Emma’s Story
The Birth of Aria.
On Monday 22nd November I was booked in for an induction at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh. We were recommended to book an induction for full term as we conceived using IVF and we wanted baby to be monitored. I had been having contractions over the weekend and when I phoned triage the morning of induction they asked me to come in for a check, .....so a few hours later they kept me in and monitored me.
I took my tablet in with me to watch a few films I had downloaded. My husband and I watched Eurovision film with Will Ferrel which is quite funny so that made me feel relaxed whilst I waited out the contractions. I used my Tens machine which helped me to focus on something else. Highly recommend using one! You can crank up the intensity of it to suit yourself.
At 11:30pm, we went to the labour suite - I was 4cm dilated all by myself 👍 which I didn't think I could do! They were going to use a balloon to progress things along but realised they didn't need to. My husband had gone home about 10pm, only to get called back to the hospital an hour later!
I had own room to give birth in which had fairy lights up above the bed/chair and it had its own bathroom. It was nice and relaxed. The midwives popped on a diffuser for me which was relaxing - lavender and clary sage which made me feel like I was in a spa!
I was having regular contractions and what made me laugh was x2 of the midwives went on their break...whilst a head midwive came in to see me and asked how I was doing. I said I feel like I need to poo and she said how long have you felt like that for. I said quite a while...so she did a sweep and a check and said “oh your baby is right there, I need to get those 2 back of their breaks!”
My daughter was on her way! The midwives could see her head of dark hair. They were so supportive. I felt like I was running a race and the midwives were cheering me on along with my husband saying “that's it - come on, she's right there you’re doing so well”. Since I have a tilted womb my daughter kept slipping back up and down when contractions where happening. We then used the fake oxytocin drip to help things progress as I was getting tired.
I only used tens machine and gas and air, and the midwives kept giving me cold flannels for my head and helping me get into positions I was more comfortable in. Using my hypnobirthing breathing techniques and focusing on my lovely baby and what she was going to look like made me feel so relaxed.
My daughter Aria was then born 9am Tuesday 23rd November 7lbs 13oz. That feeling of tiredness and like I was about to cry had gone once she was placed in my arms.
I lost lots of blood (1.4 litres) and had 3rd degree tear so had to go to theatre and was put under general anesthetic. My husband gave Aria a syringe of aptamil milk whilst I was in theatre as I was unable to breast feed straight away. I woke up to my husband wearing his scrubs sitting next to me in recovery, feeling very reassured that everything was okay. Was in high dependency ward for my tea and toast whilst waiting on blood results - was also given injection to prevent blood clots. All was fine with blood results just on the lower side but I didn't need a transfusion.
I then moved to the post natal ward for the rest of the evening where all the midwives were so helpful with helping me change Aria as I was unable to move with having catheter in. From what I thought giving birth was like… that was actually so far from what it was like for me in real life, this was such a positive experience for me!
Emma gave birth in the Labour Suite at the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh.
