The birth of Gemma

This home birth illustrates the importance of remaining in a state of self-hypnosis and in a hypnotic state.  Gemma decided to lie sideways when being born rather than facing the backbone and Andrea had to learn not to panic and believe that she could deliver.  This story also shows how important the partner can be in helping the mother remain in control.

Having gone ten days over the due date, and with Jade coming five days early, by 1st March, I couldn't believe this baby was ever going to come out. I was all ready to book into the Portland for an elected caesarean just to have a few days in a nice hotel!

I had been really fed up with several phone calls a day from well meaning friends and family saying "Any news? Or are you in labour now and that is why you haven't answered the phone?" In the end I left a rather curt message on the answer phone saying "No baby yet but we would ring everyone as promised when it comes". No one wanted that baby out of me more that I did.

Despite still seeing Gowri, Kasia and Fiona, I had run out of herbs and oils days ago so now worried about not only the baby being very big but also being very toxic and tense. A chat on the Monday before the birth with Gowri soon put my mind to rest on these points ‑ I had had lots of treatments and physically was well prepared; I just needed to be mentally ready too.

I didn't go into labour in a very positive frame of mind, particularly after all the problems with Jade but at least she seemed to have settled in better this week at the childminders. Maybe it was just what I needed to know before being able to let go finally and let number two come onto the world.

At 12.04am on Thursday 1st March I woke realising things were getting going. I had had the tell-tale surge of energy the afternoon before so I ran a bath, lit the candles and wondered off into my self-hypnotic state. In my mind I enjoyed a two-hour horse ride through Windsor Great Park and the ride home on my motorbike afterwards!!

By 3 am Nigel was awake realising I could not settle so he timed my contractions and by 5am they were five minutes apart. So far so good, I felt confident, relaxed and very excited that things were finally happening.

At 6am Lorna, the first midwife arrived. I was 4-5cm dilated but no show or waters broken yet.

Nigel went off to see to Jade leaving me blissfully happy in ‘my safe’ place easily dealing with the contractions.

I think I must have been too relaxed because over the next couple of hours things slowed down. When the contractions were every 8-10 minutes Lorna realised that unless I got up and started moving around I wasn't going to make any progress.

Moving around the flat did indeed speed things up again. I still felt well in control and pleased that I could remain in a hypnotic state whilst moving around.

Both Greta and Rita arrived shortly after l0am to relieve Lorna. Rita had to leave at 10.30 to hold a surgery so Greta, Nigel and I got down to business.  Robert took Jade off for a walk, great to have his help. He had already made at least 20 cups of tea and made a mountain of toast!

I think things really heated up at 10.30am. The contractions were by now every two minutes. I started on the entonox whilst bent over a pile of pillows on the bed.

Greta checked my progress and to my dismay I was still only 5cm. The baby had, however, travelled from 2/5ths engaged to fully engaged, which Greta said I must take some comfort from, but because the baby was facing the side instead of my backbone the discomfort in my back was extreme and was giving me a real problem trying to stay in control. I was thrashing around on the bed, heaving on the entonox, really beginning to feel like I didn't want to do this and to be truthful had I been in hospital I think I would have been asking for an epidural by now. All I could think about was how much more I still had to do and how uncomfortable I should have remembered it was! My negative mindset was threatening to take over and I was going to lose it if I didn't fight to stay in control.

Greta exclaimed she was sure it was a boy all the fuss it was causing and would bet a months salary on it.

Nigel was fantastic, encouraging me to stay in control and concentrate on how well I was doing. The urge to push huge because of the position of the head but I realised I had to calm down. Once I stopped swearing and thrashing around things became much more focused again and the next two or three contractions saw me finally at full dilation. I had gone from 5cm to l0cm in an hour or so. Finally, finally, with my waters broken on a strong contraction, Greta asked me to push with the next one. I had one foot up around her neck - only hope I didn't bruise her! Just in time, Nigel moved around to see the head begin to emerge. It felt fantastic to be able to do something forceful so I pushed with all my might, squeezing so tight on Nigel's hand. The head was almost out on the first contraction, but it took another one or two to get it fully out. The cord was around the neck so after untangling it, another powerful contraction allowed me to push with every ounce of force I could. Out slithered the shoulders and body. Nigel was awe struck by seeing it happen this time his face was a picture of wonder..

I laid back and smiled and felt that welcome burst of emotion and endorphins as this hot red blob was placed on my chest. “What is it?" I asked as I picked up the body “A girl," I cried, “we've another girl!!”

It was 11.47am on 01.03.01. An hour and a quarter after labour was fully established. She weighed 8lb 9oz. and is perfect in every way.

She started to cry in an angry sort of way but with a towel wrapped over her Greta began to clean me up.

Nigel dashed to make an emotional call to his Dad to say we had another girl and to Robert to bring Jade home.

Greta suggested I had one cosmetic stitch internally - she said we would be pleased in a year's time. I don't know if this was for my benefit or Nigel's!

Rita arrived three minutes too late, clutching the fresh supply of entonox, very disappointed to have missed it.

The midwives cleaned up all the mess, whilst our new little girl took immediately to the breast. Little did I know she wasn't going to stop feeding for the next 48 hours!

Robert and Jade arrived. Jade took one look at the baby and started to cry - she looked shocked and concerned and not at all sure what it was. Thankfully since then she has been nothing but kind and sweet to her new sister ‑ just wanting to kiss and touch her all the time. It's just her mum she no longer likes - but that's another story.

When all left alone, with hot sweet tea and toast, Robert, Nigel, Jade and I started to discuss names in earnest.

Not being able to agree on “Connie" or “Amber", Nigel just popped up with “Gemma". Instantly we all loved it. It has stuck and on the whole, everyone has liked it. So Gemma it is, and darling, this is your birth story.

Andrea Burnand

The birth of Jade »