babytots
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I thought I would post my birth story as I know I searched many looking for positive stories of a natural birth after a previous 4th degree tear so hopefully this will help others in the same boat wondering wether or not to go ahead with a natural delivery.
So firstly a bit of my history.
Baby 1 girl Waterbirth no problems
Baby 2 girl Waterbirth no problems
Baby 3 girl induction at 19 weeks daughter grew her wings no problems
Baby 4 boy induction at 38 weeks back to back labour 2nd degree tear born standing up
Baby 5 boy induction at 38 weeks 4th degree tear due to being born too quickly without guidance (less then a minute pushing with midwife turning up just as he was born). Spent the whole labour on a bed on my back as babies heart rate kept dropping.
And now present day. I was advised a c-section for any future babies after the birth of my 5th baby but upon having a check when he was 6 months old to asses the tear I was told I could try a vaginal delivery if I so wished as the tear hadn't healed as it should.
I spent most of this pregnancy trying to weigh up the pros and cons and decided in the end I wanted to go for a vaginal birth as it was my last baby and I wanted to experience labour once last time. Plus I knew with his due date being in the summer holidays it would be harder to look after my 4 eldest and a baby whilst recovering from major surgery.
My consultant backed my plans all the way and my surgeon gave me the green light for a natural birth.
I was due to see a consultant next week to book my induction but due to having problems related to my tear I went to see my usual consultant on Thursday and she agreed to bring my induction forward. The ward had a space for me that same day so after sorting out childcare off to the hospital we went.
Once there I was placed on a ctg which was already picking up on contractions and at 5pm I had prostin inserted. It didn't take long for the contractions to become more regular and after 6 hours I was 2-3cm. Midwife did a stretch and sweep and told me that my waters would be broken in the morning. At 5am my contractions stepped up a gear becoming harder to breath through and more painful. At around 7am I was examined again and was 3-4cm and I was transferred to labour ward.
The midwife there did her usual checks and found baby to be back to back which instantly panicked me as I knew that not only would the labour be more painful but that there was more of a risk of tearing but I tried to keep a positive frame of mind telling myself I could do this.
I really really hoped to have a Waterbirth as I had read that the pool can help with avoiding repeat tears and I was ecstatic when I found out the pool was free. At around 7.45 I climbed in the pool at which point the contractions were getting really painful (thank god for gas and air that was my saviour). They examined me at around 8.15 to see how far I was on and I was 5-6cm. My waters were still intact at this stage so I asked them to break them for me as I was struggling to cope with the contractions and knew that as soon as my waters broke I would deliver swiftly after like I did with my boys.
At this point the consultant in charge came to see me as he wasn't happy about me giving birth in the pool because of my tear and tried to dictate to me on what I should do. Hayden however stuck up for his mummy and with the next contraction his head started to come and the consultant had no choice but to shut up and let me get on with it.
I had the most amazing midwife and student midwife with me who helped guide me with my pushing (which btw was the hardest thing to do having to stop pushing and go against what my body was naturally doing). Without them I wouldn't of got the birth I wanted so I did my best to listen and stay in control.
At 8.58am Hayden-Lee Andrew was born and the overwhelming feeling of knowing I did it I got the birth that I wanted was just amazing.
And to my surprise after being checked I didn't suffer one tear not even a graze. I was fully expecting to be told I had caused more damage to my previous tear and to be whisked away for surgery I was just elated that that wasn't the case.
After a few days in hospital relating to Hayden's health we are now home and I couldn't be happier. X
So firstly a bit of my history.
Baby 1 girl Waterbirth no problems
Baby 2 girl Waterbirth no problems
Baby 3 girl induction at 19 weeks daughter grew her wings no problems
Baby 4 boy induction at 38 weeks back to back labour 2nd degree tear born standing up
Baby 5 boy induction at 38 weeks 4th degree tear due to being born too quickly without guidance (less then a minute pushing with midwife turning up just as he was born). Spent the whole labour on a bed on my back as babies heart rate kept dropping.
And now present day. I was advised a c-section for any future babies after the birth of my 5th baby but upon having a check when he was 6 months old to asses the tear I was told I could try a vaginal delivery if I so wished as the tear hadn't healed as it should.
I spent most of this pregnancy trying to weigh up the pros and cons and decided in the end I wanted to go for a vaginal birth as it was my last baby and I wanted to experience labour once last time. Plus I knew with his due date being in the summer holidays it would be harder to look after my 4 eldest and a baby whilst recovering from major surgery.
My consultant backed my plans all the way and my surgeon gave me the green light for a natural birth.
I was due to see a consultant next week to book my induction but due to having problems related to my tear I went to see my usual consultant on Thursday and she agreed to bring my induction forward. The ward had a space for me that same day so after sorting out childcare off to the hospital we went.
Once there I was placed on a ctg which was already picking up on contractions and at 5pm I had prostin inserted. It didn't take long for the contractions to become more regular and after 6 hours I was 2-3cm. Midwife did a stretch and sweep and told me that my waters would be broken in the morning. At 5am my contractions stepped up a gear becoming harder to breath through and more painful. At around 7am I was examined again and was 3-4cm and I was transferred to labour ward.
The midwife there did her usual checks and found baby to be back to back which instantly panicked me as I knew that not only would the labour be more painful but that there was more of a risk of tearing but I tried to keep a positive frame of mind telling myself I could do this.
I really really hoped to have a Waterbirth as I had read that the pool can help with avoiding repeat tears and I was ecstatic when I found out the pool was free. At around 7.45 I climbed in the pool at which point the contractions were getting really painful (thank god for gas and air that was my saviour). They examined me at around 8.15 to see how far I was on and I was 5-6cm. My waters were still intact at this stage so I asked them to break them for me as I was struggling to cope with the contractions and knew that as soon as my waters broke I would deliver swiftly after like I did with my boys.
At this point the consultant in charge came to see me as he wasn't happy about me giving birth in the pool because of my tear and tried to dictate to me on what I should do. Hayden however stuck up for his mummy and with the next contraction his head started to come and the consultant had no choice but to shut up and let me get on with it.
I had the most amazing midwife and student midwife with me who helped guide me with my pushing (which btw was the hardest thing to do having to stop pushing and go against what my body was naturally doing). Without them I wouldn't of got the birth I wanted so I did my best to listen and stay in control.
At 8.58am Hayden-Lee Andrew was born and the overwhelming feeling of knowing I did it I got the birth that I wanted was just amazing.
And to my surprise after being checked I didn't suffer one tear not even a graze. I was fully expecting to be told I had caused more damage to my previous tear and to be whisked away for surgery I was just elated that that wasn't the case.
After a few days in hospital relating to Hayden's health we are now home and I couldn't be happier. X
