I can't even wee in peace...

I can't even wee in peace and I'm expected to exercise?!

You've got to be kidding right?

If I can't even go to the toilet without a mini-me attached to my legs, then how on earth can I find time to exercise?!

Before becoming a Mammy, I used to be able to exercise whenever I wanted!  Then little Jimmy arrived and I couldn't do anything without him attached to my boobs feeding, wanting to be held constantly, or continually pulling my legs - my little ankle ankle biter!

My body cries out for me to exercise and I crave the endorphins that it creates, especially being so sleep deprived at times, this really does boost us and helps our brains to function.

Like many of us, especially working Mammies, long exercise sessions or gym classes are simply out of the question!  And that's not even mentioning the cost when you're on maternity leave pay!  Who has got spare cash for gym membership!  Long exercise sessions are never a favourite of mine anyway - so quick, intensive sessions really are the only way forward to keep us toned, fit and in shape, especially when the abundance of time is NOT on our hands!

High intensity shorter work outs are the most effective for weight loss, gaining tone/muscle and keeping a strong body and a strong mind.

Benefits of Short, Intensive, Heavy (for the individual)  Sessions...

• Improves Strength & Increases muscle growth - no you're not going to look like a man or look like a female body builder - all of the above just means TONED and NO WOBBLY BITS.  Cardio encourages muscle LOSS (less toned bits)

• Boosts fat loss - your metabolic rate will be through the roof even up to 24 hours after you've stopped exercising!  INCHES WILL BE LOST in this process.

• Limited equipment necessary - a kettle bell will suffice to be strong and gain muscle tone.

• Increase your HGH (human growth hormone) - HGH is fabulous, not only does it increase your fat burn, but it slows down the ageing process both internally & externally!  Win Win!

• This is what our bodies are designed to do!  Think cave man activities not slogging hours and hours at the gym activities.  You would never try to out run an antelope, you would stalk, sprint and throw a heavy object.  

• Better use of your time - These types of work outs are actually manageable to fit in 2-3 times a week when you have other commitments.  Think lunch break, nap times or even get the kids involved too!

• You won't become bored - every session is different so you don't have to ever repeat a work out!

But I haven't got a home gym?  Where will I do such work outs?

It really doesn't matter if you don't have equipment - Thankfully, I have a kettle bell at home which is a great piece of kit for training and without breaking the bank!  Although, you may break your back training with one!  *jokes*
You can pick up inexpensive kettle bells from most supermarkets these days, in a variety of weights to suit your ability.

I've been lucky enough to have some expert guidance on creating this blog post and have collaborated with Justin Lord from THE LIFE LAB (insta @the.life.lab) and Emma from Crossfit Llanelli (insta - @crossfitllanelli).

Now that  I am back working, I am happy to be a member of Crossfit Llanelli and am grateful that I can train about twice a week there...my third session of the week is at home.

Today's session is from Emma @crossfitllanelli and it was over in 15 minutes... thank god!

15 min AMRAP (as many rounds as possible):

15 burpees, 10 kettle bell swings  & 5 thrusters
















If you can only train at home and with minimal equipment then Justin Lord's THE LIFE LAB is really for you! (@the.life.lab)
Not only does Justin provide quick daily work outs to do at home and with limited equipment, he also gives video tutorials on techniques, incase you're stuck on a movement!  HOW AWESOME is that?
THE LIFE LAB offers so much more than work outs, it is the HUB of nutrition and a healthy mindflow.  Have a look, it might just change your life!  You can contact Justin Lord on Facebook and on instagram @the.life.lab



Below are examples of the daily work outs you could get sent to you...

Completely effective and WILL get results!

LESS IS MORE

Example 1 - Weds 16th November

Equipment  - Kettlebell

10 Side lunge and row RIGHT

10 Side lunge and row LEFT

10 Single arm high pull RIGHT

10 Single arm high pull LEFT

10 Double Lunge RIGHT

10 Double Lunge LEFT

20 Sit ups

Repeat 5,6 or 7 times (depending on your ability)

Example 2 - Tues 15th November

10 high knee sprint

10 jumping jacks

10 kettlebell line jumps

10 reverse crunch

10 kettlebell swings

10 kettlebell push press

10 kettlebell row/twist

10 sit ups

10 lunges LEFT

10 lunges RIGHT

Repeat 10 rounds

My favourite training jumper @the.life.lab

Good luck and remember to keep a balance!  Also, remember diet is 80% of getting a lean and strong body.

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Two Freakin' Centimetres! .... Welcome Mali!

This girl.  This friend.  This WARRIOR!  She is the reason I had the mental strength to follow my instincts and give birth at home.  Fear free, pain free and medicine free.  Christine Davies (info@nuturecentre.com) is a professional, successful Hypnobirthing practitioner and she not only helped us have the birth we wanted, but she helps numerous women to make the right birth choice for them. 

