Positive Birth Story from a First Time Mum

I am a first time mum and had 48hrs of slowly escalating / on and off pre-labour pangs. I attended the hospital for a planned term +12 appointment to discuss induction - this was no longer needed but I was keen on a check on fluid for reassurance.

At the reception desk I was asked if I was ok as I was very pale... I said it was just some pre-labour pangs and had a TENS machine on.

They asked was I in labour? I denied it, explaining it was just pre-labour and then queued up for 30 mins in the clinic.

When I was examined was found to be 3-4cm with 2-3 contractions per 10 mins. I had no idea I was in active labour!

Doctor was stunned and asked if I had a high pain threshold (I don't).

Thereafter I used TENS machine, the amazing Winner flow, and the Labour Companion Gentlebirth track on repeat. This was plenty, and I only turned to gas and air at a much later stage as I was "saving" it.

I needed no other pain relief until I eventually gave in to 'active management' pressure to have my waters broken, which changed my happy, euphoric, dancing, gentle labour into something too intense to cope with.

I stuck it out for another 2 hrs then had an epidural at 8cm which gave me the break I needed to push out my beautiful 9lb baby girl unassisted.

Overall things went very well in the confines of the hospital system, and the GentleBirth course gave me the confidence to resist unnecessary interventions for many hours, allowing me to experience the wonder of natural labour.

I am so grateful I did the course, and found that the Labour Companion track on repeat was a vital support.

The Labor Companion is the ‘secret sauce’ for active labor as you’ll see is so many of our birth stories.