Labour - Tracey's Story

By Laura Yates on Jul 14, 09 08:56 PM

Tracey didn't bother with any middle of the road contractions; hers was a labour like those of the movies. Her waters broke and it was all systems go! None of it textbook, especially the pole dancing she started to do during the birth!!

4 days overdue, but wanted another 4 days to qualify for extra 3 months maternity leave.

Whilst watching Coronation Street, at 8.45pm I started to feel some pains in my tummy. A friend happened to send me a text message to ask if there was any news of arrival. I sent one back saying that I thought baby might be on the way. I sort of crawled up the stairs and my waters broke. The hospital said that I should go in to be checked because I sounded quite far gone already. Despite planning, other half panicked a bit getting the bags together and we forgot to take in some notes to the hospital, so his dad had to bring them to us. Of course I sat on a maternity mat in the car because didn't want to ruin the new car seats!

The hospital was only a 5 minute drive away, but by the time I got there I could barely walk down the corridor. The security guard gave me a pitying look. The staff took me into a room and asked if I wanted to try the birthing pool as it was free and might help with pain relief. I thought why not, but struggled to walk, let alone move to another room.

When I got there, it is true that you lose all inhibitions. I was suddenly really hot and ripped all my clothes off, then I soon got to grips with the gas and air (ooh).

Still, I begged continuously for an epidural. I was told I didn't need one. I was in the lovely birthing centre with just midwife care and would have had to go to the main maternity hospital next door for such treatment.

In my hazed state, a baby on a pack of baby wipes seemed quite animated and I said I know how Sam Tyler felt in Life on Mars.

The midwife offered to get some aromatherapy oil to massage my back. I said not lavender. She brought back rose, which I forgot I cannot stand either and managed to refuse it adamantly. We settled on Neroli oil.

I finally moved into the pool when I was so many centimetres dilated and the water was ready. I had to be reminded to breathe, I seemed to stop breathing with contractions. Noises seemed to come from me that I didn't know was humanly possible!

I listened to relaxing music and practiced relaxation techniques learned in hypnotherapy sessions, such as imagining a dial to turn the pain down.

I don't normally like being cold, but went mad when they wanted to put some more hot water in the pool. As there was little progress after a while it was suggested I get out for a bit. I really wasn't happy about this, but when I stood up I grabbed the pole and something happened.

I started pole dancing and started to give birth!

I told them to stop moving her, but it was the stage when the baby naturally turns its shoulders, ouch! My daughter was born healthily after just over 7 hours of labour at 3.52am and was 8lb 1oz. I struggled a bit because her hand was up by her face and tore slightly. More gas and air, a few stitches and some nice camomile oil to soothe afterwards.

The midwife said that I'd had a non text book labour and it was a shame there hadn't been a student around to witness it. I missed out the first stage of labour, no mild contractions, straight to the whammy ones. The hospital wanted me to stay in the maternity ward that night but I panicked and thought I don't know what to do with this child, so insisted on going home.

Two years later, would I do it again?. Not sure, I think I was lucky that time.