Christine has birthed twice at home.   Here is her amazing first home birth story as she shares how the power of the mind and instinct have powerful effects on our body's ability to birth...

Welcome Mali !

TWO freaking centimetres???

You Have GOT to be Freaking joking.

This was my reaction to my midwife when she gave me the news, that after 15 hours into labour, I had progressed, well…pretty much bugger all!

I started labouring at 7am that morning. I remember talking to my wonderful brother that morning when he called me excitedly to ask ‘so?, what does it feel like to be in labour Sis?’….

(I know. What an awesome brother.)

My little baby, who was going to be born “sometime” that day (or two), was to be the first baby in our family. The very first grandchild. A girl.

My mother is a bit psychic. This is not something we really took much notice of when we grew up. I just put it down to her experience, or a mothering intuition. But for years and years, since I was 16 years old, she had been having vivid dreams about the little girl with dark hair, I was going to have one day.

16 years of age turned to 20, turned to 25, and then 30 was getting uncomfortably close.

When was I going to have this little girl? Am I really going to ever have children? Is my mother right, or is it just wishful thinking?....or is she just freaking nuts?!!

In 2011, I felt really irritated. We’d been not exactly trying to have baby, but practicing the.. ‘if it happens, it happens’ routine.  The moment that second line turned blue, I was in the bathroom, all alone in our apartment. My partner was out for a couple of hours, with the local life boating club, training in all those bond like expeditions, racing across the sea, saving lives. So whist he was being BOND,  I was having a miraculous, magical, momentous experience….amongst our bathroom basin, toilet and bath. 

The line turned blue, and my face turned red and wet with big tears of joy and bewilderment running down my face and crashing onto the bathroom tiled floor.

Definitely one of the happiest moment of my entire life, and I can never imagine anything else better.

Birthing Day

I was pretty chilled when my brother had called at 7am that morning.

I explained to him that everything felt fine, and  “If it carries on like this, it’s going to be easy!!”

15 hours in, things started to get HARD, very HARD.

The surges had suddenly picked up quite considerably. They were so strong, and I was beginning to feel really uncomfortable. 

I let all the negative thoughts flood into my mind.

“I can’t do this.”

And when my midwife finally came over, and gave me the news that I was only 2cms dilated, I felt broken.

I felt disillusioned. 

I must be nuts to think I can give birth at home with no drugs. Just using Hypnobirthing?

2 freaking CMS dilated, 15 hours in. 

How could my overwhelming instincts to give birth at home be so wrong? I felt safe at home. I hate hospitals, and I just wanted to be in control….but 2 cms??!!

I felt that sense of control begin to fall through my fingers.

Maybe my family were right? Maybe my low pain threshold is something I just can’t hide or fight. Maybe giving birth at home for my first child is just crazy, who the heck do I think I am? I can NOT do this.

….and then it happened...

I made the ONE crucial decision that changed everything.

I took a deep breath…. and started using the Hypnobirthing skills I’d been working on for months.

I was letting the fear get the better of me, and with a deep gulp of courage, I moved away from the bright lights of my lounge, and moved into my birthing room. A room which was the place I wanted to first see my baby girl's face for the first time, the room I visited by myself in the middle of the night trying to imagine what birth was going to be like, the room I communed with the gods and prayed I would be able to pull this birth thing off.

That dining room,  my spiritual birthing space began to take on a sort of transformation, which also transformed me.

Hit the lights off, push the button on the music playlist I’d put together, fire up the candles, and get comfortable.

Sweet music was gently playing in the background, the lights were off with only the warm glow of flickering candles dancing in silhouettes on the walls.

I lay down on a sofa bed we had there, and my partner began to go through some of the visualization and relaxation scripts that we had been practising so often in the lead up to this moment.

The discomfort I had preciously been feeling started to melt away. Slowly at first, and it was a bit of a struggle to focus on being relaxed when the surges were so powerful, but it was working!!!

Continually focusing on my breath,  on  relaxing my body through each surge, and surrendering to the enormous power that was surging through my body lessened the discomfort considerably…

….and then I gently, gradually, gratefully slipped off into a dreamland...

I was aware of every surge, but it took on a hypnotic rhythm, and I just lay there. Anyone watching would have probably assumed that I was completely out of it and asleep, but I was totally aware, just not in the usual way.

After a while, my partner squeezed my feet. “are you ok?, you’ve been out of it for 4 hours!”.

WHAT??!

I couldn’t believe it….4 hours!?? It felt like 20 minutes had passed.

I felt like a different person. I was so shocked by how quick time had moved on, without me, my confidence soared, and I felt that sense of control was firmly back in my hands.

“I CAN do this!!!”

“I CAN give birth at home without drugs”

The midwife returned.

