Calmbirth experiences are something I so look forward to hearing after our classes! Every couple’s experience is different, but each time I love hearing how they were able to put the class components to good use. I find it so humbling reading what aspects they felt were helpful and which parts they felt they didn’t use, and learning more about what works for different people over time. This story was no different – a truly individual experience, one with twists and turns, but a great example of putting the Calmbirth tools and techniques into practice.
Thank you to this couple for sharing their experiences! ? They provided the following review:
The preparation and leadup to birth: Calmbirth Experience
Having heard a lot of traumatic birth stories, I was motivated to try for a positive birth. I was keen to avoid major abdominal surgery if I could. We did the Calmbirth course in an effort to prepare for birth. I credit this preparation with sparing us from birth trauma.
Maybe most importantly, we used the birth map and information in the Calmbirth booklet to research evidence to inform our requests of birth unit staff. We discussed this with a midwife before labour. I felt our requests were well respected by the midwives on our birthing day.
I was able to navigate breech presentation and had successful ECV at 37 weeks. We used spinning babies, as taught in the Calmbirth class, in the leadup to the ECV. I was able to confidently decline a stretch and sweep offered at 38 weeks. This was possible due to information I knew from, and had researched after, the Calmbirth course. We didn’t need to have difficult conversations about induction again because my baby initiated labour just after her due date.
The Calmbirth Experience: A birth story
Getting into active labour was long and challenging. I needed anti-nausea medication and had terrible back pain. We went to the hospital but ended up coming home until the contractions were much more intense and regular. My partner used acupressure techniques to try keep labour rolling and relieve the back pain. We watched comedies and danced to David Bowie in the lounge room.
When we returned to the hospital I’m glad I knew to request not to be told dilation; I’m certain this would have been discouraging. I immediately jumped in the shower (too tepid! But better than nothing). Later, we used the bath and I requested gas to take the edge off. Because I was in the bath, I didn’t have the sterile water injections for the back pain.
While the labour itself was reported as 10.5 hours, the long latent phase meant I was pretty exhausted. My partner was mindful to keep me fuelled with snacks and water.
Much is a blur, but I distinctly remember seeing my belly stretch as my baby turned and descended. After this, the sensation of building pressure with no release in my backside was the most challenging. The midwife reminded me it was productive. It was helpful to remember and reframe that it was a physiological sensation rather than harmful pain.
Although I’d requested no coached pushing, the midwives did help put me into a position, bent over the bed with one foot up on a stool. They encouraged me to push with the contractions and rest in between. My baby was born just before 2 hours of pushing. Despite the warm compresses, I did sustain a ‘deep’ 2nd degree tear.
I accepted an actively managed third stage and am thankful I did. My baby received her cord blood before my partner cut the cord. She was able to do a breast crawl and I birthed the placenta.
Unfortunately, the placenta was ragged and membranes retained. I flooded the birth suite with a 2.7L postpartum haemorrhage. Because I’d been able to discuss this rare but potential medical complication with the midwife using the birth planning tool, I was able to remain calm. An emergency team put cannulas in my arms while midwives massaged my uterus. The obstetrician staunched the flow of blood. It could have been very confronting to sign consent to a potential hysterectomy, but I knew from the birth map conversation that this was extremely unlikely. I also knew that my baby would get skin to skin with her dad and have my antenatally expressed colostrum. This made going to theatre much less stressful.
Thankfully, the blood loss did not impact breastfeeding or bonding with my baby.
Areas you felt Calmbirth was most supportive for and what you’d do differently next time
Acupressure and keeping oxytocin flowing during latent stage. This stage was over 24 hours looooong, but labour did not stall.
I did also use spinning babies in the lead up to birth because my baby was breech. The postpartum info from the course is also very useful, particularly on co-sleeping. From my follow on research, I’ve found the detailed info/rationale on safe co-sleeping from La Leche League the most useful. The information provided through Calmbirth about connecting to the local parenting community was also incredibly helpful.
In hindsight, I think I could have made better use of the breathing and relaxation techniques to soften and surrender during transition and pushing. If I was doing it all again I’d seek continuity of care in some form. I felt lucky that the midwife who told me I needed to hold my breath to push was not the one who was with us during the final part of stage 2. I’d also invest more in connecting with my body. I would do massage and the Calmbirth breathing and relaxation techniques and pelvic floor relaxation.
Partner’s perspective on Calmbirth Experience
I found Calmbirth to be wonderful for me in a few ways:
1) Connecting with other parents around the same stage
2) Getting me straight into the headspace of thinking how I might contribute at each stage. I was consequently able to take on a suitable role – ie. door bitch/coach/massage or acupressure trigger point provider.
3) Helping me understand some of the potential hurdles in the birthing situation better. I felt more prepared knowing how ‘informed choice’ might come under pressure at certain points and how we might think about and navigate that with our care providers.
I’d focused on the early stages and delivery, so didn’t fully understand the gravity of the postpartum haemorrhage in that moment. I was very grateful to be in a hospital that could deal with it very quickly.
Booking a Calmbirth class
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about this Calmbirth experience for a first time mum. Story sharing can make such a phenomenal difference to others who are trying to learn more about their options. If you’d be willing to share your own birth story, please don’t hesitate to reach out! If you’d like to talk to me about Calmbirth classes, please just flick me a message ?
Aimee xx
