birth Story
determined Single mum gets her HBAC
When my ex and I planned our second child, we hadn’t accounted for our break up at the six months pregnant point.
Two years previously, I’d attempted a home birth for our elder daughter, Y. Unfortunately I’d fallen into the 45% of first-time home birth who transfer into hospital. This was followed by every intervention imaginable, ending in a C-section. The memories haunted me through my second pregnancy.
Additionally we’d had a scan scare where T’s nuchal translucency was bigger than the sonographers would have liked. Because I was approaching 40, I’d needed further tests to rule out birth defects. This, coupled with the end of our relationship, meant a very stressful pregnancy.
The consultant recommended hospital birth, citing uterine rupture risk. But the Head of Community Midwives explained the risk was 1:400 and only ever occurred during induction, a procedure that didn’t happen at home.
I was frightened. I wouldn’t manage my own personal aftercare, along with looking after a two year old and my newborn, if I needed another C-section as a single mum. So, I made sure I’d covered every base the second
time round: hypnotherapy; cranial sacral; Matrix Birth EFT Re-imprinting; Spinning Babies; hypno-birthing. If there was a technique to help the birth, I signed up. I even read Natural Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin cover to cover – it became my pregnancy bible. I was adamant that this time round I’d avoid the operating table and manage the birth at home. I wasn’t on good terms with my ex, so I booked an amazing doula for my birth partner.
Because Y came at 42+4, I expected T to be later than term. At 37 weeks I hadn't yet received my community midwives home birth pack – this included pads, protective sheets and the loan of a pool, for my planned water birth.