6 cms Dilated!! 

WOW!!!! 

I had gone 2cms in 15 hours feeling discouraged, and another 4 cms in 4 hours whilst feeling so relaxed!

I got into the birthing tub, and the relaxation took on a new level.

The surges continued to strengthen, get longer, and closer together.

Instead of lying on a bed, I was now swaying to the rhythm my body wanted me to dance to.

Moving my hips around, sometimes changing body position after each surge to continually improve the experience, and I begun to hear my own voice join the party….like energy moving out of my body through my vocal cords.

I did feel a bit silly to be honest. I’m not a singer. I have a terrible voice, and this sound was NOT what I would call beautiful….but it felt soo right, and I really couldn’t control it whilst letting my body take over and do what it knew it needed to do.

My midwife later commented that she’d never seen someone fall asleep at the final stages of birth. But with my arms and head laying over the edge of the pool, it felt like the most natural thing to do.

At around 7 am, I felt a heaviness in my hips, and then an overwhelming rush throughout my body.

My baby girl's head was beginning to emerge. I’d heard about the ring of fire, but I didn’t feel a thing. So when my daughter's head emerged, I have to say, it did give me a bit of a fright!!

My little girl had been ‘back to back’ and so when her head was birthed, she came out facing me! She wiggled her little head, which hit against my thighs (a very unique experience!!)

I sat there in the pool for another moment. Waiting for the final rush to wash over me, and bring my baby out into the world.

I felt the beginning of the wave, it rose, picked up speed and strength, and as it reached its peak, my body took over and powerfully heaved and pushed my baby out.

For a second after she had come out, I didn’t realise what had happened. I hadn’t quite joined the dots that she was out. I watched the faces of the people around me, my partner, my midwives and my mother, all standing at the edge of the tub, joyful, excited, emotional…

My baby was out, and she was beginning to swim herself up to the surface of the water. 

Eyes wide open, and fixed on my mother gaze who was watching from the side lines.

I reached down, and made contact with that soft, gentle, perfectly formed body, and brought her closer towards my body.

I lifted her up, out of the water, and onto my chest.

 God, that feeling!!!!

This little girl, whom I’d been willing, wishing and waiting for was now nuzzled on my chest.

I looked into her blinking eyes, waiting for her to begin to focus, and internally thanked the universe for bringing my little star down to me.

My mum was right. This WAS a little girl, and she was finally in my arms.

My instincts were also right. 

I could give birth at home, with no drugs, in that little room with the water tub, candle light and soft music.

I DID IT!

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Welcome Charlie!

Gemma and Charlie's birth story is the fourth birth story in Mammy Poppins' 'Welcome Birth Stories'.  I am so excited to share this story with you as it had me buckled up laughing out loud!  Not to mention the goose bumps I get when I read these... I'm sure it will have the same effect on you!!  Sit down and buckle up... you're in for a treat!!

 one big release                a lush sensation           mood lighting            calm music

Looking back my birth story started on a Wednesday evening a week before my due date. That morning I'd been to the dentist to have a filling and I'm convinced that's what kick started my contractions, though I did not know at the time they were contractions. I'd been nesting for the last few weeks, getting everything ready, washing all the baby clothes and doing odd jobs round the house. That evening I'd asked my dad to come round to give Simon, my husband, a hand to put together the nursery cupboard.  As I was supervising the construction, I felt a pulling sensation in my belly, not like the kicks I'd been used to (Our baby was like a little ninja in my belly, constantly high kicking me in the ribs) This was similar to the cramps you get when you're having your period. So I asked Mam;

 'Do you think these are contractions?' she goes 'nah it's probably something you ate.'

I thought no more of it and just took a paracetamol and went to bed. I had a lot of cramping aches through the night but managed eventually to go to sleep. Thursday morning came and I felt fine. However I went to the toilet, and there IT was, the so called plug. It was just as the books had described it, a bloody mucus. I thought to myself don't panic your plug can come away and you can go another week without going into labour. It was only later that afternoon when I came back from walking the dog that the cramps started back and when Simon came home from work I warned him that this could be it.
I phoned the Midwife just to explain what was happening and she said what I was describing  sounds like contractions. She said wait until the contractions come every five minutes, and if I was in pain to take paracetamol and have a bath.

That's what I did, I just chilled out in the bath, feeling excited that this could be the night, talking and rubbing my belly saying "I can't wait to meet you." 

I came out of the bath and in my PJ's spent the evening sitting on my gym ball bouncing through the waves of contractions.

I placed a sanitary mat underneath me on the ball just in case my waters broke whilst on there, and thank goodness I did. As I was bouncing with the motion of my body and feeling like a goddess, I felt a gush between my legs, I thought oh no these are my waters and then I just let it go...

 

...liquid just flowed and flowed like a waterfall from within me...

