I soon realised labour had started where we began timing the contractions where they continued to be so irregular and quickly increased very quickly in intensity.

We continued to labour at home expecting this phase to go over night, I lay down to rest knowing labour was coming I needed to conserve my energy when they moved to 4 minutes apart, I couldn’t talk through them, I became so withdrawn and was contemplating how we would get to the hospital while being in so much physical pain, desperate for pain relief and unaware that I was close to transitioning.

Luckily, we made the decision to go to the hospital, we had a 30 minute trip ahead to the hospital where contractions went from 4 minutes to 1-2 minutes apart upon arriving at the hospital.

Slowing my breathing down and using calm breaths was my only savour in the car as it was too fast to get out any labour tools such my birth comb, tens machine or heat pack.

We arrived at the hospital where I got on the floor of the car park trying to find some sort of relieving position to help me through the contractions I was having. We walked into the maternity ward where we opened the doors introduced myself while in tears, then bearing down on the floor of the maternity ward entrance where my initial waters broke, and I involuntarily pushed for the first time.

The midwives rushed us into a birth suite where I gravitated straight toward the lounge where I got on my knees and involuntarily again pushing for the second time.

The midwives got me onto the bed and completed a cervical check and advised they could feel our babies head and she was coming, we were so shocked at the speed of the labour and the pain intensity but at the same time were thrilled we didn’t have the wait any longer and our baby was almost here.

I used the gas for pain relief which was extremely helpful in assisting me in slowing down my breathing and calm breaths, after a few more pushes our perfect baby was born only minutes after arriving at the hospital.

It was a beautiful birth, my partner caught her and put her on my chest, moments later he lifted her up to announce she was a perfect little girl.

The tools and knowledge we learnt in Calmbirth was invaluable as it aided in recognising the imperative signs to move to the hospital otherwise we may have been too late to make it to the hospital. With a lack of time to prepare and set up any pain relief I really relied on my calm breaths to release the natural oxytocin in my body and at a time where I was so overwhelmed and in pain it was the main technique, I was able to ground myself and assist with the pain.