Birth stories

Birth Story 1 – An emergency caesarean section

‘I had my daughter 7 weeks early on the 7th January 2022 by category 1 caesarean section. I had come in during the middle of the night for monitoring as baby’s movements felt very off. I had felt her move, but my gut instinct was telling me something was wrong. Thought I'd just go in and she would be fine on the monitor, put my mind at rest and I could go home to bed. Turned out baby was in distress and within an hour of being on the monitor, I had to go straight down for a c section.

Unfortunately, I struggled to get hold of my partner which caused me to go into extreme panic. I can’t remember the midwives name who was in triage with me, but she really helped keep me calm. I managed to speak to my partner as I was being wheeled down to theatre telling him to get in right away!

Everything happened very quickly, I had no idea what to expect and was so scared the baby wasn't going to make it. Being on my own was absolutely petrifying but even in the rush to deliver her, all of the staff stayed as calm as they could and tried to make the experience as nice as possible for me. A lovely lady managed to get some photos and videos of baby when she was just born and we've got a lovely video of her crying. My partner made it into theatre a few minutes after she was born so he was able to see her briefly before she was transferred to SCBU.

All of the midwives were so lovely to me when back on the maternity unit and even managed to find me a side room so I could have a bit more privacy. Baby did end up being transferred to Worcester at around 12 hours old which caused me a lot of upset. Thankfully, all of the staff managed to discharge me as quick as possible the next day so I could go and be with baby.

She is 16 months old now and absolutely thriving.’ 

Birth story 2: A vaginal birth after caesarean section (VBAC)

‘In 2019, I had a traumatic birth, but was reassured and calmed throughout from start to finish by the amazing midwife Pat. I ended up with an emergency c-section, but Pat made me feel comfortable throughout and I cannot thank her enough for bringing my baby boy safely into the world, alongside amazing doctors, anaesthetists and maternity support staff. 

In 2021, I went on to have a vaginal birth after a caesarean (VBAC) with midwife Meg, once again phenomenal care given both antenatal and postnatally. This was truly special as I never thought it would happen, and had a caesarean section booked, but I came in to triage in labour and Kelly told me I could do it and I did! Another great midwife within the team. 

Lastly, a massive thanks to the community midwife’s for on-going antenatal care, and both delivery suite and the ward for all the care given in both times I was an inpatient.’  

Birth story 3: Spontaneous labour, epidural and forceps

Many people assumed that being a midwife, I would opt for a home birth but I knew that I needed to feel safe and for me, that was in hospital. My waters broke in the early hours (on my due date!) and contractions steadily intensified throughout the day whilst I pottered about at home. We went to hospital in the late afternoon and I was just about in active labour. My labour was quite slow and I opted to have an epidural. The relief was pretty much instant and I knew I’d made the right decision for me. Labour then progressed quite quickly and our daughter was born by forceps in theatre in the early hours. It felt strange being ‘on the other side’ but all I could think about was how safe I felt which is what I wanted. We were looked after so well by everyone and I will always be so thankful.

Birth Story 4 – A tale of two homebirths

I was lucky enough under the Herefordshire midwives to have not on, but two homebirths, two years apart. After struggling with how my first birth had gone in another county, my midwife suggested a home birth and after 37 weeks my home birth box was delivered. My waters broke at 8am, after informing triage, I stayed at home and played the waiting game. At 1pm contractions began to kick off, midwives informed and they arrived at 2.30pm to set up and support me. I had a student midwife and two midwives. After much support and coaxing, my son was born at 4pm, midwives stayed and tidied until 6pm before leaving us. It was a wonderful home birth, I had never had support like it. The midwives encouraged me to believe in my body and answered every question I had. 

My second home birth began at night time with my waters breaking and contractions kicking off at 1am. After triage and midwives told, we awaited the midwife. At 4am, she arrived and really supported my wishes to be left alone. Another midwife came at 5.30am, but I was in the pushing stage of labour and they respected my choices to “be left to get on with it.” My daughter was born at 6am, after a back to back Labour. The midwives were fantastic in transferring her to my chest, involving her brothers in dressing and weighing her and explaining to my eldest what was going on. My homebirths were absolutely amazing and I will be forever grateful to the midwives who attended and supported me in my births.