I told Simon I think my waters have just gone, so he helped me get up off the ball, I looked round to the mat and slowly came to the realisation it wasn't my waters,

I'd just wet myself! 

How embarrassing, I couldn't believe it! But Simon being the gent just shrugged it off and said "there is worse to come so don't worry about it."

Anyway throughout that night I was ringing the midwife letting her know the contractions were getting stronger and closer together, but she kept changing the goal posts of when I needed to be admitted, from saying one every five minutes to saying three contractions in ten minutes? She was saying that I sound fine, like I was coping and I should only come in if the pain becomes unbearable.

But all I wanted was to be checked over for re-assurance.

In the morning the contractions were really strong and I'd had no sleep I just wanted to go to the hospital, Simon stayed off work and kept me calm. I kept phoning the Midwife asking should I come in now, but once again the midwife's advice was to take a bath, which I did about 10 o'clock, and whilst in the bath the contractions stopped.

I could not believe it, I felt gutted. I just spent the day feeling down, then Simon suggested walking the dog. About an hour after returning home, hallelujah they started back!

We spent the evening timing them and by about midnight I said to Simon bugger it I'm going to lie to the midwife and say yes to whatever she asks just to be seen and checked over as I couldn't go another night without sleep. As we made our way to the hospital the contractions got closer and closer, and I was so glad we left when we did because upon being examined  I was already 4cm dilated. 

The Midwife Led Unit in Carmarthen is amazing.

I was very lucky to be the only person delivering that night so I got the birthing pool, as I'd always visualised. I was offered gas and air which I happily took and loved, it was fabulous. I sat on the birthing ball for a bit then went for a walk, which was nice to get some fresh air, but difficult as I couldn't take my new best friend, gas and air with me.

I used deep breathing techniques and squeezing my husband's arms to get through the contractions whilst outside.

Then when I was 6cm I got in the birthing pool too ride through the motions. I wouldn't say contractions are the worst pain ever, I've had tooth ache which has been more painful, it is just draining as it comes and goes and the intensity builds stronger and stronger.

To try and keep my energy up I knew it was important to eat and drink, and I love grapes, so I ate them. About 7 o'clock my mam and dad turned up and it was like a party in the room...

Mood lighting, calm music, we were ever so excited.

The midwife wanted to examine me so I had to get out of the pool, Dad left and went for a walk as I think he knew the time was coming. I don't know if it was the heat of the pool or the amount of gas and air I'd had but I was about to make a huge mistake...
The Midwife broke my waters, which was a lovely feeling, I just felt this relief, then she said 'you're 10cms and can start pushing now', and that's what I did!

I just pushed!  Totally crazy!! I lost my senses and pushed without a contraction and felt a burning sensation, I'd ripped! If I'd just listened to my body I really don't think I'd have torn.

But no baby came out anyway, I just felt this sharp stingy pain like the baby's head was there but went back up. So as the baby didn't come out I got back in the pool to push, with the contractions this time. However I didn't feel any control down in there. The midwife would say, with her mirror, "nearly there,  keep pushing" but I just didn't feel in control in the pool. In the end, I actually gave birth on the bed. I was in a position which was working for me, with Simon holding one leg, the midwife holding the other, pushing as effectively as I could,  and it was amazing!

When the head came out, and I stopped pushing for a moment to take it all in...
I remember the midwife saying to me 'oooh they've a head of hair, do you want to feel?' and I replied
'Nooooo just get it out!!
It makes me chuckle to think of it now.

The last push is INCREDIBLE

 I felt a lot of fluid come out with the body compared to pushing out the head, and it felt great, just one big release, a lush sensation.
They placed the baby on my chest as I'd as for skin to skin straight away and that's when I saw he was a boy!

Charlie Anthony Jones 10:50am 6lbs 13oz.

 

It was fantastic I got to see the sex of our baby myself, before being told by someone else. I hadn't even thought about that... who reveals the sex? I would advise anyone having a baby to have a think about finding out the sex of your child yourselves if possible.

I felt so strong, especially having done it only using gas and air. I AM IN TOTAL AWE of nature and how our bodies are designed for birth.  Not to mention how babies just know where to get food from. Charlie went on my boob straight away and he is still going strong there now, months and months on!

After we'd had our time, Simon got to help clean him up with the midwife and I felt overwhelmed with joy and love watching him with Charlie. I will say the stiches were unpleasant, I had gas an air for that and Simon's free hand.
I stayed a night, by choice, in the Midwife Led Unit for breast feeding advice and luckily had one to one care as it was so quiet, it was like staying at a hotel!!

I loved it. It was the most amazing experience of my life. I didn't think it was possible but I love him more and more with each passing day.

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Welcome Ash!

C Section      Breathing Techniques     Visualising    

Empowered      Informed Decision

So far we have shared natural births here at MammyPoppins... For birth story number three we have a little treat for you! 
C Sections are generally portrayed as big, scary emergencies, so when we heard Becs & Ash's positive birth story, and the informed decision making in the process, we just had to share it with you!  Needless to say, this is another empowered journey...

Welcome Ash...

 

From finding out we were having our 'honeymoon' baby, I knew I wanted to take the natural route - I loved the idea of a water birth, and decided on this in my birth plan.  Due to having Joint Hypermobility Syndrome, a condition which causes my joints to dislocate easily, a caesarean was discussed at an early stage with the consultant but I was determined that I would need to be in control and that I wanted to give birth to my baby naturally. I was really enjoying pregnancy, reading up on it, doing yoga and visualising an active, natural labour. However this was not be...

At a 30 week scan it became apparent our baby boy was breech, and measuring rather large! This resulted in weekly growth scans at the end, at all of which he was measuring way above the 97th centile! Despite weekly yoga classes, and daily practise to include inversions, baby Peters was quite comfortable thank you very much and was not moving! I can't recommend the pregnancy yoga sessions enough, I loved the weekly de-stress and learning about the power of breathing and using breath to focus my mind and energy.

We were offered an ECV where a consultant would try to move the baby manually but after much reading and discussion we decided not to interfere with baby and let nature take it's course, along with continued daily sessions of inversions, much to Gary's amusement! However, This was to no avail and so it was decided at 38 weeks that I was to be booked for an elective caesarean for the following Fri. There was a funny moment when we overheard the midwife who had been reassuring us that the fact baby was measuring big wasn't anything to worry about, on the phone to the consultant...

'Dr, this baby is still breech and it's a large baby..... Yes, large, very large, Huuuge! .... Yes you need to get it out as soon as possible!'

We went home feeling really excited to know our (big) baby would be here so soon and I set about mentally preparing myself for a caesarean, to include watching videos of breech cesarean procedures on YouTube! Gary at this point had been overcome by some serious nesting and the house was scrubbed from top to bottom and he also decided that as I was having a caesarean I no longer needed a birthing ball and deflated it, much to my horror!!

For an elective caesarean it is procedure to go in the day before for a 'pre op' appointment. During this I was scanned, baby was still breech and big so cesarean was a definite. It turned out that I needed a steroid injection to protect baby's lungs if born before 39 weeks, we asked if this was really necessary as we were going to be 39 weeks a few hours later. The midwife agreed with us but the registrar wanted me to have it or suggested rescheduling for the following week but then decided we had to go ahead because of the size of our baby. This was midday on the Thursday and I was given the first steroid injection and had to return 12 hours later at midnight for the second, and I stayed in from then. I was very excited and didn't get much sleep, eventually using the 12 breaths technique to relax and drift off. The Friday morning seemed to go on forever, but very calm - I had a shower, straightened my hair and read my book, using deep breathing to calm any nerves and anxiety.

At 3pm we were off to theatre.

 

In the first room I had a cannula put in my hand and this was surprisingly painful and I was using straw breath with my eyes closed to focus (thinking if this hurt the spinal must be awful!!) There were so many people in the room and lots of questions.

I just wanted to keep calm and connect with my baby.

The spinal took a long time and I ended up having the local anaesthetic twice before it was successful. I was using straw breath again during this, not because of any pain but just so I could focus and relax. 

 

 

The caesarean itself is a very surreal experience

 I could feel everything but no pain at all.

Baby Ash James Peters was born at 4.32pm weighing 9lbs 7.5.

 

 

There was some difficulty getting him out and he was a little shocked so was taken immediately by the midwife, while emergency doctors and paediatric team were called. He was taken out of the room. This felt like a life time not being able to see or hear my baby and I was getting upset. After six minutes (I was told this later) but what felt like forever, we heard our gorgeous boy cry and Gary went through to see him, took a photo on his phone and came in to show me. Ash was then brought in and given to us to cuddle.

 

Gary went with the midwife who took Ash back to the recovery ward while they stitched me up and as soon as I was back in recovery a few minutes later I was able to have skin to skin.

 

This was an incredible and beautiful moment as Ash knew exactly what to do and set about breastfeeding for the next hour! This was to be the beginning of a wonderful breastfeeding journey lasting nearly 14 months!

 

The registrar who performed my caesarean came to see me and explained that baby's head was stuck (they hadn't cut a big enough hole) and that the cord had been wrapped around his neck so this was why he wasn't breathing initially.  We stayed in for two nights then got to go home Sunday afternoon. The staff in Glangwili were all wonderful, and we cannot thank them enough.

Despite wanting a natural labour, I feel very grateful to have had a mostly calm experience and I would certainly still describe it as a positive birthing experience. I felt confident and empowered to make informed decisions and would reassure any new mums that having a cesarean can still be a positive birth.  Becs and Ash x

 

 

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Welcome Ronnie

Natural Breech        Trust your body      Instinct

Mammy Poppins is so privileged to share Liz & Ronnie's birth story.  Ronnie is our newest baba to feature in this month's Birth Story extravaganza and is one of the most brave stories.  We are so proud of Liz!  Once again, this birth shows how powerful and empowering birth is, when we listen to our instinct.

Welcome Ronnie...

I'm sorry if I go into too much detail but for me the good/bad/scary parts were what made this experience very special and empowering and the whole time I knew I was that little bit closer to meeting our baby!.....

My birth plan was to have a home birth but things don't always go to plan! But it doesn't matter as the end result is what matters the most!

Saturday 20th August I woke around 03:30  for my nightly pee then climbed back into bed felt a little tightening around my belly but nothing different to what I'd been feeling now and again before.
After about 10mins of trying to drift back to sleep I felt a sudden SMALL gush down below so quickly stood up and more trickled out! I really wasn't sure if it was my waters or if I  just peed myself!  But I was pretty sure it didn't feel like wee!!

All I was thinking is ‘oh no can't be yet I'm not expecting it early!'  Ronnie wasn't due until September!

I lay back down and just started thinking right so is this happening or just a false alarm?! After another 5mins I then started getting very light period pains so thought I'd wake Adam up and figure out what to do next!

 

Very light period pains continued but nothing too bad.  After about an hour I decided to phone the Midwife Led Unit at my local hospital, Whithybush, to inform them and get some advice as I really didn't know if I was paranoid and still thinking I'd just weed myself! This call was at 04:47. They told me to just take it easy, rest up and start timing my contractions if they continued and to call them back if it got stronger and more regular.

 

 I felt like all I wanted to do was have a soak in the bath so told Adam to go back to sleep and I'll see how I go!

 

I had a lovely relax in the bath and still had period pains, which were very irregular.  All I was thinking is...It's just a false alarm and I'm over thinking it!

Then, I was bursting for a number two!   Yes!  My bowels were emptying, and it was only then that I realised this may be happening!

 

I woke Adam back up and all could think was quick we need to get this house tidy!

 

Contractions started coming a lot more frequent, around every 10-15mins and lasting about one minute. 

I felt totally in control using straw breaths.

 

06:25 I rang the MLU again and they said they'd send a midwife up to see me.

Around 7:15 midwife came, contractions were still the same. She took my temperature and was a little high, I lay on the bed for her to see where we were at…

 

The head was engaged but the baby was back to back still! She asked me if I wanted her to examin me to see if my waters had definitely gone, I said yes, just so I knew if it was actually happening as I still wasn't convinced (why I don't know)!

 

She didn't think my waters had gone she said it quite possibly have been wee, she said I wasn't even 3cm dilated so no need to worry just to rest as much as I could and see how I go. She took my temperature before she left and it had gone down so I put it down to being a bit anxious. She explained she was finishing duty and Lee, the next midwife was taking over from 9 so to phone her once I thought active labour was kicking in, she left at 8am.

Contractions eased off a little but thought I'd give my mum a ring to give her the heads up and told her to call over with a few bits I needed as I didn't want Adam to leave me!

 

We assumed things could go on for hours so I thought I'd go for a lay down and rest and not to worry about getting the pool set up just yet!

 

Within the hour my contractions were getting extremely stronger and went back into the bath to try and ease it all. I asked Adam to give Lee a ring to see if she could come up as I had a feeling things were progressing quicker, this was 09:38.

She explained she was on a call in Milford and would be with us within half hour.

 

In that time I went from breathing through contractions to a sudden urge to push! Panic did set in a little as everything happened so quickly realising I had no one here to help me. I used my affirmation as best I could but the pain was shooting up my back and I just knew there was something not right.

 

I kept repeating to Adam we need to go to hospital something isn't right! As all this was going on my Mum turned up and called the ambulance straight away.  Adam was phoning Lee at the same time and she said she was on her way, this was 10:04. All through this I really was screaming the place down the pain was immense up my back, I seemed to feel that more than anywhere else!

 

My instinct was telling me , over and over again, that something wasn't right.

The lady on the phone to my Mum kept her talking asking her to get towels ready and to make sure I was undressed from waist down.  I think panic hit Mum as she was thinking she was going to have to deliver the baby!

The ambulance got to me which only took them 13mins was now 10:07. they put me straight on gas which had an instant ease on my back.  From here, things were a bit of a blur ... I remember hearing them talking between each other deciding what to do and which hospital to take me to, they phoned Whithybush and said they were taking me there… But listening to my instinct, I just knew that wasn't right and that we needed to go to Carmarthen, as there are more facilities there. They walked me out to the ambulance to assess me, lay me down and checked my temperature which was sky high.  As this was happening, Lee the midwife turned up and she told the paramedics she would examine me there and see what's best to do.

 

Lee takes charge and tells the driver 'Get your sirens on!  We need to get to Carmarthen now!' 

I could hear in her voice something wasn't right! They grabbed Adam into the ambulance and away we went!this is 10:36.

I was still sucking on the gas and I looked up to Lee and said 'What's happpening how many cm am I?'  She leant over and said gently 'Liz you're fully dilated and your baby is breech…. All I need you to do is every time you get and urge to push - DON’T, we need to get you to Carmarthen!

 

I could hear Lee on the phone to the hospital and she explained when we got there there would be a team waiting for me and all would be fine and there would be no time to take me for a Csection.

I would be going to MLU for a natural labour.

The journey felt forever and with every urge I pushed into my feet rather than anywhere else.  How I managed to control this I really have no idea something took over in my body!

As we got to St Clears the traffic was pretty much stand still (apparently there was a tractor convention on)!

I could hear the drivers shouting at the cars to part which eventually they did but at the same time Lee called through to them telling them to put the heaters on as we maybe pulling over road side and prepare for delivery!

 

Luckily they got through the traffic and got me to the hospital. I was struggling to keep my eyes open as I was really trying to concentrate not to push! I remember the doors opening and there being loads of faces around me wheeling me up to the MLU unit.

 

I got onto the bed and my back was still so painful and uncomfortable but I thought I just have to relax into this!

Then I could push as best I could with every contraction! It only took two contractions for the bum and body to come out, but they had to cut me to get the head out as it got a little stuck but on the following contraction... out he flew!!

 

Our beautiful baby boy Ronnie-Andrew-Sammons  was born at 11:59 weighing 5lb 13 and a half.

 

Just to add an extra drama to the situation.

Mum turned up about five minutes later and fainted next to me!  It went from nine people surrounding me to them all sorting my Mum out! It was like a comedy sketch! They had to get a bed in for her to come around! By then, I was laughing my head off on gas whilst Adam was looking a little concerned stood in the corner cuddling our son! She was fine just very embarrassed!

  

Our birth didn't go the way I originally wanted, but I wanted to share how powerful the birthing instinct is and how amazing our bodies are. 

Giving birth is the most empowering thing a women can ever go through and I'm proof that breech babies don't always have to be a c section delivery. 

Our bodies are incredible.

 

 

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Welcome Jimmy Knox!

During the month of September (and possibly October) here at Mammy Poppins we are featuring awesome kick ass birth stories from some incredible girls and what better way to kick things off than the birth of my side kick, my shadow, my boob monkey... Jimmy Knox!

28 hours       home      empowering    



Giving birth naturally at home was my best, most empowered, mental life experience.  EVER!

Here's the story.  Twenty eight hours of it.  Condensed and surmised for your pleasure!

My contractions began on the night of Good Friday (around midnight) and I tried sleeping through it, but I couldn't.  This was partly due to being so excited that our baby was on its way and partly because they were quite strong so I couldn't.  There weren't any set times for the surges but I'd say every one was within ten minutes or so.  By 2am I got up and ran a bath, but by that time things had started to slow down.  We felt a bit confused as we'd had loads of surges and all of a sudden they had slowed down.  I told Andrew to go back to bed, but he was too excited and was reassuring me all the time that this stopping and starting was normal.  Things continued like this well into the morning.

Andrew was such a brilliant birthing partner.

My surges felt like strong period pain aches in my back.

Through breathing, zoning out and Andrew's magic hand on my back they were completely manageable!  No pain as such, just strong aches.

Andrew had gone downstairs to get a hot water bottle for me, and I needed his hand! So I shouted 'Babes, hurry up will you!  I need your hand!'

At about ten hours in, the contractions were still coming but still not in a regular pattern.  I was coping fine, but it was getting on my nerves as I am impatient.  We decided to ring the midwife unit at our local hospital to let them know that things had started with us.  I also wasn't sure as to which (if any) midwife was on duty for home births as it was Easter weekend!  They weren't sure who was on home birth duty so asked if I wanted to go down to see what's what... I declined.  I was tired, but doing fine, and with said 'magic hand' I felt in control(ish).

Surges came and surges went, breathing in and breathing out, magic hand on and magic hand off...wax on wax off! 

About 14 hours in, lo and behold!  My favourite midwife got in touch saying that she had put herself on duty for us!  Could you believe this?!  During her family Easter weekend, this gem of a woman had wanted to come and help us deliver our baby!  WOW!

I'm in awe of this lady's genuine caring nature! 

Lovely Lyn (the amazing midwife) assures me that she'll finish off making her lasagne for her Easter weekend guests and be over to see what's what shortly.

...we eagerly await Lyn's arrival...



Meanwhile, I spoke to a couple of friends who'd had home births and they completely reassured me that the sporadic contractions (still within every 10 minutes mind) was completely normal and they told me I was doing well.  This was brilliant to hear and it felt nice chatting and laughing with the girls, releasing more of that powerful oxytocin! 

A few times mid conversation I had to say 'oh hang on a minute, I've got one!' while I breathed my way through more surges, and our baby edged its way further down the birth canal. Totally surreal!

Late afternoon, about 16 hours in, Lovely Lyn arrives!  Another human!  It had been just Ands, me and 'the hand' for sixteen hours now, so we welcomed a new face!  We were delighted to hear that I'm 4cm dilated!  Woo hoo!  Even though progress was incredibly slow, things were moving in the right direction!

Lovely Lyn went home to make the guests garlic bread and promised she would come back to us later.

From this point on, the contractions got stronger and more regular so Ands inflated the pool in our living room and started to fill it with water.  He was chuffed with this part, as this was 'his bit!'

I got in and listened to my relaxing music CD.  It was so calming and relaxing and it helped me stay in the zone!  This CD became my 'zen' influence later when I had a couple of melt downs!

About 20 hours in, Lovely Lyn arrived back as I was chilling in the pool, still contracting and still breathing.  She tells me that the garlic bread is done, for this I was thankful, as this meant that she was staying a bit longer with us!  This time she brought her gear and she was dressed for the big event.  I was in my turquoise bikini  to match the baby's turquoise towel!  Things like this don't just happen by accident mind!

I remember being in the zone in the pool whilst Ands and Lovely Lyn were talking over my head whether or not to have a cup of tea!  The conversation progressed onto them both describing how they liked their tea and whether or not they took sugar!

I couldn't be bothered to pipe up... 22 hours of surges had taken it out of me! 

Shortly after the tea conversation, we were delighted to hear that I was 10cm dilated!  Great!  Not long now surely!  I really thought our baby's birth was imminent... ummm not so much!

24 hours in, I had my first melt down.  How much longer would this take?  I cried.  My body still hadn't had the urge to expel this baby.  Andrew was exhausted too and now that his 'bit' was complete, he felt a bit helpless.  I needed to get back in the zone, otherwise I knew things wouldn't progress.  So, I went back in the pool and put my CD on...'...aaahhh Zen!'

I spent the next couple of hours, squatting, walking, jumping, lunging, stretching



 ...still nothing...

About 25 hours in, I had another melt down, this time pleading with Lovely Lyn not to make me go to hospital (not that she had suggested it)!  I really didn't want to go!  Even though I was exhausted, I knew how strong and capable my body was of doing this and I just had to relax and give it more time.  I was managing fine, just fed up and impatient.  Lovely Lyn was so full of encouragement and said that she wouldn't make me go to hospital... for that I am always eternally grateful.  I found my 'zen' again (with CD of course!)

Ands kept telling me how well we were doing which boosted me no end!

At 26 hours in, I went on to the sofa and Lyn said she could see the baby's head!  I was elated and I guess hearing that amazing news gave my body the oxytocin it needed to push this baby down!

Finally, my body started pushing effectively! 



27 hours in and my body is still pushing effectively, but still no baba, but I was so grateful to be doing this on my sofa!  I started gas & air at some point, the TV wasn't on and there had been no mention of any more cups of tea! 

My body was working SO hard to expel this baby.  I was concentrating on breathing and managing to keep my jaw loose.  FYI, your jaw is linked to your cervix and there was no way I was going to let that bad boy clam up after all these hours!

Another midwife arrives to assist Lovely Lyn, and I knew this baby would be coming soon!  Both midwives were dressed appropriately with their plastic aprons on.  Naturally, I was sweating and still in my bikini, whilst Ands sat there concerned worried about his clean white t-shirt.

The conversations at this time were about hair dressers, hair extensions and summer holidays in Dubai!

Hour 28... I finally delivered the baby's head.  I had 2 midwives at the 'goal end' and Ands was sat along side me on the sofa.  The 'high' feeling I had delivering the head was INCREDIBLE!  I still can't find the words to describe the elation I felt as I birthed the baby.  I didn't feel any pain or burning sensations that I thought there might be.  

I turned to Ands saying 'This is AMAZING!'

I was so careful not to force the baby out as there was no way I was going to tear or have any stitches!  So I just let my body do its thing and expelled this baby while I was flying high on natural oxytocin!

When our baby was all out Lyn handed it to me instantly.  It was over!!  We couldn't believe our baby was here with us on the sofa in our home!
We forgot to look at the sex until Lyn said 'Well what is it then?'

Oh yes!  A perfect baby boy all 7lb 10oz of gorgeousness!

Now, I thought, I think it's my turn for a cuppa!

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